The Ultimate Compact Coaster

Back in 1972, Cedar Point got it’s third steel coaster (1st steel coaster was the Cedar Creek Mine Ride, next to follow was the original WildCat. Total coaster count 4). This compact steel coaster was a Jet Star 3 coaster called “Jumbo Jet” built by Schwarzkopf and designed by Ing.-Büro Stengel GmbH. You can read all about this lost coaster at our sister site thelostcoaster at WordPress. To make a long story short, Jumbo Jet ended up in Minsk Belarus, time to take a virtual ride:

One of my favorite pictures of the Jumbo Jet:

Michigan’s Adventure Mad Mouse

Michigan’s Adventure is a smaller amusement park owned by Cedar Fair. Today we check out the Arrow Dynamics Mad Mouse coaster that has been operating since 1999 at the park. Arrow Dynamics went bankrupt in 2002 and was bought by S&S power to become S&S Arrow. Time to take a virtual ride on the Mad Mouse:

Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain

Back to Indian Beach for another compact coaster. This time it’s the “Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain” which was originally a dark ride that was converted by the “Gravity Group” into a concept coaster they call the “SplinterFX”. This compact coaster has a very small footprint 85′ by 100′ and only 20′ high. The total track length is 710′ with a top speed of 20 mph. What make the “SplinterFX” special is it’s tight turns. Here is a introduction to the “SplinterFX”:

The “SplinterFX” is a compact wooden coaster that have special cars designed by “Gravity Kraft” Here is a look:

The “SplinterFX” can be an indoor dark compact coaster:

Finally time to take a virtual ride on Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain”, the original “SplinterFX”:

Goofy’s Sky School Roller Coaster

Goofy’s Sky School Rollercoaster is at Disney California Adventure Park and is a wild mouse style of compact coaster. This coaster is made by Mack Rides GmbH. Makes me want to head west to ride this compact coaster. Let’s take a virtual ride:

Here is an overall view of Goofy’s Sky School Roller Coaster:

Crazy Mouse Roller Coaster!

What do you get when you cross a Wild Mouse Coaster with a Spinning Coaster? Well you get a Crazy Mouse Roller Coaster. Amusements of America is one of the largest traveling amusement parks showing up at all kind of events including state fairs. The Crazy Mouse Roller Coaster is one of there spectacular rides! I found this video on YouTube, so let’s take a ride!

Indiana Beach Tig’rr

One of the best older compact coaster is at Indiana Beach called the Tig’rr. This coaster is a Schwarzkopf Jet Star 1 and almost as good as the Jet Star 3 (Jumbo Jet). Tig’rr has been in operation since 1984. I found this most excellent POV video on Youtube:

Cedar Point’s WildCat

When the Jumbo Jet left Cedar Point at the end of season 1978 that made room for a compact coaster named WildCat. This is the second coaster to be named Wildcat. It was delivered to Cedar Point in the traditional Schwarzkopf blue and red

WildCat was repainted yellow and purple in 2003 . Here is an on ride point of view:

Sadly WildCat was sold for scrap at the end of the 2011 Season and is truly a lost coaster never to be ridden again!

Zamperla Moto Coaster

There is this little Italian company called Zamperla (located in  Vicenza, Italy) and the make all different types of rides. One of those rides is called the “Moto Coaster”. This coaster has one of the smallest foot prints (159′ x 69′ and track length 1,194′) and it has a fly wheel and launch system that will take you 0 to 40 mph in less then 2 seconds…

Here is an on ride view:

Looks like a fun compact coaster…. Until next time… Cheers!

You Spin Me Around Like A Record!

At first read, you make think this post is about Dead or Alive’s 1984 dance song “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)”. Now that would not make any sense for a Compact Roller Coaster Blog. You may want to listen to this tune when you take a ride on Maurer Söhne’s “S-Coaster” or spinning  coaster. This coaster starts out like a regular coaster, you go up a lift hill and then down the first hill, up the next hill where the spinning fun really begins. I found this video from Maurer Söhne on YouTube:

Steel Hawg at Indiana Beach

One of the coolest compact coaster is the Steel Hawg at Indiana Beach. This compact coaster is made by S&S Worldwide and features one of the steepest first drop hills, you go upside down several time and a cool barrel roll at the end of the ride. Check out this YouTube video: