I-305 speed
Kings Dominion: what was the speed before the trim brakes? whats the speed now?
so can anyone tell me how fast intimidator 305 goes now... what was the speed before the trim brakes? whats the speed now?
From steve lee
Posted September 12, 2010 at 9:50 PM
RCDB claims it opened with a listed top speed of 94 and now tops out at 79.5. Rumor has it that the trimless top speed was closer to 100 mph, which is part of what necessitated the trims in the first place.
I don't know where Duane got those numbers (remember, rcdb is NOT a rumor site), but I can't help but notice that the official King's Dominion site claims that it's still over 90 mph. I doubt that's actually true, so I kinda wonder if that falls under "false advertising."
I have seen and heard the 100 and seen the 79.5 as well.... while i dont believe its 90mph, i find it hard to believe its only 79.5 as well, I feel like its probably in the 80's somewhere.... thanks for the info...
On media day, it was consistantly clocking in at 96 MPH on the radar gun. Based on just my general feeling, I think it tops out with the trims at somehwere around 85 MPH.
Honestly, it seems to get slower each time I ride it. The free-fall is completely ruined as the big drop has magnetic brakes all the way down. Oddly, the gray-out is just as bad as ever (due to duration) in the long first curve. There is zero air-time on the second hill. Frankly, this design (the long, high-G curve at the bottom of the first hill) is a major failure. The wheels give out for the same reason people gray-out. The only fix would be to build a low-G crest hill (like El Toro) or an over-bank after the first drop. Get the pressure off the wheels and the blood back in the riders' heads!!!
Intimidator 305's speed was clocked with a radar gun at over 100mph on several runs during the first three weekends it operated. With the "restrictor plates" added to the first drop, the speed has slowed dramatically and the fastest speed clocked by Intamin and CF officials using a radar gun was 83 mph with an average speed of 78 mph. The speed was deemed "acceptable" by CF officials for I-305's first season and the official speed was recorded as 79.5mph. Modifications to I-305's (layout, trains, engineering) for 2011 have not been ruled out. However, it is unlikely the restrictor plates will be removed from the first drop due to previously noted rider complaints.
I saw a message on Facebook Thurs. night asking people to sign up to be extras in a photo/video shoot the following day. So, I went. The highlight was riding this ride what ended up being 10 times. I don't buy for a second this ride hits 80, it simply doesn't feel like it. I didn't grey out once, and I sat all over the place. I rode it once at night as well, sat in the front, and nothing.
The ride itself is OK.
^That is awesome that you got to be an extra and ride Intimidator 305 that many times? Tell us what you were wearing so we can see you on TV!
This ride is barely hitting 80mph. A radar gun used by the Bert the Conquerer team a few weeks ago, showed the speed after the trims of 75.6mph!!!!
I-305 will undergo some dramatic changes during the offseason. Modifications are underway as we speak. The second hill is being removed. Preliminary plans are for the first turn to be extended out to reduce the G forces on riders. The first turn will be overbanked and will gradually rise to what was the crest of the second hill. Other modification to the twisties will also take place. After these modifications are performed the ride will be tested to determine whether or not the trims can be removed!
I-305 in 2011 will be a complete different ride from I-305 2010!
It will have to be different. The G Forces just aren't comfortable for a lot of people. They made the ride too compact for a 300+ foot drop. Adding a tall hill after the first drop or a drawn out turnaround to help soak up the speed. They should redesign and add some track after the drop and do it right. If they just add trim brakes and slow it to 70mph, the whole purpose behind the 300 foot drop and all of that marketing is a waste.
It still amazes me that Intamin didn't have a better handle on the situation when I-305 was being designed. (A $25 million coaster should be very well modeled!) There is a single goal, at this point -> Remove those embarassing, ride-ruining trims. Any modification to the ride MUST have that as a priority. A 300' drop is ALL about the free-fall experience and I-305 lost all of that when the trims went on and the ride's best feature was sacrificed. Intamin's reputation depends upon getting those trims off. They are obviously taking it seriously as modifications are underway. This is very good.
The reprofiling of I305 is under way. Seems they are going the route of a bigger, more drawn out turn after the hill to help ease the forces.
Youtube Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI2UkwFPw-g
The reprofiling of I-305 is at a standstill. The trims have been removed from the first drop, but the replacement track has not yet been delivered to KD due to fabrication problems at Intamin. It looks like the track won't be delivered until sometime in late Feb. or early March. Unclear if reprofiling and testing will be completed in time for KD Opening Day April 2.
Intamin come through. Most of the new track sections have been received and installed. Placement of the final section should occur this week. Testing should begin around March 1 or sooner. Unfortunately, from the computer models and Intamin studies, it looks like most of the trims will remain on the first drop!
aaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwww ditch the trims :/ but, although that sorta does take away greatness from the drop, it's still awesome and fulfilling. and can you tell me what they did to the turn? just widen it?
Trims have been removed from the first drop and put back to the original position on the last hill. The radius of the first turn was elongated and the hope is this will reduce rider discomfort and the stress on the wheels. Unfortunately, testing revealed some unanticipated problems in the first turn, with a slight derailment of one of the trains. This is being investigated and must be resolved before testing can continue. The hope is the coaster will be ready by April 2, but only time and testing will tell.
Thanks so much for the update, Mark.
The initial issue on the first turn has been resolved. Testing will continue over the next two weeks, and if all goes well the coaster will be ready for a opening day. Also, we are considering a soft (unannounced) opening of I-305 for invited guests only to ride for a few hours on April 1. We'll keep you posted and watch your inbox!!!
Testing is being finalized and the ride should be recertified by the state (Virginia) later this week. A scaled down media day of sorts will be held on April 1 to preview the updated I-305 to selected media and coaster clubs. We are looking forward to seeing everyone on opening day April 2. I-305 should be fully operational and running at top speed.
Hey all! Wanted to give everyone an update on I-305. While the coaster has been running great with the reprofiling, there are still a number of guests complaining about black-outs and gray-outs. In addition, so far this Spring we have not experienced the warm temperatures as we did during Spring 2010 so we have not been able to measure the wear and tear on the wheels.
However, in order to ensure rider comfort and proper maintenance on the wheels, management is considering adding the restrictor plates back to the first drop of I-305. This decision needs to be finalized by CP and Intamin before the park opens daily, which means the restrictor plates (trims)will need to be put back on I-305 by May 26.
I'll keep you updated.
Regards,
Mark
Mark, that would really bite (I'd use another word, but this is a family site) I've been fortunate enough to ride I-305 23 times..13 in April '10 and 10 last month. Never had a bad ride, and it took its spot as my #1 steel away from Millennium Force. That being said, I experienced no grey-out last year, but this year I did. Didn't detract from my experience one iota. I heard bad things about the ride with the first-drop trims, and I'd hate to think they're coming back.
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