Carowinds
Nighthawk (formerly Borg: Assimilator)
OPENED: March 2004
MANUFACTURER: Vekoma Rides Manufacturing
HEIGHT: 115 feet
TOP SPEED: 51 mph
INVERSIONS: 5 (vertical loop, horseshoe, double corkscrew)
HEIGHT REQUIREMENT: between 54 inches and 80 inches
WEIGHT REQUIREMENT: Carowinds' website claims that you must be under 265
pounds. No, really.
Carowinds' newest coaster isn't as brand spanking new as some folks may believe. In actuality, Borg Assimilator began life as Stealth at Paramount's Great America in California. When it opened in 2000, Stealth was the world's first "flying" coaster. Rather than a seated or standing position, passengers ride sprawled, almost totally lying down in an attempt to recreate the feeling of flight. Ride vehicles roll upside down and downside up several time during the circuit, keeping riders off guard.
Carowinds won't be one of the first 10 parks you think of when it comes to theming, but they tried very hard with Borg. Part of the ride circles a Borg sphere that has crashed into a smallish pond. All around the ride, you'll hear ominous bass and the voice of an assimilated man repeating Borg mantras ("We are the one, we are the many, join us.") and calling fellow Borg ("Six of Nineteen.").
Unfortunately, the coaster itself is a standard issue Vekoma flying dutchman. Revolutionary back in 2000, newer designs from companies like B&M have really taken the spotlight away from this off-the-shelf design. Add to that the fact that the restraint system required for a ride like this is anything but comfortable, and you can see where I'm going with this. I don't care much for flying coasters, but if I had to ride one it wouldn't be another flying dutchman. That said, this is easily one of the most popular rides in the park. The arduous loading process slows things down immensely, so before you know it Borg is quickly an hour long wait. If you must ride it (and I'm sure many of you do), make it your absolute first priority.
Incidentally, we cross reference as much technical data as we can, and every "unofficial" website states that Borg has five inversions. The Carowinds' website states that there are actually eight inversions. The reason for this discrepancy seems to be a disagreement over whether or not the 180 degree "flips" count as actual inversions. This is one of those gray areas that's best left for people to argue over on message boards. EARregardless (trademark, Tommy Faircloth), we're gonna go with the majority and call it at five inversions.
Yeah, I'll get around to updating this once I get some
new pictures of the less themed ride. Sorry if I'm not in a rush.
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