Raptor is LOUD this year!

I tried searching but I can't find discussion on this....

Does anyone else think Raptor is much louder than last year? On Sunday, Pete and I were struggling to hear each other when we walked down the midway adjacent to the track.

I know she was never a quiet gal, but this year she really is wailing like a banshee..... ;)

Steve

It wasn't like that last week. But yesterday...Yow! Raptor was howling louder than the line of people complaining about Millennium Force!

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Not to mention louder, but there's a vibration as well. My theory is they're using a harder wheel this year which resonates a lot more than usual.

Scott W. Short
- Proud member of the Out-Of-Town Coaster Weirdos

I immediately thought of Batman at Six Flags Great Adventure, circa 2001 I think. It sounded as if the wheels were ribbed or something. Raptor now sounds like that. Not sure what they're doing with those wheels.

Jeff - Advocate of Great Great Tunnels™ - Co-Publisher - PointBuzz - CoasterBuzz - Blog - Music

I don't remember Raptor being that loud on opening day, but it was certainly loud last weekend. It was actually a little bit annoying at times.

And then one day you find ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun

I was a bit disappointed. I rode it twice last monday. Both times it was loud (with vibration) and seemed pretty slow on the second half, with the mid-trims on lightly. I walked off wondering what the hell ride this was?? If there going to replace all the wheels stop being cheap and replace those anti-rollbacks...click click clack all the way up the lift hill.

"This second hill is my favorite part of the ride. It is so Cool!"
TTD Status: "Contaminates in the system" Sandor Kernacs CP Place Quote: Walt - We don't need moderators. We need babysitters.

Raptor didn't seem that loud to me. I went on Sunday of Opening weekend it didn't seem to bother me.

I think it's more obvious on the ride than off of it, but it's there. Again, Batman at SFGAdv in 2001. Not quite as loud, but up there. That year, that ride sounded like it was grinding something up.

Jeff - Advocate of Great Great Tunnels™ - Co-Publisher - PointBuzz - CoasterBuzz - Blog - Music

It is so loud that the noise is annoying both riding and walking on the midway, almost to the point of hurting my ears. Those are some nasty wheels they have on it now, I can't think of anything but the wheel material that can cause that noise.

I wish they would fill the track with sand, like they did at Dorney. Even with the quieter wheels, it was still on the noisy side.

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

I always found Mantis very loud. Is that what Raptor sounds like? And with people saying vibration does that mean shaky, or not smooth? Or am I reading wrong?

-Craig-
2008:Magnum XL-200 | Top Thrill Dragster
2007:Corkscrew | Magnum XL-200 | Maverick

CP should have insulated the hollow box spine to deaden the sound.

- Uncle Jay

Just a little trivia... the "sand treatment" for a B&M like the forthcoming Hydra at Dorney costs an extra $300,000.

Jeff - Advocate of Great Great Tunnels™ - Co-Publisher - PointBuzz - CoasterBuzz - Blog - Music

That's pretty expensive...Is it still possible to do that to Raptor?

- Uncle Jay

Yeah, if they are going to tear out all the track...

Beer and golf Thursday thru Monday, Cedar Point & beer, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Can you see One-Eyed-Willie from the top of Magnum?

Why would they have to tear out the track? The box beam is hollow. All they would have to do is cut holes into the box beam in strategic places and poor the sand in. Then just weld a patch to close the track back up. That's assuming the present structure is strong enough to handle the extra weight.

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

I was just there today and now that I think about it, it did seem that it was louder. It was not annoying though. I did not ride it today though, I hope the ride is not that much different, it is one of my favs.

I did notice yesterday that the road wheels are solid white, not the usual aluminum-with-yellow-tire. Perhaps they have switched from polyurethane wheels to nylon ones? The ride seems to be faster than normal, but it's also really, really noisy.

I also noticed that Millennium Force, which seems to be running quieter and slower than usual, doesn't appear to have any of the solid white wheels on it.

Coincidence? :)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I didn't notice it on the Midway because it has always been loud which kind of gave the park character when you first walked in. But it was a bit overwhelming when you are standing close to the helix when you walk into the queu. It was noticeable and I just figured it was a cold day and couldn't warm up. I figured that was a stupid assumption after I realized it was a little after 5 PM.

Life has it's ups and downs, might as well make it on a coaster!

When I was there on Sunday it seemed alot faster to me as well. I thought it was just me!

RideMan said:
Coincidence? :)

There are no CP coincidences this year.

cyberdman