The Gravity Group pushes wood coaster engineering for more thrills at Holiday World
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Chad Miller and his three partners, who work in a small suite of offices for The Gravity Group on the outskirts of Cincinnati, decorated with coaster posters and odd leftovers from various projects, crunch the numbers carefully, using their own programs (with names like Splinal Tap) that can turn the squiggly lines of a rough initial design into a more polished one. At regular intervals along the route, the software calculates G-forces — up and down, side to side and forward and back — on riders in the front, middle or back of the car.
Read more and see video from The New York Times.
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The video piece is fantastic. I know everyone has an opinion about the NYT, but the dude who cut that really gets video story telling for the Internet. Really good stuff. It always makes me happy to see those guys get their due attention. Some of my favorite people in the industry.
Jeff - Editor - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog
Every time I see something on the Voyage, I am jealous of everyone who has gotten to ride it. I've gotta get out there.
It sounds like Gravity Group is a fantastic company. I look forward to the day Cedar Fair pulls its head out of its arse and gets a GG coaster at Dorney.
How hard did you laugh at that last statement? :)
"Look at us spinning out in the madness of a roller coaster" - Dave Matthews Band
TBH, I like the Voyage but I didn't love it. If it had been any other time than HWN in the pitch black, I think it would have ended up middle of the pack for me. Then again I'm an air whore and a sissy when it comes to intensity, so YMMV.
Hobbes: "What's the point of attaching a number to everything you do?"
Calvin: "If your numbers go up, it means you're having more fun."
Voyage was a little rough last year, but honestly, when it's good, it's really good. Even if I have to take away points because I can't reride it indefinitely, it's still one of my favorite rides. I look forward to spins this fall on it.
And yeah, they're good guys. I've known some of them longer than others, but I admire their knowledge, passion and depth.
Jeff - Editor - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog
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