Challenge 7: A roller coaster from your favorite manufacturer

Roller Coaster Challenge Day 7 – A roller coaster from your favorite manufacturer

Apollo’s Chariot, Busch Gardens, Williamsburg

Bolinger and Mabillard (B & M) based in Switzerland has invented inverted roller coasters, floorless roller coasters, and dive machines. Some complain these are "tame" rides, but to me an incredible smooth coaster is a well-designed one. Plus B&M is first place in reliability.

When built in 1999, Apollo’s Chariot set a record for most total feet of hills: 826. Apollo’s Chariot’s strengths are airtime and landscaping. This is my #1 airtime roller coaster. The track is built in the midst of tall trees and water. The ride does not sit on flat terrain either, and Apollo’s Chariot is designed perfectly to take advantage of these changes in elevation.

The first hill levels out at the top before dropping, which causes intense airtime on the first drop (especially in the back few rows). This drop sends trains down 210 ft. and accelerates them to 73 mph. Next is a 131 ft. hill that passes through a decorated Roman tent at the bottom. The third hill is arguably the highlight of the ride, as riders are first lifted out of their seats, then shifted as the train turns left. This hill is right up against the water, so it’s a great view too.

The ride continues through an upward helix and block brakes. Four incredible airtime hills complete the ride, possibly making Apollo’s Chariot B&M’s best ride after the block brakes. The first finishing hill drops into a watery ravine. Second is another “shifting” airtime hill that turns sharply when riders are already out of their seats. The third drop is 16 ft. and leaves riders staring at the finishing brakes dead ahead. However, there’s one more hill, and it’s a zinger. This 49 ft. hill is more than 3 times the size of the previous hill, and drops into a deep trench that you can’t see until you get there. I had watched the video of this ride literally hundreds of times before actually riding, and I STILL wasn’t ready for this surprise drop. This shows superior design and excellent use of landscaping. 

Pretty much everything B&M makes is of the highest quality, so it's hard to pick just one. Apollo's Chariot here is basically a bunch of big hills and might be the world's best airtime coaster.

Psalm 24:1-10

It makes a difference who you think made you. If we believe that animals and man somehow evolved out of the ooze, we neatly ignore the God-made vacuum in our lives and eschew any ideas of relationship with God or obligations to treat people as image bearers of the creator. When God creates, He does so with wisdom, variety, and love. The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, including the people.

The structure of a thrill-packed roller coaster mimics the topography of the earth: ocean depths and high mountains.  Unlike the run-away chariot driven by Apollo, we are safe and secure as we ascend His holy hill to receive His blessing.  We are lifted and thrilled by relationship with God, the King of Glory.  Let’s keep our hands and hearts pure and be transparent with our words. We’ll enter the presence of the King, the Invincible One. That’s the best airtime of all.