European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 21, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Daily Story and photo by Mike Genalo new York Bureau Magazine maybe 1 he y weren t All looping Tho looping the old Days but even the liar to kinds of roller coasters must have been fun the thrill has t Only lingered on. It been developed to screaming perfection traced Back to the 15th and 16th centuries in Europe. The Lisl roller coasters were called russian  they were simple in design a wooden irame with a Steep slope covered with ice a far cry from today s looping twisting behemoths. Alter a period of relative inactivity 1989 witnessed Tho opening of new coasters across the United states All vying Lor the title of biggest scariest tallest most loops.  one of the Mam contenders is the Hercules Al Dorney Park a built along the More conventional lines of the wooden roller coaster it boasts a Lisl Peak standing i57 Leel in height representing the modern Day coaster is the great american scream machine Al new Jersey s great adventure amusement Park riders Start out at Tho Peak of a 173 loot. 55 Regiec drop and hash through seven loops at speeds in excess of 68 Mph. While those two upstarts arc battling it out. One ride which ust celebrated it s 62nd birthday is Content to consider itself Iho most famous and scariest coaster in the United states the Cyclone Al new York s Coney Island while nol As High and without All those loops still remains Tho ride irom which All others measure their achievements. The Cyclone Vas never the biggest or fastest roller coaster said a Troland the corporate owners of the Cyclone spokesman Milton Berger. But it was always the Best and is still considered the  while it s Lisl Peak is Only 91 Leel High with a 60 degree drop it gives the illusion of being much higher. As a resident of Brooklyn and a Habitude of Coney Island. I returned to the Cyclone this past month. And look a ride. The Tram consisting of three cars is nol motorized. It is pulled to the top of Tho highest Peak by a Ratchet erection device the ascent is slow. The Iram could to pulled up laser but the slow climb ads to the illusion of height As you realize How things on the ground Are getting smaller and smaller you Teeter on the Brink of the first Peak Lor ust a split second staring Down at a 60-Degreo drop the next minute you re hurtling Down Al what seems to be supersonic Speed. You just know that when the train gets to the Bottom of the Hill Raveling at this Angle and this Speed it is nol going to level Oil As intended but rather continue right on through Iho pilings and Bury itself in Iho Earth. The train then roars Inlo a Lull turn at an almost perpendicular Angle first right then Tell then up a Small Rise and a plunge Back Down. All throughout Iho ride Tho Tram never slops or slows. You Are conscious of a constant scream you Don t know whether it s from fear or Joy but it lasts for the entire 110 seconds of the ride. All in All there Are nine drops and six Hall turns spread out Over 3.000 feet of track. Since the ride occupies a piece of ground 75x500 feel there is a tremendous amount of action packed into the limited space reaction to the ride is mixed one Young girl came bouncing Oul it s fantastic i m going Back  and on she went. Another Young lady obviously both shaken and relieved had another opinion. I swore that if i lived. I d never go Back again she said. And Ihen she turned and punched her Boyfriend in Iho Arm. Among Whoso who were neither awed nor frightened by the ride was a Young Man who apparently goes to extremes in seeking excitement la s Okay he said but it s nol really scary unless it makes you throw up the Cyclone is the classic with which All other roller coasters Are compared says Paul i. Ruben editor of roller coaster Magazine. It s a wonderful ride consistently rated in the top 10. Unlike Many rides that Start hot bul Cool off Al the end. Cyclone gels bettor As the ride  in 1969 the Cyclone was almost lost to future generations. Structural problems had caused the cily to condemn it. As a tribute to it s uniqueness and reputation As Roland amusement Park in Houston undertook a study to dismantle the ride and re locate it to Texas. Realizing that the costs wore prohibitive the Park look the next Best step and arranged to build a slightly modified replica since it s debut in 1976. The Texas Cyclone has ranked number one on Many lists of coasters around Iho country. Miraculously altar save the Cyclone petitions poured in from around the world and amidst an outpouring of support irom Brooklyn ites. The Cyclone under a new owner reopened on july 3,1975. New York s mayor Edward i. Koch during a rededication ceremony summed up Iho average reaction to a ride on the Cyclone the last time i Rode on the Cyclone i was 6 years old. When i got Oil i was 18 i m getting Loo old to give up thai Many years Lor one  the Cyclone the classic with which All other roller coasters Are  the stars and stripes Page 13