Trim Brakes on Mantis in CP

I worked at Cedar Point and was assigned to the Mantis. When I used to ride in the morning to test, it was really hit or miss on weather the trim brakes would fire. It all depended on the weight of the train at the top and weather the computer sensed that the trim would be needed. Standing at the entrance to the station I could watch the ride down the first hill and always noticed that the trim would fire, or not fire. In my manual the trims were not even mentioned, but obviously they were their. I miss my rollercoaster, had many good mornings of riding the Mantis with just me, the ride and perfect silence at 9 am in the morning! God it was great!

I rode mantis two and a half weeks ago without trims and it seemed fine to me, but then again i havent rode it with trims for a long time. Raptor technically doesnt have "trims" it has block section midbrakes which are used as trims on some occasions, however, ive been to CP 4 times this yaer and they havent been on yet. Also at coastermania I rode magnum without trims and although "I" liked it it was incredibly rough through the turnaround and the hills literally ripped you up and down in your seat to the point where it hurt your legs, so I dont think that the general rollercoaster riding public would enjoy it.

Legendary said:

And in 2001 (or 2002, I forget) it became only a two train operation.

Why did it become a 2 train operation instead of three and why has it stayed this way?
*** This post was edited by SFGAMan 6/11/2003 11:13:31 AM ***

nightride...

Quit trying to bash Cedar Point by pointing out all of the trim brakes. Forget Mean Streak, the ride is just hopeless. But the brakes on Mantis are necessary and make the ride better, the brake on Magnum right before the pretzel loop hardly ever works, the trim on Gemini right before the final helix is gone, and Iron Dragon just sucks anyway. The rides are still fun and the park is still the best in the world.

Now, something I want to clear up. I hear a lot of people talking about the "trim" brake on Raptor. First of all, I was there last week and it wasn't used, so that seconds big drop is awesome. Second, I don't consider it a trim brake. It is a mid-course block brake that was part of the original design. I consider a trim brake to be a brake that is added on later to slow the ride down and is not meant to be a block brake. With that in mind, leave Raptor alone please.

I love the buzzing sound of the trim breaks on Mantis' drop! It sounds like a bug light zapper! lol

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YOUNGSTOWN 2010
*** This post was edited by jkpark 6/11/2003 12:11:52 PM ***

I dont see the big deal with trim brakes on rides. They are needed on some rides, and placed very well. I just have never seen them on a drop hill. (no, i have never been to CP or any cedar fair park, but i am going to CP in August!!). If they are their to make the rides better, so be it. Rides are designed to be the "extreme". Sometimes the rides are too extreme and then become uncomfortable for most lay people, hence the need for trim breaks. You have to remember, all parks cater to the lay person, the millions of them that go through their parks every year. They dont cater to enthuasts, the few hundred that go through their parks every year.

SFGAMan....just a guess, but I'd imagine that *even at CP*, guests can't manage to load a stand-up efficiently....three trains just makes for more stacking. Most every stand-up coaster has problems getting riders to "STAND, with your feet FLAT on the floor"....perhaps the instructions are too vague?...;)

Thanks rollergator!

POST #100

YAY!

atleast for me thats good. :-)
*** This post was edited by SFGAMan 6/11/2003 2:10:34 PM ***

I, for one, am very thankful that Mantis has a trim on the drop. It does make the loop much more fun, with the air, and slows the train enough to have passengers survive the onslaught brought on by much too tight a layout for a standup.
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Hair Metal? I think not. - Click it, or lose it. ;)

DorneyDante said:
O lord,,,,,,,,, where did all these new people come from? You've never seen a trim break on a first drop? Welcome to Cedar Fair my friend!

Heaven forbid someone on CBuzz isn't as exceedingly informed as you are, Dante.

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-Mike B.
Son of Hulk