Host Robbie Zerhusen (CoastersRZ) is joined by Brad Perdue (IndyGuy4KI) on episode 20 of the KICentral Podcast.  On this episode, we have special guest, Brian Kosmac from Gravity Group. You may have seen Brian as an employee at Kings Island in the past. After joining the Gravity Group, he is the engineer who worked on The Racer and working on The Beast track work for the 2022 season. Brian was a guest speaker at Coasterstock in 2021 talking about the track work for The Racer.

In this episode we talk to Brian about his and Gravity Group's work on the following:

• The Racer track work in 2021.
• Their manufactured prefab track and its advantages.
• How they use todays technology to improve a classic John Allen coaster.
• Deep dive into the work they are doing for The Beast for 2022.

1.  The change in the first drop
2. Angle change on the turn.
3. Discuss why the track before the brake run will be raised by approximately four feet.
4. Discuss the changes on the helix.

Learn more about The Gravity Group here: https://thegravitygroup.com/

Enjoy!

Brad

https://kicentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Episode-20-–-Brian-Kosmac-from-Gravity-Group.mp3

This was awesome to listen to! 

An awesome perspective of both Racer and Beast on a construction side of things; really interested to see how that final helix structure looks. 

So does this mean the entry track to the helix will now be flattened and at not such an angle for entry?

On 2/13/2022 at 1:12 PM, mikejenkins1 said:

So does this mean the entry track to the helix will now be flattened and at not such an angle for entry?

My impression from the podcast (and the KI blogs) is that the track path/profile will not change, only the supports. More specifically, the lower track (that takes you into the tunnel for lap #1) will have its own supports, and the upper track (lap #2) will have its own. They will achieve this using a mix of wood and steel supports that would have been difficult in 1979.

Currently there is “shared structure”, which struggles because the banking and directional forces are different on the upper and lower tracks. 

The new supports will be distinct and optimized for the individual tracks and forces.

Since those 2 entries to the tunnel are 2 of my favorite coaster elements ever, I’m encouraged that Brian Kosmac and GG appreciate the “flavor” of The Beast and are intentionally doing their best to preserve it for our great grandkids.