EL Toro Rated #3 Mitch Hawker's 2006 Internet wooden roller coaster poll

[PcMan]

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I didn't see that Chuck added the same topic before me
Mods you can delete my thread if you like


Mitch Hawker's 2006 Internet wooden roller coaster poll
El Toro is only 5 months old/operating so it may climb but the top 10 seems about right. I been on 3 of the top 5 and will add some of the rest next year. But I don't see how Kentucky Rumbler(16) is better then THe Legend(20) ? and how in the World can the BEAST be #66 and Jack Rabbit (SBNO) Clementon Lake is (156) is rated higher then SOB(176) I never been on SOB   ?
What do you think  ?

www.thrillnetwork.com/stories_view.php/1836/voyage_named_1_wooden_coaster.html

Dec. 9th, 2006 -- Holiday World's The Voyage sailed into first place in Mitch Hawker's 2006 Internet wooden roller coaster poll, considered by many to be the most accurate poll.

The new-for-2006 hybrid woodie made by The Gravity Group made coaster enthusiasts drool as it was being constructed, and most reviews say it is not a let down at all.

Second place goes to Liseberg's Balder, which took the No. 1 spot in 2005. The Intamin "plug-and-play" coaster, built in 2003, uses a track fabrication that gives a much smoother ride than a traditional wooden coaster.

Balder was ranked seventh in the 2004 poll.

El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure, America's only Intamin plug-and-play coaster, took third. El Toro opened in June and has the steepest drop on a wooden coaster at 76 degrees.

Hawker's poll includes more than 170 wooden coasters, and voters submit their votes via the Web. Voters mark what coasters they have ridden, specifying if they have ridden a coaster this year.

Voters then rank each coaster they've ridden, and Hawker's method compares the ranks against each coaster. The results are considered highly accurate.

The top 10:

1. The Voyage - Holiday World
2. Balder - Liseberg
3. El Toro - Six Flags Great Adventure
4. Phoenix - Knoebel's
5. Boulder Dash - Lake Compounce
6. Tremors - Silverwood
7 (tie). Thunderhead - Dollywood
7 (tie). Hades - Mount Olympus
9. Aska - Nara Dreamland
10. Colossos - Heide Park

For more on the 2006 wooden coaster poll, visit Mitch Hawker's detailed wooden coaster poll results of 2006.

