Trim Brakes on BEAST

Has anyone rode the beast in the past week? I just rode it today and they had the trim brakes on and it wasn't fast as it was the first week they opened it up... The first week that PKI opened they didn't have the trim brakes on and the ride was faster than before. Anyone else think the same? or is it just me?
Brian
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Only -24 days to Son of Beast opens up.
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You're right... they've put brakes on the damn thing? That's corporate "Paramount" for you... When I was there 2 weeks ago, an attendant wouldn't let me ride the Beastie without fastening my seat belt! I was riding that thing when it was the freakin Scooby Doo as a 50 lb. kid! No seat belts, nothing! Now I'm a grown man, about 200 lbs and I may fall out of the Beastie if I fail to buckle up! What in the hell is the world coming to?

Safety is no accident, and they have every right to demand that you wear your seatbelt. Nothing irritates me more than enthusiasts who think that they're above the rules.

That aside, trim brakes often have little to do with a park's owner, but more often has to do with maintaining structural integrity.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

Could someone explain what trim brakes are exactly? Where are they located on the Beast? I know about the breaking station after the second hill. I also remember when that wasn't a breaking station. hehehe That was sweet back then. :-)
-JJ

Trim brakes are after the first hill you go down the hill through the tunnel and then you do through the bunny hops, AFTER THE BUNNY HOPS, there is a covered section where they slowed you WAY down, almost to a complete stop (sometimes like that) then you go through the second tunnel VERY slowly, gets boring. then you gain some speed after that and get to the second hill. But the first weekend when it wasn't crowded the trim brakes weren't on and it was running faster then EVER... I rode it 2 times sunday and they were on both time... they must do it depending on how many people are there in the park... who knows...
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Only -26 days to SOB opens!!
------------------------------- *** This post was edited by Son Of the Beast Freak on 5/9/2000. ***

I think the light brakes early in the season are part of the park's early season/weather policy. Since it's still a little cold out in April, I think they tend to let everything run a little more open so the rides break in after winter maintenance. Ever notice that the Racer has two lift chains one each side: one on the main lift and the other on the big hill before the turns. This is there to help the slow early season trains over the hill. After Memorial Day or so, the second chain is removed from service and it's business as usual.

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Scott W. Short
sshort@mediaone.net
http://welcome.to/midwestcoastercentral

Ahh well thank you for the insight. :-) When I was at PKI last summer, I noticed the braking in the covered area but it wasn't really all that signifcant of a decrease in speed. I can see where they would use it during the colder months, but I always thought a woody goes faster as it warms up. Wouldn't it be more logical that the trim breaks are there for later in the season when it's hotter?

-JJ

How many trains were running? It's possible, I suppose, that the brakes were applied by the blocking system because the previous train handn't quite left the next block yet.

Just a thought.

-Marc

No, when there is a problem with the distance between cars, PKI always stops The Beast at the top of either the 1st or 2nd lifts (Usually the first.) And it's been happening alot lately. Guess the newbies gotta get the hang of things.

first of all im not a newbee... i live 20min away from pki and i go regulary, and these brakes are different, it isn't at the FIRST hill and isn't at the second hill, it is the COVERED section after the first tunnel, after the bunny hops, then there is the covered area where we slowed WAY down, then went through 2nd tunnel barely even moving through the tunnel, then picked up speed after 2nd tunnel and made it to 2nd hill.

Easy SOB Freak, I believe Jacob was referring to the ride ops as being newbies and not you. The covered sections is a blocking zone. It will only allow one train in that zone at any given time. If the trains are not dispatched smoothly, then you could be stopped there to prevent two trains from entering that zone.

Crazy B is right, SOB Freak. I was referring to the ride-ops. I was responding to Mark's comment, nothing you had said.

LOL, MY bad Jacob... Mistook your post. I see what you met now. I wasn't mad or anything, just was saying that i wasn't a newbie. I am going to PKI tomorrow night for GRAD night, and if SOB is open I WILL ride it no matter what, and will post my trip up, and tell how great it is... (if it is open the whole time)

The covered area is called the brake run.

Umm... hate to butt in but umm.. you may not know but there are some on the first drop and then just before the second drop! I took the copper ride PKI now offers! You can see it cleary if you know exactly were to look!... Just thought I point that out!...

But Yes the opening DAY ,they opened Beast at 8:00pm after "Minor Difficluties" and it was running verry hot (fast) The I went to season pass night, all to ride SOB mind you, (hehe that didn't happen) and it was running with all trims on!
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Sousa129 :)

Laser Quest member:
Earnhardt2

Correct me if I'm wrong but the skid brakes have always been there following both lifts and the long covered section way back in the woods.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

Yea, i knew that is was running fast that weekend, it is so sweet to ride, when the trims aren't on... It just makes it 10 times faster

Jeff I think you might be right... it just that I saw the breaks there... So I thought that I would tell you guys...

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Sousa129 :)

Laser Quest member:
Earnhardt2

Jeff is right. Those breaks have been on for a long time.

I don't know about any one else, but I have gotten a ride on the Beast without the brakes on. It came towards the end of the night when they wanted to clear out the line. It was amazing, fast as a bat out of you know where and completely dark. I reccomed it to anyone looking to be scared out of their minds.

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