THEY may look and sound rickety, but to roller-coaster fanatics there's nothing like it.

And two thrill-seekers from Long Eaton have gone to extremes to find the world's perfect wooden roller coaster.

For the last 13 years, Ian Booth and Adrian Whitcombe have been attempting to ride all 116 fully-working wooden coasters in operation in America.

Having chalked off 107 of the rides, they are about to set off on one last trip across the Atlantic to complete their quest.

The final adventure is an epic journey in itself, with the duo covering more than 7,000 miles in three weeks to ride the remaining nine.

The Total Timber Tour will take them coast-to-coast across America and through 23 states.

Ian, 36, who comes from Clifton but now lives in Long Eaton, said: "I used to go on all the rides at Goose Fair as a kid and I guess my love of fairgrounds stems from there.

"It's the adrenaline rush they give you – the height and speed and the feeling of the G-Force hitting you."

Ian said his quest for the perfect wooden roller coaster had come a long way since he first rode one in Great Yarmouth, aged six. "I've a particular love for wooden ones," he said. "I know of people who have ridden more rides of all types than me, but I don't know anyone who can say that they've ridden every wooden ride in the US."

Both Ian and Adrian have made 17 trips to the US over the last 20 years.

In that time, they have ridden over 600 roller coasters and visited more than 100 theme parks.

They rode their first US wooden coaster in 1995.

Adrian, who like Ian is a member of the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain, was equally as excited about the trip.

"Wooden roller coasters are special as they are all unique," he said. "Unlike the steel ones, there are no two that are the same. It's going to be a big challenge."

Adrian, 45, an auditor from Long Eaton, said: "We're praying for good weather as if it's bad we've found in the past that the parks stay closed.

"The last couple are on the south coast and we'll be arriving during hurricane season. If we get there and a storm hits, it'll be one big bumpy ride!"

Their 21-day trip will be crowned with a ride on the 73-year-old wooden coaster at the Puyallup Fair, near Seattle.

However, they can't afford to be late as the ride is only open for three weeks a year.

Adrian and Ian are due to fly out to America on Wednesday.

Their progress can be followed online at www.coaster2coaster.com.

bryan.henesey@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk