Comments on: Intimidator 305 @ Kings Dominion | Roller Coaster Reviews

By: Bob Whitworth

Bob Whitworth — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 02:00:36 +0000

Total blast…probably the best steel coaster I have ridden. The ride at present is FAST and beautifully done, but if there was any way to squeeze in a bit more speed, I would vote for that in a second! I will agree with the “deluxe experience” option for those who would be willing to sign waivers. This would keep the lawyers happy, and the coaster fanatics (like me) happy. A win for all.

By: DRU

DRU — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:30:43 +0000

Bad news about the trims lately. I have noticed a change in the amount of braking on the 2nd camel hump. Last year and the first half of this year the I could barely notice the brakes, they would kick in very gently. I was told that the computer controls the amount of braking according to the train speed. I assumed when I felt stronger braking the last times I rode her last month it was due to too many heavy people being onboard. After many rides on her yesterday [walk on all morning and afternoon] with a half full train and still feeling the brakes kick in pretty hard I was kinda bummed. This larger amount of braking does kinda ruin the airtime on that 2nd hump. It also noticeably reduces the intensity of the last 1/4 of the ride and makes the last twist a bit slower feeling.
A note on grey out. I had never had any type of grey out before because I always scream my head off and pump my fists into the air on the whole ride. Yesterday I wanted to try to experience what a grey out might feel like so I just relaxed on my 5th ride for the drop and 1st turn. WOW! I did feel the effects. I would have to call it a mild grey out. I am glad I tried it because I half thought people were exaggerating. I will not do that again though because it did make me feel like crap for a while.
FYI… They were filming I305 and Volcano for next years Insane Coaster Wars.

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 10:21:48 +0000

Wow I just found out that this is exactly as tall as the statue of liberty(from foundation to torch), 305 feet. And I always thought the statue of liberty was a small thing, although ive never seen it in real life.

By: GregB

GregB — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:01:00 +0000

Interesting notes about the changes. I rode it in Summer 2010 and honestly wasn't all that thrilled with it (the one at Carowinds is airtime city, and much more fun to me). I'll have to go back and try it again.

By: DRU

DRU — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 21:12:09 +0000

Looks like everyone should to try it again. I wonder if the mods may have returned the ride to it's original intensity?

Has anyone ridden it recently who could compare it to that first month it was open?

Thanks again for the great info.

DRU

By: DRU

DRU — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 21:07:02 +0000

Quotes from wikipedia about I305

"Modifications"

"About a month after its opening debut, Intimidator 305 received trim brakes on its first drop that reduced its speed. By September 2010, the park completed the modification of the amount of braking and where braking takes place.[15]

At the start of the park's off season, Kings Dominion removed three sections of the roller coaster's track, starting midway up the incline of the first airtime hill to the peak of the first airtime hill. The radius of the first high speed turn was widened to reduce friction and impact on riders. With this improvement, the trim brakes on the ride's first drop were removed, returning the ride to its original speed. Other rides by Intamin such as Xccelerator, Maverick, Wicked Twister, Possessed had to be renovated to remove and add additional ride supports and elements in the past.[16][17]

"As of April 2, 2011 Intimidator 305's second hill was modified due to rider's complains about blacking out. Also Intimidator 305's trim brakes were removed in 2011."

By: DRU

DRU — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:58:48 +0000

I rode it today 6/16/11 for the first time. I can't even imagine it being more intense than it is now. I was blown away. WOW! I305 is the most intense ride i’ve ever been on. FYI…This was my first ride on a Giga. No “grey out” but a bit dizzy and tingly afterwords. So fast, best turns, and chicanes, words can’t explain it…

PS. I'm surprised about the air time complaints. I felt some great ejector air on it, first row early on a cool day. Maybe you should try it again. I heard that it's now faster [95mph] because they softened the first turn and the train is able to carry more speed through it. I didn't feel the first trims at all.

I think the lesson learned from all this is that we need to get on these coasters when they first open, before they trim them…

Does anyone know what the max g force is on I305?

Love all the good info. Thanks very much.

DRU

By: Quil

Quil — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 07:42:51 +0000

Ride on…. I like that expression.

By: gstarr

gstarr — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 21:48:38 +0000

This is my favorite roller coaster ever! I can't wait for the 2011 season to start to judge the new tweaking of this ride. Supposedly the angle of the first turn has been adjusted to lessen the issue of people "blacking out" which is supposed to alleviate the need for the trims. I wonder how much it cost KD to rebuild so much of the coaster? Well, anything that improves this already stellar experience gets my vote!! Ride on!!

By: Hoss

Hoss — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:19:46 +0000

Thanks for the response Coaster Critic:

"They’d make it known to many more people than it currently is that I305 isn’t operating it it’s “top speed” or full thrill level."

I was at the park on August 21st and there was an ACE ERT event that night that I was completely unaware of. I consider myself to be an enthusiast just not ACE yet b/c I don't have the money to take advantage of their benefits due to being in college. Anyways my point is that its not hard for the park to set up enthusiast events without the general public really knowing about it. In the same way I don't think it would be hard for them to pull this off without much of the general public finding out the truth behind I-305. And besides my idea brings in tons of cash for the park. That alone should trump a little bad pulblicity.

And as for the Grayouts…well people are still graying out on it. I did on 1 of my 5 rides.