Which is the Fastest Roller Coaster in every region? How is the UK, Spain, Mexico or Australia stacking up? Trust me you can find awesome rides almost anywhere.

Truth be told most coaster capitals are in the US. Canada, Japan and Australia are quickly catching up and perhaps threatening the reign of the adrenalin-junkie paradises found in America%u2026 but isn't it odd that some of the best coaster designers are not American-based companies? I will not dwell on that economic phenomenon this time around (I'll get on that subject on a specific blog I'm preparing which I think you'll appreciate very much).

Nevertheless, it is something you should think about. Now, back to the matter, check out the top contenders per region:

Japan Dodonpa (106.9 mph, Fuji-Q Highland)
Steel Dragon 2000 (95 mph., Nagashima Spa Land)
Latin America Superman El Ùltimo Escape (75 mph, Six Flags Mexico)
Australia Tower of Terror (100 mph, Dreamworld, Australia
Central Europe Furious Baco (84 mph, Port Aventura, Spain)
UK Stealth (80 mph, Thorpe Park, England)
Canada Goliath (68.3 mph, La Ronde)

Just as a means of comparing, the US has 3 coasters that break the 100 mph barrier:
1. Kingda Ka (128 mph, Six Flags Great Adventure)
2. Top Thrill Dragster (120 mph, Cedar Point)
3. Superman: The Escape (100 mph, Six Flags Magic Mountain)
Source: http://darksephiroth.webng.com

You can now realize that there's a lot of places where you can get a sweet ride, and that it would be awesome to ride them all in one single trip!

Now the problem with these sorts of hobbies is how expensive it can turn to get to those awesome places. Nevertheless, there are ways to get everything for A LOT LESS, trust me, once you get into the habit of traveling at a fraction of the price you'll never pay full price again.

The best guide I have found is Melissa Obrien's "Travel Industry Secrets Manual." It has allowed me to get incredible deals to travel around the world. Usually these kinds of trips can become expensive, but if you follow her manual or other tricks I will tell you later, you won't believe how cheap you'll find everything. You can find her manual right here: Click Here!

Leave you that thought till next time.

Coaster hard.

Visit http://darksephiroth.webng.com

Peace.

Robert.

There has being a constant battle between Six Flags and Cedar Fair to claim having the Fastest Roller Coaster.

In 2003 Cedar Point claimed having the tallest meanest roller coaster, Top Thrill Dragster. It is still a 420' monster that presents an impressive 120 mph!!! Just as a note, Cedar opted for this design to save space, going the only one direction that they still had plenty of: up!!!!

But the Top Thrill reign didn't last much. In 2005 Six Flags introduced Kingda Ka to Six Flags Great America in New Jersey, an even more impressive 456' monster that achieves a whopping 128 mph!!! Kingda Ka, is actually also an acceleration coaster very similar to Cedar's.

Some argue that one or the other is better, but let's be realistic. They're basically the same layout and design. They're both awesome rides that push design to the limit in many ways leaving several questions to be answered, especially how faster can a roller coaster actually go?

Unfortunately it is not that easy to make coasters go faster. And it's not only an engineering issue it's medical and even marketing-based decision to be made. Pushing the speed and G Forces to the limit could actually harm passengers (it has happened before) and if the coaster turns out to be too threatening The park is done for, just imagine spending $50 MUSD and getting no one to go to your park?

This time around I have another great recommendation "Travel Cheap! Travel Well!" This book is actually a very straightforward guide on how to get great deals on travel. Trust me any coaster aficionado should take a look at it, besides it's under $20 USD and downloadable. Here is the link where you can get it: "Travel Cheap! Travel Well!"

To get Melissa Obrien's "Travel Industry Secrets Manual", go here: Travel Industry Secrets Manual

Leave you that thought 'till next time.
Leave your comments.
Coaster hard.

Visit The Dark Sephiroth

Peace.

Robert.

Is the fastest roller coaster necessarily the best? This is actually a very disputable argument. Let's take in account the many elements that are involved in a great coaster and you will then realize that speed is not necessarily the element that you enjoy the most.

For instance, G Forces - both positive and negative - in many cases are what make the ride "feel tougher". Nevertheless, there are many ways a coaster can get those nasty G Forces going. That's why sometimes looping coasters just feel more exiting than those faster taller steel hyper coasters. It's not just perception, there is an actual physical reaction that adrenaline junkies feel when they are pushed (positive G Forces) or when they get that flying sensation (negative G Forces).

It is true that speed is of great importance in this mixture and is what is used to generate or reduce those G's, but high speed coasters must actually reduce speed before incorporating loops, twists, corkscrews, etc. This has to be done because most people will not tolerate high G levels and taking it to the limit, could very well get rider unconscious or even worse, so there's your answer that's why high speed roller coasters usually don't have inversions and rely on helixes, camelbacks or top-hats.

