Coney Island's Cyclone Turns 85

Last Tuesday, the Cyclone roller coaster in Brooklyn's Coney Island celebrated 85 years of providing people with its own brand of unique thrills and chills along the very famous boardwalk.  The Cyclone is not the tallest, the fastest, or the scariest coaster around, but at 85 years of age it still packs a punch, not only for it's rickety stature, but its steep hills and sharp turns, and a restraint system seemingly primitive by today's standards.

Living in such close proximity to New York City, I've had the opportunity to ride the Cyclone many times.  I still remember the first time I took a spin...I could only do it once, the ride was so rough and tumble on my body, and not much has changed in the years since then.  Every so often, I take a ride into Brooklyn and ride the famous icon...once! But ride it I must!

So happy birthday to the granddaddy of all roller coasters, an icon among thrill rides.  May you give yet more generations some of that older brand of thrill that today has metamorphisized into completely new and insane ways to experience those terrifying feelings of seemingly death-defying height and speed.

Check out a memoir of mine from Yahoo Voices about a day in New York City that included a visit to the world-famous landmark coaster:

Coney Island, Rye Playland and 911: Enjoying and Remembering a Very Special City

...and take a ride on the 85 year-old Cyclone:

To read more on the Cyclone and its 85th birthday celebration, check out Fox News here.

Here are a couple of other cool photos I took on that beautiful September day:

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