They are ruining the Beast
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I must say that I was at PKI for the first time in over ten years a few weeks ago. I rode the Beast and thought that it was great and felt out of control, just like I remember it. It has definately gotten older though. It was rougher than I remembered it being, but not uncomfortable.
I hardly even noticed the trim brakes that people have complained about so much. In fact, I would guess that I wouldn't have noticed that they were there if it hadn't been for discussions on this board.
The Beast still gives a fast, furious, and exciting ride. In fact, now that I think about it, I wish that I could go back and ride again.
I have to say I'm not a fan of the new brakes on the second hill, but the fact of the matter is that they'll keep the train from ruining the track through the helix. In today's world, that second lift wouldn't be built as high, and you probably wouldn't need any trims at all.
Jacob
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www.PKIGuide.com
Shaggy said "99% of the folks saying this obviously never rode it in it's early years."
Just so that Shaggy knows, I am 32 and have ridden the Beast well over 200 times and I know how the ride was in the early years and yes it has gotten better until this last change. The brakes are awful, they grab insted of offering resistance. I went back today and the workers claim that the ride is being modified and has been running off and on for the last few days. Either way the brakes at present are ruining the ride. The reason the Raven is so great is because they let you go and you feel that you are out of control, That is the way the Beast has felt the last few years . I am just saying that Tuesday and Today(Thursday) the brakes made the ride less of a thrill. And they should be told that they need to work on making it better and we should give imput on the changes they make. I hope that we continue to challange PKI to run the Beast as fast as possible so that this ride will remain on top where it belongs. By the way until Tuesday I would have never rated any other coaster better than the Beast, now I have to question myself.
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(Former Signature replaced due to bad joke with accident) The Beast at night-Two peas in a pod?
Jammie,
I don't agree with your statement that they are ruining the Beast, but I absolutely agree with the startling effect that those brakes have on the second hill.
My caution would be this: realize that they put those brakes on the ride to make it better, not to destroy it. If there's a problem, you can trust them to fix it.
Jacob
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www.PKIGuide.com
I currently have not ridden Beast this year just yet but next week I will be. Right now the only thing I can think of for taking off the skids and putting magnetic is that when it rained the skids would barely slow down the train even under the shed they would still get wet. The magnets now provide a more consistant and sure way to slow down the train.
If they were to retrack 7400 feet of track they might as well just rebuild the whole ride except for the lifts, because they arent slowing down the ride because its bumpy they are slowing it down cause of the amount of stress it has on the supports, like people have said. So retracking the ride won't do a thing. But I am still amazed as with the helix providing as much force as it does that that portion of the ride is still fun and exciting not a painful thing that you never wanna experience again.
I watched a video one time that someone had took of an on-ride of Beast with the new brakes. The only time I could tell there was a sudden slow down was that small piece right after the trim brake shed. And it looked like it wasnt slowed down to a stop but almost the same as it was with skid brakes.
So I will have to see how these new trim brakes act on the ride for it is the best ride I have ever ridden. I am hoping it is has not changed too much but for the people that say it is better than ever, I believe their case and can't wait to ride it.
jammie said:
How much wear and tear do you think Son of Beast gets? Have you ever seen that thing sway? Every turn, Evey stop, Every hill 60, 70, 80 mph. That thing has to be a maintenance nightmare. Just a thought.
I'm no expert but I would think the swaying is a good thing. Kinda like a building -- it would take far more stress if it were not allowed any movement than if it were allowed to give a little. I've noticed that lots of woodies a even some steel coasters (especially Arrow's) sway a lot when the train goes over certain parts of the course. And the Legend does that, as is easily seen from the steps b/w the track and the station, so I don't see it being so much an age issue.
On the other hand, if it's built to be rigid and is moving then...yeah, that's a problem.
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PLEASE READ: This post wasn't meant to offend or anger anyone; I apologize in advance if it does. So please don't post a reply just to rant about it. :)
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(Former Signature replaced due to bad joke with accident) The Beast at night-Two peas in a pod?
