2003 video footage of Dragster?

Hey everyone,

Many years ago I remember PointBuzz having a video of Dragster from 2003, both with the spoilers and after when they were taken off.

I was wondering if Jeff or Walt had their old videos saved and could post them?

Also, anyone else who has footage of Dragster from it's opening year I would love to see it!

A quick search on YouTube brings up lots of footage:

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=top+thrill+dragster+2003]

Sean Flaharty has a good one from media day. The first week or so of operation TTD operated with three trains (green, red, and blue) that were 4 cars each. Waited 4.5 hours opening day to get one ride on it... crazy.

It was amazing to see something move that fast!

I've got an on-ride photo of my first ride opening day that includes the fake motor and wheels.

I knew the reason, but now I can't remember why the trains were down to 4 cars for the first few days, but I remember my first ride and how fast that thing flew over that top hat.

Based on those videos, can we assume the trains were being launched faster than 120mph, or are the trains just launched slower now.

EDIT: Or are they launched at the same speed, and there's some kind of science behind the reason as to why they used to fly over the top hat opposed to how they creep over now.

4 cars was used to reduce stress on the motor until it was "broken in" as it we're.

And the average launch was 123mph with 4 cars as they has less momentum from weight to overcome the effect of drag.

I was just watching a clip on Youtube from Dragster's media day. When were the yellow and green lights added to the tower? And it didn't say "Arms down, head back and hold on". Were those extras not ready on opening day that year?

^Just watching that video. I never realized how much Dragster has faded over the years. I really hope they will be repainting it here in the next few years.

Another thing that appears to be missing is the "speed" display, which has since been removed.

I don't remember specifics but I do remember that some theming elements were not ready when the ride first opened. I want to say that neither the Christmas trees nor the finish line was installed by opening day. I seem to remember that everything expect the tower Christmas tree lights appeared over the following week or so.

The tower lights I think took a little while to show up. I definitely remember that when they did there were one too many yellow lights and one green light shy. So the bottom row of lights had one yellow and one green light instead of two green.

Man, I miss that queue soundtrack.

Not just the soundtrack, the spiel they used to play in line was great too. I never got tired of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07OsBo3csn0

Mr. Potato said:

The tower lights I think took a little while to show up. I definitely remember that when they did there were one too many yellow lights and one green light shy. So the bottom row of lights had one yellow and one green light instead of two green.

That was pretty comical when that happened. Even funnier that they actually installed it like that.

If you watch the tower lights, I still swear that one green light comes on immediately before the other green light, most likely a left over from the programming change needed in the timing.

~Rob

Do we know who does the voice instructions in the video? I know it's the same gentleman who does Power Tower. Does he do any other rides? Can't remember if he also did White Water Landing.

I think it may have been the same voice for all rides during the time the park used automated spiels.

He does a lot in Soak City. Although on a few slides, though, his voice has been replaced with a lady's voice.

I don't believe that Lance is responsible for anything other than the "Arms Down" spiel, though I'll be corrected quite soon if I'm wrong.

http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/fun/blog/index.cfm]https://web.archive.org/web/20060620000512/http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/fun/blog/index.cfm

Is this him? or is he just the "arms down, head back" guy?

Edit : link doesn't seem to work after I paste it here...

kylepark said:
I think it may have been the same voice for all rides during the time the park used automated spiels.

I believe a female did Millennium Force and Wicked Twister's auto spiel when they first opened.