Origins of the Enzo Ferrari

        Las Vegas - Sometimes known as the F60, the Enzo Ferrari is the design preceding the current one (La Ferrari).  Ferrari built 400 Enzos.  The Enzo Ferrari is the last of the V-12 Ferraris that feature brawn over brains.  La Ferrari introduces more computerization and electric motors.  The Enzo Ferrari is a 12-cylinger mid-engine berlinetta.  Berlinetta is a sporty form of coupe.  It is typically a two-seater.  The original meaning for Berlinetta in Italian is "little saloon."  The style was introduced in the 1930s and was popularized by Ferrari in the 1950s.  Maserati and  some other European car companies also use the Berlinetta insignia.  This gesture of Ferrari's highest achievement when produced from 2002-2004 is named after the company's founder Enzo Ferrari.  The Enzo Ferrari was built from 2002-2004 and due to the limited number produced, 400, helps keep it near or at the top of  all super cars. 
     The Enzo Ferrari uses some Formula One technology such as a carbon-fibre body, a F1-style electrohydraulic shift transmission, and carbon-fibre-reinforced silicon carbide (C/SiC) ceramic composite disc brakes.  The Enzo Ferrari V-12 engine is hte first of a new generation for Ferrari.  It is based on the architecture of the V-8 found in Maseratis Quattroporte.  The Enzo, named after the founder, was established to commemorate Ferrari's first formula one title of the new millennium.  The Enzo was designed by the independent car design firm and coach builder Pininfarina of Cambiano, Italy.  The design was initially announced at the 2002 Paris Motor Show, with a limited production run of 349, that was increased to 400.  The initial price of the Enzo Ferrari was US$659,330.  The Ferrari company sent invitations to existing customers.  They particularly wanted to attract those that had bought the F40 and/or F50.  All 349 cars were sold in this way before production began.  After numerous requests Ferrari decided to build 50 more Enzos, bringing the total to 399.  That, plus the one at The Paris Auto Show makes the total 400.  See also,  www.Ferrari.com.

Kentucky Roller Coasters..are they faster or is that only an illusion?

Lightening Run at Kentucky Kingdom

     Louisville - Lightening Run is a "Hyper GT-X" type roller coaster that is an even 100 feet tall.  It is not the tallest roller coaster, but its 20-seat trains reach a top speed of 55 miles-per-hour, it is 2,500 feet long and has a ride length of approximately two minutes.  Kentucky Kingdom celebrated a re-opening Saturday, May 24, 2014.  Lightening Run uses two trains with five cars per train.  Riders are arranged two across in two rows for a total of 20 riders per train.  The ride lasts approximately two minutes and has a maximum drop angle of eight degrees.  That means when you are on your steepest drops you are going almost straight down.  Kentucky Kingdom (formerly known as Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom) is an amusement park in Louisville, Kentucky.  The park's 63-acres includes a water park named Hurricane Bay.  Lightening Run's starting station-house was previously used for Greezed Lightnin.'  The Hyper GT-X designation of Lightening Run indicates it is a new coaster with state of the art rider restraints.  See also, www.kentuckykingdom.com.     

Gold Striker..Western style roller coaster.

