Jun 13 2008New Roller Coaster Features 97 Degree Drop
The New Fahrenheit roller coaster at Hershey Park in Pennsylvania features a 97 degree drop at the beginning. That's 7 degrees past vertical (see picture: right side, where the track curves back in). At the bottom of the drop riders experience 4 G's and then puke and/or passout. The two minute ride is being billed as the steepest and most severe in the United States and the coaster just opened on May 24th. I'm not riding it. And not because I don't love roller coasters (I do), but because of this quote from Popular Mechanics:
(Talking about the testing of the ride) First, engineers load the trains full of heavy water dummies, to figure out how the cars will behave when they're at capacity. The rules say you need 100 hours of this testing, but engineers at the park said they would run over 1,000 rides before people got on the coaster.
Stop the presses. If the ride is 2 minutes long and you run 1,000 rides, that's, uh, only 33 hours and 20 minutes of testing. You weren't the same engineers that designed the ride are you? You don't say. Say, if you wouldn't mind unstrapping me, I'd like to get the f*** off this thing before I make a little chocolate of my own.
Another picture and the video after the jump.
Fahrenheit Coaster [techeblog]
Reader Comments
1. Momboelitist - June 13, 2008 2:44 PM
The only thing I don't like about roller coasters is the riding them part.
And I'm FIRST again! What a country!
2. JFreezy - June 13, 2008 3:05 PM
I would feel sorry for anyone sitting behind me. Large "chocolate" pellets would be flying out the back of my seat LOL!!
3. Uncle Eccoli - June 13, 2008 3:07 PM
Somehow, the 90deg climb scares me more than the 97deg drop.
4. beefytee - June 13, 2008 3:16 PM
is it just me or doe the drop look kind of short?
5. Christophe Maximin - June 13, 2008 3:30 PM
I'm seconding beefytee, the drop is really too short, it's a shame.
6. The Kilted Yaksman - June 13, 2008 3:30 PM
Just watching the video made me feel sick.
7. monkeymuscle - June 13, 2008 3:32 PM
I've been on a kids slide which is angled at 90 degrees. big woop
8. Kryssy - June 13, 2008 3:45 PM
I'd love to be able to try it out. Recently I went on the new roller-coaster at Canada's Wonderland "Behemoth". It had massive drops, both high and at various extreme angles, though it doesn't go upside down unfortunately. The drops do look rather short (aka not that high) >.< on this 'coaster.
9. Hails - June 13, 2008 3:51 PM
Is it just me or does that look almost exactly like Knott's Berry Farm's Xlerator?
http://www.aroundhawaii.com/assets/articles/2006/01/370/images/200601_aw2005waf2006010.jpg
10. Amanda - June 13, 2008 4:05 PM
#7 - you cannot traditionally 'slide' down a 90 degree angle!
11. JOWE - June 13, 2008 4:20 PM
Just like the top thrill dragster at Cedar Point...except a lot less intense
12. Amy - June 13, 2008 4:21 PM
I believe sliding down 90 degrees is called falling.
13. e-roc - June 13, 2008 4:27 PM
uh yeah thats nothing I m from St. Petersburg Fl right next to Busch Gardens and they have a roller coaster there called sheiKra and when you get to the top it stops and holds you there and drops at a random time and has no floor that is way more nuts than the 97 degree thing
14. guate6 - June 13, 2008 4:49 PM
Looks intense. I'll ride it no sooner than 10 years from now.
#12's right...you'd be falling next to the slide...but I think he was joking.
15. Lisa - June 13, 2008 5:04 PM
@Uncle Eccoli, I completely agree. Don't ask me why, but after that traumatic climb a 97 degree drop would be sweet, sweet relief.
16. none - June 13, 2008 5:13 PM
that doesn't look like it's 2 minutes long, that looks way shorter!
17. Kayleigh - June 13, 2008 5:16 PM
Also see Speed at Oakwood park in Wales, UK, which has a 97 degree drop and at the time of building (though it may have changed since then) was the tallest rollercoaster of its type in the world. So ner to Pennsylvania not checking their facts.
18. monkeymuscle - June 13, 2008 6:20 PM
you can ut has a curve at the bottom, you sit at the top and just lie againts the slidey wall as you fall, cant remember the name of the parf place though. good fun
19. Derek - June 13, 2008 6:41 PM
I agree with 3 and 15, the climb would scare the piss out of me.
Anyone else see the triple corkscrew in the picture?
:D
20. Tim - June 13, 2008 9:00 PM
Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH has one of those already. If anybody gets a chance then RIDE IT!!!
21. claw - June 14, 2008 4:02 AM
wow. looks awesome! would love to try it one day!
22. welshy - June 14, 2008 4:23 AM
oakwood themepark (wales,UK) has had an over vertical drop for quite a while. and its insane, much better than any of the rollercoasters i went on in california (six flags, universal studios, etc)
check it out, watch the little video to see the drop http://www.oakwoodthemepark.co.uk/rides/speed.asp
23. chaz - June 14, 2008 9:48 AM
damn engineers what do they know PPfffft.
