Xcelerator

Xcelerator was definitely a unique coaster.  I wasn't as interested in it until construction began.  It was then that I saw how awesome this new coaster concept was going to be.  However, as usual, I had a lot of schoolwork and was unable to start working on a model of Xcelerator until near the end of the semester.  In late April of 2002, I began working on a model of the ride.  I couldn't work too fast since construction on the actual coaster was not yet complete, and I wanted my model to be as accurate as possible.  By looking at pictures of the construction on websites such as America Coasters Network and Twisted Rails, I was able to keep up with current progress on the ride and make my model as accurately as possible.  I made an effort to call the park and ask them if they wanted an animation of the ride, possibly for showing on the Discovery Channel programs since they could not film the ride before the shows aired.  The park didn't seem to have too much of a need for an animation, but they referred me to The Travel Channel.  Travel Channel was doing a program on coasters and wanted to use my animation, so that helped provide some motivation for finishing it and not skimping out on any details.

As usual, I wanted to have a video released before the ride opened, so that there would be more interest and enthusiasm over the video.  The video was completed in late May, and the ride eventually opened to the public in mid June 2002.  The guys from the Travel Channel showed Knott's Berry Farm the animation I created, and immediately the park wanted to purchase the animation.  Perhaps they needed to see it before expressing interest.  So I sold them the animation through my company, Virtual Image Productions Inc., and was delighted to see the animation playing on monitors in the queue for the ride, as well as in commercials for the park!!

After riding Xcelerator, I can definitely say it is a very thrilling and exciting ride.  The launch is very intense, and the top hat is a very thrilling element.  The element is unique due to the fact that the coaster is located literally on a street corner.  Hurtling over the top, all you see is miles of suburbs and busy street below.  Without being surrounded by other tall rides or large trees, it definitely makes you feel like you are higher up than 200 feet.  Unfortunately, the overbanked turns are not very thrilling at all and are drawn out.  It is pretty hard to make any elements seem exciting after that top hat!  A few bunny hills would have made this ride a lot more exciting, but the launch and top hat alone make it a great ride nonetheless.  After riding this rocket coaster, you can easily see why Cedar Point's later version did not include any other elements besides the launch and top hat.  I look forward to more rocket coasters appearing at parks around the world, and I hope that they can get these things reliable!

-Keith McVeen
Badnitrus