Here are some brochures from my visit during July of 2000.  This was before Talon was built so Detonator and Steel Force were the park's two marquee attractions (left brochure).  On the right (clockwise) we see: Detonator, Steel Force, Thunder Canyon, Hercules, Laser, Hangtime and Thunderhawk.

Here are two views of the airtime machines at Dorney.  On the left we see 1997's Steel Force speeding down the first hill.  It dwarfs 1923s Thunderhawk (originally called The Roller Coaster).  It was redesigned in 1930, a change which gave the coaster its current layout.  Even though the park has added brakes and removed some airtime hills the coaster still delivers the airtime Herbert Schmeck envisioned.

Even more views of the commanding Steel Force, designed by Morgan Manufacturing.  Working left to right we see the coaster's powerful first two drops.  The long, straight track is the brake run which leads to the bunny hop ending.  The middle photo shows what happens between the first and second phases of the ride.  The helix is a lot fun with good lateral g's and some nice headchoppers.  The third picture reminds us how tall 200 feet is and demonstrates how Steel Force seemingly towers over the entire park.

Hercules demonstrates everything I dislike in a wooden coaster.  It is over braked, tracks horribly and feels like someone mysteriously placed square wheels on the coaster.  The ride opened in 1989 and currently seems to split its energy into three equal parts: moving side-to-side, up-and-down and forward.  Curtis Summers designed the ride and utilized the same style of high-speed turn found on his Thunder Run coaster at Kentucky Kingdom.  However, this coaster was simply too big so the ride feels like a trip to a bad chiropractor.  The ride's best feature is a surprise drop under the station.

Here is a view of the park on a beautiful summer day.  (L to R): Steel Force's first hill, Thunderhawk's first hill, the Force's second hill and S & S Power's Detonator which features one Space Shot (red), one Turbo Drop (teal) and a dead tower.

The Wild Mouse, a Maurer Söhne coaster, opened for the 2000 season.  It is fun, but nothing compared to the mouse at Hersheypark only a few hours away.

Anton Schwarzkopf, the steel coaster master craftsman, designed the Laser.  It is a fast, intense ride and one of the park's most exciting attractions.  Check out my Laser page for more information.