Thrill Ride—"G forces"

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Wildcats Thunder Editor/Writer

Six Flags, Kings Island, Dollywood, Kentucky Kingdom, Cedar Point. These are just a few of the major amusement parks around the United States that are home to one of the most thrilling of all amusement park rides: the Roller Coaster. Unless you are an

F-16 jet pilot, the only way to experience the thrill of multiple G forces and death-defying loops and twists is to ride one of these babies:

(Millennium Force Roller Coaster, Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio)

Got a need for speed? Millennium Force has your answer. Towering 310 feet above earth, this massive steel superstructure hits speeds of 93 mph, making it one of the fastest and tallest roller coasters in the world! Enjoy a 2-minute & 20-second, high-speed adventure over 6,595 feet of steel track. Some quick facts about the Millennium Force:

Angle of Descent	80 degrees
Lift Height	310 feet
Track Length	6,595 feet
Vertical Drop	300 feet
Angle of Lift Hill	45 degrees
Second Hill Height	169 feet
Third Hill Height	182 feet

No doubt a coaster the caliber of Millennium Force (or other comparable coasters) subject the body to around 3.5 G’s at some point (I hear 3.5G’s is the max of any US coaster), producing a thrilling ride that has heart pounding, your blood pressure up, and your back hurting at the rides end. Anyone that has ridden a roller coaster of this magnitude knows the thrill and anticipation you experience as you climb that first incline and see the pending drop to the bottom of the hill.

G forces, you say? Well, how about these “G forces”? We’re talking about Gillispie forces here! That’s right, UK fans are on a recruiting roller coaster right now and Gillispie is the guy down in the control box that is running the ride. Thrilling? Exciting? NO DOUBT! As each UK fan nears the top of each incline or loop they buzz with anticipation over the magic that Gillispie has been able to work in a matter of just 2 months’ time. Who knew the ride could/would be this much fun? Need I say more than these names? Patrick Patterson (2007), Alex Legion (2007), DeAndre Liggins (2008), GJ Vilarino (2009), Dakota Euton (2010), and K.C. Ross-Miller (2010).

Just when you thought the ride couldn’t get any better, we now have the potential for 2 or 3 more players to commit within the next couple of weeks: Darius Miller (2008), Rotnei Clarke (2008), Leonard Washington (2007), and Trae Golden (2010)

All I can say is hold on to your stomachs and enjoy the ride, ‘cause it may be a long time before this exhilarating ride is over with!