Back Seat Vs. 4

My buddy and I got 2 rides on Dragster on Monday (7-7). For our first ride(one hour wait) we thought we'd try the "Real " back seat, now that the theming is gone and the new seats are in place. I won't bother mentioning any air because of the severe stapling that I got in the station. It was an amazing ride nonetheless.

We got in the line just a few minutes before they closed it for the evening and they were launching a limited number of trains so we ended up riding in the fourth row. I have to say the ride in that seat was amazing! Just prior to the launch I heard the sled dog(is that what it's called?) click really loud directly underneath us(I've never heard it so loud before). I really felt it disengage during the end of the launch. So much in fact that we got a strong sense of deceleration and I thought for sure we were going to rollback(we didn't). We also got rocked extra hard on the downward twist. I found myself fighting to keep my arms on "my" side of the headrest. The whole experience was far more intense than any of my previous rides and I loved every second of it.

We watched it launch many times that evening and it was consistently running at over 120 mph. I remember seeing a lot of 123mph launches. Maybe that's why it seemed more intense(I never saw it go over 117 before the last major downtime period).

Now I do have a few questions I'm hoping you guys can help me out with. Where exactly does the sled dog connect to the trains? If it isn't under row 4, I want to know so I can sit directly over it. Or does it connect to the very back? Have any of you had a "new" backseat ride? I'd also like to know what seats everyone favors, excluding the front.

On a closing note, Monday was the first time I saw it launch consistently. It was running five trains(red on transfer track) like clockwork except for a few instances which seemed minor to me. The line was really moving! I was shocked to log on here and find out that it wasn't running at all today. :(

------------------
Millennium Force Laps-114
**Vertigo Launches-21**
Dragster Launches-6

I sat in the new seats on Monday also, waiting a little over an hour. Great ride, didn't get stapled too bad either. Did you happen to see the rollback around 5-5:10 pm?

We arrived at around 5:30pm or so SteveSS, so I didn't get to see the rollback. I've seen my share, though. ;)
------------------
Millennium Force Laps-114
**Vertigo Launches-21**
Dragster Launches-6

both times I have ridden it, I was in the second row. I felt the deceleration too, and thought both times we werent gonna make it. That part is just SO weird....

When I am on Dragster, that is one of the things that I can think about is whether or not we are going to roll back, it never looks like it is going to make it over when you are standing there.

But I am glad to see that they got the speedometer back up there, it is fun to sit there and watch how fast it goes each time.

------------------
Life has it's ups and downs, might as well make it on a coaster!

The launch sled attaches just ahead of Axle #4, which would be the back of Car #3:

.\..\...\..\...\..\...\..\...\
..\_.\_..\_.\_..\_.\_..\_.\_..\_.==>
#OO-----OO-----OO-/---OO-----OO-----OO->
==================^==========================
.OO.....OO.....OO.....OO.....OO.....OO

(.'s added because CoasterBuzz abhors a vacuum and eats spaces...)
The "/" indicates the spot under the train where the sled connects.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.
"ASCII artwork is a lot easier on r.r-c!"

Thanks a lot RideMan. I knew that sled was somewhere very close to me. Before that night all my rides were either front or back.

------------------
Millennium Force Laps-114
**Vertigo Launches-21**
Dragster Launches-6

Rideman, you never cease to amaze me.

------------------
- John, who tried ASCII art once and failed miserably
I Snap Flyers

I rode in car 3-2 (or seat 5) both times I went on TTD, and yes, the launch sled is very loud from that seat too. When the launch cable disengaged, it literally felt like the brakes were up! I was sure we were going to roll back, but we didn't.

------------------
Dear Valued Guest, I regret to inform you that Cedar Point’s newest roller coaster, Top Thrill Dragster, is not currently in operation because of mechanical problems.