When nearing the station after a great
out and back roller coaster or even a
hypercoaster, a rider may experience the speed run. A speed run on a
roller coaster is a series of
speed bumps towards the end of the ride. The bumps are usually small and designed to produce
negative g-forces and, in turn, coveted
airtime. Some
roller coasters will also have their speed run be
camel backs, which are built to work together to produce strong
negative g-forces and
airtime by causing each bump to be smaller than the previous.
Regardless of the size or age of a roller coaster the speed run is a common occurrence. Nearing the station on
wooden roller coasters such as
Viper,
Mean Streak, and
Villain you feel the power of the speed run. Steel
hypercoasters such as
Magnum XL-200 and
Desperado also have a good speed run. So as you near the station and float out of your seat, remember that wonderful feeling was brought to you courtesy of the speed run.