Jeff's Clipboard and Bitter Taste - Kings Island Opening Day

Ive been able to get a trimless ride on it before (at night no less.) It was right after a rainstorm, and it was amazing. That ride is why the Beast is on my #1 spot on my wood coaster poll. Ill never forget that ride. That said, trimmed Beast would still be in my top 2 (possibly still #1) due to any night ride.

That final helix is nothing short of bliss for me, especially at night when it feels like you just fall into the abyss.

Here's a purported history of the ride, but I have no idea whether it is correct:

http://www.groupsrv.com/hobby/about33104.html

See especially the 4th post or so. Google turned this page up in the first few hits with "beast history skid brakes" as the search terms.

Welcome to the wonderful world of trim brakes. And if all trims were removed from The Beast, I'm sure the majority of riders (enthusiasts included) would say that the ride is way too rough. So realistically, they can't win. Beast's trims have been there for a LONG time in one form or another, so just accept it.

That being said, I personally wouldn't consider The Beast (at least in '07) to be "tame" by any stretch of the imaganition.

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eightdotthree said:
How many of us on this site are old enough to have ever ridden the ride in its first year? Not me.

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Which is precisely the reason that anyone here making some kind of implication about how it's somehow lesser of a ride are pointless, particularly since Rob was talking about comparing to "the Beast of a few years ago."

I always find it amusing how you back down when you say something with no way to back it up... which is quite often, by the way. Since built in 1979, the Beast has been tamed with trim brakes. Talk to anyone that knows anything about the history of Kings Island and they will tell you that. That's all I'm saying. You were wrong. Why you can't accept that every once in a while is completely beyond me.

Your reaching. The ride we all know has been trimmed for as long as we have all been old enough to ride it. Since adding the magnetic brakes the ride has not been "trimmed to hell," its actually faster that it was before. Thats the point.

I backed down? Rob, you're so full of crap. First you say "the Beast of a few years ago" then you say I'm wrong because they added brakes in 1942, so my assertion was wrong. And nevermind the fact that the original discussion line was referring to the ride being "tamed to hell" some time before Sam was even born.

Brian is right. You love to get into these nonsense semantic debates.

In regards to passes not scanning... While in Guest Services Sunday, several of the associates were mentioning that they were still working on tying the systems together between the parks, but that it shouldn't be an issue before long.

As for the uniforms... I really hope Cedar Point does not get them. I'm not a fan at all.

How many of us on this site are old enough to have ever ridden the ride in its first year? Not me.

I'm old...I rode it opening year ;)

The beast squeals opening weekend almost every year. There are several reasons for this. Grease when cold actually slows the ride and beast occationally rolls back prior to the second lift and has before the station. Get a Beast Walkback Ride sometime on a cold day. The darn thing barely makes the chain on the second lift. Occationally it runs pretty good but it takes about ten trips to get warmed up.

Second, It knocks surface rust off.
This isn't a CF trademark, with the exception being Mean Streak.

Chuck, whos opening day rides on beast were Ear Piercing but nothing new for opening weekend.

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Avalanche Sam said:Jeff, What would you call adding numerous brakes to the ride? My first ride was in 2003, so I don't think I've ever ridden it without trims. (I don't know when they were added). I was under the impression that brakes slow things down. Can you please explain your post Jeff, or point me to an explanation?Parker17, was that supposed to be sarcasm? Cedar Fair needs to add value to their product to be profitable, not raise prices as high as possible on food while attendance keeps dropping, capacity goes down, and guests turn to other sources of entertainment.-Sam

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I can say that Im one who recieved a totally trimless ride on Beast. April 13th 1979. By June the midcourse and second drop had heavy braking and has EVER SINCE. The first drop had a short skid trim then a almost full drop skid, Then removed and then MAGNETICS.

The beast over the past five years has run better than it did the previous 20. you just notice the brake more because its kinda sudden and not gradual like the skids provided. IMHO it pics it speed back up faster as the Kinetic energy isn't destroyed.

Tamed to hell? Grizzly at PGA and Mighty Canadian Mindbuster are tamed to hell. Beast just has a leash.

Wow, for once I agree with Chuck.

Beast had no screeching this Saturday. It was just the annual opening weekend warming up.

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Rob Ascough said:Brakes were added to the Beast a few years after it opened. I can't give you the exact dates- if it means that much to you, I'm sure you could do a little research and find out for yourself. The simple fact is that brakes were installed where there were no brakes before. To most people, that would insinuate the ride was tamed at some point.

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Rob, your wrong and just leave it at that. Im a first night and first year rider. The midcourse didn't operate opening night but the only modification from opening night until the replacement with the magnetics was a longer skid on the first drop. They removed the first drop brakes in 2000? for about half the season.

The coaster generally runs better now than it has in normal operation than, ANY TIME IN IT'S History.

Chuck, who says they could adjust the brakes to be more or less for a event or weather (USUALLY THE LATTER) In fact they still can.

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eightdotthree said:How many of us on this site are old enough to have ever ridden the ride in its first year? Not me.

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Im only 42 and rode Beast its opening night Fri. April 13-1979. Returned that same season as we were given return passes as the weather was so crappy. I do remember on the return in June saying WTH? when the midcourse hit hard. However all the brakes were there OPENING NIGHT just not used.

The only difference in the ride from opening season is some of the corners were not yet banked and the helix only had the roof with not sides to the tunnel.

Full moon, Front seat, 38 degrees and ZOOM!

I really think some of the butchered, neutered and tamed statments come from the new breed of coasters out there like Voyage, Thunderhead ect that just don't let up.

BTW, Voyage's trim is on and on hard except for events. My brother said it makes a huge difference in the finally early on.

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Mamoosh said:
How many of us on this site are old enough to have ever ridden the ride in its first year? Not me.

I'm old...I rode it opening year

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Now I am feeling old as well. I "remember" the commericials but I didn't ride it until 1982. Better yet, how many of us here can say they rode The Bat besides me?

;)

-Tina

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Charles Nungester said:

Tamed to hell? Grizzly at PGA ....are tamed to hell. Beast just has a leash.

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Grizzly at PGA they just wanted to add the element that the train might not have enough momentum to make it back to the station. :) *** Edited 5/4/2008 9:12:59 PM UTC by Cropsey***