That "OTHER" Intimidator

I have a germ of an idea about heading to Carowinds on my birthday weekend (9/11-12)..possibly to also include Busch VA. Two questions:

I've read a lot about I-305 on the forum, but not nearly as much about Intimidator. Opinions?

Also, I understand Nighthawk is currently closed. Any poop on when or if it will re-open this season?

Flying coasters messed with me psychologically when I rode Batwing and X-Flight a few years back. However, I made myself do more and now enjoy them immensely, as long as the line ain't TOO long. Matter of fact, on my previous (only) Carowinds excursion, I was ready to give what was then BORG a shot, despite my issues. But the reason I skipped it was a long line on a 95 degree Easter Sunday in '06.

Griffon and Grover (sounds like a WWE tag team!) would, along with the two coasters mentioned above, be new to me.

I don't know anything about Nighthawk, but we really enjoyed Intimidator. I liked it so much better the I305. It is like the love child of Nitro and Diamondback. Carowinds also has KI's flying eagles. These alone are worth the trip to CW.

I'm with DaveStroem in my Intimidator > Intimidator 305 sentiment. I305 just has too many laterals and not enough airtime for my tastes but you may like one version or the other depending on which flavor you like your ride elements. The Carowinds version is infinitely more re-rideable. I know you've ridden I305 pre-first drop trim, but have you been back since? I'll be heading down to get my post-first-drop-trim rides on I305 in two weeks so I'm curious as to how it compares after the mods.

Our first ride on Intimidator was in row 8 and had some of the strongest airtime on any B&M hyper in any row I've ridden. Our row4 rides were even better. One word of caution, though: stay away from rows 9 through 14. Those rows always produce the least entertaining rides on any newer B&M hyper, so stick to the first 8 rows and the last two.

I think the reason you haven't heard much about the Carowinds version is because it hasn't had reports of gray-outs, trims moved around, restraint modifications and reports of wheels needing to be replaced frequently. Sometimes no news is good news. A lot of really good newer rides (Prowler, Manta, Renegade, Evel Knievel, Terminator Salvation) haven't really generated a lot of buzz after they were open for a few months, but you'll also notice that those rides haven't come with the same operational issues either.

*edited for spacing

I definitely found the I-232 rides to be *way* better at/near the front of the train - I'm usually a back-row guy, but I'll ride wherever the forces are strongest.

Do NOT miss the re-themed Boo Blasters...no spoilers, but it's worth it!

Oh, one last edit/word: Carowinds actually encourages snapping on the flying skooters....thanks to that policy, I encourage you to ride said skooters. ;)

Maybe I'm splitting hairs here about word definitions, but I would say that I-305 has zero laterals. While you certainly rotate (violently) around a center line, the majority of forces are pulling you toward the track. Laterals to me implies that you're moving around a turn and being pushed outward, a la the Legend's helix.

Gary Dowdell said:
I know you've ridden I305 pre-first drop trim, but have you been back since? I'll be heading down to get my post-first-drop-trim rides on I305 in two weeks so I'm curious as to how it compares after the mods.

No, I haven't been back, and I'm really P.O'd that KD has such weird operating dates after Labor Day and will NOT be open my birthday weekend. Between Labor Day and 9/25, they're only open on one out of four weekend days, that being 9/18.

Yeah, I think I305 has more positive forces than Negative, not so much laterals, though it does look like it has some in the twisty sections. I've yet to ride.

As for Nighthawk, its still down as far as I know. If it was up, you'd likely have an hour plus line anywho. As far as B&Mtimidator, it's a great ride, but make sure you ride close to the front (the infamous row 4 is rather popular). If the 2nd trim isn't hitting too hard, you're in for a great ride.

Oh, one last edit/word: Carowinds actually encourages snapping on the flying skooters....thanks to that policy, I encourage you to ride said skooters. ;)

While I realize what I'm about to type is BLASPHEMY to many, I'll take a deep breath here at work and hit the keys...

I HAVE NO LOVE FOR FLYERS!!! There, I said it! I've never been able to get the hang of snapping, despite the tutorial efforts of other enthusiasts at Knoebels PPP. So basically I just sit in the tub and enjoy the breeze (just like home!) Okay, fire away with the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune....

I haven't learned to snap and usually avoid them too, but mostly because when riding, the spinning doesn't agree with me.

Since when is snapping a requiement for Flyer enjoyment. One does not need to know how to snap to enjoy Flyers, nor does one need to do anything more than sit and enjoy the breeze to enjoy Flyers.

I was generally underwhelmed by both Intimidators.

305 seemed to be a MF meets Maverick frankensteining of design. It sounds awesome on paper, but the problem is that they took the worst parts of both and combined them.

232 seemed like as twistier version of the standard B&M airtime ride. Not a bad thing, but nothing too novel for a traveled enthusiast.

Maybe I'm just too jaded at this point, but we tended to have more fun on older coasters during our trip east (S:ROS at SFA, Apollo at BGW).

Having not ridden either I can tell you which I'd prefer: Carowind's.

Jeff is correct, except that for some of us who got our heads bashed in so well back in May, it's easy to embellish the laterals that are there (only as a result of the "break neck" directional changes). For people that confuse laterals with "jerkiness", Jeff's Legend example is spot on.

I agree with most other here, I-232 is the better of the two. I'm sorry I didn't get to KD prior to I-305 being trimmed. I haven't found a B&M yet that I haven't loved. I guess I need to ride some more before I get jaded.

James Whitmore said:
I haven't found a B&M yet that I haven't loved.

I haven't found one yet that I've hated.

(glass half full vs glass half empty sort of thing :) )

I have. Vortex.

Sorry, I forgot about the stand-ups. I don't like those at all, regardless of designer/manufacturer.

I don't even hate the stand-ups.

B&M is very middle-of-the-road to me. Very little that is outstanding, very little that's horrible. Most of it is solid, but pedestrian, riding.

To me the best thing they do is inverted coasters. They give the best rides and all (except for the clones) seem to have their own personality.

^Those last two paragraphs are spot-on...

Although, I do pretty much *hate* Iron Wolfenstein....

Oh, and I would absolutely LOVE to ride I-305 with the trims off and the new restraint system - I think I *would* prefer that model to I-232. As things stood after the May head-bashing, I think I almost would have preferred SFoG's Ninja...(I said almost). ;)

Rode I-305 with the new restraints. Liked that one better than the Carowinds version. Both are really good rides. Back in April front of the Carowinds version did not do a hole lot for me. The back was a different story and had some good airtime.