The fastest roller coasters are split into two categories: wood and steel. The fastest wooden coaster is Son of Beast in Ohio, reaching 78 mph, while the fastest steel coaster is Kingda Ka in New Jersey, reaching 128 mph. Kingda Ka may soon be surpassed by Ring Racer in Germany, with a planned top speed of 134.8 mph. Speed has always been a critical factor in roller coaster entertainment value and advancing technology.
In the world of roller coaster fanatics, only the biggest, wildest, and most thrilling will truly fit the bill. From the earliest days of the ride, speed has been a critical factor in a ride’s entertainment value and a hallmark of advancing roller coaster technology. Today, determining the fastest roller coaster in the world is often split into two categories: wood and steel. As of 2008, the world’s fastest wooden coaster is Son of Beast at King’s Island in Ohio, while the fastest, and fastest overall, steel coaster is Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey.
Son of Beast, built by roller coaster design legend Werner Stengel, holds a number of records for wooden roller coasters. In addition to reaching a top speed of 78 miles per hour (126.2 kilometers per hour), it also boasts height and highest drop records. Until an accident injured 27 people in 2006, Son of Beast was also the only wooden coaster to feature a ring element. The speed of the ride is remarkable for a wooden roller coaster, beating the closest competition by over 4km/h. Despite its position as the fastest roller coaster to be made out of wood, Son of Beast is often criticized for being extremely bumpy and jerky, though little deters visitors from waiting in long lines to tackle its rides.
In the world of steel rides, the record for fastest roller coaster goes to the amazing Kingda Ka. Opened in 2005 with considerable success, Kingda Ka reaches a top speed of 128 mph (206 km/h) in 3.5 seconds, propelled by a hydraulic lance. The ride is a marvel of technical innovation, even reclaiming the roller coaster crowns for tallest ride and biggest drop. Despite the initial setbacks and delays surrounding its 2005 opening, Kingda Ka has become a hugely popular attraction, serving up to 1400 passengers per hour at maximum capacity.
Despite Kingda Ka’s three-year record as the world’s fastest roller coaster, it will likely be eclipsed by 2009. Scheduled to open at the Nurburgring, one German circuit is the gigantic Ring Racer. While work on this monster ride is yet to be completed, Ring Racer is expected to surpass Kingda Ka with a planned top speed of 134.8 mph (216.9 km/h). In the roller coaster world, fast rides will always be respected, but like Kingda Ka, they are liable to lose their position as the fastest roller coaster as technology continues to advance.
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