California Great America's Gold Striker

     Santa Clara - Gold Striker began with a soft opening, promotions and other events, to publicize the ride.  Gold Striker features an old West theme.  The ride is 108 feet tall.  When Gold Striker opened in 2013 it had been one of the most anticipated additions to California Great America in the park's history.  Gold Striker reaches speeds of up to 54 miles-per-hour and a maximum fifty-degree angle.  Gold Striker is 3,200 feet long and lasts over two minutes.  Gold Striker is California Great America's eighth roller coaster and is located in the Celebration Plaza area, it wraps around Star Tower, with views overlooking the new 49ers stadium.  The roller coaster is  California Great America's wooden, chain-lifted (versus launched) coaster with a maximum height of  108 feet and a maximum drop of 103 feet.  Gold Striker has a top speed of 53.7 miles per hour and length of 3,197 feet, with a ride length of two minutes and thirteen seconds.  Gold Striker is the first roller coaster built at California Great America since 2001.  Trains are 12 cars with two across seating, for a total of 24 riders per train.
     When opened Gold  Striker was the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in Northern California.  Gold Striker is a wooden, twisting, coaster that features, an eighty-degree banked curve, and a station fly-by.  The name Gold Striker was chosen to recognize the pioneering and adventurous spirit of the California gold seekers who rushed the area in 1849.  California Great America is an amusement park owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company.  California Great America is one of four major amusement parks that operate around the Bay Area.  California Great America is the only amusement park in Northern California that has a water park within the park grounds.  According to Wikipedia, a permit was issued to Cedar Fair Entertainment Company in May 2012.  Cedar Fair filed a trademark for the name Gold Striker.  Gold Striker was officially announced on August 29, 2012, as being the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in Northern California.  Representatives of the San Francisco 49ers were on hand at the ceremony, since the ride is themed and named after what built the city of San Francisco, the California Gold Rush.  February 20, 2013, California Great America announced the first drop will be fully enclosed, setting the record for world's longest initial drop tunnel on a wooden coaster.  March 6, 2013, the park announced it would be holding a, first rider, auction for Gold Striker.  The public could spend money to be first to ride until April 28, 2013.  However, California Great America made it possible for the public to take some early rides on April 30, 2013, while a commercial for the park was being done.  Gold Striker officially opened June 1, 2013.   See full story, www.greatamericaparks.com  
        

Super Bowl Half-Time Pay-to-Play

       Glendale - In 1992 Michael Jackson headlined (was the main performer) at Super Bowl XXVII (27).   Unlike previous years, Michael Jackson was the only performer in the entire half-time show.  Super Bowl XXVII was the first Super Bowl where audience figures actually increased during the half-time show.  Since then, the NFL and television network, officials decided it was necessary to sign top acts for the half-time in future years, in order to boost future viewership and interest for the Super Bowl.  Michael Jackson's performance at Super Bowl XXVII is considered one of the most watched television broadcasts in American television history.  Now, the NFL announces this long-time practice of signing the top performers, might literally turn into pay-to-play. 
     The NFL is asking music acts to pay for playing at Super Bowl half-time shows.  The Super Bowl is America's most-viewed annual sporting event.  According to the Onion, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, August 19, 2014, that the NFL has notified Rihanna, Katy Perry, and Cold Play that they are under consideration to perform at the half-time of Super Bowl 49 next February.  In the process of notifying them, the paper reports the league has also asked some of the artists to either give a portion of their post-Super Bowl tour proceeds to the league or make some type of financial contribution in exchange for being offered the privilege of performing at the Super Bowl half-time show.  NFL spokeswoman, Joanna Hunter, told the Wall Street Journal, the NFL's contracts with performers are confidential and the leagues only goal is to "put on the best possible show."  Hunter also said, the half-time act for this season's Super Bowl game in Glendale, Arizona, has not been decided.  However, the featured performer for the half-time show is typically announced by the NFL at the same time during the regular season.  See also, www.espn.go.com. 

Extra... Balmer... Moves From Microsoft

       Los Angeles - According to NBC Southern California, "Clippers will win:"  A rowdy Steve Balmer, took Monday's August 19, 2014, fan rally by storm when Steve Balmer introduced himself as the new owner of theLos Angeles Clippers.   Now, Steve Balmer says, he has accomplished as much at Microsoft as he can or has wanted to, and is stepping aside.  See also, www.losangelestimes.com.

