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Tech News
Universal Studios Hollywood has launched Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, a new outdoor roller coaster themed around the movie franchise. The ride sends replica muscle cars, including a version of Dom Toretto's 1970 Dodge Charger, spinning along more than 4,000 feet of track at speeds up to 72 mph. A separate version of the attraction is expected to open at Universal's Florida park next year.
Universal Studios has confirmed that its Fast & Furious-themed roller coaster will fully open to the public in September. The attraction has been in development for some time, and local residents have been given advance notice due to the ride's expected noise levels.
A technical explainer examines the internal workings of the coaster brake, a rear-hub braking system that has been used on bicycles for more than 100 years. The piece breaks down the mechanical components and physics that allow pedaling backward to engage stopping power without external levers or cables.
Universal Studios Hollywood spent three years and heavy engineering—pea gravel track fill, glass 'scream screens,' and a 940-foot sound wall—to minimize noise from a new 72-mph looping coaster near a residential area. The measures worked during rider-free tests, but once real passengers boarded, nearby residents reported constant, piercing screams every 30 seconds throughout operating hours. Universal is now adding more sound barriers and adjusting hours to address the ongoing complaints.