This month’s issue of Funworld is dedicated to the rides most people think of as synonymous with amusement parks—thrill rides. Roller coasters have been the one consistently successful element of amusement parks since their inception in the 1800s. The story “Old Time Rock-n-Roll” on page 26 explores the evolution of the world’s most popular ride. When they began, they didn’t resemble any of today’s coasters—they began with the idea of shuttling ice blocks down hills. Through years of evolution, they arrived at the gates of today’s towering scream machines. The lead story of the month focuses on the two U.S. parks that offer 16 roller coasters each, Magic Mountain in Valencia, Calif., and Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Our writer visited both parks, spoke to the staff, and rode the extreme machines to see the view from the top for himself. For the second time, Funworld is publishing the definitive list of new coasters, compiled from the online roller coaster database (www.rcdb.com); the list is found on page 70. This year’s list also includes relocated coasters, a concept that is growing, especially with the expansion of multilocation parks. Funworld also profiles a park that thrives without all the dizzying thrill rides that most amusement parks desire—Efteling, in Holland. The story demonstrates the magic of the facility and what makes it the most-visited park in the Netherlands. The legend of the industry this month is John Allen, the famous American coaster designer who headed up the Philadelphia Toboggan Company at the turn of the century. Allen was the last of the old-time coaster designers. He learned the trade from his predecessors, relying on engineering basics and instincts rather than today’s complex computer models. Even though coasters are getting more sophisticated and technologically proficient, we can never lose sight of the fact that these machines must and will be manufactured to the highest level of quality and safety. Have a safe and thrilling summer. Best Wishes, John P. C. Collins Chairman of the Board
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