Dragster May Close for Rest of Season

According to the Sandusky Register today, Top Thrill Dragster may close for the season and re-open next season, if it does not open by mid-July, according to Mr. Kinzel.

This time the problem seems to be contaminated oil in the hydraulic system. If the ride is closed the entire hydraulic system will be reworked.

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tambo

http://www.virtualmidway.com/news/0627031.asp

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Walt Schmidt - Virtual Midway
"Are you the creator of Hi and Lois because you are making me laugh." - Comic Book Guy

WOW. lets just all think happy thoughts..

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TTD=7. MF=80. Raptor 100+ Magnum. 250+ lost count.

Thats one thing I wasnt expectinig to hear.

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2003 Statistics
Top Thrill Dragster: 5
Millennium Force: 17
Trips to the point: 13

My Dad used to work with hydraulics and he was telling me that the fluid MUST stay clean and pure and if it gets dirty or is mixed with something it shouldn't, it could cause serious damage to all of the parts.

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'03 Magnum Crew * magnum count: 2347 * '03 count: 114 * www.dannyjphoto.com

Something else I hadn't considered... at what point does the fluid "burn?" You know, is it anything like car oil, that suffers from "thermal viscosity breakdown?"

As I posted on CoasterBuzz, I wonder how much "stuff" in the system just isn't perfectly clean. I mean, are there metal shavings or bits or rubber floating around in there? That wouldn't be good for the valves, pumps or motors.

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - Sillynonsense.com
DELETED! What time does the water show start?

I can see it now! New for 2004! TTD2 - The return of Dumpster (uhhh, I mean Dragster).....;-)

Well, the latest news I had heard for the downtime was pumps were defective, and were coming from switzerland. As Dan said, the "Contaminates" can't be in the system, and some were still in it causing some pumps to go down.

One thing comes to mind in what Kinzel says at the end about our future plans being impacted. I can see a impact, no doubt, in less money, but the one I keep coming back to is will this be the end of Intamin at CP? Now I am not saying they are the worst company out there, no one else had plans to build something 420ft high. Just it has to make you wonder what is the relation between Sandor and Kinzel now? Probably alot of tension.

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"This second hill is my favorite part of the ride. It is so Cool!"
TTD Status: "Contaminates in the system" S.K.

Wow. I am in awe of this. It sounds like something wasn't machined right inside the engine and is getting small shavings or something in the fluid.

I hope that TTD gets going and CP can continue with their plans for the future.

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I own you!

Well, I rode Dragster last Friday, so I'm cool. That was the last day it was open. It's been closed since then.

This seems obvious to me. If the ride can't operate then wouldn't the last resort always be to close it down and fix the problem totally.

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CP Coaster Guide Ride Count
TTD: 1, WT: 9, MF: 4, Mantis: 3, Raptor: 6, Mean Streak: 5, Magnum: 5

Hmmm.....How nice. Maybe they could hook some antennaes onto this thing and use it for a cell phone tower. Get back some of that moolah they wasted on it.

Yeah i cant tell you im totally suprised by this. It was juts problem after problem with it. And i also question if we will see another Intamin any time soon. I mean CP can not be very happy with them. And this isnt the first time this has happened. WT last year was the sam ething, granted it wasn't nearly down as much as TTD but guess what? its STILL not running the way it was planned to. the current system they have on WT is nice but not near what it was Opening Day.

Maybe it also time CP gave up on the idea of launches, go back to the old chain lift and let good old gravity take over, gravitys never let me down yet!

will this be the end of Intamin at CP?

Based on his other comments in the past, my guess is that Mr. Kinzel was talking only about ROI for this coaster. No new big thrills will come in until this one is paid off.

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It's not war, famine, or pestilence; it's only downtime.
*** This post was edited by Brian Noble 6/27/2003 10:48:38 AM ***

Who wants to bet that American parts are causing the problems? ;)

Marcie...do you mind???Seriously...uncalled for.....

*GGGRRR*

This is getiign so goddamn rediculous
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If you're scared of heights, you won't be after Cedar Point

No, I am pretty sure all the hydraulic parts are Italian and not American.

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"This second hill is my favorite part of the ride. It is so Cool!"
TTD Status: "Contaminates in the system" S.K.

Wow, this is not what I expected to see this morning. I really hope they get the ride running again. Being as greedy as I am, 6 launches just isn't enough.

Although it's extremely anti-clamatic to have all the hoopla that this ride had only for it to be shut down most of the season. Seems a little Six Flags-ish. Then again, Six Flags would keep telling people to come to their park because the ride might be open instead of being honest like CP is doing.

I would not be surprised if this is the last we hear of Intamin at CP for a while. Although the last 3 rides have all been amazing, the first year downtime from them is absolutely rediculous. I don't know how their rides at other parks have faired in their first years, so I suppose I can't assume this is a problem on all their rides. I'm all for seeing a few more B&M's at the park.

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-Chris Woodard
"We got pop and Gatorade over here for $100 a bottle, so have your credit card ready. Seriously, the food here is so expensive, I just eat the condiments because I can't afford a meal." - MF que DJ 6/16/03

:(

I hope they can get it going for my return trip at the end of August. If they don't, I'll wait till next year.

I'm hoping that it'll be open by Mid-July like everyone else. Not for me but for everyone else including my friend who is visiting from Toronto. TTD was one of the rides he was looking forward too the most. Aw well, at least CP is being honest and upfront.