There’s a good chance you may someday ride a roller coaster designed by Noah Roth.
A few weeks ago, I came across an amazing No Limits 2 creation: a fantasy RMC makeover of Mean Streak at Cedar Point:
I tracked down the designer, 15-year-old Noah Roth, and was able to ask him a few questions about his love for roller coasters and roller coaster design:
C101: What was your first roller coaster ride?
My first roller coaster ride was Zach’s Zoomer at Michigan’s Adventure. I loved it and have been riding coasters ever since.
C101: What sparked your interest in roller coaster design?
Roller Coaster Tycoon, for sure. I got this program as a young kid, around the same time I rode my first roller coaster, and haven’t stopped playing it since.
C101: Your computer animations are impressive to say the least. Can you describe your process for recreating roller coasters using computer software such as No Limits 2?
Whenever I create an original design, I always just make it up as I go. When I made the Fury video, I had the leaked top view layout to base it off of so I had a general basis of what to make it like. When I did the RMC Mean Streak video, I had a little more freedom to make it how I wanted, but I still had to keep it in the general layout of the existing structure, which I think is actually easier than having a blank canvas to work with. It forces creativity with what you have.
C101: You also seem to have a knack for park planning using satellite imagery. What about that bird’s eye “strategizing” interests you?
I love the satellite imagery for 3 main reasons:
- It is the best way of getting an accurate top view of a park without having the official park blueprints.
- It allows you to take stuff from other parks and put it into another at the correct scale to see how something of similar size would fit/look.
- You get a realistic look at what it would look like from above since mostly all of the satellite planning I do is just a compilation of real satellite photos.
C101: Moving out of the computer screen, what’s been the most challenging aspect of building a roller coaster in your backyard? Can you briefly describe the design and building process?
The backyard coaster has been a challenge for sure. The most challenging part of it is definitely the engineering of it all. My original plan was nothing like it is now. At the beginning I had just assumed, “Okay, here’s my plan, I’m just going to build it now,” but it has been everything but that. It has been one failure after another, but you learn from that. My original plan was PVC pipe on crossties connected to one 4X4 for support with just running and guide wheels.
As seen in the photo, I decided to make the drop way too steep originally, which was one of many corrections to be made. My current design is a full wooden design with upstops and U shaped supports, and I’m still far from being done. I’m currently in the process of retracking the whole thing with a wooden track instead of the PVC. (As seen in the photo). It’s been a slow process, especially since building a coaster is quite expensive.
C101: If you could build any roller coaster in your backyard – let’s say you had unlimited cash and resources but limited space – what type would it be and why?
I would build a wooden coaster. It’s a life goal of mine to design and build a full size wooden coaster. I’ve always loved the complexity of the design and the nostalgic feel of wooden coasters.
C101: What’s your dream job?
My dream job would be to be in planning and design for Cedar Fair. I’m constantly coming up with new ideas for parks and I would love to someday make them a reality.
C101: Last, but not least, what is your favorite roller coaster (or roller coasters)?
Such a tough question, but I think my favorite of all time is Top Thrill Dragster.
We’d like to thank Noah for taking time to share his insight with us, and we wish him all the best in his future coaster-designing endeavors. To see more of Noah’s amazing work, visit his website.
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