Ronald V. Toomer

Ronald V. Toomer. May 31, 1930- September 26, 2011. Ron Toomer was a pioneer in the development of steel roller coaster design, with Cedar Point being home to the largest collection of his works in one park. A former NASA engineer, Ron brought his talents to the Arrow Development Company (later known as Arrow Dynamics) in 1965 where his first project was the Runaway Mine Train which, debuted in Texas in 1966., He then helped develop the first coaster of the modern era to turn riders upside down, Roaring 20's Corkscrew, which opened in 1975 in California. Incorporating a pair of barrel-roll-like inversions, it became an immediate success, inspiring similar types of rides worldwide., In 1978, Cedar Point's Gemini, one of Toomer's favorite designs, opened as the first large hybrid wood structure/tubular steel rail coaster. He also helped develop the suspended coaster, a unique attraction with swinging vehicles hanging beneath the track. The Bat was the first of these rides, opening in Ohio in 1981., He continued to refine his craft, literally taking coasters to new heights. His crowning achievement, Cedar Point's Magnum XL-200, in 1989 was the first full-circuit coaster to exceed 200 feet in height. Its enormous popularity sparked a race to build higher and faster rides that continues to this day., American Coaster Enthusiasts honors the memory of Ron Toomer and his legacy at Cedar Point: Cedar Creek Mine Ride (1969), Corkscrew (1976), Gemini (1978), Iron Dragon (1987) and Magnum XL-200 (1989).