The Coaster Critic / September 19, 2011
What is a Wing Rider Roller Coaster? With the number of wing coasters on the rise, I figured it was time to add a post about them in my series of Coasterology 101 posts. Wing rider roller coasters have seats positioned on either side of the track rather than above or below it. They look similar to 4th dimension coasters,
The Coaster Critic / May 9, 2011
When I took Busch’s Roller Coaster Tour, I got an up-close view of the cause of so many painful looping coaster rides over the years. In Nessie’s belly, I and the other members of the tour were able to check out blueprints on the wall, hold some wheels, and learn how this great coaster operates. There was also the
The Coaster Critic / January 7, 2010
Terrain roller coasters use the natural layout of the land that they’re built on. Often they use a ravine or cliff for their drops. They can be any type of roller coaster from the steel flying coaster Tatsu to the wooden coaster Boulder Dash. These types of roller coasters have been around for many years and I don’t really know
The Coaster Critic / November 12, 2009
Have We Seen the Last of the True Record Breaking Roller Coasters? The recent announcement that Ferrari Experience’s F1 Coaster will be capable of 150 mph had me thinking. While this would be a record setting roller coaster, officials from the park said that they might actually operate it at lower speeds. This begs the question: Are we reaching the
The Coaster Critic / October 12, 2009
Theme Parks with the Most Roller Coasters RollerCoasterDude asked for a list of the theme parks with the most roller coasters. I figured this would pretty easy to do and interesting so I threw together my first stab at a list based on RCDB’s numbers. This includes roller coasters that are set to open in 2010, like in the case
The Coaster Critic / September 29, 2009
Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s Roller Coaster Tour Part 1: Loch Ness Monster & How Coasters Work 101 If you’re a roller coaster geek like myself, or just curious about how roller coasters work, Busch Gardens Roller Coaster Tour is for you. It gives unparalleled access to the these modern thrill machines as well as a ton of interesting tidbits of knowledge about Busch’s
The Coaster Critic / July 4, 2009
As we celebrate our independence don’t forget to also celebrate our dominance with regards to roller coasters. There are some amazing roller coasters throughout the globe, so I wouldn’t say that the U.S. is home to the best especially without experiencing any of them myself. But in terms of sheer numbers, by far, the United States has the most roller coasters
The Coaster Critic / June 6, 2009
Mine train roller coasters have been around for many years. They are defined by simulating an out of control mine cart or Old West locomotive train. They are made of steel and most are tame enough to be classified as family roller coasters. Common elements include: multiple lift hills, short gently slopping curved drops, helices, and tunnels. The first mine train roller coaster
The Coaster Critic / February 20, 2009
4th dimension roller coasters position riders on either side of the track rather than above or below it. The seats spin on a horizontal axis. There are only a handful in the world, but they are easily the most insane and intimidating roller coasters around. Arrow/S&S 4th Dimension Roller Coasters Six Flags Magic Mountain’s X was the first 4th dimension roller
The Coaster Critic / August 25, 2008
What is a Stand-Up Roller Coaster? Stand-up roller coasters are steel roller coasters designed so that the riders stand during the course of the ride. Riders straddle a bicycle-like seat that adjusts for the riders height and are restrained by over-the-shoulder restraints. They are very similar to seated looping coasters and some roller coasters designed for sit-down trains have also
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