X-Flight

Origins of X-Flight Six Flags Great America

     Chicago - X-Flight is a steel roller coaster in the County Fair Section of Six Flags Great America near Chicago, Illinois.  X-Flight opened as the second Wing Coaster in the United States after,Wild Eagle, and it is Six Flags Great America, Illinois, thriteenth roller coaster.
     A little bit about what happens when you ride on the X-Flight will be like: a pre-drop (or, kicker) that is usually found on coasters of this type.  After the lift hill (devices used to pull trains up hills), a pre-drop acts as a shelf for the front of the train while the back is still leaving the lift hill.  This is used to reduce strain on the chain lift.  After the pre-drop, a half-barrel roll (while riding straight) rolls left to right up to 180 degrees.  After the half-barrel roll the ride enters a lead-up to the main drop.  This lead-up is upside-down (inverted).  Six Flags Great America's X-Flight defies gravity.  By virture of being a "wing coaster" their is no track above or below your feet.  Instead, sitting in pairs (two side-by-side) riders are suspended (hung) on either side of the steel X-Flight track.  X-Flight rises twelve stories (approximately 120 feet), reaches speeds up to 55 miles-per-hour, features five inversions, has a Zero-G roll, and a complete barrel roll (360 twist around the track, while going straight).  In order, the inversions are:  Dive Loop, Zero-G Roll, Immelmann, Zero-G Roll, and an Inline Twist (360 degree twist around the track while going straight).
     X-Flight opened May 16, 2012.  X-Flight trains have seven cars with one row each, seating four side-by-side.  X-Flight is one of America's first wing roller coasters.  X-Flight may refer to one of two roller coasters.  X-Flight (Six Flags Great America) the wing roller coaster at Six Flags Great America.  Or, X-Flight (Geauga Lake).  According to Wikipedia, while the park was still named Six Flags Ohio, plans for a new roller coaster known as X-Flight were revealed on January 4, 2001.  Six days later Six
Flags purchased Sea World Ohio - next to Geauga Lake - with the intent of merging the two to create Six Flags, Worlds of Adventure.  The new venture advertised X-Flight as the first Flying roller coaster in the Midwest, and it was the park's tenth roller coaster overall - it was the fifth added since 2000.  The new coaster was built on a former bus parking lot, and Geauga Lake Road had to be re-routed around the ride.
Land clearing for X-Flight began December 1, 2000, and construction on the footers began February 9, 2001.  X-Flight opened May 26, 2001.  See full story, www.sixflags.com/greatamerica.                   
                 

The Great Noreaster Morey's Piers Wildwood Jersey Shore

Origins of the Great Nor' Easter...Morey's Piers Jersey Shores

      Wildwood - In 1995, Morey's Piers wanted to expand their theme park with a roller coaster, they wanted the first inverted coaster in the North East region.  Later, in 1995, the Great Nor' Easter was installed.  The Great Nor' Easter is 2,100 feet of twisted steel, that takes riders high over Raging Waters water park,  through rollovers, sidewinders, and double spins, at speeds in excess of fifty miles per hour (55 m.p.h.).  The Great Nor' Easter is a Suspended Looping Coaster (SLC).  This type of steel inverted roller coaster is installed in at least 39 locations around the world.  The first suspended looping roller coaster installation was El Condor at Walibi, Holland, in the Netherlands.  SLC's were intended to run with ten cars in each train.  Troublingly high maintenance costs with this configuration led to the trains being shortened to a seven or eight car layout.
     Of the several different track layouts of SLCs, most feature a similar pattern.  The ride starts by taking riders up a 33.3-metre (109 ft.) chain hill.  In 2006, the track and support were painted white.  Previously, they had been painted in a pinkish-red.  For 2008, the coaster received some upgrades.  According to Wikipedia, newer-styled "Freedom Seats" cars were installed.  These new trains, with new-styled seats, featured an ergnomically designed seat that makes the ride smoother, while also providing a view of all directions, as well as complete arm freedom.  The design utilizes a lap bar and new innovative vest of large rubberized plastic pads, they maximize safety and comfort.  Add to that a redesigned station, and a new color scheme for the starting station ( in this case red, white, and blue), gives a brand new ride experience. 
     The theme of "Fly-the Great Nor' Easter" is a major East Coast storm, and was given to the roller coaster to help add thrills.  Despite the limited space designers had to work with, the compact layout of the SLC was able to fit into Morey's Piers at Wildwood, New Jersey.  See also, www.moreyspiers.com.  

