Twister roller coaster
Encyclopedia
A twister roller coaster is the generic name given to any roller coaster
layout which tends to twist or interweave its track within itself several times. It is essentially the opposite of an Out and Back roller coaster
, which is often a much more simplistic layout. Twister roller coasters often have the illusion of having small or tight clearances due to the track usually travelling through several support structures. This is known as a head chopper effect.
Twister roller coasters were unheard of before the advent of the 1920s. John Miller is credited with inventing upstop wheels and secure lapbar restraints, both which led roller coaster designers to create wilder and twistier layouts.
A good example of the difference between an out and back design and twister design is layouts of Apollo's Chariot
and Raging Bull
, two Bolliger & Mabillard
designed hypercoaster
roller coasters that debuted in 1999. Apollo's Chariot uses a traditional out and back layout while Raging Bull is a twister.
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
layout which tends to twist or interweave its track within itself several times. It is essentially the opposite of an Out and Back roller coaster
Out and Back roller coaster
Out and back refers to the layout of a roller coaster. An out and back coaster is one that climbs a lift hill, races out to the far end of the track, performs a 180 degree turn and then races its way back to the station....
, which is often a much more simplistic layout. Twister roller coasters often have the illusion of having small or tight clearances due to the track usually travelling through several support structures. This is known as a head chopper effect.
Twister roller coasters were unheard of before the advent of the 1920s. John Miller is credited with inventing upstop wheels and secure lapbar restraints, both which led roller coaster designers to create wilder and twistier layouts.
A good example of the difference between an out and back design and twister design is layouts of Apollo's Chariot
Apollo's Chariot
Apollo's Chariot is the first Bolliger & Mabillard hypercoaster, located at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, in James City County, Virginia.-Description:...
and Raging Bull
Raging Bull (roller coaster)
The Raging Bull is a Bolliger & Mabillard hyper-twister steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois. It was built in 1999, and features a first drop and top speed of , and is currently one of the most popular rides at Six Flags Great America. At in length, it is...
, two Bolliger & Mabillard
Bolliger & Mabillard
Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger acting as president and Mabillard as vice-president...
designed hypercoaster
Hypercoaster
A hypercoaster can mean one of two things:*Any continuous-circuit roller coaster with a height or drop measuring greater than 200 feetOr, more narrowly:*A style or model of roller coaster with three features:**A height of 200–299 feet...
roller coasters that debuted in 1999. Apollo's Chariot uses a traditional out and back layout while Raging Bull is a twister.