Sorry in advance for your initial panic attack, but I think this is just something we need to talk about before CP does something stupid...
Personally, I HATE unnecessary trims-Mean Streak and maybe Mantis along with a lot more rides. I rode MS yesterday and I was really mad. I had known about the trims at the top of the hill, but didn't expect them to ruin the ride. I was all excited at the top and then we start the descent and I felt two grabs from the brakes. Okay that wasn't too bad, the first drop was just about ruined but what else could happen??? Well for starters-NO AIR TIME, and just an all around slow ride. I didn't even mind it being rough, that ride would be excellent if it had not trims.
So now let's talk about MF, I love that ride- the best airtime I've ever had at CP. I don't favor Magnum's too much because you're only off the seat for a split second, it makes your legs hurt, and even if you leave space between you and the lapbar, it comes back down. I just want MF to stay fast and packed with airtime for as long as it's up. In other words, please no trims!!!!! It just seems like a CP "tradition" to make the ride where it BARELY crests every hill on the ride. I don't want that to happen and I think I have some people with me on that one. (if not, everybody)
SO IN MY CONCLUSION, KEEP MF GREAT, DON'T ADD TRIMS!!!!!
I dont think Cedar POint will add trims to MF. From what i heard, Mean Streak only has trims so the trains dont destroy the coaster.
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Visit my Cedar Point page!! homestead.com/ericscedarpointpage/cedarpoint.html
Ok heres a question for you... Why couldn't they just add trim breaks for emergencys and never use them any other time? If they added them to the course and it didn't slow down the train unless there was a rollback etc. wouldn't that create an extra block and make it able to place two trains on the track at once? I was just wondering even though its probobly not possible.
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-Chris
"Any day, is a great day, to ride a rollercoaster!"
Well to me it wouldn't make sense to me, because MF's brakes are magnetic. And for trims to only work for emergencies, the couldn't be magnetic.
Just curious, how would the only work in emergencies.
Anyone?
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Kyle
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201.3 Miles to the Point from Owosso MI
*** This post was edited by Cedar Creek Mine Ride on 8/15/2000. ***
I don't think they could add another train because then they couldn't get the other trains loaded and unloaded fast enough. And why use a trim brake as a block brake, why not just add another block brake? I'm assuming that trim brakes and block brakes are made differently, and block brakes would better if they were only used to stop, not slow the train (are they?)
The ONLY place where another block brake could be added to Millennium Force would be at the top of one of the island crossover hills. Remember, if you have a block brake, you need to be able to roll from the block brake all the way to the end of the ride. Not real practical for Millennium Force. Furthermore, while there are two spots on the track where trims could be added, experience indicates that under certain conditions the ride is almost not fast enough as it is...
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
I would think that the MF course isn't exactly designed for trims. I mean unless they want two trains on the course at the same time, they wouldn't need them. But if somehow MF comes down with the "sophomore jinx" in adding trims [Mantis] I don't think it would ruin the ride. Sometimes I want it to slow down a little bit..
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Brian Z.
Hometown parks: Kennywood, Cedar Point!
Feel the Force NOW!!
Well, I'm trusting Rideman on this one and that is the answer that I wanted to hear. I like MF now, it's fast and has the best floating airtime in the park and I hope that it stays that way. (which it should.)
I know it was discussed a while back, but I never saw the answer. I've been trying to figure out where the two spots on the track where trims could go, and haven't really come up with the locations. Every time I've ridden I'm too excited about the ride to really pay attention. Could someone (RideMan ;) ) help me out?
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UCSigep
Rides to the top of the World: 8
There are brackets for trims in the track just before the second tunnel and just before the final turn on the straight section past the queue.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
Millennium Force laps: 35
Jeff, are you saying there are plans to add trims on MF if there are "brackets?" I sure hope not!!!!!!
Yeah, they were put there as precautionary brakes. I think you can soo one of the brackets on the offical site's consrtuction pics.
Jeff is right those brackets have been there since day one. I personally don't see them using them becasue the trims would be stationary and not the retractable ones and if an empty train went through the stationary trims I don't think it would make it through the final turn!
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daniel j. haverlock
'99 Magnum Count: 801
spiritofthepoint.com
Right... retrofitting the track later on might damage the structural integrity of the track, so better to be safe than sorry. Superman at Darien had trims added just before the final hop, though they had negligable impact on the air. The Superman at SFA had them from day one. Even if they did add them here (and I doubt they would because when cold it struggles to complete the course), they would have little impact on the feel of the ride.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
Millennium Force laps: 35
ya know, I'm all for the brakes on Mantis and Magnum, but Mean Streak's are just horrid.
The Mantis trim slows the train down just enough so you can actually feel the twists and turns, reather than just intense g-forces.
Magnum's are just plain awsome, making you feel like you're gonna fall out on the turnaround.