Kingda Ka's speed record to be taken in 2009

[bigb7965]

Germany - (1/29/2008) According to Coastersandmore.de, S&S Power will be building a next generation version of their Thrust Air 2000 coaster concept that hopes to take the world speed record for fastest coaster. The location couldn’t be more fitting as apparently the launched coaster will be installed at the world famous Nuerburgring race track in Nurburg, Germany. They say that the coaster will launch riders to 217kph (135mph) in just 2.5 seconds. The current record holder is Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure which takes 3.5 seconds to hit a top speed of 128mph. The translation is a little rough, but the experience is described as more “dragster” than “coaster” since it sounds like it wont feature any big hills or tight helixes, only an incline into a heavily banked turn to run the track behind the grandstands to burn off some of the speed before you hit the brakes and enter a 500 meter long uneventful return trip back to the station. Unlike the previous Thrust Air coasters, this one will use a round coaster style track system and not the large I-beam tracks used previously.


http://www.screamscape.com/html/world_news.htm#Germany

[FParker185]

no it was confirmed about 2 weeks ago, it's for real, but it isnt a heck of alot of ride. I'd call it the next generation of the G-Force Dragster ride really. When I'm there in 2009 I don't even really plan on stopping for it.

[Coaster Justin]

Sounds like a cheap way to get a record. I'll still ride it.

Hopefully my mom's fear of Driving on the other side of the road will vanish some day.

[FParker185]

yeah.... coaster is in Germany, not England.

[cycamps]

Sounds like a cheap way to get a record.

I'd have to agree.

[bigb7965]

Sounds like a cheap way to get a record.

I'd have to agree.

me too

[BP317]

Sounds like a cheap way to get a record. I'll still ride it.

Its at a race track not a theme park, whole point of it is to go fast they have no reason to care about a layout.

[Coaster Justin]

FParker are you saying that there are some countries that drive on the left side of the road. PLEASE TELL!!!!!

[BP317]

/\ Actually you that said that.

[bigb7965]

FParker are you saying that there are some countries that drive on the left side of the road. PLEASE TELL!!!!!

yes i think so

also the steering wheel is on the other side of the car



i know this is to FParker but i felt like answering............

[FParker185]

Great Britain drives on the left (correct side as they like to say) and the steering wheel is on the left side of the car. Ditto for Whales and maybe Ireland. I think there may be a few other countries in the world that are that way also (former British colonies). All of mainland Europe drives on the right.

[Trailblazer Tony]

/\ Actually you that said that.

Are we still doing a quote of the year?! Cause i nominate this one! Who was doing that? Woodland?

I think this is definitely a cheat way to get the speed record, but then again, i don't Kingda Ka adding a couple feet to Top Thrill Dragster the next year was much of a better situation. This sounds like it should be a ride at Fun Spot or something.

[cycamps]

Fun Spot....

[zjohn1988]

^haha they already charge $40 for theirs...the new one would at least double the price..

[CoastsToCoasters]

I went from way too excited to extremely disappointed.

I looked up the artwork, the coaster site, the reviews and honestly-yes, what a cheap way to get a record. The idea is pretty cool but it seems they went no-where after the idea. Zoom....omfg my face[cheeks flappin, eyes wide open], Fast paced bank curve, BRAKES.

Now if thats the case, dragster and ka are no better. But theyve got at least a couple more things goin for them[in my opinion]. Height is the main factor. No this shouldnt be the tallest one as well...we saw S&S prove that in 2001 with DODONPA. Ttd & KK have amazing twisted drops, and the one has an extra hill. Whether some feel its an un-necessary element its still another element to the coaster.

Therefore, I feel that with them going into such a deal with a speed record, They could have decided[and hope they do in the future] to add another piece of "umph" to such an astonishing machine. I feel they could have been more creative to even make the bank curve a rised highly overbanked curve to turn ridres nearly upside down.

[ttd rox]

That is definately a cheap way to break the record! They could have added a better coaster anyways then trying to break the record. Ones like around 230ft or a little taller is more fun then riding something too tall to the point where it's not fun at all and rather less intense.

[tp41190]

I think it sounds like a great idea. Although, they could have added a very tiny bunny hill too provide some airtime. And that speed, the hill would be VERY tiny.

[FParker185]

I dont think they are trying to break any records, I have yet to hear it promoted as a roller coaster except by coaster enthuiasses. It's a race car experience as a race track that happens to use coaster track and nothing more.

[ttd rox]

I guess your right.^ I didn't read the whole article before.

[CoastsToCoasters]

Sadly, Ill be obsessed with this idea in a month mostlikely...No matter what my views are thus far.

I have been picturing a slightly better idea[maybe its better] where after the straightaway launch track, the bank could rise 100+ ft high [no more than 200]but turn riders upside down almost like an inverted top hat but a banked curve. So the banking would incline and begin immediatley.

But heres "my great idea"...The bank is beuatifully lit up, almost as if a monument if that makes sense [god im so lame]. Seating placed below the bank so its really interactive. Have small flashing lights going off as the train passes to resemble flashing cameras. ...It looks interesting in my mind ok?

Darn! do races even take place at night? cause if not, most likely the coaster wont run either. so much for anything like an idea.

[FParker185]

as an aside to driving on the left, ireland is considering switching to driving on the right hand side but article says, Besides Ireland, many former British colonies such as India and Australia keep to the left as does Japan. More common than I thought. Mainland Europe switched to right side driving after WWII

[CoastsToCoasters]

I dont know where you got that resonspe from[ ] or how i found this but checj this stuff out...

http://coaster101.proboards66.com/index ... 672&page=1

[ttd rox]

http://www.aceonline.org/AceNewsNow/?article=49

I don't think it is a real coaster.

[cycamps]

I really don't think it's a coaster either...

[CoastsToCoasters]

Well ACE doesnt have the solid say whether or not. Theyd[just as we prob. would] just like it to have hills, dives & turns.

however, its being dubbed a coaster by the "park"/track and S&S. I still find it cheap but Id ride it to experience it in a heartbeat. I still feel they should elevate the turnaround into an overbank. People could stand below it to catch a glimpse & "interact" with it. I should draw it out and show you what I mean.