When he first saw the small construction site, he knew he would have to do back flips to squeeze shrieks out of his customers. shrieks out of his customers.]]> The rising coaster structure is still a few weeks from completion. completion.]]> Rather than building tracks on-site, as done in the past, Rocky Mountain cuts, flexes and welds the steel into whatever shape is needed and fastens it to laminated pine in the shop. flexes and welds the steel into whatever shape is needed and fastens it to laminated pine in the shop.]]> Then it will rocket them into hairpin curves, two upside-down twists, and a zero-gravity stall to make passengers feel momentarily weightless. stall to make passengers feel momentarily weightless.]]> They are used to winter temperatures in northern Idaho that often drop below zero, but even they were taken aback by the latest Chicago winter, one of the worst on record. aback by the latest Chicago winter, one of the worst on record.]]> The ride won a Golden Ticket Award from Amusement Today as the best new amusement park ride of 2013. amusement park ride of 2013.]]> That's an important concern to neighbors who live near Great America. concern to neighbors who live near Great America.]]> The coaster is being built by the innovator in wooden roller coasters, Rocky Mountain Construction Group from Hayden, Idaho. innovator in wooden roller coasters, Rocky Mountain Construction Group from Hayden, Idaho.]]> "Necessity is the mother of invention," he said. Necessity is the mother of invention," he said.]]> But with the wind chill and snow numbing workers' hands and making footing on high structures dangerous, the crew members had to stop frequently to recover in warming shelters. recover in warming shelters.]]> Despite the winter work, crew members say building coasters is a lot more rewarding than building an office or a sewage treatment plant. rewarding than building an office or a sewage treatment plant.]]> "Even they said this is absolutely brutal." absolutely brutal."]]> The resulting attraction will set three records for wooden roller coasters. attraction will set three records for wooden roller coasters.]]> When finished, the 3,100-foot ride is expected to last about a minute and a half - though the moment riders plunge over the top may seem to last an eternity. eternity.]]> It will hurtle riders at 72 miles per hour down an 85-degree, 180-foot cliff. hurtle riders at 72 miles per hour down an 85-degree, 180-foot cliff.]]>