I 305 gets trim on the first drop

Multiple angles, and multiple newspapers.

I just want a picture of Gonch.

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Did they seriously replace the shoulder restraints already?

Well the restraint shown on the test seat now is what they originally were talking about. Aside from being all black, these appear to be very similar to the restraints on the Ball Coasters.

I'm not sure why the fixed restraints were installed first. Maybe they didn't have these nylon? ones ready for opening day. I'm just glad they didn't just change their minds and decide to use the "maverick style" instead.

Has anyone here been in those restraints? They couldn't be worse.

Well, that is a picture of me on the Ball coaster. :) I thought they were fine. If we must have OTSR's, I'd prefer these.

Latest reports from many including Clint Novak is that there is now definitely has trims on the first drop. The say that there is now floater air on the second hill instead of the ejector air there. The good news is that the second half of the ride is much better without any neck chopping till right before the camera.

They also are reporting that the test seat is back to normal.

Does it seem apparent to anyone else that they don't have a clue what they're doing?

It doesn't exist until there is a photo!

I don't understand why they'd put a trim on the first drop and not the hill under the lift...

^The grey-outs were reported on the first turn (I didn't get anything as intense as the Gios, but that could be just me, I might require longer duration of force to get that sensation). Since most people seem to think of that as unpleasant for some reason...the trim went on the drop.

I find it a bit bizarre (or simply very poor engineering, again) that the coaster is having all these issues, especially since Intamin has been building high speed coasters since the late 90's. A half brake running all the way down the first drop now? Wheels that are falling apart before noon due to the high speeds and heat generated? One train operations? Restraints that are painful on such an aggressive, high-speed thrill ride? Who is designing these things, kindergarten students?????

The Intamin shoulder bars have never bugged me, so I am interested to see the results of these new harnesses...it would be pretty sad if they ended up making things worse.

My main beef is still with the trim, or should I say brake run, on the airtime hill. I understand that it's because the turns after the airtime hill were designed to be taken at that particular speed. Here's my question...why not just design the final turn a little differently? Given how much land is back there I don't think it was a space restraint. Or as some have mentioned, why not put the trim at the bottom of the hill instead? That hill could have some totally crazy air but is instead hardly floater.

I do hand it to I-305, though, that entire opening sequence up to the airtime hill is totally top-notch and crazy. However, the ride's ending(including that totally bizarre dump to the left at the end of the final turn) is what keeps I-305 from really jumping to the top of my steel list.

* I heard some reports that they removed some of the trims on the 2nd airtime hill given the trims on the first hill...sounds like the ride's intensity might be a little more spread out then? That's not necessarily a bad thing...

Jeff said:
Yeah, and I wonder what causes that. I thought maybe it was a change in gearing or something as the other train cleared the block, but it did it with one train running as well. I wonder if there's a cable tensioning issue.

A possible cable issue on an Intamin? Say it ain't so!

I still want pictures...

BBSpeed, have you been to KD to see I305? The way the coaster is placed, getting pictures of the first drop is nearly impossible.

Say hello to my little friend...

http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx306/anescapeartist/i305trims.jpg

GASP!

Unless, of course, it's photoshoped.

Some people will never be convinced unless they see it in person. :p

yep, i just rode I305 a few hours ago; trim on the first drop. and not just a small one, pretty much two thirds of the drop is trimmed. I personally am not happy. I think it takes away a lot from the experience, and I had the roughest ride today; seems with the train loosing speed, my head slammed around quite a bit, whereas before, I was allright. IMO, the ride lost a lot of what made it so special; found myself thinking "Not-So-Intimidating 305" when I got off.

Oh well; in other news, Rebel Yell and Grizzly are running in top form this year; between those two and the water park, I will be allright :)

and my Busch Gardens pass will be getting a lot of use too :)