Cable shavings hit 4 riders

In regard to the individuals sueing the park, if that were to actually happen, I'm sure CP would settle out of court with the infamous undisclosed amount of money.

Hell, had it been me, I'd have settled for a pass valid for the rest of the season and called it even.

You ride the ride, you should consider all risks involved, not saying CP isn't a safe park, but accidents happen when we least expect them. It's horrible for the people that experienced it, yes, but from what I understood from a local news broadcast (Detroit) all of the riders were fine, and still alive.

Walking away with a minor injury is something ALL of them should be grateful for. Could have been worse.

Pics of what? The people or the ride? If the injuries were as miniscule as the reports say, I personally don't care to see bee-sting sized injuries. Of course, on the same note I wouldn't want to see blood and guts spilled all over people either.

And again, if the metal shavings were as small as they say, I doubt that pictures of the ride would give much away.

/considers self lucky, was on Dragster just 2 days ago

i heard that a part of it was stick in a guy. i mean to see how really the storys are

The news story that I read on this said that the riders were hit wile going 120 MPH. Assuming the news crew was correct, this would indicate that the riders were sprayed at the end of the launch track. I can't picture how the metal could have come off the return cable and hit the riders from behind, unless the metal was already sitting on the track and was just thrown up by the passing sled.

With all the problems Cedar Point puts into Top Thrill Dragster, they probably spend money on ordering parts for this ride every week which for Cedar Point probably adds up. Cable especially, that alone costs a lot. I love the ride but I have lost faith in it because I know how unrelaible it is. Another point is its always down and now thats its hurt someone, this really has to be frustrating Cedar Point. If I was Cedar Point, maybe I would make up a schedule for the ride. You know like run the ride until like 1pm and than close it at 2, so that way they can make all the adjustments they need to. Then they can re-open it at 3 and run it for like 3 hours again. I just think maybe they pushed this ride too soon and that maybe it should've opened around next year instead of last year. While its down they need to think of something to keep it running. Right now I think if they keep having problems they should think of dismantling it and putting something else in that people won't get upset over.

You know, i can see both sides of the story on the opinion of Dragster.

On one hand, the article stated that the who police saw theese injuries (if you can even call them that) stated the appeared to be bee sting sized. So it isnt even that big of a deal, except for the one lady here whos husband got one in the eye. All they need to do is put a cover over the cable.

On the other hand, Dragster has been nothing but trouble from the beginning, it was always something. Now we have reports of people actually getting injured on the ride, cables breaking, wheels coming off and such. I think this is a sign of what is yet to come, we dont want dragster to become one of those six flags death machines. Ill also say that from the beginning I was very skeptical towards TTD, i beleive it stole the spotlight from Magnum and MF, in my opinion its not a real coaster to begin with, its more of a ride. Dont get me wrong, its a awesome experience, but is that experience worth someones life further down the line? *** Edited 7/14/2004 3:56:58 AM UTC by NextGen89***

I wonder if it hurt anymore than getting hit by the water at the end of the launch track in the front seat. I know that can sting for a second, but doesn't draw blood. It's been on all the news channels here in Michigan, and they have covered it tastefully. Mostly all they said is they were treated at first aid and released. To most that doesn't sound as bad as being taken to a hospital. I love how the media blows everything out of proportion.

TTD will be at Cedar Point for a minimum of 5 more years. (Probably 30 years.) They are not tearing anything down over upset individuals. Other parks manage to kill guests with their rides yet those rides still remain open years and years latter. Everyone needs to just calm down and look at the situation. One week from now this will all blow over and the ride will be up and running again pleasing more and more satisfied Cedar Point customers. It could be worse; someone could have died. Six flags has managed to kill at least three people this year to my knowledge across the United States. Cedar Fair has killed zero people this year to the best of my knowledge. It sounds like a bunch of bee stings are getting turned into a big deal for no reason. The media has yet again caused an unnecessary uproar over spilt milk.

From the sounds of it the people that were hurt said that they were treated very unfairly by the First Aid Unit of Cedar Point. So I'm sure the management will get a lot of complaints about this.

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Jeff said:
How is it not that big a deal?

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Jeff, relatively speaking, I don't think it is that big of a deal. No malfunction that causes an injury is good obviously, but this wasn't something like a high speed collision or a life threatening structural failure. I look at it as about the same as when the chain on the Corkscrew cut up a few people when it broke and piled up in front of the train.

It does seem like Dragster is wearing out cables very quickly though. Speculation, but maybe the bull-wheel at the launch point is a little too small in diameter? A cable fraying from a too sharp bend caused a fatal accident at Vail many years ago. One of the gondola lifts had a car derail when the track cable was frayed and the car fell to the ground. Maybe the cable problems with Dragster come from a similar engineering miscalculation.

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Walt said:

I seem to think these kids would not be holding a news conference if this wasn't the world's tallest and fastest coaster that had already been in the news for its maintenance woes. But that's just my impression. Like I said, I could be way off.

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I saw the same TV news reports and I tend to agree with Walt's viewpoint. The kids seemed like they were over dramatic and just trying to cash in on the situation. One person seemed like he had a few pin pricks, that may just be mostly acne. I received far worse wire injuries on my hand once changing a tire that was worn down to the steel cord, and I grabbed the wrong place on the tire by mistake.

I noticed that Cedar Point's website shows pictures of the Dragster. If you reload the home page it cycles thru photos of Dragster and Castaway Bay. Earlier today and yesterday, it was just showing Castaway Bay. Maybe this means something? *** Edited 7/14/2004 4:44:02 AM UTC by keyone***

I have to agree (hesitantly), TTD may be a LEMON. Granted, new technology inevitably has it teething problems. But a year and a half? That may be small fries when you're building a moon rocket, but let's be reasonable. It's as if Intamin did NO testing!

