The Furiosity of Fury 325!

It is time to get Furyious! It brings me great joy to describe to you in this blog one of the greatest roller coasters that I have ever had the privilege of riding. This all started back on August 21st, 2014 when this roller coaster was announced. I saw that it was going to be absolutely huge and knew instantly that I wanted to ride this coaster sometime in 2015. Well, the time is now. I was able to ride Fury 325 on May 1-2, 2015. It was worth the wait.

Awesome Sign

 

You think I am ready to ride?

 

I will now introduce you to Fury 325! At first when they announced this ride and gave it the name Fury 325 I was a little disappointed. To me it seemed kind of plain and generic. However, now after having ridden the ride many times I can fully understand the point behind the name and it fits the ride very well. Also, I am not sure why the Cedar Fair Company likes to put numbers after the names of their big roller coasters. I guess when you make a statement like this you want people to know they are looking at a furious 325 foot monster of a coaster.

Entrance Statement!

 

Fury is Everywhere!

 

The definition of the word Fury is this: unrestrained or violent anger, rage, passion, or the like. It also uses words like, violence, vehemence, and fierceness. (dictionary.com) I will go ahead and say that Fury 325 lives up to its name and in this blog post I will try to explain to you why. The first thing you see as you enter Carowinds amusement park is Fury 325. It is also the last thing you see as you leave the park. In fact, as you are in the park, Fury 325 is seen from almost everywhere. It is quite awesome to see the massiveness of this ride. 

See, Everywhere

Through the Trees

Through another Coaster Station


 

Fury 325 is themed to a really cool looking wasp/bee of some kind. If you have ever been around a bunch of bees or wasps, and hopefully you have not, you understand that they can be relentless if they feel threatened. It is a good character to portray the ride that is Fury 325. The words relentless and unrestrained come to mind while riding Fury. Isn’t there a saying of unleash the Fury? Carowinds did an incredible job for the setup/theming of this roller coaster. I mean when you build a 325 foot tall giga coaster you pretty much have to go all out. I mean simply looking at the ride is enough to “wow” you.

Fury Mascot

 

I got my buzz on!

 

It is now time to take a written ride on Fury 325. As you approach the ride you enter the queue line through a honeycomb entrance sign with an awesome ‘F’ insignia. As you approach the station at the top of the stairs you are assigned a row from the ride operators. This can be a bit of an annoyance if you want to ride in the front row or specific row but usually if you ask for a specific row they will allow you to sit there. As you board Fury you hear the sounds of, “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go! This train leaves the station in 30 seconds”, from the ride operator on the microphone. Yeah, and they are not kidding. They try to dispatch trains as fast as possible and 30-45 seconds was usually the norm. Fury is Fast!

'F' is for Fury...

 

...and FANTASTIC!

 

Once in the train you buckle the seat belt and then pull down on the nifty neon green lap bar. Then you just sit there and ponder the fact you are about to climb the world’s tallest lift hill on a roller coaster. I made it a point to tell people this fact at times when they asked since, you know, I am a huge coaster nerd and all. You leave the station and head up the lift hill at a quick speed. Once you hit around 300 feet in the air the left hill speed slows down for a split send and then picks back up again right before you plunge over the ginormous drop. I must say the view from the top of the 325 foot lift hill is unreal. If you look to the left you see trees galore as well as downtown Charlotte, NC in the distance. If you look to the right you see all of Carowinds park and the cool looking water rapids ride below you. It is quite exhilarating.

I mean really...

 

...look at that lift hill!

 

The actual drop may be the best drop on a roller coaster that I have ever been on, honestly. It is 320 feet down taken at 81 degrees. The drop time from the top to the bottom is literally almost four entire seconds. (yes, I made these calculations myself while riding *coaster nerd alert*) During those four seconds of drop time you actually come out of your seat which gives you a free fall feeling. It is an insanely incredible rush. Once at the bottom of the drop you hit the top speed of 95 mph and you can feel it. There is so much wind it will turn your hair into something that people of the 1980’s would be jealous of. Seriously, it is absolutely outrageous and in a good way. Yeah, that’s right, one paragraph written just describing the Fury 325 drop. Maybe I can find a way to write an entire blog post on the subject later. Be on the lookout.

