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Park Hoppin’ Remembering the


with Paul Ruben


Remembering the Riverside Cyclone


Before it was Six Flags New England, the park had been operated by Ed Carroll Jr as Riverside Amusement Park. In 1982 Carroll decided to add a new wooden coaster, and hired legendary coaster designer Bill Cobb and his associate John Pierce to build it. Media day was June 23, 1983, the day before the opening.


Ed Carroll


Before it was Six Flags New England, th o Jr as Riverside Amusement Park.


addanew wooden coaster , and hired legendar Cobb and his associate John Pierce to build 1983, the day before the opening. o


e park had been operated by In 1982 Carroll decided to y coaster designer Bill


d it. Media day was June 23,


Bill Cobb told me this was the first coaster designed in a hospital ward. “I started the design,” he said, “then went in for a physical and the doctor said that within two hours I was to be in Baylor Hospital. (Cobb had a t condition.) I remained in the hospital five weeks. Although I was laid) I remained in the hospital fiv up, we had to keep working to complete the design.”


Bill Cobb told me this was the first coaster designed in a hospital ward. “I started the design,” he said, “then went in for a physical and the doctor said that within two hours I was to be in Bay heart condition.)p up, we had to keep working to complete the


g


he was right. It was unpredictable and extreme. At that time I was then writing f or Amusement Park Jour writing for Amusement Park Journal, several years before ParkWorld began. In APJ I described the Cyclone as “Out of Control. Like an or began. In APJ I described the Cyclone as “Out of Control. Like an ornery bull, the Cyclone tries to throw its riders off, bull, the Cyclone tries to throw its riders of , combining fierce negative G’ s with dars with darting turting turns. It lins. It lifts you offts you off your seat, then tries to remove it. It i if weren’f weren’t for the mandatory seat belts, passengers would be separated from the coaster on at least four different po


And what a design it was! Cobb though t it was his best coasterAnd what a design it was! Cobb thought it was his best coaster, and he was right. It was unpredictable and extreme. At that time I was then nal, several years before Park World


, and f, combining fierce negative f your seat, then tries to remove it. It


t for the mandatory seat belts, passengers would be separated from the coaster on at least four different portions of the ride.”ortions of the ride.”


The media day was most memorable because it almost didn’The media day was most memorable because it almost didn’t happen. I arrived early in the day


I arrived early in the day and was watching the train race through its final test runs. Back then they simulated the ags in the seats. For the Cyclone, tha


yy and was watching the train race through its


sand bags in the seats. For the Cyclone, that was a bad idea. The coaster bucked several sand bags o


The coaster bucked several sand bags out of the train, where they crashed onto the track below spilling their contents. The sand on the owed the train to a stop midway th rough the run. Crews quickly mopped up the sand, but how do you move the train up the next hill to complete the run? Carroll hired a helicopter to tow the train up the next hill, and the media day was saved. Then, in a stroke of genius, he


at was a bad idea. ut of the train, where they


crashed onto the track below spilling their contents. The sand on the tracks slo


prominently with our repor


final test runs. Back then they simulated the weight of the passengers with sand ba


gg weight of the passengers with


tracks slowed the train to a stop midway through the run. Crews quickly mopped up the sand, but how do you move the train up the next hill to complete the run? Carroll hired a helicopter to tow the train up the next hill, and the media day was saved. Then, in a stroke of genius, he offered tthe attending reporfered the attending reporters a helicopter ride to get an aerial view ofters a helicopter ride to get an aerial view of the coas


The Cyclone was violent but smooth that opening season, quickly appearing on many top 10 lists. Over the years, however, it became rough and uncomfor it became rough and uncomfortable despite the park’table despite the park’s best efforts to maintain the track. Finally, on July 20 last year, the ride was closed for good, to be modified and redesigned by Rocky Mountain Construction as the steel hybrid


The Cyclone was violent but smooth that opening season, s best ef


to maintain the track. Finally, on July 20 last year, the ride was closed for good, to be modified and redesigned by Rocky Mountain Construction as the wood/s


Wicked Cyclone (see page 35). I loved the old Cyc wicked, ride is e more ou


wood/steel hybrid Wicked Cyclone (see page 35). I loved the old Cyclone; it was wicked, too. The new ride is even better,


clone; it was , too. The new


more out-of-control than ever. Th called t


. They should have


called the new version the Wickeder Cyclone.


even better ut-of-control than ey should have he new version


the Wickeder Cyclone. 4 JULY 2015 LY Y 2015


ylor Hospital. (Cobb had a ve weeks. Although I was laid e design.”


Riverside Cyclone It’s always a joy to visit Six Flags New Eng


s always a joy to visit Six Flags New England, Agawam, Massachusetts, home to one of my favorite


Massachusetts, home to one of my favorite rollercoasters, Bizarro. But I’ve bee n to the park many times before Bizarro was even built, most verside Cyclone. Its successor


land, Agawam, rollercoasters, Bizarro. But


I’ve been to the park many times before Bizarro was even built, most notably for the media introduction of the Riv


notably for the media introduction of the Riverside Cyclone. Its successor is today’s Wicked Cyclone and attending t his media day, pictured here, reminded me of days past.


is today’s Wicked Cyclone and attending this media day, pictured here, reminded me of days past.


the coaster. I got a spectacular photo from above the ride that appearedster. I got a spectacular photo from above the ride that appeared prominently with our reporypt.


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