STEEL FORCE

Steel Force, Dorney Park

This coaster is noteworthy for being the first one on the East Coast to break the 200-foot barrier.  Now that it’s 15 years old and a multitude of other coasters with 200-foot + drops has sprung up, it no longer seems so remarkable.  I had expected the first drop of 205 feet to be somewhat more exciting than it was; I didn’t feel the same intensity as I felt on the first drop of Nitro, Apollo’s Chariot or other coasters of similar height.  However, I think that this was partly because I started out in the front seat and the train hangs over the drop for what seems like several seconds before plummeting 205 feet into a tunnel.  The back seat is a different story but I’ll get to that in a bit.  Despite my disappointment in the first drop, I thought that the coaster was well designed with a couple of outstanding elements.  There are some good airtime hills and the 510-degree helix was wonderful.  After the second hill following the brake run, the train enters another tunnel and goes over some bunny hills before returning to the station.   And on the subject of the station, I was impressed by the speed and efficiency with which the train was loaded and dispatched. 

As for the back seat, this is where you want to be to get the maximum ride experience.  From the back of the train, the 205-foot drop and everything else is significantly better.  There is delicious airtime, both floater and ejector.  I was getting bounced in my seat and could even see the lap bar, although locked, actually move up and down on the airtime hills.  (This is the only hypercoaster I can recall riding on which the lap bar never touches the rider’s body.)   This was so much fun!

One other thing I noticed about Steel Force is that it felt a bit bumpy at the top of some of the drops, lacking the smoothness I have come to associate with steel coasters.  Still, it’s a good ride and I would definitely recommend it.  4 out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Dorney Park, visit www.dorneypark.com/

TALON

Talon The Grip of Fear, Dorney Park

 After Alpengeist, one of my all-time least favourite coasters, I said that I would never again ride an inverted suspended coaster.  However, I was feeling adventurous and decided to try Talon, which looked pretty interesting.  It was interesting, more than interesting.  After the 135-foot lift hill, the train plunges 120 feet, banking right, and goes up into a 98-foot vertical loop.  There are four inversions in all, the other three being a zero-g roll, Immelmann loop and corkscrew.   I've never had so much being flat on my back!  Highlights of the ride include the zero-g roll and very low, steeply banked turn.  The latter element was really wild and a first for me.  I had an odd perception of being totally disconnected from the train, flying just above the ground.  At any rate, I found this ride immensely entertaining.  I had just gotten off Hydra the Revenge before getting on Talon and although Hydra has more inversions, I think that Talon is by far the better of the two rides.  In fact I would go as far as to say that it's one of the best inverts in existence.   4 1/2 out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Dorney Park, visit www.dorneypark.com/

HYDRA THE REVENGE

Hydra The Revenge, Dorney Park

What I found most intriguing about Hydra the Revenge is that it’s the only coaster I’ve ridden thus far which features an inversion before the lift hill.  After the floor drops out from the loading area and the train is dispatched, this coaster rolls you over, makes a turn, climbs 95 feet, drops you 105 feet and sends you into a loop.   There are 6 or 7 inversions; there is apparently some controversy about this, as some claim that riders are inverted during the dive loop and others claim that they are only sharply banked.   I’m not sure about this, even after watching the video I shot.  However many inversions there are, they were all enjoyable, with the zero g-roll probably being the best one.  It was a fun ride but nothing exceptional.  3 out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Dorney Park, visit www.dorneypark.com/