24. Neisseria - June 15, 2008 2:08 AM
I'm pretty sure a loop would go past 97 degrees seeing that its all the way around. making any coaster with a loop the steepest. or what about the tower of terror at dreamworld in australia its completely vertical so wouldn't it be the steepest? because last time i checked 90 degrees is more vertical and steep then 97.
25. Mike - June 15, 2008 3:44 AM
That's old old news. The Steel Hawg coaster at Indiana Beach has a 120 degree first drop.
http://www.indianabeach.com/blog/wp-content/2008/06/photos6-110101.jpg
http://www.indianabeach.com/rides/coasters/hawg.php
26. Lara - June 15, 2008 2:10 PM
I live in Hershey - that ride is great.
27. E - June 15, 2008 5:57 PM
I have actually rode the thing. There is a lot more to the ride then the drop, loops, corkscrews etc. The climb is definitely more intense because its a really strange feeling going up a roller coaster at such a steep angle when you are used to just an intense drop. It is a good ride though especially when you figure the park is located in central Pennsylvania where there isn't much to do.
28. sadie - June 16, 2008 12:33 AM
I rode this roller coaster the day it was opened. Contrary to what everyone is saying about it, it was one of the best rides I have ever been on.
29. Meaty Urologist - June 16, 2008 1:20 PM
So, was the "chocolate" comment directed at me? Because if it was, I already explained myself. I had the flu, and I thought that that's what all the cool kids were doing.
Damn those white jeans...
30. Nanners - June 16, 2008 9:18 PM
I just rode that on Saturday and it was awesome.
31. NateCSZ - June 18, 2008 12:34 PM
There are many coasters that have a 90+ degree drop. This one looks to be the tallest and the longest. I DO want to make it over to Europe and ride some of those coasters. You guys have some crazy crap over there!!!
32. TONYA - June 19, 2008 9:44 AM
I LIVE AT HERSHEY AND I RODE THE FARENHEIT ITS A PUSSY RIDE ITS GOOD BUT ITS NOT SCARY.. I WENT ON IT 2 WKS AGO FOR THE 1ST TIME IN THE FRONT SEAT
33. AliCat - June 20, 2008 3:40 PM
I guess it would depend on the train restrains. I'm a Great Adventure girl since I live in Jersey- and Nitro and El Torro for example, even though they aren't as steep have first drops that make me anxious because they only have lap bars. If this one has shoulder restraints (which if it loops it does) I don't think the drop would feel so scary.
34. emily - June 22, 2008 4:46 PM
@33: Definitely. I live right by Six Flags Great America, and get scared every time I am in line for Raging Bull--but had no problem going on Fahrenheit. For some reason having the shoulder restraints takes away all my anxiety.
35. Elemental - June 22, 2008 10:32 PM
I would have to be dead AND in the ground for 6 weeks to get on ANY roller coaster. I don't know the dudes that built 'em and if I did, I still wouldn't trust them. That's just craziness. But before you go giving me grief, come rappelling with me: ya gotta climb up first, you know.
But, then again, my very first rule of thumb is: If you have to stand in a line, there are better ways to spend your time.
36. A. Einstein - June 24, 2008 2:42 PM
Not to be a dick, but isn't "7 degrees past vertical 187 degrees, not 7 degrees. 90 degrees is flat in respect to vertical... 97 degrees wouldn't be much of a drop.
37. Elemental - June 24, 2008 10:15 PM
A. Einstein:
Ummmm...no. 90 degrees is straight up and down from the horizon ( the baseline, if you want to think of it that way). 97 degrees is an overhang of 7 degrees. Doesn't matter though, anything that makes me feel sick just watching the video is a No Go for me.
38. sigmundfuckingfreud - June 25, 2008 5:10 PM
That rollercoaster drop is already in Six flags Great adventure in New jersey. Went on it 3 days ago. THING ROCKED! Favorite rollercoaster in the world. I think its called kingda ka.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingda_Ka
They made that drop identical to kingda ka....cheaters.
39. yoke - June 27, 2008 7:34 AM
boo!
looks like americans think they invented hot water again...
you really want a below 90° drop? try thyphoon! bobejaanland belgium!
with it's 80° drop it's the first and only in the world.
now THAT'S a scary ride! and it lasts for 3 minutes :D
40. ash - June 29, 2008 9:07 AM
ok i can see the signs now, if you have a heart condison do not ride this...
41. lisa - June 30, 2008 10:01 PM
#12, Amy: Too funny!!!
A. Einstein: Better look into a new name.
42. Sean - July 2, 2008 2:52 PM
No, it's FAR smaller than kingda ka.... trust me....
43. lori - July 7, 2008 11:22 PM
Damn man , you must get sick to your stomach like a mother fo.
but this roller coaster looks like the best one ive seen yet . i might just go there , one day .
44. Beth - August 26, 2008 5:14 PM
Well, I can say that I've rode this coaster. And I must say that it was AWESOME. I have to say that my stomache was in my throat, thank God I didnt eat before getting on. It's a great coaster.
45. Elisabeth - September 7, 2008 10:25 PM
yeah i went on it today, it was AWESOME. the 97* drop doesnt seem really scary but 1nce u go on it its more than u would expect! i do recomend Storm Runner Better tho.