Top Thrill Dragster 2022 Status

Sam87

Saturday, July 22, 2023 1:56 AM

Those of you still hoping for Zamperla over Intamin may want to skip over this.

I put together the below comparison of tower supports. The 2023 supports match up well with Intamin's Top Thrill Dragster and Kingda Ka designs.

Exhibit A: Note how the bottom flange and bolt circle is constructed.

Exhibit B: Note the feature below the flange circled with yellow and shown in CP's Twitter post.

It's possible Zamperla modeled their own supports off of Intamin. I'm sure if they do own this, they have the original designs. However, I'm going with Intamin. Less than 2 weeks to know for sure!

+2

SpeedDemon

Saturday, July 22, 2023 2:37 AM

Ok someone online mentioned this. “Smoke the competition”. There is one form of racing that smoke is an integral part of the entire race. It also has highly acrobatic sky maneuvers like the top hat AND the color scheme makes sense looking like clouds:

Last edited by SpeedDemon, Saturday, July 22, 2023 2:38 AM
+8

BleauxJays

Saturday, July 22, 2023 2:45 AM

That 'feature' is called a shear key. It's found in almost every large structural steel construction out there. It would not signify anything either way.

+2

Sam87

Saturday, July 22, 2023 3:09 AM

The shear key design of the new footer is identical to Top Thrill Dragster’s and Kingda Ka’s design. For comparison B&M uses an I-beam cross sectional shape. Of course Zamperla could copy Intamin, there’s nothing proprietary about the design.

+0

SRE123

Saturday, July 22, 2023 3:11 AM

You might be on to something. Project high point might be called Pylon

+1

eChameleon

Saturday, July 22, 2023 3:40 AM
eChameleon's avatar

All I know about the Vs is they better be consummate Vs, consummate Vs!

+2

BleauxJays

Saturday, July 22, 2023 12:58 PM

For anyone still holding out hope for an air time hill on the launch

+0

MForce411

Saturday, July 22, 2023 2:03 PM

Well, that's a bummer. An extension of the layout seemed like a tough sell. I thought it would have been nice to have a (simple) hill on the launch or brakes just for a little something new but I guess the supports going (back) in pretty much seals that idea. Blah.

Last edited by MForce411, Saturday, July 22, 2023 2:04 PM
+1

MilliZach

Saturday, July 22, 2023 2:04 PM

Formula V Air Racing is a motorsport based on a small airplanes

+0

Jordan_Vanichek

Saturday, July 22, 2023 2:07 PM

Ahhh.. this is making much more sense, and explains the “V” and “Drive the Sky”

Formula V Air Racing

Last edited by Jordan_Vanichek, Saturday, July 22, 2023 2:10 PM

Hudson

Saturday, July 22, 2023 2:24 PM

I'd like to see how they'd theme the trains for that

+5

JW Addington

Saturday, July 22, 2023 2:40 PM
JW Addington's avatar


When you visit CP, visit my Mill, est. 1835

+3

Gravity

Saturday, July 22, 2023 2:55 PM

Y'know... part of me wanted to say that ya'll are reading into the VVV too much, but now I'm glad I didn't say anything because they're leaning into it hard.


2003 - Wicked Twister
2004 - Wicked Twister/Top Thrill Dragster

+1

CPkid77

Saturday, July 22, 2023 3:22 PM

Wonder if there will be a tunnel at all? Could be a fun feature.

+3

TwistedCircuits

Saturday, July 22, 2023 3:41 PM
TwistedCircuits's avatar

If they are going with formula V a set of pylons around the spike (or whatever would be back there) and in the infield could be cool.


Still haven't been able to uncross these circuits...
DJ Fischer

+0

djDaemon

Saturday, July 22, 2023 4:01 PM
djDaemon's avatar

Gravity:

Did we forget TTD's launch used to have a smoke effect upon launch?

Yes, yes I certainly did.


Brandon

+5

djDaemon

Saturday, July 22, 2023 4:05 PM
djDaemon's avatar

Sam87:

The shear key design of the new footer is identical to Top Thrill Dragster’s and Kingda Ka’s design. For comparison B&M uses an I-beam cross sectional shape.

It could be that the load scenario dictates the design of the shear key rather than the manufacturer.


Brandon

+3

0g

Saturday, July 22, 2023 4:34 PM

CPkid77:

Wonder if there will be a tunnel at all?

Forget a tunnel. I want a shed!

+7

TCKR

Saturday, July 22, 2023 5:20 PM

‘Load Scenario’ would be a dreadful band name.


Rich G / PTC99

+1

Parks

Saturday, July 22, 2023 5:30 PM

The whole thing with the V’s, could it be as simple as Roman numerals? Could we see a height of 555’? Maybe, but 555 would translate to DLV not VVV, however it’s just marketing/branding.

Also, besides the color, the shipping/transport bracing for the brake run track is identical to Sidewinder Safari. Check out how the track is stacked on top of each other in the laydown yards. Leads me to believe the track of both coasters originated from the same fabrication facility. From what I’ve seen, most fabricators are shipping with timber as supports.

Just thought I’d fuel the speculation fire after about 20 years of inactivity and a lost account.

+0

Closed topic.

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