1 The Voyage          Holiday World        ,IN   
  2 Balder              Liseberg             ,SE   
  3 El Toro             SFGAd                ,NJ   
  4 Phoenix             Knoebel's            ,PA   
  5 Boulder Dash        Lake Compounce       ,CT   
  6 Tremors             Silverwood           ,ID   
  7tThunderhead         Dollywood            ,TN   
  7tHades               Mount Olympus        ,WI   
  9 Aska                Nara Dreamland       ,JP       
 10 Colossos            Heide Park           ,DE   
 11 Raven               Holiday World        ,IN   
 12 Avalanche           Timber Falls         ,WI   
 13 Shivering Timbers   Michigan's Adventure ,MI   
 14 Rampage             Visionland           ,AL   
 15 Ozark Wildcat       Celebration City     ,MO   
 16 Kentucky Rumbler    Beech Bend           ,KY   
 17 Timber Terror       Silverwood           ,ID   
 18 Megafobia           Oakwood              ,UK   
 19 Coaster             Playland             ,BC   
 20 The Legend          Holiday World        ,IN   
 21 Comet               Great Escape         ,NY   
 22 Cornball Express    Indiana Beach        ,IN   
 23 New Mexico Rattler  Cliff's              ,NM   
 24 Tonnerre de Zeus    Parc Asterix         ,FR   
 25 Grand National      Blackpool            ,UK   
 26 Dania Bch Hurricane Dania Beach          ,FL   
 27 GhostRider          Knott's Berry Farm   ,CA   
 28 Thundercoaster      Tusenfryd            ,NO   
 29 Falken              Farup Sommerland     ,DK   
 30 Viper               SFGAm                ,IL   
 31 Loup Garou          Walibi Belgium       ,BE   
 32 Lightning Racer - L Hersheypark          ,PA   
 33 J2                  Clementon Lake       ,NJ   
 34 Lightning Racer - T Hersheypark          ,PA   
 35 Twister             Knoebel's            ,PA   
 36 Cyclone             Astroland            ,NY   
 37 Giant Dipper        Santa Cruz Bch Bdwk  ,CA   
 38 Thunderbird         PowerPark            ,FI     
 39 Screechin' Eagle(S) LeSourdsville Lake   ,OH   
 40 Excalibur           Funtown USA          ,ME   
 41 Silver Comet        Martin's Fantasy Is. ,NY   
 42 Stampida            Port Aventura        ,ES   
 43 Robin Hood          Walibi World         ,NL   
 44 Cyclops             Mount Olympus        ,WI   
 45 Wild One            SF America           ,MD   
 46 Georgia Cyclone     SFoG                 ,GA   
 47 Cyclone             Lakeside             ,CO   
 48 Zingo               Bell's               ,OK   
 49 Thunderbolt         Kennywood            ,PA   
 50 Texas Giant         SFoT                 ,TX   
 51 Roar                Marine World         ,CA   
 52 Roller Coaster      Western Wash. Fair   ,WA   
 53 Regina              Tobu Zoo             ,JP   
 54 Jack Rabbit         Kennywood            ,PA   
 55 The Legend          Arnolds Park         ,IA   
 56 Yankee Cannonball   Canobie Lake Park    ,NH   
 57 Wildcat             Hersheypark          ,PA   
 58 Wild Mouse          Blackpool            ,UK   108
 59 Thunder Run         Kentucky Kingdom     ,KY   
 60 Roar                SF America           ,MD   
 61 The Grizzly         Kings Dominion       ,VA   
 62 Great White         Wild Wheels Pier     ,NJ   
 63 Mega Zeph (SBNO)    SF New Orleans       ,LA   
 64 Gwazi-Tiger         Busch Gardens-Tampa  ,FL   
 65 Outlaw              Adventureland        ,IA   
 66 The Beast           Kings Island         ,OH   
 67 Rutschebanen        Bakken               ,DK   
 68 Hoosier Hurricane   Indiana Beach        ,IN   
 69 Rutschebanen        Tivoli Gardens       ,DK   
 70 Zeus                Mount Olympus        ,WI   
 71 Gwazi-Lion          Busch Gardens-Tampa  ,FL   
 72 Comet (SBNO)        Lincoln Park         ,MA     
 73 Blue Streak         Cedar Point          ,OH   
 74 Racer               Kennywood            ,PA   
 75 Big Dipper          Blackpool            ,UK   
 76 Big Dipper          Geauga Lake          ,OH   
 77 Scenic Railway      Luna Park-Melbourne  ,AU     
 78 King Solomons Mines Pleasureland         ,UK   
 79 The Boss            Six Flags St Louis   ,MO   
 80 Swamp Fox           Family Kingdom       ,SC   
 81 Blue Streak         Conneaut Lake Park   ,PA   
 82 Giant Dipper        Belmont Park         ,CA   
 83 Cannonball          Lake Winnepesaukah   ,GA   
 84 Grt Am Scrm Mach    SFoG                 ,GA   
 85 Tree Topper         Upper Clements Park  ,NS     
 86 Cyclone             SF New England       ,MA   
 87 Screamin' Eagle     Six Flags St Louis   ,MO   
 88 The Villain         Geauga Lake          ,OH   
 89 Skyliner            Lakemont             ,PA   
 90 Arkansas Twister    Magic Springs        ,AR   
 91 Lost Coaster of SM  Indiana Beach        ,IN   
 92 Cheetah             Wild Adventures      ,GA   
 93 Timber Wolf         Worlds of Fun        ,MO   
 94 Vuoristorata        Linnamaki Park       ,FI   
 95 Thunderhawk         Dorney Park          ,PA   
 96 Starliner (S)       Miracle Strip        ,FL   
 97 Roller Coaster      Blackpool            ,UK   
 98 Tornado             Stricker's Grove     ,OH   
 99 Thunderbolt         SF New England       ,MA   
100 Racer               Kings Island         ,OH   
101 Le Monstre          La Ronde             ,QU   
102 Cannonball          Waterville USA       ,AL   
103 Rebel Yell          Kings Dominion       ,VA   
104 Comet               Hersheypark          ,PA   
105 Elf                 Hirakata Park        ,JP   
106 Serpiente de Fuego  La Feria             ,MX   
107 Tornado             Adventureland        ,IA   
108 Hurler              Carowinds            ,NC   
109 Judge Roy Scream    SFoT                 ,TX   
110 Hurler              Kings Dominion       ,VA   
111 American Eagle      SFGAm                ,IL   
112 Roller Coaster (S)  Joyland              ,KS   
113 Zippin' Pippin (S)  Libertyland          ,TN   
114 Thunder Road        Carowinds            ,NC   
115 Wilde Beast         Canada's Wonderland  ,ON   
116 Leap the Dips       Lakemont             ,PA   
117 Wildcat             Lake Compounce       ,CT   
118 Roller Coaster      Great Yarmouth       ,UK   
119 White Cyclone       Nagashima Spaland    ,JP   
120 Magnus Colossus     Terra Mitica         ,ES     
121 Jack Rabbit         Seabreeze            ,NY   
122 Timberhawk          Enchanted Village    ,WA   
123 Red Streaker (S)    Willow Mill          ,PA     
124 Twisted Twins-StellaKentucky Kingdom     ,KY   
125 High Roller         Valleyfair!          ,MN   
126 Cyclone             Pleasureland         ,UK   
127 Sky Princess        Dutch Wonderland     ,PA   
128 Twisted Twins-Lola  Kentucky Kingdom     ,KY   
129 Roller Coaster      Lagoon               ,UT   
130 Rollo Coaster       Idlewild             ,PA   
131 M.Can.Mine Buster   Canada's Wonderland  ,ON   
132 Dragon Coaster      Playland             ,NY   
133 Hochschaubahn       Prater Park          ,AT   
134 Bush Beast (SBNO)   Australia's Wonderl. ,AU   
135 Scenic Railway      Dreamland            ,UK   
136 Triple Hurricane    Cypress Gardens      ,
137 Hullamvasut         Vidam                ,HU   
138 Big Dipper          Camden Park          ,WV   
139 Beastie (SBNO)      Australia's Wonderl. ,AU     
140 Hurricane           Myrtle Bch Pavilion  ,SC   
141 Wildcat             Frontier City        ,OK   
142 Wolverine Wildcat   Michigan's Adventure ,MI   
143 Antelope            Gulliver's World     ,UK   
144 Sierra Tonante      Mirabilandia Park    ,IT   
145 Colossus            S.F. Magic Mountain  ,CA   
146 Runaway Coaster (S) Rotunda              ,UK   
147 Twister II          Elitch Gardens       ,CO   
148 Rattler             Fiesta Texas         ,TX   
149 Pegasus             Mount Olympus        ,WI   
150 Comet               Waldameer            ,PA   
151 Little Dipper       Kiddieland           ,IL   
152 Tomahawk            Port Aventura        ,ES   
153 Cyclone             Williams Grove       ,PA   
154 Raging Wolf Bobs    Geauga Lake          ,OH   
155 Scooby Doo          Carowinds            ,NC   
156 Jack Rabbit (SBNO)  Clementon Lake       ,NJ   
157 Sea Dragon          Wyandot Lake         ,OH   
158 Anaconda            Walygator Parc       ,FR   
159 Beastie             Kings Island         ,OH   
160 Kiddie Coaster      Playland             ,NY   
161 Scooby Doo          Kings Dominion       ,VA   
162 Zach's Zoomer       Michigan's Adventure ,MI   
163 Medusa              Six Flags Mexico     ,
164 Teddy Bear          Stricker's Grove     ,OH   
165 Wild Mouse          Luna Park-Sydney     ,
166 Ghoster Coaster     Canada's Wonderland  ,
167 Zipper Dipper       Blackpool            ,UK   
168 White Canyon        Yomiuriland          ,JP   
169 Rolling Thunder     SFGAd                ,NJ   
170 The Bandit          Movie Park           ,DE   
171 Mean Streak         Cedar Point          ,OH   
172 Pegasus             de Efteling          ,NL   
173 Predator            Darien Lake          ,NY   
174 Coaster-Express     Warner Bros. Movie W ,ES   
175 Lil' Dipper         Camden Park          ,WV   
176 Son of Beast        Kings Island         ,OH   
177 Underground         Adventureland        ,IA   
178 Psyclone            S.F. Magic Mountain  ,CA   
179 The Grizzly         Great America        ,CA   

