Roller Coaster Madness

It has been far too long since I last wrote a blog post. I have decided to write a topic on two things I enjoy: Roller coasters (obviously) and March Madness. March is a great time of year not only for college basketball fans but also coaster enthusiasts. This is the time of year when some amusement parks open up for the season after the long winter months away. How is it possible for me to bring March Madness and Coaster Madness together? I will explain below. 

March Madness is all about the NCAA tournament involving 68 division one men's college basketball teams. It revolves around upsets, shocking finishes, passion, tears, awesome highlights, game-winning shots, and intense moments. It is my favorite time of the year for sports hands down. What I have decided to do is bring in the top 68 roller coasters that I have ridden and put them in a bracket to determine the coaster champion.

Midwest & East Regions

There will be four regions: Midwest, South, North, and East. For the most part the coasters I have selected in these regions will be relatively close to the location of their regions. There are a few exceptions obviously. There are four coasters from Cedar Point in the North region and also four coasters from Cedar Point in the East region. There are five coasters from Six Flags over Georgia in the South region. There are also three coasters from Busch Gardens Tampa and three coasters from Dollywood in the South region. There are three coasters from Kings Island in the Midwest region.

South & North Regions

The overall number one seed and placed in the Midwest regions is Millennium Force. This pick is self explanatory as Millennium Force is the best roller coaster that I have ridden. If you need further proof of this just refer back to a blog post I wrote months back which has all of the details.

Millennium Force

The number two coaster and placed in the South region is Outlaw Run located at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. I have yet to write a blog post specifically for this coaster but believe me it is coming soon so be on the lookout. It is worth a blog post on its own because that's how good of a coaster it is.

Outlaw Run

Coaster number three is Bizarro and will be placed in the North region. This coaster is located at Six Flags New England in Massachusetts. This is a great roller coaster that packs a punch and delivers many "wow" moments. It has a great setting along the Connecticut River. It is tall, has great speed, and many hills.

Bizarro

 

The last number one seed goes to the fourth ranked El Toro. This is a wooden coaster that really delivers great fun and excitement. It is tall, has a steep drop, steep hills with ejector airtime, and many surprise moments.

El Toro

Seeds in each region:

   Midwest            South       North       East

1. Millennium Force, Outlaw Run, Bizarro, El Toro
2. Lightning Run, Intimidator 305, Top Thrill Dragster, Skyrush
3. The Voyage, Cheetah Hunt, Boulder Dash, Phoenix
4. Diamondback, Goliath, Nitro, Maverick
5. Powder Keg, Banshee, Storm Runner, Superman: Man of Steel
6. Kentucky Rumbler, Thunderhead, Beast, Gatekeeper
7. Wild Eagle, Intimidator, Apollos Chariot, Sheikra
8. Fahrenheit, Montu, Wicked Twister, Raptor
9. Raging Bull, Alpengeist, Dominator, Great Bear
10. Wildfire, Mindbender, Steel Force, Grizzly
11. Twister, Mystery Mine, Magnum XL-200, Talon
12. S. D. Looper, Georgia Cyclone, Gemini, Lightning Racer
13. Comet, Kumba, Wooden Warrior, Hydra
14. Firehawk, Deja Vu, Thunderbolt, Batman
15. Legend, Great American Scream Machine, Possessed, Raven
16. Wildcat, Chang, Rebel Yell, Vertical Velocity
16. Racer, Firechaser Express, Flight of Fear, Blue Streak

Just for fun I made my picks and came up with 10 upsets in the matchups of coasters I created. I had the eleven seed Twister over the six seed Kentucky Rumbler. I had the ten seed Steel Force over seven seed Apollos Chariot. I had a few five seeds in Storm Runner and Powder Keg over four seeds Nitro and Diamondback. I had the three seed The Voyage over the two seed Lightning Run. The biggest upset was the sixth seed Beast in the Final Four. I also had the two seed Skyrush in the Final Four. 

Twister

The Final Four I selected was The Beast vs. Outlaw Run. These two coasters are both wooden and great rides. The Beast is the longest wooden coaster in the world and provides some out of control moments while riding. It is also one of the best night ride roller coasters. Outlaw Run wins this matchup though as it is just insane with air time everywhere. There is also sideways air time which alone propels this coaster to the title game. Oh, and do not forget the double barrel roll!

Beast

The next Final Four matchup is Millennium Force vs. Skyrush. Ah, both of these coasters are made by Intamin which instantly gives them a good reputation. They are both game changing coasters. They are fast, smooth, have great air time, and intense. While Skyrush has the most extreme air time I have ever experienced on a coaster Millennium Force just has the "it" factor. The 310 foot lift hill overlooking Lake Erie, 80 degree drop, and mind blowing 93 mph speed puts it over the top to win this matchup.

Skyrush

The coaster championship comes down to the top two coasters and two number one seeds Millennium Force vs. Outlaw Run. It is steel vs. wood. It is height, speed, and length vs. airtime, inversions, and more air time. In the end the battle is close and hard fought by both coasters but Millennium Force finds a way to close this one out. The overall number one coaster that I have ever ridden remains supreme.