Blind Terror & The Millenium Force

OK Guys. Here's the deal. I am 6'7" tall, and currently weigh 316lb. Last year, I could not fit on the Force, because the seat belt lacked about 4". The lap bar came down just fine, but the belt didn't fit. This year I think I have lost the inches to get the belt fastened, no problem. So, I am thinking I will be OK to fit. Most of my weight is concentrated in the lower 2/3 of my body. My upper portion is much thinner. I am not top-heavy in the least. I have what you would term a middle-to-low center of gravity.

I spent the last half of last season riding Magnum as much as possible, as well as the Iron Dragon, Wildcat and the Corkscrew. I could not fit on any of the molded-seat rides, like the Blue Streak, Raptor, Power Tower, and so on. Too much butt, at the time.

So, I am thinking I'm going to fit this year. I spent the whole winter looking forward to this, psyching myself for the trip up that 300 foot hill. I was taking as fatalistic a view as possible, and had pretty much conquered, or had hoped I had conquered, the blind terror brought on by a numbing fear of heights, and of falling.

Now we have this accident on the Superman coaster, and suddenly, all that work seems to have gone out the window.

On Usenet, in rec.coasters, the problems with Intamin coasters are being tossed about. Please excuse my lack of knowledge, but is the Force an Intamin coaster? Rideman mentioned something about the trains on Millenium Force being different from those on the Superman ride. Can someone here explain the basic differences between the rides, the trains, and the restraints?

I so desperately want to try and ride the Force, but at the same time, I am beset by the overwhelming terror that has built up in 20+ years of being unable, and unwilling to ride roller coasters. I'm told the Force is much smoother than the Magnum, and I think I have actually come to terms with the Magnum, and sort of like it. And, of course, one of my most basic fears is that I will part company with the coaster somewhere along the way, and not make it back to the station with everybody else. Needless to say, I don't really look for airtime, and when I engage a restraint, it is engaged with a vengence.

So, help me out here people. Give me the rundown on why this won't happen to me at Cedar Point, on the Millenium Force. BTW - I feel more secure, and safer at Cedar Point than I do pretty much anywhere else. I'm not even sure I'd venture to ride any coaster in any other park.

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Tank
Magnum: 12 MF: 0 TTD: 0

MF and SMRoS have similar trains, but the details are different. If sitting in the back row of the Superman trains, the geometry is such that some people can lower their knees to a position where they could possibly defeat the restraint. The is a individual thing, tied to a persons build. This is in no way the official line though, but just my personal opinion. I noticed the difference when I went to Darian Lake and this was confirmed by Rideman in a post.

Intamin has also had problems with heavier/bigger people not fitting properly into the restraints.

MF doesn't have those problems. The back seat of each car has a different design, putting you into the correct geometry for the restraint to work. Also the seat belt is the length it is to assure that only people of the proper size can ride.

If you can buckle the seat belt on MF, you will get a safe ride. Don't worry about it. The same holds true for TTD.

To be extra safe, make sure your feet are flat on the floor, your knees should be at or above your thighs. Hold on to the grab handle and enjoy. You will not be in any danger at all.

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I'd rather be in my boat with a drink on the rocks,
than in the drink with a boat on the rocks.

*** This post was edited by Pete 5/3/2004 2:58:10 PM ***

Isin't the only reason MF has that head rest on the seat for the lift hill. Maybe you should make sure your head touches the head rest and you should be fine but if it doesnt you should be careful.

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MF, WT and TTD are the best @ CP

5 days until opening day!

Even if the seatbelt fastens, it doesn't guarantee that you will be permitted to ride. Ride ops will check to see if the lapbar rests against the "meaty part of your thighs". If the lap bar rests against your belly, you most likely will not be allowed to ride even if the seatbelt fastens.

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Richie Anderson
Millennuim Force TL '01
Ride Maintenance '02 & '03