Local Kids Attempt World Record Breaking K’NEX Roller Coaster
K’NEX Exhibit at COSI Toledo
Toledo, Ohio – August 1, 2007 – Two local high school students have spent their summer building a roller coaster; not made out of wood or metal, but out of K’NEX, a toy construction system that consists of interconnecting plastic rods and connectors. On August 11, 2007 they will be attempting to break the World Record for the tallest free-standing roller coaster made solely of K’NEX.
Jacob Watson and Michael Schuster, both freshmen at Northview High School, have been assembling their structure, the Particle Accelerator, section by section for several months in their basements and will be piecing it together at COSI for its debut. Each section will contribute to an overall roller coaster reaching a minimum of 33 feet and containing over 30,000 K’NEX pieces. If their first attempt is successful, which they are confident that it will be, then they will continue to add to it and reach nearly 40 feet with their structure.
When compared to the Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point, with its top speed reaching 120 mph and highest hill at 420 feet, the Particle Accelerator, if built to scale, would reach a speed of Mach 2 (that’s twice the speed of sound) and a hill height of over 900 feet, therefore making it humanly impossible to ride as a coaster.
COSI Toledo has a new K’NEX exhibit on display as well. Boasting a giant Ferris wheel, a wishing well and a working roller coaster to name just a few, visitors can be inspired to create their own sculptures in our K’NEX creativity corner. With bins overflowing with K’NEX pieces for visitors to build with, the opportunities are endless.
For additional information, please call Anna Kolin at 419-244-2674 ext. 179. This special event is included in the cost of general admission to COSI Toledo.
WHEN: Saturday, August 11, 2007
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
1:00 pm – First attempt at record
2:00 pm – Second attempt at record
COST: Big Kids $9.00
Kids $7.00
Seniors $8.00
Kids 2 & under are FREE
Members FREE
WHERE: COSI Toledo
1 Discovery Way
Toledo, OH 43604
- COSI Toledo | 1 Discovery Way | Toledo, OH 43604
mahoney@cositoledo.org | http://www.cositoledo.org | 419-244-2674