Shivering Timbers...Michigan, United States

Shivering Timbers Turns 30

      Muskegon - Shivering Timbers was intended to be one of the biggest roller coaster rides ever created.  It was envisioned as a mile-long, out-and-back roller coaster, that would rank as America's third-largest wooden roller coaster.  In June 1997, ground was broken for Michigan Adventure's 1998 season.  In May of 1998 Shivering Timbers debuted.  It was Michigan Adventure's 30th Anniversary year.  Shivering Timbers employs an easier  the to design and maintain out-and-back design construction layout.  The out-and-back design layout uses hills that are usually quite large on the way out of the  starting station and gradually decrease in size.  The hills on the way in-toward the starting station are smaller, and are intended to maximize air-time.  Air-time is the feeling of weightlessness one sometimes experiences on roller coaster rides.  Shivering Timbers has consistently ranked among the best wooden roller coasters.  Shivering Timbers uses a lift hill (versus launch-type system).  Shivering Timbers has a maximum height of 124 feet, with a maximum drop of 114 feet.  The length of the ride is in excess of one mile, at 5,384 feet.  Shivering Timbers speed is 57 miles per hour, with a top speed of 65 miles per hour.  The maximum angle for Shivering Timbers is approximately 53.43 degrees.  When riding Shivering Timbers riders will be able to experience maximum negative or positive gravitational force (g-force) of 3.8 pounds per square inch.  As would be expected for a roller coaster ride of a mile-long.  The duration of Shivering Timbers is two and-a-half minutes.  According to wikipedia, Shivering Timbers uses four-seats per car and six cars per train, for a total of 24 riders per roller coaster train.  See also, www.miadventure.com.            

Goliath Wooden Roller Coaster At Six Flags Great America 2014

Origins of Six Flags Great America's Goliath

     Chicago - Goliath of Six Flags Great America, Illinois is the tallest fastest, and steepest wooden roller coaster in the world.  Goliath opened June 19, 2014, Goliath includes, a steep 85 degree 180-foot drop, speeds up to 72 m.p.h., a zero-gravity roll, and two overbanked turns.  An overbanked turn is a left or right roll up to 90 degrees, that is similar to going all the way up-side down, while, still going straight.  At 72 m.p.h. Goliath is the fastest of any wooden roller coaster ride.  Goliath includes surprising curved and outrageous twists, according to one online website.  Goliath also features the aforementioned intense overbanked turns, a 180-degree zero G-roll twist, and two wild inversions; that flip the rider completely 360 degrees through a winding inverted drop and a spiraling inverted zero G-stall.
     Goliath debuted in the County Fair section of Six Flags Great America, Illinois.  Goliath is now the staple of the Six Flags Great America, Illinois, skyline.  August 5, 2011, Six Flags Great America announced on their official facebook page that Iron Wolf would be closed on September 5, 2011.  Iron Wolf was removed and relocated to Six Flags America where it operates as Apocalypse:  The Last Stand.  On August 1, 2013, Six Flags Great America, Illinois, began a teaser campaign entitled "Follow the Journey."  In mid-August 2013, it was revealed Six Flags Great America would be building a 165-foot tall (53m) roller coaster, with plans being lodged with the local zoning committee to exceed the 125-foot (38m) height limit imposed by the park.  On August 29, 2013 it was officially announced that Six Flags Great America would be adding Goliath for the 2014 season.  Goliath uses the same station house, and waiting line area, as Iron Wolf.  For Goliath, the station house platform was lengthened because thee trains for Goliath are longer than the Iron Wolf trains.  The Iron Wolf's train used to have seven rows and Goliath will feature twelve rows.  On February 21, 2014, Six Flags Great America revealed some of Goliath's final design.  The updated version of the design includes a steel lift hill structure, rather than the traditional wooden structure.  Construction for Goliath began in September 2013.  Goliath officially opened to the public on June 19 2014.            
     Goliath's name and theme were chosen purely on the basis of the rides size and scale.  Goliath is 3,100-feet-long (940m) and stands 165-feet (50m) tall.  Goliath features two inversions (rolling upside down while going straight) and two overbanked turns.  To utilize space at Six Flags Great America, Illinois, Goliath was built in a small space.  The lift hill, the section of the track where the roller coaster train is mechanically lifted to an elevated point or peak on the track, was built at a steep angle of 45 degrees.  Goliath claims three Guiness World Records.  The rides 180-foot-tall (55m) drop at angle of 85 degrees is the steepest and longest in the world for a wooden roller coaster ride.  Goliath is also the fastest wooden roller coaster in the world, with a top speed of (116 km/h).  Goliath, also resulted in Six Flags Great America claiming the record for the amusement park with the most wooden roller coaster ride track in the world, this according to Wikipedia.  See also, www.sixflagsgreatamerica.com                   

Vertical Velocity V2 Roller Coaster Front Seat Six Flags Great Ameri...

