It seems to me that this new coaster is not safe. It looks (from the tv ads) that it goes straight down after going straight up. The curve is very small. Basically it looks like it can fly off the tracks. Someone tell me how I am wrong please?

First off, the new coaster is called Xcelerator, and the design feature you are talking about is the Top Hat... Fisrt off, the coaster uses a pneunatic launching system (similar to how an aircraft is launched for an aircraft carrier) to have the coaster go from 0 to 82 mph in just 2.3 seconds.

Now, once you are launched, one of two things will happen, either you have enough speed, and you go over the top hat, and enjoy the full track, or on a RARE occasion, a "short" shot happens, which results in the train not going over the top of the track, what happens is that the train goes backwards, and thru the use of magnetic breaks on the level part of the track, the train slows down to a stop prior to returning to the station.

Once the train goes over the top, physics comes into play, and there is no chance for the train to stop anywhere in the middle of the track (due to the energy created while going "down" the top hat), and only when it hits the magentic breaks at the end of the track will the train come to a stop.

Now, how does the train stay on the track, the way almost all roller coasters do, they do NOT just have one set of wheels...

There are three wheels on every roller coaster -- running wheels, or the main wheels on which the train runs, friction wheels, which help control side-to-side motion of the roller coaster, and upstop wheels, which are underneath the track and make it impossible for the coaster to leave the track -- even if inverted.

So basically, the train is attached to the track at all times, want some reassurance, get a ring and a straw, place the ring on the straw, then take the straw and make a "U"... as you can tell, he ring can't come off the track!

Now the part of Xcelerator that gets some people nervous, is the movement of the top hat part of the track, it has some serious "sway", and that is designed on purpose, if the "sway" was not part of the design, then the track would crack and break, and that is something nobody wants!!!!

Look, I was on the first train out of the station as part of the opening ceremonies, and know this ride inside and out, it is an awesome roller coaster, and is perfectly safe!!!!!

HB, thanks for asking.

Darkbeer, thanks for answering. I don't ride the coasters but my kids do. I don't want to put them on something unsafe.

Do you know where I can find the height/weight requirements?

The minimum Height Requirement is 52" for Xcelerator, plus they require you to have the physical attributes to fit into the safety equipment correctly.... I am 6 feet even (The SERIOUSLY tall, like close to 7 feet could be not allowed to ride, due to the fact that their head would not be supported by the headrest), also you have to fit into the seat and the restraint system, I am about 220 with a 40 inch waist, and I fit, but I am close to the limit of "large" folks.... they do have a seat that they require you to sit in if it looks like you will be close to not being able to ride, you also have to be able to fully bend your knees and be able to place your feet flat on the floor (to make sure the restraint bar works correctly).

When you load, you sit down and place your seatbelt on, then the Knott's CM will close the restraint bar, this way they can check the seatbelt, and make sure that the restraint bar is tight.

Sometimes the "illusion" of fear is built into these rides for the "thrill" factor, but nobody is going to build a ride in this lawsuit age that could hurt you, also remember, here in California, the Department of Occupational Safety (DOSH) has to sign off on the ride before it can open.

Don't worry, but just go have fun!!!!!!!:D

As Darkbeer said, there are very strict safety standards for roller coasters. A great deal of engineering and testing goes into creating rides that build up thrills through the illusion of danger, but which are actually extremely safe. You are actually placing yourself in considerably more danger if you drive to an amusement park in a car than you are when you get on even the most extreme roller coasters.

Yes, there have been a few accidents on amusement park rides in recent years, but these are still big news because they are >extremely< rare. How frequently do you see automobile accidents making the nightly news?

-Jeff

We were at Knott's on last night (Sunday night) and Xcelerator made more launches without passengers than with - they obviously are very cautious about making sure the ride is always operating correctly and Knott's overall is becoming extremely fanatical about checking any riders of the extreme rides for safety prior to even letting them get in the queue.

They had test seats at the entrance to Xcelerator, Supreme Scream and Perilous Plunge and they were inspecting anyone who looked too short, too tall, too large or too thin to fit correctly into the test seats.

Excelerator shoud be a great ride once they work out all of the bugs - one suspects that they are simply being very cautious at this point and shutting down at the sign of any diagnostic fault in the rides hardware or software. Remember, Splash Mountain and Indy had many days of marginal operation in their first year of existence ..............