The top vote getter was the Knoebels Flying Turns. It garnered 22 percent of the vote out of 152 votes. This coaster experienced its first full season this year, even though it technically opened last fall. This vote falls in line with the Golden Ticket results, which gathered some grumbles among the enthusiast geekosphere. As you will see with the other results, many of the other additions for 2014, which also happened to not be covered by the poll, scored fairly evenly. This vote could have gone in a bunch of ways considering how close the voting was.
Flying Turns is a phenomenal ride that gives an unparalleled experience to anything else in existence. This wooden bobsled coaster only achieves a top speed of 24 MPH, yet it feels like it goes way faster with the out of control feeling the cart provides as it maneuvers through the trough. It feels even faster at night once the lights are turned on.
In second place with 20 percent came Kings Island's Banshee, the world's longest inverted coaster.
This coaster has a layout that ingeniously utilizes the terrain to the point that the coaster does not achieve top speed until halfway through the ride. As opposed to most B&M inverts that have a turn before the first drop to ease tension upon the lift chain, this coaster offers a spiraling first drop. It also offers a plethora of high speed and altitude maneuvers that make this one of the company's finest creations.
Tied for third place with 17 percent of the vote are Luna Park at Coney Island's Thunderbolt and Kentucky Kingdom's Lightning Run.
Luna's Thunderbolt is a great Zamperla creation. It offers a vertical lift, vertical drop, and four airtime filled inversions. The ride is very smooth and easily one of my favorite loopers. I personally cannot decide between this, Banshee, and Flying Turns as to which one I like the most for they all offer unique ride experiences. Thunderbolt seems so different than the other loopers out there because it offers an out-and-back ride that has both inversions and airtime. Seldom do you find this combination. To top it all off, the ride has a Stengel Dive that offers terrific airtime. In the video below, based upon the camera movements, you can see the moments of airtime. Additionally, there is only a lapbar holding you in, with some small straps that go over the shoulders.
It is nice to see that this coaster saw some love in our poll. I think this addition was one of the most overlooked for this season, every bit as good as the other additions. I hope to see Zamperla build more of these.
Kentucky Kingdom's Lightning Run is the centerpiece for the rebirth of this once closed park. It also signifies the rebirth of the coaster building division at Chance. The coaster is said to offer some of the strongest airtime out there within a very compact layout.
Six Flags Great America's Goliath also did formidably with the 16 percent of the vote. This latest completed RMC creation utilizes the company's style of wooden track and offers two inversions. It was very popular in its first season of operation.
The remainder of the votes went to two very popular family coaster additions, Dollywood's Firechaser Express and Story Land's Roar-O-Saurus.
Be sure to vote in our December poll on the right side of the page.
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