Origins of the Vertical Velocity

     Illinois - Vertical Velocity is an inverted steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Great America, near Chicago, Illinois.  Using the name 'Twisted Impulse Coaster' this launched shuttle-style coaster has been running at the Yankee Harbor section of Six Flags Great America (Illinois), since May 18, 2001.  Launched roller coaster rides are modern platforms of roller coaster that have seen increased use in the previous decade.  In place of a traditional chain lift, the launched roller coaster initiates a ride with high amounts of acceleration via one or a series of Linear Induction Motors (LIMs), Linear Synchrous Motors (LSMs), catapaults, or other mechanisms employing hydraulic or pneumatic power.  These are some of the fastest rides in the world.  Launched roller coasters cost more to maintain, but they operate at higher speeds which allows more fun designs.  This roller coaster ride uses a single seven seat car (28-passenger) train, which runs along a 656-foot (200 metre), U-shaped track, incorporating two 185 foot (56 m) vertical spikes.  The forward spike incorporates a twisted spiral, and the rearward spike provides a straight freefall.  The 65-foot (20m) train, propelled by linear induction motors (LIMs), is accelerated in less than four seconds to 70 mph toward the forward tower, before dropping back down through the station house, the platform where the next riders are standing, and up the rearward tower.  The train passes at speed through the station four times per ride.  Then, it is braked by eddy-current braking (also called Foucault currents braking) before being brought into final position at the station by the LIM(s).  According to wikipedia 'Vertical Velocity' is 185-feet tall.  Another website had the height at 150-feet tall.  However, one thing both agree on is that 0-70 mph in less than four seconds is fun.  See also, www.sixflags.com/greatamerica. 

The Demon Roller Coaster California's Great America

Origins of the Demon Ride

      Chicago - The 'Demon' is a multi-looping roller coaster ride at Six Flags Great America Gurnee, Illinois, in the Chicago area and at California's Great America in Santa Clara, California.  Both roller coaster rides opened in 1976 as Turn of the Century, were re-themed and re-named 'Demon' in 1980.  Both roller coasters were painted blue and were among some of the first roller coasters to feature a double corkscrew.  The new roller coasters were the biggest at the park in 1976 when they opened.  The main draw of the Turn of the Century was the novelty of the corkscrew element that turned riders head over heels twice.  The rides most extra-ordinary feature was the exceptional, up-out-your-seat "airtime" produced on the second and third hills.  After the 1979 season Turn of the Century was largely re-designed.  The airtime hills after first drop were removed and replaced with two back-to-back vertical loops and a lighted-tunnel.  The entire ride was painted black and re-named 'Demon.'  In another closely following improvement the themes design included fog machines placed in the tunnels, blood-red colored water fell out of a rock formation by the corkscrews, and a unique picture of the demon was introduced. In 1980 when the loops were added the two Turn of the Century roller coasters known as the 'Demon' were the second and fourth roller coasters that included inversions where the riders get to go upside down for a while.  The first was the Carolina Cyclone which had opened two months earlier, and is a very similar roller coaster. 
       A 'Demon' soundtrack plays on stereo speakers placed through out the ride length.  The soundtrack includes the infamous "Demon Song", which was particularly written for the Great America parks.  Along with the song are imitation (fake) radio broadcasts about people who had seen the demon or had other experiences with the demon.  For a time in the 1980's the 'Demon' at Six Flags Great America was branded the Looney Tunes' Tasmanian Devil.  The storyline of the rides transformation is what the "Demon Song" is about.  It tells the park missed three rent payments on the roller coaster, and a demon came and repossessed the ride.  See full story, www.greatamericapark.com.   

