Will the Force be with the coaster fans?

Thursday, 01 June 2006

By BRANDI BARHITE
brandibarhite@sanduskyregister.com

SANDUSKY - Cedar Point hopes to have a fan-favorite running Friday for the 1,500 coaster enthusiasts descending on the park.

A typically problem-free steel coaster, Millennium Force, is down because of an electrical problem, according to park spokesman Bryan Edwards.

Maintenance personnel are working on it and hope to have the 300-foot coaster operating soon, Edwards said Wednesday.

Friday is the park's 18th annual CoasterMania. The highly-anticipated day within the coaster world includes exclusive ride time, which will begin with early-morning rides on the Top Thrill Dragster, which has been working consistently this summer, Edwards said.

The morning also includes ride time on the Millennium Force -- if it's working -- and the park's new giant swing, Skyhawk.

During Top Thrill Dragster's inaugural year in 2003, the 120-mph and 420-foot-tall coaster was not working for CoasterMania.

The hydraulic coaster continued to have problems for the next few seasons, although has done well this year, Edwards said.

Now, it's the Millennium Force's turn to act up.

The Millennium Force, which debuted in 2000, was down last week because of a mechanical problem. A part was replaced and it was reopened Saturday before going down again Sunday.

Edwards said the park's Web site lists what rides aren't working, but has a new feature allowing guests to plug in the day they are visiting to see what's happening. If the park knows a ride will be down in advance, it will be indicated, he said.

Sam Marks, president of Coaster Zombies, based in Arlington, Va., said coaster enthusiasts understand rides break and won't be upset if the Millennium Force isn't working.

Marks said at least half of the 200 members of his club will be at CoasterMania. He will miss his first CoasterMania in about 10 years because of work.

"If I was to liken CoasterMania to a Christian holiday, it would be Easter," Marks said Wednesday.

But don't fret, Edwards said coaster enthusiasts who miss CoasterMania will be glad to know the park is expanding its special group events for coaster lovers.

"I think it is another way to give back to coaster enthusiasts," Edwards said. "We have what they want."

Cedar Point will play host to 75 members of the European Coaster Club on Monday and Tuesday. Other groups will visit later in the summer.

Cedar Point's Millennium Force was voted the No. 1 steel roller coaster in survey results released in May by The National Amusement Park Historical Association, the country's largest amusement park enthusiast organization.

Millennium Force was named as the top steel coaster, an honor it has held or shared since 2002. The Magnum XL200 at Cedar Point was voted the No. 2 steel coaster. The Magnum is included in the CoasterMania lineup.

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