Here is how the coasters with fewer than the required riders would have rated.
 86 Jupiter             Kijima Korakuen      ,JP     

 These coasters did not have enough riders take the poll this year to have any valid comparisons:
 *  Wild Mouse          Aussie World         ,AU     
 *  Montezum            Hopi Hari            ,BR     
 *  Cyclone             Nicco Park           ,IN     
 *  Little Dipper       Esselworld           ,IN     

[matt]

Third isn't bad! I'm sure once more people ride it this year (and operations are a little better) the results will change come voting time.

[Dubya91]

I can agree with the top 5...It looks correct to me

[darkridedan]

Although people from NJ voted in the poll this year, it didn't change RT's ranking. It ranks lower than a  coaster in NJ which hasn't operated since 2002. People won't necessarily judge a coaster by the year's performance. As if Boulder Dash didn't make a case for that. Now Rich and Sue can tie me up. 

Now I can be one of those knumbskulls who say, "At least I didn't vote!"

[SilverBullet]

Although people from NJ voted in the poll this year, it didn't change RT's ranking. It ranks lower than a  coaster in NJ which hasn't operated since 2002. People won't necessarily judge a coaster by the year's performance. As if Boulder Dash didn't make a case for that. Now Rich and Sue can tie me up. 

Now I can be one of those knumbskulls who say, "At least I didn't vote!"

But RT has declined...El Toro can only be ridden more and people will see its amazing-ness (err...that's a word right? ). Balder was 7 in 05' now its been 1, 2 in the past two years respectively.

[darkridedan]

Words with "ness" jumped the shark right after "QFT."

Wood to wood comparisons mean nothing to me anyway. I'd love to see its rank against S:ROS. 

[coastersue]

Poor RT.     I know people don't like it, but it's not as bad as the poll makes it out to be.

I fully admit Boulder Dash wasn't in top form this year.  I don't judge it on one bad year though so it's still my #1.  I'm just afraid of GCI doing the work on it since I'm not crazy about their coasters.  Hopefully they can't mess up an existing design too much.

Sue

[WadeJ]

Good point Sue.  The part that really got me was that El Toro is located at a park that is not very popular among enthusiasts so it didn't get as many riders as it could have.  It is very possible that 2007 could change that.  It will also be interesting to see how HW does keeping Voyage together.

I think this happens every year to RT just to make a point.  And perhaps its a good one.  As much as I love it to, it needs MAJOR help!

[Fjask]

I definitely agree that El Toro will rank better in the years to come.

And yes, RT needs TLC. (yes, I know, horrible pun )