Green Lantern Roller Coaster Front Seat Six Flags Great Adventure Ne...

Origins of the Green Lantern Roller Coaster

        Jackson Township - Green Lantern is a steel stand-up roller coaster that is located at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey.  Green Lantern is about 155 feet (15 stories).  For roller coasters, it reflects a respectable, top speed of 63 miles per hour.  The ride is 4,155 feet long and features five inversions (barrel rolls or semi-vertical to vertical barrel rolls exiting in normal level roll out).  The duration of the 1266 metre ride is approximately 2 1/2 minutes.  Green Lantern originally operated at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky from 1997 to 2009, where it was known as Chang. 
     Chang ("long" in Mandarin Chinese) set world records for this type of roller coaster in 1997.  The records were in height, drop, speed, length, and number of inversions.  Around 1999 the Green Lantern's track was painted lime green, and the support columns were painted violet.  In early 2006 the track was returned to its original yellow, and the support columns were painted blue.  Six Flags originally announced the ride would have a Batman theme, along with its T2 coaster.  T2 was expected to be known as "Batman:  The Ride" and Chang "Riddler's Revenge," but these plans were later cancelled.  Chang was closed over the weekend of September  19, 2009, and subsequently removed to expand Splashwater Kingdom.
     According to Wikipedia the expansion was cancelled, while Six Flags later announced plans to dispose of its Kentucky Kingdom property. Green Lantern emerged at Six Flags Great America.  The ride was already planned to be opened at Six Flags Great America in 2011.  As it turns out, on July 5, 2010, Six Flags Great Adventure announced that its Great American Scream Machine would close on July 18, 2010, to make way for a new attraction the following year.  This sparked rumors that Kentucky Kingdom's "Chang" would move to Great Adventure in 2011.  On September 16, 2010, Six Flags Great Adventure announced that it would open a Green Lantern - themed roller coaster in 2011.  Green Lantern is Magic Mountain's second stand-up coaster, Magic Mountain's first stand-up roller coaster was the "Shockwave," which operated from 1990 to 1992.  "Shockwave" had already been installed at Six Flags Magic Mountain parks preceding the "Riddlers Revenge."  As its name suggests, Green Lantern is themed for the DC Comics character of the same name.  The name was chosen to coincide with the "Green Lantern" film, released in 2011.  The ride Green Lantern is basically a mirror version of "Mantis."  At its opening, Chang claimed the record for the tallest vertical loop of any roller coaster in the world.  And, was the world's fastest, longest, stand-up ride, with the largest drop, and the most inversions on a stand-up roller coaster.  All of Chang's records were eventually passed by "Green Lantern and" the "Riddlers Revenge."  See also, www.sixflags.com. 

2014 BMW i3..Communicating via BMW

       Spartanburg - The i3's range is about 80 miles.  Charge Point's network of public stations provide 80 percent charge in 20 minutes.  After downloading Charge Points app to a smart phone you can save which stations are available by using the monitor charging status of your car and remotely start and stop your car's charging session(s).  There are three drive modes available in the BMW i3.  Each of these three drive modes may be selected from a button on the center console.  According, to Auto & Parts News, comfort proves the best performance, but uses the most energy.  However, Eco Pro and Eco Pro+ increase range by about 12 percent.
     The BMW i3 uses space-age construction to reduce the weight of the car.  And, to help reduce 'range anxiety,' a rear mounted 650 cc, 34-horsepower, two-cylinder gasoline engine, called "Range
Extender," is available.  "Range Extender" can double the vehicle's driving range.  The Range Extender engine starts up to maintain the BMW i3's state of battery charge.  Since the Range Extender has a tiny 2.4 gallon gas tank it is classified as a plug-in Hybrid Vehicle.  The regular BMW i3 is classified as an Electric Vehicle.  If you are considering an electric vehicle like the popular Nissan Leaf or the more expensive Tesla Model S, be sure to put the BMW i3 on your shopping list.  See also, www.caranddriver.com.