What Is: Intimidator 305
Intimidator 305 is a steel giga coaster located at Kings Dominion in Virginia, USA.
As its name suggests, the ride measures 305ft (93m) high,
giving it the 'Giga' classification.
Roller coasters with this classification are between 300 and 399 feet high.
Intimidator 305 was the third full-circuit Giga coaster to be constructed,
after the likes of Millennium Force and Steel Dragon 2000.
The ride was constructed by Intamin, and opened on the 2nd of April, 2010,
at the cost of 25 Million US Dollars.
Several days before, another ride in the Cedar Fair chain opened under the name of 'Intimidator'
However, unlike its similarly named peer, Intimidator is a B&M Hyper Coaster located at Carowinds.
Like the name, both rides feature the same theme-
NASCAR Driver Dale Earnhardt
Throughout his career, Dale earned the nickname 'The Intimidator',
for his aggressive driving style.
To reflect the theme, the trains of the ride resemble Earnhardt's black '#3' car.
As a result, they feature stickers and headlights comparable to those found on NASCAR vehicles.
Specifically on Intimidator 305, several racing flags can be found within the ride area,
while a replica of Earnhardt's car sits outside of the entrance to the coaster.
A ride on Intimidator 305 begins with a dispatch straight into the lift hill.
However, before the trains leave the station, the words 'Gentlemen, start your engines!' can be heard,
referencing to the start of a NASCAR race.
After this occurs, riders climb the 93m (305ft) ascent,
and crest the 91.4m (300ft) drop.
The climb itself takes a relatively short amount of time to complete.
This is because the ride utilizes a cable lift hill
instead of the widely-used chain lift hill,
allowing the trains to climb at speeds of up to 27kmh (17mph).
When they eventually reach the top, riders plummet down the first drop
at the maximum vertical angle of 85 degrees.
They then quickly bank right and enter a 270-degree turn into an airtime hill.
Before they do this, the trains reach their maximum speed of 145kmh (90mph).
Riders then complete the rest of the circuit, which consists of further airtime hills and many low-to-the-ground turns.
Despite the 1555m (5100ft) long layout,
it takes approximately 44 seconds for the trains to navigate the entire circuit.
This time is measured from the moment the train leaves the cable lift hill,
to when it hits the final brake run.
The trains themselves are made up of 8 cars,
with riders seated in 2 rows of 2.
This leads to a total of 32 riders per train.
A maximum of 2 trains can operate on the track at once
Leading to a capacity of roughly 1350 riders per hour.
Several months after the opening of the ride, the trains gained new, padded restraints
replacing the hard Intamin over-the-shoulder restraints.
Intimidator 305, and other similar Intamin coasters, feature an interesting lift hill design.
The entire crest of the hill is held up by only 2 supports.
This is achieved through the increased structural strength of the box-like lift hill track.
Another intriguing fact surrounds the first turn of the ride.
After opening, it became clear that many guests were either greying, or blacking out after the frist drop.
This was due to the sustained high g-force during the first right-hand turn.
To rectify this, Kings Dominion initially installed trim brakes on the first drop of the ride,
to reduce its maximum speed.
These were installed less than 2 months after its debut.
A long-term solution was then put into operation throughout the closed season.
The first turn of the ride was widened and altered so the trains would rise into the first airtime hill earlier than before.
This reduced the g-force, and therefore the likelihood of greyouts and blackouts.
Intimidator 305 received great reviews from both the general public and roller coaster enthusiasts alike.
Many people praise the ride's intensity and various airtime moments,
leading to its high ranking in several roller coaster polls.
Some state it's the world's best Intamin roller coaster, while others simply disagree.
What's your opinion?
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