And even if CP can get it running reliably for a while, what's to say that it won't fail again with even more disastrous results? This is what, it's THIRD cable (correct me if I'm wrong)? That's like having to replace all of the brake lines on your car twice a year. Do you really want to drive a car like that? Knowing that whatever is causing your brake lines to fail could happen any time?

And then of course there is the money side of this. A downed coaster generates no revenue, it only turns people away. Know what does an even better job of discouraging riders? Any coaster that hurts or kills people. I'm certain that far less people are willing to ever ride TTD after this, and that hurts park attendance. Also, CP is losing a lot of money fixing and maintaining a ride that constantly breaks. Any modifications that may be attemped to finally fix what ails the Dragster, will (would?) cost money. Cedar Point is not getting its $25 million out of this ride.

I realize that CP has been doing EVERYTHING it can to get TTD to run as good as it can. I know that new technology and extreme height and speed equal rough roads at first. Perhaps, with extensive reworking, Dragster can run again and run good. I would insist on extensive, comprehensive testing before being reopened. But sometimes flaws are inherent in a design, engineered in and can't be reasonably engineered out. Maybe CP and Intamin should just learn from this, tear down TTD, and build something in its place. Something better, that makes us forget Top Thrill Dragster ever even existed.

I wouldn't put alot, if any, weight on anything shown on the website.

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NextGen89 said:
cables breaking, wheels coming off and such.

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What wheels?

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Pete said:

I saw the same TV news reports and I tend to agree with Walt's viewpoint. The kids seemed like they were over dramatic and just trying to cash in on the situation. One person seemed like he had a few pin pricks, that may just be mostly acne.

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I saw the same report, and yes the injuries did look very minor. They pointed out though they were riding in the back of the train, and the those who rode up front were more seriously injured. It sounds like the whole train was subject to be hit by debris, and the front of the train got the most of it.

I dunno, this might have already been mentioned, but the Train made a complete circuit correct?

My Friend also said that if they didn't have it running very good by the end of this year it would be torn down... I didn't believe him on that one... as that was a rumor last year, but if anyone has any clarifications, they would be greatly appreciated.

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MilleniumMadMan said:
I have to agree (hesitantly), TTD may be a LEMON. Granted, new technology inevitably has it teething problems. But a year and a half? That may be small fries when you're building a moon rocket, but let's be reasonable. It's as if Intamin did NO testing!

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I agree with you there. I question whether intamin did much testing to see how quickly this would wear out.

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And even if CP can get it running reliably for a while, what's to say that it won't fail again with even more disastrous results? This is what, it's THIRD cable (correct me if I'm wrong)? That's like having to replace all of the brake lines on your car twice a year. Do you really want to drive a car like that? Knowing that whatever is causing your brake lines to fail could happen any time?

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I wouldn't compare it to the brake lines. Belts, maybe, but the belts in your car aren't getting pulled with anywhere NEAR the stress thats put on the cables. If the cable needs to be replaced more frequently (like once a month) then that's the maintenance period for the cable, big deal, thats the cost of operation. I think Cedar Point got the message from Intamin that a cable should last a whole season, but it obviously doesn't and CP has been learning on their own what the maintenance is on the cable.

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And then of course there is the money side of this. A downed coaster generates no revenue, it only turns people away. Know what does an even better job of discouraging riders? Any coaster that hurts or kills people. I'm certain that far less people are willing to ever ride TTD after this, and that hurts park attendance. Also, CP is losing a lot of money fixing and maintaining a ride that constantly breaks. Any modifications that may be attemped to finally fix what ails the Dragster, will (would?) cost money. Cedar Point is not getting its $25 million out of this ride.

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I really don't think this will hurt attendance at all. Its an accident, they happen. Just because a Ford car (Focus) catches fire on its own didn't stop people from buying them. Secondly, I doubt if CP is paying for ANY of the repairs on TTD. The thing is probably still under warranty so Intamin is footing the bill for all the repairs.

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But sometimes flaws are inherent in a design, engineered in and can't be reasonably engineered out. Maybe CP and Intamin should just learn from this, tear down TTD, and build something in its place. Something better, that makes us forget Top Thrill Dragster ever even existed.

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All flaws can be engineered out. And generally, the cost of re-engineering will cost less than removal of the ride. ie If the problem only exists with something along the cable mechanism, why the heck would you tear out the entire ride to repair that part of things? If there were a structural problem, that would be cause for removal, but there isn't so it won't be.

Why is everyone calling for removing the ride?

I'm out

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Shorty said:
I wonder if it hurt anymore than getting hit by the water at the end of the launch track in the front seat.

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That got me thinking. Do we know where exactly on the launch the impact occured? I wonder if the spray at the end of the launch propelled some of the cable bits above the track? Also, could the water in the launch have a negative effect on the cable, ie causing it to rust away in bits and pieces? Just more hypotheses.

I don't seem to see what happened.

Did the train actually launch all the way through? Since reading Dave's post, I would have thought that the train launched, then before the train hit the slope some cable, return or launch, snapped. If that was the case, then it probably would have rolled back. (Just like a normal rollback) But if the cable snapped sooner or later, the train might have made it all of the way over or it would have barely gone up the slope, maybe launching at... say 40-50 mph? That would have been the only launch that would have caused some concern to spectators.

This is pretty much a question for anyone who was there.