Do you guys think that you could feel the difference in the speeds of the launches of Top Thrill Dragster and Formula Rossa.

Do you guys think there's much of a difference? Formula Rossa's trains look more closedoff, and the safety goggles probably reduce the impact of wind on your eyes. But it is like 25-30 mph faster. So what do you guys think is better?

Well, I think perhaps Richard Bannister is one of the few who have ridden both. Rossa looks like a well rounded coaster. But Dragster does not launch into a set of brakes. Depends on what you like. I give a slight nod to Dragster though.

I have indeed ridden both, and there's a massive difference between them.

Formula Rossa runs at full speed for ~1 second before it hits starts climbing into its set of trims. Trust me when I say that you need those safety goggles at that point.

I'm glad to hear it's worth the visit. Quite excited for my trip in 2013.

Which is better in terms of speed then? Did you or did you not like that Formula Rossa goes 150mph but only for like 1 second

Formula Rossa has Lap Bars, rather than that awful Intamin OTSR found on KK. That's enough to make it a much better ride.

But compared to Dragster, does Formula Rossa feel faster? Like can you really tell the difference between one another? Formula Rossa's cars looked closed off and requires safety goggles. Also it only runs at top speed for one second. Can you have that much of a reaction then? Overall, what FEELS faster, Top Thrill Dragster or Formula Rossa?

Technically, you can't feel speed - only accelerations (g-forces). Without a point of reference you can't tell how fast you are going.

My barometer is how much flappage my face goes through at high speeds. Sky diving is about 10F (10 on the flappage scale) I think Kingda Ka and Dragster are about 6.4F.

Since the air is (more or less) static when you approach it, you have a frame of reference for speed and you can definitely tell how fast you are going. You also have things like your sight and the sound of the wind rushing by as cues.

I actually feel like TTD goes faster than KK (i know it doesn't) so I think it depends on the design.

Yes.

A few trees alongside the launch track would provide an excellent frame of reference visually and really help to show riders JUST how fast they're travelling...

Got my ride on Formula Rossa in August and have to say it seemed a lot more intense than Dragster. I can definitely say the adrenaline rush on Formula Rossa the first time was a heck of a lot more than on TTD the first time I rode it in 2003. The ride afterwards isn't overly exciting but still more enjoyable than TTD.

I'm glad Ferrari World spent the money on the coaster and that I had the opportunity to ride it. I tried riding it in Dec 2010 but it broke down while I was waiting in line and I had to bail to catch my flight back to the US and didn't get a chance to return until this year.

It seems so weird though. Formula Rossa looks like such a weak coaster IMO. Top Thrill Dragster looks so much more intimidating. The launch on TTD bilt so much anticipation and excitement up with all the revving engine sounds and watching the train in front get launched. Formula Rossa seems to have none of those things, makes you wear safety goggles, has very closed up cars, and goes at its top speed for like 1 second. Can the launch on Formula Rossa really outshine Dragster's? It seems so hard to believe....I didn't think you could even feel the difference when going at such high speeds too...but...I still don't know for sure.

Well I guess you need to jump on a plane to U.A.E. then and find out for yourself.

When you're done with that, start another Dragster/Formula Rossa topic. I love these!

I've never understood the human feeling of 'lesserness' (for lack of a better term) because the same coaster they thought was awesome 10 years ago lost some meaningless title and somehow they need to justify that nobody would build a better coaster (or this could apply to anything really) somewhere else they haven't ridden.

It's perfectly okay to ride second best. Not everyone gets the homecoming queen.

They do if she's a slut... just sayin'.

@Raven-Phile:

Glad to hear that! I started getting worried people would get annoyed at all my Dragster and Rossa posts. Just to put it out there, the main reason I'm starting all these kinds of threads is because tha hydraulic launch coaster fascinates me. Ever since I rode Xcelerator in 2011, I've seem to have become addicted to the punch they pack. But I will say my favorite roller coaster is Nitro, and nothing on this planet could change that.