Massive Drop

325 Feet of Goodness!

 
After the drop you hit a barrel turn at 190 feet high. I mean c’mon really? A one hundred and ninety foot high turnaround on a roller coaster is just insane! Not only is it super high in the air but it is compact which gives the turn a powerful sensation no matter what part of the train you are riding in. If you are on the left hand side of the train you get a high in the air feeling and if you are on the right hand side of the train you get low to the ground feeling. I think I preferred the left hand side of the train the best. Oh and there is actually airtime as you are yanked around the turnaround which is pretty sweet.

This element rules!

190 feet in the air

   
From the turnaround element you drop into a series of high speed banked turns. The first one is called a high speed s-curve and boy is it taken at a high rate of speed. It swings you out to the left and you actually get air time on this element and lots of it! The airtime here is the closest thing to ejector air that B&M has ever come up with on any of their coasters which is really saying something. Next up is the overbanked curve which is also taken at relentless speed. This element is awesome because it soars directly over the main entryway into the park. You also get a great amount of air time here as well. I would not be surprised if both of these elements were taken at speeds of 70-80 mph! The sense of speed throughout this part of the ride may be the greatest sense of speed on any traditional lift hill roller coaster I have ever experienced.

Curvy & Fast

Say Hi to the Coaster Train

 

Next up is one of the most unique elements I have ever experienced on a coaster. It is called the horeshoe turn. This turn is 157 feet in the air and delivers a 91 degree high banked curve and weightless drop. You heard that right. This element is simply pure genius. You hit the top of the 157 foot turn and you actually get forceful air time and immediately hit a big drop into a tunnel. The drop into the tunnel also has air time. It feels like the coaster actually picks you up and throws you through the tunnel! No joke. This tunnel or “underground dive” as the coaster manufacturer calls it sends you under the main entry path to the park. It is cool because the way it is set up you get to see park-goers looking at you, through glass, as you dive into the tunnel. This is an incredibly designed one-of-a-kind piece of track that is simply a blast.

This Element is Spectacular!

  

After the tunnel you hit another high speed banked curve at 101 feet high. You get a little bit of airtime here and then hit the first big airtime hill after the initial drop. This is the camelback hill at 111 feet high. There is a trim break here that slows the train down slightly but interestingly enough does not deter from the speed of the ride. When you hit this hill you literally soar over it and get air time from the bottom of the hill all the way to the other side of it! It is what you would call floaty airtime goodness.

AIRTIME!

Ok, now here is the catch your breath part of the ride. They call this next element the double helix but honestly, to me, it is just one huge helix. After the 111 foot camelback hill you hit the helix low to the ground. The helix gradually gains height, evens out, and then drops low to the ground again, while picking up speed. The speed through the helix varies and is mostly quick. There is a really cool “head chopper” effect with a huge support from the barrel turn element. It was funny to watch people who had their hands up abruptly put them down as they passed this huge support right next to them. It is obviously not close enough to actually touch while riding but the way the ride is designed you think you can actually touch it therefore calling it the “head chopper” effect.

I see you airtime hill

 

Now onto the rides finale and it is a good one. You come out of the double helix low to the ground and hit the next camelback hill at a quick rate of speed giving you good airtime. It is also a decent sized hill so that adds to the thrill. Following this hill you reach another camelback hill that bends to the left. You receive more airtime here. After this hill you hit the final hill which gives you more airtime into the brake run. You have just taken a ride on the World’s Tallest and Fastest Giga Coaster! Fury 325!

That guy on the right loves Fury

 

Yeah, sorry, I am not done yet so keep reading. I mean what more can I say but this coaster is amazing! It is incredible! It is a game-changing ride. It is a statement ride. It is super fun. It is superbly designed. It is so great that they named it after the movie The Fast and Furious. Just kidding. This coaster makes that movie look like the cars are Ford Pintos, Toyota Corollas, and those weird looking car station wagon things. You know what I am talking about. It is visually mesmerizing and a thing of beauty to look at. When you see it you think, “Man, I have GOT to ride that coaster it looks freaking awesome,” and if you don’t think that well you are missing out. You can see people just look up and stare at it as they enter the park. It is set in a perfect location for all to see. You can interact with guests as they ride over the entryway and then dive under the entryway. The colors are vibrant and really look awesome in person. Like I said, this is a statement roller coaster and it really delivers great moments of intensity and fun. Carowinds has a huge winner with Fury 325.

Lookin Good!

