According to a video on YouTube by ElToroRyan, a set of trim brakes have been added to the new Stardust Racers roller coaster at Epic Universe.
RUMOR: Trim Brakes Added to Stardust Racers Roller Coaster
The new Stardust Racers roller coaster will be located in Celestial Park, which is the main hub of Epic Universe. The ride is a dual-track coaster that reaches speeds up to 62 miles per hour and heights of 133 feet.
The story behind Stardust Racers is that the citizens of Celestial Park, also known as “Celestians,” have found out how to harness the energy of comets, capture them, and ride them through the night sky. The coaster was originally named “Starfall Racers,” but had its moniker changed in 2024 following a trademark infringement lawsuit.
Initially, the coaster had no brake zones, but according to new claims, that seems to have changed with recent updates made to the track.
Photos shared by bioreconstruct on X reveal that a trim brake was added to both coaster tracks. They are placed on the drop of the top hat, which is the first ride element that follows the initial launch.
The metal fins that are attached to the track will interact with powerful magnets installed underneath the coaster trains. The brake fins are a noticeably different color than those located at the final break run on the attraction.
Despite the trim breaks being added, the train can’t be slowed too much due to the following hill being higher in comparison to the top hat.
It’s rumored that the reason for the trim brakes is due to the transition from negative G-forces to positive G-forces happening a bit too quickly, specifically in car 5 on each train. Safety standards require a specific timeframe of transition between G-forces and the severity of G-forces that can safely be applied to riders.
The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International) is a nonprofit organization that develops and publishes approximately 1,200 technical standards. They have published a standard design protocol for amusement park rides, which includes how quickly G-forces can switch from negative to positive.
Due to the transition on Stardust Racers reportedly happening slightly too fast, it led to the installation of the trim brakes to the coaster.
It’s also rumored that Universal tried a variety of measures and multiple attempts were taken to slow down the transition of forces before adding the trim brakes, to not affect the ride experience.
Despite the trim brakes being added, the rest of the ride should hardly be affected by this safety measure.
You can watch the full YouTube video below explaining the installation of the trim breaks:
Epic Universe will hold its grand opening on May 22, 2025. Are you excited to experience Stardust Racers? Let us know in the comments and on social media.
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