Larry Chickola
{{Infobox person
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| name = Lawrence John Chickola
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| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1964}}
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| occupation = Professional engineer
| years_active = 1995 to present
| employer = Six Flags Entertainment
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| known_for = Roller coasters
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Lawrence John Chickola (born 1964) is an engineer known for designing roller coasters.
Early life and education
In an interview, Chickola said that he attended DeLaSalle High in Detroit, Michigan.{{cite journal|title=Hot Jobs: Coaster man|journal=Science World|date=7 September 1998|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Hot+jobs%3A+coaster+man.-a021169674}}
Chickola earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan and a Master of Science at UCLA.{{cite news|last=Zimmerman|first=Ann|title=Mastermind of the Mega-Coaster|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204777904576653133106873222|accessdate=2 July 2013|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=29 October 2011}}
Career
= Early career =
After graduation, Chickola designed equipment for satellites for the Hughes Aircraft Company. He later held jobs with Lockheed Martin in Los Angeles, California and Amtrak.
= Six Flags =
Chickola was asked to overhaul the Runaway Mine Train roller coaster in 1995. He completely re-engineered the 21-year-old coaster with a new motor, cars and computer operating system.{{cite journal|last=Gray|first=Kevin|title=Engineer of Fear|url=http://www.mensjournal.com/magazine/engineer-of-fear-20120815|journal=Men's Journal|date=June 2012|accessdate=2 July 2013}}
In 2001, the Six Flags Entertainment Corporation promoted Chickola to chief corporate engineer. He is responsible for the design, maintenance and safety of 120 roller coasters and over 600 other amusement park rides. Chickola redesigned the Texas Giant, a wooden roller coaster, into the world's first hybrid roller coaster.{{cite news|last=Tugman|first=Lindsey|title=One man's mission to make roller coasters bigger, better|url=http://origin.todaysthv.com/news/article/265164/70/One-mans-mission-to-make-roller-coasters-bigger-better|accessdate=2 July 2013|newspaper=THV-TV|location=San Antonio, TX|date=15 May 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130702165111/http://origin.todaysthv.com/news/article/265164/70/One-mans-mission-to-make-roller-coasters-bigger-better|archive-date=2 July 2013|url-status=dead}}
Chickola helped develop standards for roller coasters in New Jersey. The New Jersey standards were almost identical to guidelines set by ASTM International.{{cite news|last=Colimore|first=Edward|title=N.J. imposes a ceiling on park rides' G-forces|url=http://articles.philly.com/2002-09-01/news/25362667_1_g-force-limits-thrill-rides-roller-coasters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035626/http://articles.philly.com/2002-09-01/news/25362667_1_g-force-limits-thrill-rides-roller-coasters|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2016|accessdate=2 July 2013|newspaper=Philadelphia Inquirer|date=1 September 2002}}
= Research =
Chickola participated in a study of risks of traumatic brain injury from riding roller coasters and co-authored the report.{{cite journal |last1= Pfister |first1=Bryan J. |last2=Chickola |first2=Larry |last3=Smith |first3=Douglas H.|year=2009 |title=Head motions while riding roller coasters: Implications for brain injury |journal=American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology |volume=30 |issue=4 |pages=339–345 |publisher=Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |doi=10.1097/PAF.0b013e318187e0c9 |pmid=19901817 |pmc=2796436}}
= Media appearances =
Chickola appeared in two episodes of the Travel Channel's series Insane Coaster Wars.{{cite web|title=Larry Chickola|website=IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2577823/|accessdate=2 July 2013}} He was featured in a segment of CBS This Morning on May 15, 2013.{{cite news|last=Bojorquez|first=Manuel|title=Engineer of Fear, America's Top Roller Coaster Architect|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/roller-coasters-re-imagined-inside-one-mans-mission-to-reinvent-high-flying-thrills/|access-date=2 July 2013|newspaper=CBS News|date=15 May 2013}}
References
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External links
- [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/roller-coasters-re-imagined-inside-one-mans-mission-to-reinvent-high-flying-thrills/ CBS News Feature]
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Category:American mechanical engineers
Category:UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science alumni
Category:University of Michigan College of Engineering alumni