Beast questions

I'm surprised that Shivering Timbers is not on this list. It is almost as long as Mean Streak, and probably has more support structure. And, unlike the Voyage, it is entirely made of wood.

Are you referring to Lowkae's definitive, authoritative, and exhaustively complete list of wooden coasters and their lumber-feet?

It would be, but they only measured to mid-timbers then were too tired to go any further.

A Cheerio just went up my nose.

Good thing Cheerios have holes in them, otherwise you'd suffocate!

Maybe because the Beast is almost a waste of space? I mean sure it has the record, but 50% of that record are straightaways all over the layout.

I have ridden it plenty of times and never quite get the appeal of the ride... The ending helix is the only part that has any excitement. The rest is just long straightaways, little to no airtime and plenty of trim brakes. It is more like a big mine-train than anything *shrug*

I think Rocky Mountain needs to come in and put topper track along the entire length of the layout... Remove all trim brakes and let the ride run as fast and aggressive like when it was built. Maybe then would it be worthwhile!

If I'm not mistaken, the ride always had breaks. Before the current set up, they used to be Skid breaks. I believe that's why all the long break sections are covered. It was to keep the skids dry. What I'm not sure of is the trims on the drops off the lift hill drops.

If those drop trims weren't there when it was built, it wasn't long after. The Beast was really something else the first season. After that they re-banked a lot of turns to accommodate the speed of those huge, heavy trains and the trims may have been added then as well. They were, of course, slippery sled brakes too, which was the thing that contributed to those great nighttime post-rain rides. You could really tell the difference, and if you could catch one of those back then it was sheer awesomeness. Alas, those days are gone.
The Beast has legions of fans, and I hate to think of the outcry should it undergo a renovation that would include a new track system! I have to admit, though, through the years I've fantasized about improvements to the ride here and there.
I think The Beast should be celebrated for what it is, there certainly is nothing else like it and likely never will be. People from all over the country have asked me about it, and anyone who's ever been on it has a story to tell. It endures to this day, has kept it's record-holding status, and continues to thrill the millions. I will always love it.

SteveWoA said:

Maybe because the Beast is almost a waste of space? I mean sure it has the record, but 50% of that record are straightaways all over the layout.

I have ridden it plenty of times and never quite get the appeal of the ride... The ending helix is the only part that has any excitement. The rest is just long straightaways, little to no airtime and plenty of trim brakes. It is more like a big mine-train than anything *shrug*

I think you really summed up my feelings on it too, I just don't see them ever changing it. I would love to see the straightaways and curves to get some more topography and have some airtime. Then it would be truly legendary.

The middle part of the ride is lackluster (and the first third could be better) but is there a better finish on a coaster?

Brakes - devices used to slow or stop motion.

Breaks - when you go eat lunch at work.

Homophones - a lost art that most are taught in the 3rd grade.

So what are trim breaks? When you exercise instead of eating the afore-mentioned lunch? Or is it when your employer cuts your lunch time from 60 to 30 minutes?

Homophones aren't a lost art! Their just overlooked when someone puts more emphasis on speed then the hole context of the sentence.

I can see how this wood way heavy on your mined, though.

As a tolerant and sympathetic friend of the LGBT community, I find it infuriating that we still have homophones in these forums.

Even with all its magnetic trims, The Beast is still epic to me. A huge part of the ride is its terrain, tunnels, and location. I love coasters that feel like you're going somewhere, and The Beast takes you through its own secret world. Whenever I think of the ride, I picture myself flying through its course on a cool Fall night, with nothing to be seen but the moon through the trees.

Right, that's nicely put. The Beast has always been a mystery coaster, the two tallest hills are the only things that have ever been visible from the midway. Even from the Eiffel Tower it's hard to make out it's path. Ive noticed over the years that coasters in other parks that were originally set back some have eventually been encroached upon by expansion and are more visible now. Grizzly is an example that comes to mind right away.
Kings Island used to feature a map of the ride out front, and that gave riders a clue, but the size and scope of the ride was still a surprise.

The Beast has been and always will be a top favorite of mine. It should not be compared and it will never be duplicated. Enjoy it for what it is, a classic with class.

Speaking of The Beast, has anyone ridden it in the last couple weeks? It was running so incredibly smooth in May with all its track work...best rides I've ever had on it. I'm wondering if it's holding up. Maybe I should go visit it and see myself.

RCMAC said:

It would be, but they only measured to mid-timbers then were too tired to go any further.

This "mid timbers" phrase seems to be a recurring joke. Much like the "Or Maverick" phrase, it is something that I missed entirely. Anyone care to explain?

See here.