World's Fastest Roller Coaster

I've become obsessed with the world's fastest roller coaster. It’s called the Kinda Ka, and it’s located at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey.It uses hydraulic pressure to launch the cars from a standstill to 128 mph in 3.5 seconds. For reference, the world’s fastest production car, the Veyron, takes 3.8 seconds to reach 60 mph.
Apparently, you get catapulted by a massive hydraulic wench, which slings the cars toward the massive 45-story climb you see here. As you reach the base of this metal mountain, the cars are completely released -- they make the ascent on inertia alone. Then you get a few seconds of weightlessness before you plummet 465 feet straight down. Ok, not exactally straight -- you spiral down in a twist. Jesus.
Wired wrote about the early tech that led to this mega coaster in 9.03. Emily Jenkins rode a prototype ride in Utah, that was a little smaller and a little slower. My favorite bit from that piece:
"The opener boy comes over, locks my bar into position, and tells me to be sure to keep my head back against the seat during launch. Otherwise, the coaster will put it there for me. 'And that,' he laughs, ' will be very, very unpleasant.'"
Then there's the part where she talks about how sometimes the initial launch isn't enough to get the cars over the hill, but she doesn't really explain what happens next in that case. Do you just slide back down backwards?
You can watch a pretty good movie on the coaster here. Who's up for a trip to Jersey this summer?
Comments
Do you suppose the faster the roller coaster the lesser the risk for head and neck injury?
Posted by: Anon | April 4, 2007 06:33 AM
wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww you got to be kidding because that, that is crazy I never ever seen a roller coaster like before that's like you can't move a tiny bit but that's all I have to say and one more thing wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
Posted by: cayla | July 3, 2007 08:11 AM
this roller coaster is nuts .
Posted by: lane holcomb | October 30, 2007 08:38 AM
i am to scared to tgo on this ride . ahhhhhh !!
Posted by: emma | December 11, 2007 01:27 AM
That looks awesome, i now know my mission in life. To ride that ride!
Posted by: Mike`` | May 6, 2008 05:26 AM
I've been On It Its Ok Only Scary Part when it starts drop u dont really feel it
Posted by: Erick | July 11, 2008 09:20 AM
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: JENNY | November 3, 2009 01:44 PM