Wild Thing (roller coaster)

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Wild Thing
Wild Thing Roller Coaster Valleyfair
Location	Valleyfair
Type	Steel
Status	Operating
Opened	May 11, 1996
Manufacturer	D.H. Morgan Manufacturing
Designer	Steve Okamoto
Track layout	Out and Back
Lift/launch system	Chain-lift
Height	207 feet (63.1 m)
Drop	196 feet (59.7 m)
Length	5,460 feet (1,664.2 m)
Max speed	74 mile per hour (119.1 km/h)
Inversions	0
Duration	3 minutes
Max Vertical Angle	60 degrees
Capacity	1700 riders per hour
Cost	$10,000,000 USD
Wild Thing at RCDB
Pictures of Wild Thing at RCDB

Wild Thing, located at the Valleyfair amusement park in Shakopee, Minnesota, is a steel out-and-back roller coaster with more than one mile (1.6 km) of track. Its first hill, measuring at 207 feet with a 60 degree drop, is home to the one of the longest weightless zones of any coaster in the world. It reaches a top speed of 74 mph.

Wild Thing has been the main challenge for a local radio station's Survive it and Drive It Game. Listeners of 101.3 KDWB who call in and win are challenged, along with approximately 20 other winners, to be the last one riding continuously for days upon end. The winner gets a new car from a local car dealer. In 2005, the contest lasted for seventeen days. Due to the unbeleivable stamina and willpower of the final two contestants, they were each awarded a car.

Designed and manufactured by Chance-Morgan, it was the first "hypercoaster" to be built by the company, opening in 1996. It was the 5th tallest coaster in the world when it opened. The ride's success led to the construction of Steel Force at Dorney Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1997 and Mamba at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Missouri the next year.

[edit] The Ride

After the ascent to the top of the 207ft (63.1m) lift hill, the train plunges down the 196 ft (59.7 m) drop, reaching the maximum speed of 74 mph (119.1 km/h. The train then enters a 103 ft (31.4m) parabolic hill, resulting in the longest low gravity section of any coaster in the world. After the hill, the train climbs a larger 130ft (39.6m) hill before entering the large figure-eight turnaround. After a mid-course break run, the train travels over several small bunny hops before entering a tunnel. Inside are more small hills and the on-ride camera. The ride finishes with a final brake run followed by a turn back into the station.

[edit] Accidents

Main article: Incidents at Cedar Fair parks

18 people were injured while riding the Wild Thing on May 21, 2006 when a brake mount came loose, causing the 6th car in the train to de-rail. 14 people were taken to St. Francis Medical Hospital, but all were released the same day. Wild Thing reopened on June 1, 2006, after being judged safe by inspectors.