TOPHAT?

This may be a dumb question but I'm unfamiliar with the whole tophat design thing. What exactly does this do from beginning to end? I know it launches straight up in the air, after that i'm a little unsure. Does it go straight up and straight down the other side with a twist on the way down or are you sideways as you are approaching the crest at the top?

Well here is a good picture of one here http://twistedrails.com/kbf/apr14.shtml
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-Andy
SFDL-The roller coaster capital of the world

The first version of Intamin's "Top-Hat" can be found on Xcelerator at Knotts Berry Farm, a sister park of Cedar Point. Being the first version of the element, it is somewhat simple. You simply go up, twist 90 degrees, go over the top, then go back down, twisting the opposite direction 90 degrees. However, Cedar Fair being the company they are, they have to make the Cedar Point version have a little more kick, so on #16, there is a 90 degree turn, but it's 415' in the air.
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"Welcome To Alaska"!!
2002 Totals: | MF:90 | WT:29 | Maggie:132 |Gemini:67 | DT:36 | Raptor: 77 | Beaver net 4.0!

And don't forget the 270 degree twist on the way down.

In this high res photo from VM, you can see exactly how the track twists: http://www.virtualmidway.com/mystery/attraction517_big.jpg

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Great Ohio Coaster Club member #335

Thanks guys.

It looks extremely mortifying (sp?) I'm more of a lots of hills and flippin upside-down kinda girl. But I'm sure I'll ride it, It's part of the sickness! I can't wait to see it in action.

Don't forget that a Top Hat can also be inverted. The Premier LIM Launched "Mr. Freeze" and "The Chiller" rides at the Six Flags parks (Texas, St. Louis, and Great Adv.) were ther first to feature the element which features the 90 degree climb, only to twist to the inside and go upside down 150 feet in the air then dive downward and twist 90 degrees back in the original direction. Easily the best inversion trick out there tied with the B&M in-line twist. I believe that Werner Stengle was involved conceptialully in both the inverted and over the top Top Hats. The man is a genius!!!

Idora Wildcat.