Slashdot Mirror
2005's Tallest Roller Coaster
MacBrave writes "MSNBC has a short story about a new roller coaster, named 'Kingda Ka' that is set to open at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey in the spring of 2005. This coaster will beat the current world record-holder, Top-thrill Dragster at Cedar Point."
If you go on this thing, look around at the other people, and choose somewhere smart to sit. See video here while it lasts.
yo.
I've been to Six Flags New Jersey many, many times. Probably more then most people that live in New Jersey. And nobody called it "Great Adventure." Everyone calls it "Six Flags."
Deal with it. You're not special.
On the topic however, SFNJ is an awesome park. They've got a shit load of coasters - they've pretty much ditched everything else for them. And that's fine by me, coasters are the best.
Few years ago they put up the "Nitro" which was the damned best roller coaster I've ever been on. The cars are open, you sit on a seat with a lap restraint. It's so fast and awesome, and you have nothing boxing you in. It's just you and the track.
And now they're putting this one there - the park is going to be just unbelievable.
- It's not the Macs I hate. It's Digg users. -
I've riden a ride like the one buing built. It's the kind that uses a horizontal track to send the train into the first incline. Believe me, there's nothing like it. One I rode (StormRunner (?), Hershey Park, PA) went from a near dead stop to 70+ MPH in under 3 seconds, into a 90 degree first climb 12 stories high. You move so fast your eyes water from all the wind whipping past you. So fast the forces throw your head back against the headrest. So fast, it's all done with in about 27 seconds.
One big word of advice if you ride something like this: Before the ride starts, keep your head against the headrest. Your neck will thank you.
The One Rule Of Chess You'll Ever Need: Don't play someone who carries a kit in their bookbag.
It's like Mr. Freeze at Six Flags over Texas, (and St. Louis) but Mr Freeze is better as it not only does more, after going forward it returns in reverse on the same track. It does 0-70 in 3.8 seconds via linear induction motors.
Here is a photo (it's the light blue one, Batman is yellow one behind it)
http://www.coastergallery.com/2001/Freeze01.jpg
I had an opportunity to go to Cedar Point over the summer and ride TTD, and to be honest, the fact that it shuts down on occasion worked to our advantage. First, we waited in line for about an hour before it broke down. They said it would be a long wait and encouraged us to visit the rest of the park. We did, but once we saw it was back up, we came back. When we got back in line, it looked long as hell; however, since they were obviously expecting more problems, they intentionally kept the line short, but made it look long (the snake line is actually hidden on the other side of the coaster, so when you get in line, the most rationale thought is to assume that if you are one one side of the coaster, the other side must be full). Needless to say, we waited less than an hour the first time, and less than 45 minutes the second time. Both times, well worth the wait. It is a short ride, but when you get shot off the first time, the thrill is amazing. Also, definitely a lot less scary the second time!
I was surprised to learn that TTD actually uses cables. Here is a good rundown of the tech of TTD.
Cedar Point's dragster was designed with this possibility in mind, and it does happen every 20 times or so (more often on windy days). There is a braking system built into the track on both sides, so if the ride gets to the top and falls backwards, it will be stopped and return to the launch platform, where they will try again. If it fails a second time, I believe they will remove a couple of people to make it lighter. So basically, if you're on a car that fails to make it over the hill, you get to experience the launch thrill all over again (2 for the price of one, in a way).
You're talking about "rollbacks." They happen a lot on hot days and cold days. If, for some reason, you're next in line and Dragster doesn't fire any trains off for at least ten or fifteen minutes, you are VERY likely to experience a rollback.
If it fails a second time, I believe they will remove a couple of people to make it lighter.
Nope, when a train launches and rolls back, TTD simply raises the juice a bit until it clears. It's not really known how fast it can really go, but the juice on it is NEVER turned up anywhere near the maximum. I've seen it go over 130.
You are absolutely correct. As far as I know there were not six different flags that flew over New Jersey.
For those of you who are not from the US and the majority of the Americans who don't know anyway - Texas has had six flags fly over it since we kicked all of the Native Americans out:
Spain, France, Mexico, Texas Republic, Confederate Texas, and US.
"If it is like the Top Thrill, I think it is kind of a waste of time. Even for its intensity, I expect a few minutes worth of a ride for waiting a freaking hour in the blazing sun, not to mention the hours it takes just to get to the park."
I don't know. I drove for 6 hours from Toronto to Sandusky on the second weekend of Top Thrill's existance. We waited in line for 5 hours, for a ride that lasted 26 seconds (I timed it). They were still working some bugs out, and it shut down several times, but we persevered.
I still think it was worth it. What a rush! Millennium Force is also an incredible ride. Totally worth the trip.
Carpe Cerevisi - Seize the Beer