Looping or Suspended Roller Coasters – Raptor
By Jessica Chang
Built in 1994 by Bolliger and Mabillard (B & M), Monthey, Switzerland, the Raptor is known for its suspension from the tracks that allow the feet the dangle. Before I went to Cedar Point on Tuesday, May 15, 2007, I remembered that I loved the Raptor. Or at least I did not have a bad memory of the first roller coaster that you see at Cedar Point. It was not until Tuesday when I changed my mind.
The point of the Raptor mostly is the change in acceleration by moving in a circular path. This causes the excitement of the Gs affecting your body. The most exciting part is also the fact that you are doing it upside down in reverse which causes you to NOT know what is coming next. The fact that you change from feeling heavier to lighter and heavier again creates the thrill. By being unpredictable and changing the weight that the person feels is what makes this ride unique. Also, the fact that your feet dangle also increases the fun since your feet will sometimes feel heavier and thus you might feel like you are being pulled out by your feet and sometimes they feel so light!