|
The company has always pre-manufactured the components for their rides, dating back to their first wooden coaster, built in 1972-73 for Six Flags Over Georgia, the "Great American Scream Machine®." Prior to the construction of the "Scream Machine", it took roller coaster builders approximately a year or more to build a wooden roller coaster ride. For the "Scream Machine", the schedule only allowed 6 months from start to finish. The pre-fabrication of the wood components was the key to making the schedule possible. In 1978, the company completed its "Florida Hurricane" coaster for Ringling Bros. in only a 5 month schedule, start to finish. That must be some kind of a world record for building a major roller coaster ride! Prior to the "Scream Machine", all wooden roller coasters were built on the ground entirely at the jobsite, basically, like framing a house. The advantages of pre-manufacture are:
There are only bolts used in the bent frame assembly, which is the vertical "truss like" component of the structure. Nails are not used in the bent frame components because they can cause the wood members to split, weakening the critical connections, and nails often work loose. Nails are only used in RCCA rides to fasten some of the low stress 2 X 6 horizontal ribbon boards and, of course, the wood track ply laminations. Our pre-manufactured wooden coasters can be shipped virtually anywhere in the world, ready to assemble, like a giant "erector set." |
Home | History | Rides | Renovations | Manufacturing
© 2000 Roller Coaster Corporation of America |