Statement Ride

 

Fury 325 is by far the best B&M designed roller coaster that I have ever ridden and most likely the best coaster they have ever created. It has the strongest airtime of any B&M coaster model that I have ridden. I counted between 10-11 airtime moments on this coaster which is really an accomplishment for a ride of this size. It just may be the best roller coaster I have ever ridden. As of right now I rank it at number two directly behind Millennium Force but honestly it just might be better. *gasp* I never thought I would ever find a roller coaster that would top Millennium Force but this one might just do it. I get to ride Millennium Force in about four weeks so I will better be able to render my final verdict. In fact you will probably see another blog post on the subject so be on the lookout.

I am Ready to Ride Again

 

Yeah, that’s right, I am still going just like Fury 325 keeps going. Here are some statistics about the ride:

Cost: around $30 million

Height: 325 feet (Tallest Giga Coaster in the World)

Drop: 320 feet @ 81 degree angle

Speed: 95 mph (Fastest Giga Coaster in the World)

Length: 6,602 feet (Longest Giga Coaster in the World/Steel Coaster in the United States)

Amount of Steel Used: 2,700 tons

Ride Size: 8.4 acres

Ride Time: 3 minutes, 25 seconds

Layout credit Carowinds

 

My Stats on Fury 325:

Total Rides in Two Days: 76

Most Rides on a Roller Coaster in a Day: 48

Most Rides in succession on a Roller Coaster: 22

Front Row Rides on Fury: 14

Best Seat: Front Row

Best Seat with the most Forces: Row 6 and 7

Ok, so I have to mention how incredible Fury is at night. I mean seriously it is a great night ride and the lighting only makes it better. I rode Fury many times at night and it actually seemed like it was riding faster at night. Here are some pics to ooh and aah over.

 

OOH...

 

...AAH

Take the Honeycomb Tunnel!

OOH & AAH

 

Me after a 48 ride day!

 

 

 

 

 

Memorable Quotes:

Teenager on ride as he looks at lift hill: “That is glorious!”

Mother of two daughters who were too scared to ride Fury 325: “I can’t believe my daughters were scared to ride this! This ride is amazing! It is much better than the other roller coaster we just waited an hour and forty minutes for. This was worth the hour wait.”

Dad of daughter riding Fury: “My daughter was scared to ride this at first, but now she cannot get enough of it.”

Guy from Ohio who rode Fury 112 times in one day: “I love my Gigas”

Guy from North Carolina: “Yeah I just thought after I got off work I would just come over and ride Fury. I looked at the webcams and said, why not.”

Older Guy from North Carolina: “Now that they have built Fury, I don’t have to go to Cedar Point to ride Millennium Force or to Kings Dominion to ride Intimidator 305.”

Various People at the park: “You drove six hours just to ride this roller coaster?”

My Response: “Yes.”

Me: “I still cannot believe I rode this ride 48 times in one day. I never thought that would be possible.”

Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325
Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 325 Fury 

Running With An Outlaw

In a previous blog post I mentioned that I could write an entire blog topic on Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City so here it goes. Leading up to me actually riding Outlaw Run I had heard some great reviews of the coaster. Most of the coaster enthusiasts that have ridden it have said it is one of the best roller coasters out there. In the Mitch Hawker Poll (highly regarded enthusiast poll) Outlaw Run ranked as the #3 wooden coaster in the world. Yeah, you read that right, #3 roller coaster in the world. It did not disappoint.

Awesome Coaster Sign

 

Outlaw Run opened on March 15, 2013. The coaster was built by Rocky Mountain Construction or RMC as enthusiasts call them. So far there are only five RMC coasters built with three more planned for the next two years. They have introduced a new type of construction on roller coasters called the hybrid coaster. This type of coaster usually has a wood structure with a solid metal topper track on top of wood. This allows the coaster to run a lot smoother than your traditional wooden coaster. It will also allow for more intense moments and elements that the traditional wooden coaster doesn’t have like inversions and insane air time.

RMC Track credit rcdb.com

I see you Outlaw Run

Let me share some statistics of Outlaw Run.

Cost: 10 million

Length: 2,937 ft

Height: 107 ft

Drop: 162 ft

Inversions: 3

Speed: 68 mph

Duration: 1:27 (from exit station to brakes)

Max Vertical Angle: 81°

Elements: 153° Over-Banked Turn and Double Heartline Roll

(statistics taken from rcdb.com)

This is what a Top Five coaster layout looks like

 

 As you approach Outlaw Run you notice that the theming in the area is top notch. Silver Dollar City pulled out all of the stops to theme and set the atmosphere for this ride. In fact it had one of the nicest Western themes I think I have ever seen on a roller coaster. They had a huge covered queue area with nice lantern lights. Inside the station they had some nice theming including old timey clocks, ropes, barrels and wagon wheel lights. They also had some unique signs as well. Outlaw Run is one of the best themed roller coasters I have ever seen.

