CoastrGlxy
Posts: 358
Registered: 5/23/2005
Rank: Silver Critic
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 12/31/2007 7:49:39 PM
This one's for the true coaster geeks. What are the top 5 most influential designers in coaster history (or even recent coaster history)?
I'll admit up front that my knowledge of the people behind the most popular coasters may be a bit shallow, but here's my top 5 in no particular order:
Werner Stengel
Anton Schwarzkopf
Walter Bolliger
Claude Mabillard
Ron Toomer
I apologize in advance to the woodie fans out there. I just don't know any wooden designers that made a real big impact. I'm willing to learn though. What do you guys think?
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Got_it
Posts: 818
Registered: 11/1/2006
Rank: Gold Critic
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1/1/2008 7:42:08 PM
I would say...
Curtis Summers brought wood coasters back into the public eye after the giant steel creations in the 80's "took over" so to speak
Ron Toomer designed many influential coasters, not necessarily good ones but influential never the less.
Bolliger and Mabillard definitely took coaster design in a new direction, but I'm not really impressed with design so much as their build quality.
There is Dennis McNulty & Larry Bill who did a lot of work with CCI, who was undoubtedly one of the most influential building/design companies of our time.
And there is John Allen and Harry Traver who inspired much of the designs we see today. (CCI&GCI)
Just to name a few 
It is hard to group wood and steel into the same category.
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Message updated 1/1/2008 7:45:40 PM by Got_it
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Horizons12
Posts: 4860
Registered: 8/16/2002
Rank: Extragalactic Invader
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1/2/2008 3:01:52 AM
Anton Schwarzkopf is my choice.
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RCGenius
Posts: 1180
Registered: 12/23/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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1/2/2008 8:15:52 AM
John Allen (my influence towards being a roller coaster builder/designer)
Anton Schwarzkopf
Walter Bollinger
Claude Mabillard
Curtis Summers
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hrrytraver
Posts: 1270
Registered: 7/16/2005
Rank: Platinum Critic
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1/3/2008 8:27:48 AM
john miller must be the most important person responsible for making the coaster what it is today.
but where would the coaster be without herb schmeck? he was the super star of PTC through their most prolific years.
and would all of the modern woodies, or the schwarzkopf swooping drops exist without the influence of fred church, or harry traver?
i'll toss in john allen as helping coasters through the 60s and 70s.
there are lots more good woody dudes way down there in the pre-1960 category but there's five.
the guys who do the amazing steelies nowadays are influential of course, but only to each other. these are the guys who made the modern steel coaster possible...
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the preceding sentence is true.
Message updated 1/3/2008 8:29:09 AM by hrrytraver
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coasterf42
Posts: 626
Registered: 10/3/2005
Rank: Gold Critic
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1/8/2008 10:13:46 AM
I've always thought John Miller was the most influential, as for the other top five, you can have your pick.
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detroit_jc
Posts: 82
Registered: 8/5/2007
Rank: Senior Critic
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7/8/2008 4:27:26 PM
Herbert Schmeck
John Allen
John MIller
Harry Traver
Prior & Church
Hey im a woodie fan!
Message updated 7/8/2008 4:30:14 PM by detroit_jc
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bumprnugit
Posts: 282
Registered: 10/7/2003
Rank: Silver Critic
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8/4/2008 11:47:44 PM
John Miller would have to be the most influential and ground-breaking considering the number of safety designs he patented that allow the rides we enjoy so much to exist today.
The Fred Church designs were inspired genius. I hate to say this, but Harry Traver is a bit over-rated. Church was the more influential of the two. Dare I say, Traver was a bit of a Church hack (Sorry to disparage your namesake, Hrry.) For as much as I would kill to have ridden the CB Cyclone, the overall pacing has been described as inconsistent. The want to experience this legend makes some overly kind to this ride, me thinks. Like a drunken Irish brawl, you might remember getting punched in the face, but not recall what you did to deserve it. I even have reservations that his masterpiece, Cyclone Racer, was not quite as great as it has been described.
As stated in Hrrys earlier post, Herb Schmeck is probably the most important, if not prolific. His designs with PTC were classic. The one ride that I would love to see be recreated most (even moreso than Travers Cyclone) is the Idora Park Wildcat. Phoenix and TGE Comet being probably his best surviving examples, the mind boggles at what some of his other long-lost designs were like.
John Allen was his protégé, but even his best designs fall short of Schmecks. Schmeck seemed to master the double out and back, while Allen was an out and back kind of guy. If you have ever seen the 70’s TV-produced special called “America Screams” hosted by Vincent Price (who annoyingly refers to the rides as “Rollie Coasters”), Allen talks about his first failed attempt with the original Mister Twister design. ".Turns do nothing for you” he proclaims, clearly eluding to the fact that air-time rules the midway.
Curtis Summers has no business on this list. His rides do not stand the test of time, nor are they influential (Dinn’s fault?) And even the Texas Giant was originally sketched out (loosely) by Bill Cobb.
Steel designers are a different breed altogether. I will admit Ron Toomer had his place, but influential, I think not. Anton Schwarzkopfs designs have stood the test of time quite well. B&M, ground breaking yes. Influential, we’ll see. The heart-line spin is pretty impressive though.
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Message updated 8/5/2008 12:08:56 AM by bumprnugit
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