The Tampa Tribune du lieu suivant : Tampa, Florida • 26

ti -A1 TZZlZn. Dlsney-NIGM Studios' Clockwise from left, Gwazl and Islanas ot Aflveniuiw as America' ic nre -11 iv l1 It TlfeiiMfcJ fV the fioiiuM By Dave Simanoff Woo factor. 1 rll I To) Spew factor: 1 I I cGisqiD ifitl'ifl if Bill Woo factor LJ RniPTOiOTl For Fire Dragon a a mm ht-, Woo factor Spew factor: two dragons fighting in midair including several head-on attacks that make it appear as if the two coasters are about to collide. Both of the coasters are inverted, which means the seats are attached to an overhead track and riders' feet dangle in the air. The two coasters begin and end simultaneously, and the tracks are intertwined but not attached.

The ride lasts 2 minutes and 25 seconds. Each coaster offers a slightly different experience. Rob preferred the Fire Dragon, which had a lot of twists and several sharp turns. I liked the Ice Dragon, which had more vertical loops and a near miss with a giant stone walL The best part of this ride comes when the trams are heading directly toward each other, and then flip into vertical loops at the last second. If doubly thrilling when you're sitting in the front seat -r Gwazi, Busch Gardens, Tampa First appearances can be deceptive.

Gwazi, which opened in 1999, is a wooden roller coaster a giant structure that, from afar, looks like an Engineering 101 project built out of toothpicks. Its heritage lies in the vintage coasters that used to tower over Coney Island in New York. I found this ride to be anything but old-fashioned, though. Gwazi, a double coaster, provides a thoroughly modern experience, packed with high-speed turns and drops. The bumpy ride and the clack-clack-clack beneath your seat adds to the thrill.

Rob, on the other hand, didn't care for Gwazi. "It's lame," he said. "In today's world, rnlW masters have to co UDSide down." For Ice Dragon Blow off your mom and skip the apple pie. If you really want to wrap yourself in red, white and blue this Fourth of July weekend, there's nothing more American than strapping yourself into a roller coaster. Roller coasters, more than anything else, capture the American drive for innovation, improvement, showmanship and speed.

Who else but we plucky Americans would line up for hours just for a few minutes of terrifying and electrifying dips, drops and turns? And, when the ride is done and its victims are dizzy and nauseated, what other group of people would run back to do it all over again? This coasterlust is especially strong here in Florida. Busch Gardens has always been a magnet for roller coaster enthusiasts, and four new coasters have recently opened in Orlando. I visited all of these coasters in June, so I could take full advantage of my corporate expense account um, I mean, so I could share the experience with Tribune readers. I dragged along pal Rob Richins, a diehard roller coaster connoisseur, to get his reaction, tool Pull down on your safety bar and remember to keep your hands and legs inside the car at al times. Here we go Dueling Dragons, Lost Continent at Islands of Adventure, Universal Orlando Dueling Dragons rolls two excellent roller coasters into one exciting ride.

Waiting in line, guests learn about the battle between two medieval beasts, the Fire Dragon and the Ice Dragon. Those monsters are represented by red and blue roller coasters. The ride is an enactment of those Spew factor: ass Woo factor: Woo factor: Woo factor Woo factor: Spew factor: Spew factor ill The ride lasts 2 minutes and 20 seconds and mere are no inversions. Continued on Page 35 FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2000 FRIDAY EXTRA 19 http:tampatrib.eom THE TAMPA TRIBUNE 18 FRIDAY EXTRA FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2000 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE http:tampatrib.com 7.