Great Theming!

Lantern Lights!

 

Awesome Station!

 

It is time to ride. You have boarded the train and secured yourself a seat. Honestly any row is a good row on this ride. The front is probably the best simply because of the view. If you want a powerful and forceful ride take the back row. You buckle your seatbelt and wait for the attendant to tell you to pull down your lap bar which also includes a shin bar as well. To some this can be uncomfortable but it really isn’t that bad or noticeable. Then you leave the station.

I am ready to ride

 

As you climb the lift hill it becomes apparent that you are about to ride a special roller coaster. The lift hill is quite loud but in my opinion adds to the thrill and didn’t bother me. It is so loud in fact I saw one woman on my trip put her hands over her ears. The views from the top are amazing. You are only slightly over 100 feet up in the air but it feels like much more. If you look to the left you can see Powder Keg and Wildfire towering over the park. It is neat because you can really get a feel for just how many trees and wooded area cover Silver Dollar City. You look to the right and you can see just a part of what you are about to experience on Outlaw Run.

Great Lifthill

 

At the top of the lift hill there is a slight dip in the track just before the drop. It adds great suspense to the first drop. The view from the front seat of the first drop is breathtaking. The drop is 162 feet long at an 81 degree angle. The top of the lift hill is only 107 feet tall so the drop gives you a 55 foot elevation change down the hillside. It is incredibly awesome if you ask me. This is one of the best drops I have ever experienced on a roller coaster. You essentially get ejector air time on the first drop which is quite thrilling.

DROP! photo credit rcdb.com

 

After the drop you take a slight left hand banked curve and then up a nice sized hill into an inversion element that happens so quickly it’s almost as though you don’t realize you just went upside down. The stat sheet for the ride calls this an “outside banked turn.” It is a “turn” alright. In my previous blog post I described this as a, “did that just happen?” type of element because it happens so fast and smooth.

Outside Banked Turn photo credit rcdb.com

 

Once you clear the inversion you get pulled through with air time back down a nice drop and into another air time hill. They call this part of the ride the “double down.” Then you hit another air time hill followed by another hill that goes through the lift hill which is called the “double up.” Keep in mind as you hit these hills they are taken quickly and with extreme air time. This is not the type of “weeeeee” air time but more like “OMG HOLY COW THIS IS CRAZY” ejector air time. As you go through the lift hill you are taken almost sideways which is pretty incredible.


Just plain fun! photo credit rcdb.com

You have now reached a part of the ride I find the best. It is what the ride designers call the “wave turn.” I will just refer to it as an almost 90 degree portion of track, around 50 feet off the ground, which gives you sideways extreme air time! It is a really cool feeling. Then you hit a nice ejector air time hill that they call the “high speed low float” portion of the ride. From there you hit a slight hill and see the double barrel roll.

I see you Double Barrel Roll

 

 Ah, the double barrel roll. It will simply blow your mind if you experience it. It is essentially two upside down inversions put together. However you take both of these inversions at different speeds. The first one is taken at a quicker speed while the second one is taken much slower. It’s like in your mind you are thinking, “did I just go upside down (first part of the roll)” to, “yup I’m upside down (second part of the roll).” Then you hit the brakes.

Hey Look! I'm upside down!

 

 

What a ride! It is relentless from beginning to end. At this point it is amusing to just look at the other riders on the train to see their reactions to the ride. Most of them have a look of surprise on their faces. All of them are usually smiling, laughing, or clapping. After my first ride I knew that all the hype about this coaster was well deserved.

Best New Ride and Well Deserved

 

Glad there wasn't a real holdup!

 

I think I counted nine moments of air time on Outlaw Run with most of those moments being ejector or forceful air time. The ride itself isn’t really that long but it sure does pack a punch. It is only about 40 seconds of total ride time from the drop to the final brakes! It covers a lot of ground though which adds to the thrill. After my first few rides on Outlaw Run I felt it secured a #2 spot in my rankings and that is saying something since I have ridden 165 different roller coasters. I was able to ride it 40 total times in two days. If only I could ride it right now.

Love this ride!

 

Outlaw run did a number on my hairdo