World's fastest roller coaster appeals to human desire for thrills

You know, as they talk about what triggers excitement, and especially the comment about speed alone not being exciting, I'm going to go on record and predict that some will find Formula Rossa boring after the launch and hill.

Some already have. Welcome to CoasterBuzz, Jeff. ;)

"The Formula Rossa rollercoaster boasts acceleration from 0 to 60mph (97km/h) in 2 seconds, and takes the title from the Kingda Ka in New Jersey, US, which reaches speeds of 128mph"

I think the BBC needs to work on their math. Last time I checked, 60mph < 128mph.

"Be prepared to reach speeds of up to 240 km/h (149mph) and enjoy a feeling similar to a Formula One racing driver."

Doesn't sound like the BBC needs to check anything.

0 to 60 just seems to be a standard for measuring performance in sports cars.

Their sentence construction could stand some work, though.

As a combination roller coaster nut/musical theatre nut, I really liked this quote:

...It is the creativity in rollercoaster design which is key, not the height or speed. A rollercoaster choreographer is more like a musician or conductor and sort of leads the rider through his score, script.

I've always thought roller coaster design might just be the perfect balance of right brain and left brain activity. There's the creative side that needs to look good and be well 'choreogrpahed' and the numbers side where all the physics and forces have to be in check.

It's a middle ground that feels like it'd be totally satisfying. :)

I'll never forget my wife's comment after the first Top Thrill Dragter ride: "I think I missed it."

Haha! That's hilarious, Ferret!

There's a picture to the right near the end of the article of what appears to be a twin-track steel coaster...one track red, one track blue. If I'm seeing it correctly..and I had eye surgery last Friday, so I may not be... one train is inverting at the same time the other is not. Can anyone ID that ride?

^Sure - Fiorano GT Challenge. http://www.rcdb.com/4245.htm

:)

Sigh. http://coasterbuzz.com/coaster/2257/fiorano-gt-challenge.aspx

^Sorry Jeff - I had checked that, but we have no photos of the ride...yet! (Maybe we ccan get Richard on that...LOL!)... :)

I think Mike G. is referring to this pic, which is of Battlestar Galactica at Universal Studios Singapore.