In prior years, The Beast was a terribly moody coaster, sometimes giving decent rides, but most of the time giving lousy rides because it simply ran too slowly. The new braking is far more consistent, so that once they got the ride tweaked into running in "decent mode" it would give a "decent" ride under all conditions. It means the ride never runs in "Awesome!!" mode any more, but it also means that it never runs in "suck" mode anymore either, and to me, that's a good thing.
Now here's an idea...Those brakes on the top of the second hill can only be to protect one thing: The hairpin turn at the top of the third hill. That's the only element between those brakes and the brakes at the end of the brake shed. Now that the brake shed is no longer needed, I wonder if that curve could be made larger, to re-join the course about halfway down the present brake shed, if that might make the second-hill trims unnecessary. The shed trims might have to be a little stronger, but I wonder if that kind of a change might be in the ride's future.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
While I agree that in the front the brakes can shove you into the bar and in some cases be painful. In the back it is less noticable by far.
I rode 4 times tonight 7/18 and it's running fast as ever, Faster than previous normal operations.
Chuck, who will take the trade off with a smile :)
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Charles Nungester
Lesourdsville Lake, The great American amusement park opens the season June 6th Thurs-Sun every week. Park phone is (513)539-2193
Yeah, Any maint. crew that can keep a 23 year old coaster running as fast as the day it was born is crapy.
None the less running a 214 ft drop woodie with no trims!
These guys suck man, i tell ya, Ralph and the other guys, They sit on their butts and do nothing.
Chuck, who knows they work their butts off and have at times retracked whole long sections of Beast overnight!
Oh, And a Apology would be nice comming from a person who has no idea what they are talking about. Saying I havn't ridden in 10 years
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Charles Nungester
Lesourdsville Lake, The great American amusement park opens the season June 6th Thurs-Sun every week. Park phone is (513)539-2193
Ok Jammie, how bout this?
Stay out of line if you dont like it. Makes the wait shorter for all the others who like the ride.
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http://www.islandguide.8m.com
SOB crew in twenty 02
82 SOB laps, and not tired of it yet!
RideMan said:
Now here's an idea...Those brakes on the top of the second hill can only be to protect one thing: The hairpin turn at the top of the third hill. That's the only element between those brakes and the brakes at the end of the brake shed. Now that the brake shed is no longer needed, I wonder if that curve could be made larger, to re-join the course about halfway down the present brake shed, if that might make the second-hill trims unnecessary. The shed trims might have to be a little stronger, but I wonder if that kind of a change might be in the ride's future.--Dave Althoff, Jr.
thinking that some additional BANKING on the hairpin might be able to accomplish the same task, and that the additional air on the second hill would rock!....
bill, saying Dave Althoff should get a *cabinet* position in my administration....;)
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Welcome to the Cedar Point skyride....we'll take you up 50, drop you down 30, all at an amazing speed of 6 miles per hour....we won't see you back unless you make the return trip!
Sob_Tom
You are exactly the reason I don't like some of these Forums. Some people want to discuss the Coasters. Some people just like to talk about their favorite rides, and the Beast is my favorite. Some people have had some great points in this discussion. Yours we can do without.
By the way the Beast is running better today. (it was raining)
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.:| Brandon Rodriguez |:.
http://www.coasters2k.com
BrandonR said:
Yeah but how exciting can it get on a 14 degree drop....-----------------
.:| Brandon Rodriguez |:.
http://www.coasters2k.com
Brandon, have you ever ridden the beast? That second big drop is one long decent picking up speed the whole way and at the bottom lies a maul known as the Helix, Known worldwide!
Chuck, just asking and BTW, The second big drop is 18* :)
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Charles Nungester
Lesourdsville Lake, The great American amusement park opens the season June 6th Thurs-Sun every week. Park phone is (513)539-2193
Shaggy said:
And the "It's too rough" thing gets old too. I cannot for the life of me figure out why folks want a smooth woodie. I prefer wooden coasters because they DO shake me up a bit.
AMEN!! I rode The Beast this past Monday for the first time since the year it opened. It's the best damn wooden coaster around...breaks, or no breaks, day or night, no matter what...the best wood hands down.
-Craig
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