The Flip Flap Railway was the first roller coaster to go upside down in the United States and was notorious for being so extreme it broke rider’s necks. But was it truly that intense or...
Most of you who read our website are “coaster enthusiasts,” but in case you happen to be a member of the “GP” who stumbles upon us by mistake, you may need a crash course in...
A ride on Gravity Max at Taiwan’s Lihpao Land theme park begins innocently enough with a typical chain lift hill. But upon cresting the apex, you’ll notice the track suddenly ends – the rails stop...
Paul Gregg, the retired aerospace engineer turned backyard roller coaster designer, is back with a new book chronicling the research and construction of his homemade thrill rides. When we interviewed him last time, Paul had...
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts ride recently opened at Universal Studios Florida to massive praise, frequent breakdowns, and seven hour plus wait times. The completely immersive experience seamlessly combines giant physical sets with massive...
Welcome to the latest edition of Coasters-101: the definitive guide on roller coaster lift hills. What are lift hills? How do roller coasters reach their highest point? How do lift hills work? What angle are...
Welcome to Coasters-101: Roller Coaster Wheel Design! A typical wheel used on a roller coaster is constructed by taking an aluminum hub and bonding a polyurethane tire to the hub’s outside diameter. This entire “wheel...
Welcome to another addition of Coasters-101. Today we’re going to discuss one of the most important and perhaps most overlooked components of a roller coaster-the foundations! It’s an exciting time when you go to your...
Welcome to another session of Coasters101! Today, we’re going to continue looking at some of the math and engineering that goes into designing a roller coaster. Earlier, we looked at some physics calculations in regard...
Welcome to another session of Coasters101! Have you always wondered what type of calculations and mathematics engineers must do to design a roller coaster? Today, we are going to talk about the physics of roller...