As technology evolves, many designers have adapted new techniques to push it to the limit, and not so long ago, when the 100 mph barrier was broken (1997 by Superman the Escape in Six Flags Magic Mountain) it seamed like things could not get any hotter, and we are now enjoying rides with over 120 mph! Who knows, could we be now approaching the limit or are we in the brink of the 200 mph?

Leave you that thought till next time.
Leave your comments.
Coaster hard.

Visit The dark Sephiroth

Peace.

Robert.

I received an interesting question about coasters. What is the difference between the front or back seat of a roller coaster?
Well, it actually depends on the roller coaster and its type.

1) If you ride front seat you can see more and it "feels" faster because of the air blowing against your face. Still this is something that happens in some coasters (usually the ones that have a special line for front row). Most acceleration and looping coasters are MUCH "better" while in front row.

2) There are other coasters (usually larger roller coasters that use a chain lift) where the last seat is the preferred spot. This is because in those the drop is longer; this means that in some cases the train will start accelerating before the last cart is falling down the hill. Also, when riding these kinds of coasters on the last cart, turns feel harder because of a whip-lash effect having a last strong pull.

As you can see it does depend on the coaster.

Don't forget to rate this blog, comment and feel free to ask me anything related over there.

Coaster hard.

Robert.

This is actually a more complex question that involves several classifications, and, frankly, taste.

Wooden coasters tend to be more "rattly" and provide a rougher ride. Even though they usually provide slower top speeds (usually ranging 60 mph on the faster ones), usually no inversions and always rely on chain lifts, they seem to be more exciting for some because their gravity center is lower, and that makes them "feel" faster (the exact same effect that makes a sports car feel faster than a family car when going at the exact same speeds).

As a means of comparison, the fastest "woodie" reaches 78.4 mph (Son Of Beast, Kings Island) vs. the 128 mph. of Kingda Ka.

Steel coasters, on the other hand, tend to be a lot smoother and involve several classifications such as hyper coasters, acceleration coasters, looping, suspended, flying, 4D, etc. The steel railing and computer aided design help theme parks create several variations that are virtually impossible to imitate in a wooden.

As a note, and for trivia purposes, California Screamin' (in Disney's California Adventure) is only meant to look like a wooden coaster, but it is in fact, a steel looping acceleration coaster.

There you have it, as you can see it is in a big part a question of tastes, and many purists and nostalgic fans prefer wooden coasters over steel.

Please leave your comments, rank my lens on squidoo and make your questions!!!

Coaster hard!!!

Robert.

The Behemoth is coming!! The new fastest roller coaster in Canada is now approaching and it sure seams awesome.

After we made our previous ranking apparently the people from Canada's Wonderland decided to do something about it, and they invested a whopping CAN$26 million in a beautiful Bolliger & Mabillard mega coaster. So how cool is it going to be? Let's check some stats:

Type: Steel sit-down, Mega Coaster
Height: 230'
Max Vertical Angle: 85
Top Speed: 77 mph

As you can see it ranks very steadily and it will present an important advantage against La Ronde's Goliath. So, when can we expect to see this exciting ride in operation? It is scheduled for an opening in May 2008.

Can't wait!!!

Robert.

Ok, how to create the Fastest Roller Coaster? Well it brings us back to high school physics, but based on Space Age Technology. Don't worry, I'm not aiming to make you learn complex concepts, I'm just your friend Robert%u2026

Well, speed is generated mainly by gravity and the launch system. Traditional roller coasters depended solely on gravity, that's why usually the tallest roller coasters where also the fastest. And this paradigm was applicable to wooden roller coasters, steel coasters, hyper coasters, suspended coasters%u2026 you name it!!! Almost everything relied on a chain lift, and a steep fall.

Most recently launch systems were incorporated drastically increasing top speeds, but specially multiplying the initial acceleration. Although most people generalize saying that launched roller coasters are based on LSM / LIM launched systems there are several types of launch systems:

1) LIM and LSM coasters use propulsion via electromagnets, which utilize large amounts of electricity to propel the coaster train along its track into the ride elements (e.g. inversions, twists, turns and short drops). Examples: Superman: The Escape, Batman & Robin: The Chiller, California Screamin.

2) Hydraulic-launched roller coasters give the riders high acceleration, yet with improved smoothness, over the electromagnetic and catapult launch mechanisms. The Swiss manufacturer Intamin AG pioneered this new style. Exmples: Kingda Ka, Stealth

3) Pneumatic is hydraulic launch technology's main competition from S&S Power, a leading manufacturer in vertical amusement rides (such as the triple tower in some Six Flags), who in recent years created a new breed of coasters with pneumatic launch power. Examples: Dodonpa, Hypersonic XLC.

4) Another type is launch is by friction wheels. The launch track consists of a series of horizontal tires that pinch the brake fins on the underside of the train. Example: The Hulk, Laser Loop.

Later on I'll describe more in detail how do they work and how that translates into sweeter rides.

Coaster hard.

Robert.