UPDATE – 3/30/10 Intimidator’s open! Watch an official POV video and read some reviews here: Carowinds’ Intimidator Reviews & POV Video
It’s official, Intimidator will dominate Carowinds skyline in 2010. At 232′ (23 stories), this massive new coaster will be the longest, tallest, and fastest in the South East. It’s also Bolliger & Mabillard’s tallest roller coaster in the U.S. Intimidator will speed its black Chevy Monte Carlo themed trains in excess of 75 mph.
Record Breaking, History Making – 232 Feet Tall – $23 Million
As I predicted, the record is a regional one, but it’s still notable. 
As the tallest roller coaster in the South East Intimidator will edge competing Six Flags Over Georgia’s Goliath height by more than 30 feet. The history refers to the fact that the roller coaster will be the park’s largest capital investment in its 37 year history at a total investment of $23 million.
The NASCAR-Earnhardt Theme
All signs pointed to the new roller coaster being named Intimidator. There were the racing theme hints, the Sporting News article stating a rollercoaster with Earnhardt marks will be built at Carowinds, and the day before, the ride’s minisite was discovered at: www.intimidator.carowinds.com. Tieing the new roller coaster to NASCAR was a really smart move for the park. Anyone who knows the area knows that this IS NASCAR country. It will bring a lot of attention to the park escpecially with the NASCAR Hall of Fame opening in Charlotte next year.
Early reactions point at its similarity to Diamondback at Kings Island. It will be 
a Bolliger & Mabillard with red track and gray supports. I can already say that it’s going to offer a smooth comfortable ride and have a high ride capacity that should produce fairly quick moving line. These two factors are hallmarks of B&M’s roller coasters.
I will update this post on Thursday with more of my thoughts on the ride’s layout. I’ve uploaded pictures from the media event as well as 6 more shots of the new coaster on my Facebook Page. Check out this fly-over off-ride video of the Intimidator at Carowinds:
What’s Your Take?
What do you think of Carowinds’ Intimidator? Leave a comment below.
September 1, 2009 at 13:22
It is about time the park got some real rides. I hope this is the start of something great!
September 3, 2009 at 02:57
hey uuhhh my name is RYAN HIGA from Hilo,Hawaii
I just started liking Coasters so yeah…
September 11, 2009 at 15:33
So…much…airtime…
September 28, 2009 at 13:06
Yeah, seriously.
September 28, 2009 at 13:08
BTW, Coaster Critic, which chain do you like better: Six Flags or Cedar Fair(not counting the fact that Carowinds is your home park, it's mine too).
September 28, 2009 at 22:12
Tough one CFC. I'll say Six Flags as my short answer without giving it too much thought. Just based on my top 2 coasters being Six Flags coasters. But when it comes to park experience, I'd probably go with Cedar Fair. For now, I'll say they're even so I can write a post where I can investigate this more.
Thanks for reading.
September 29, 2009 at 09:54
ryan higa,
are you really that dude like nigahiga or something? cause they are funny!
September 29, 2009 at 12:29
One more thing, Coaster Critic. I am a big fan of your site now, and I started my own website about Cedar Fair roller coasters. I'm still working on it, but I have the basic layout already figured out. Plus, I put in a good word about your site. Practically no one knows of it, so I'd really appreciate it if you looked at it, and maybe give me a clue on how to make it better.
September 29, 2009 at 17:40
Sure CFC. Just use the <a>contact form to send me your email address and a link to your site and I'll have a look.
September 29, 2009 at 19:37
Also, I was not a big fan of coasters until 2 months ago(!), but Carowinds' Afterburn is what spiked my interest. So, when you made your review of Afterburn, you said, as you quote "It pretty much maxes out what an inverted coaster can be", yet you gave it a 9 on your rating scale. Yet, you gave Montu a 10, though it is basically the same ride. Did I miss something, or is there somethin that truly makes Montu better than Afterburn? This is a question that has been bugging me for weeks, so I'd like it if you respond ASAP.
September 30, 2009 at 04:08
Montus taller, faster, longer and has more inversions. also the theaming looks better even though i cant say it for myself seeing that i havent` ridden it yet.
January 7, 2010 at 06:29
But I can say that Afterburn, or Top Gun as I formerly knew it, is just as good as Alpengeist. It's an extraordinary ride.
September 30, 2009 at 04:15
Montu has great theming for the whole ride, not dropping it like most coasters (Im talking about you here, Dueling Dragons) right after they leave the station. And I believe it has more inversions, and it is LONG.
September 30, 2009 at 12:59
Thanks QB3 and JaMeS, I found a video of Montu, and I see what you two mean. I've also heard of a rumor that the Carolina Skytower is being torn down, plus I saw that the Skytower being held up by a rope or something, but that was a month ago. Still, does anyone thing anything will happen to it, and if so, could it be the beginning of something new?
September 30, 2009 at 13:47
That rope was most likely when the guy walked from there to Papa Luigis. I think his name was Nik Wallenda or something.
September 30, 2009 at 14:04
Schwarz, what in the world are you talking about? When I saw it, a rope or cable of some sort was attached to it, and it wasn't running. I even saw the vehicle that the cable came from. It was just behind the grass tunnel near Vortex.
September 30, 2009 at 15:09
Oh, and sorry, Coaster Critic, about the side note a couple of comments back. I had no idea the "site" would become a link to a real site. Back on I232, I've heard from my uncle that the ride was originally supposed to be White Lightning, but changed it at the last minute when the White Lightning spy photo was leaked. As I said on the I305 post, my uncle works for Intamin, so they are working very closely with B&M and Cedar Fair for the 2 rides. Maybe the track mix-up a while back was a result of them working a little too closely with each other. Just a thought, but it makes sense to me.
October 1, 2009 at 03:33
CFC I was talking about when Nik Wallenda did a highwire act at carowinds. If you don't know what that is, follow this link, and click on carowinds at the bottom. http://www.cedarfair.com/nik_wallenda/
October 1, 2009 at 03:34
Sorry don't click on Carowinds because it won't show it because its already over.
October 1, 2009 at 12:35
Well, I guess I'll have to trust you on this one. Thanks for the clear-up.
October 1, 2009 at 12:52
I'll find out for sure i'm going to scarowinds in a few weeks.
October 1, 2009 at 16:46
i know this is a little of topic but talking about montu remminded me of this question, why is montus track blue i mean, i undurstand why alot f coasters are colored the way they are, usualy to do with the theaming but dose blue in any way at all remind you of egypt?