Woodie fans prefer the old school clack-clack and the aesthetics of the entire structure. Steelie partisans like the corkscrews and loop-the-loops made possible by the coasters’ bent-pipe architecture. Modern roller coasters typically come in two varieties, wooden ones and steel ones-known unimaginatively if unavoidably as “woodies” and “steelies”-and coaster lovers debate their merits the way fans of the National and American Leagues debate the designated hitter rule. And if you’re the kind of person who enjoys that sort of thing while hating the idea of actually ever riding on roller coasters-the kind of person I’ll describe as “me,” for example-there’s a lot to like about Goliath. But it’s also a feat of engineering and basic physics. Goliath is destined to be a tourist magnet, a cultural icon-at least until another, even bigger one comes along-and a lot of fun for a lot of people. This summer they’ll get their wish, thanks to the opening of the appropriately named Goliath roller coaster, the biggest and fastest wooden coaster ever built, which just took its inaugural runs at the Six Flags Great America amusement park in Gurnee, Ill., about 50 miles north of Chicago. So while millions of people avoid the things, at least as many millions swarm to them, looking for ever bigger, scarier rides and ever bigger, better thrills. There are also thrill-seeking parts, adventurous parts, parts that like the adrenaline and serotonin and endorphin kicks that come from roller coasters. ![]() ![]() That, at least, is how it’s supposed to work, but your entire brain isn’t in on the game. So anything that’s designed to haul you up to the top of a very steep incline, drop you straight down, very fast, and repeat that process over and over again for a minute or two is something that elicits a simple, highly adaptive response in you-which pretty much involves running away. ![]() Your brain wants nothing to do with roller coasters-and for a wonderfully simple reason: your brain would very much like you to stay alive.
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