dragster overhaul

pole-lock, Every ride build has problems no amount of tweaking can correct. I followed Xcelerator pretty closely during it's construction testing and the first several months of operation. It's opening was delayed by about a month. It's had many problems that TTD has had. It never had an 'off season' to fix problems like TTD has. After improvments are made, the duration and frequency of downtime should be reduced significatly.

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Eddy the retard is awesome.

I think cp should install motorised helper wheels on the top hat to help the train make it over the top

Yeah, thats exactly what I want. Launch at 120 mph, go up and right at the top hat, stall out...but instead of a roll back, kicker wheels "grab" my train, and pull me over the top.

It would for some reason seem fake. Why not just put kicker wheels along the whole track? Its fine the way it is. Rollbacks are "part" of this ride. It gives it some character. If only they can cut down on the rollbacks, because admitedly, there are too many.

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Michael McCormack
Magnum Count: 933
TTD Launches: 18

"Is it raining nickels?"

I agree, it would seem fake. I don't know who came up with the whole "anti-TTD rollback kicker wheel dealy" system, but it's got to be one of the worst ideas. Frankly, I think it would some of the excitement. It's also fun to make bets to see if the ride will make it over or not while in line. I've made a few bucks that way, well, enough to purchase a lemon chill.

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AKA Cobraroller on Cbuzz

Gomez said:

I found it odd that the themeing was used for the HW themeing, and maybe that it won't come back.

What did they do with the theming at Halloweekends?

Here's some pictures from Virtual Midway.

Picture 1 - You can see the engine coming out of the hood.

Picture 2 - You can see the spoiler coming out of the roof in the back.
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CP Coaster Guide Ride Count
TTD: 2; WT: 11; MF: 7; Mantis: 4; Raptor: 7; Mean Streak: 7; Magnum: 4

Another engine is on Last Thrill Dragster out in front of coasters.

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Eddy the retard is awesome.

Steel Monsters-

If Xcelerator doesnt have the offseason that TTD will have, doesnt it only make sense that Xcelerators problems would continue or get worse? And then that means TTD's operation will perform BETTER than Xcelerators after this winter? I cant remember the last day I saw Xcelerator closed, or in a rollback...and i dont know how much better a ride can operate than that.

I dont believe Xcelerator was delayed a Month, perhaps a week...It was scheduled to open Mid-June 2002, on a Monday, the 17th. In fact, it opened on the 22nd, the Saturday of that same week. It was closed for about a month, however, that was for structural reasons, not operational problems. I dont think I have to pull out any more facts to prove you wrong.

SteelMonsters, if you dont know what your talking about, stop posting like you do.

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-Adam Carolla is GOD
*Perturbed at the world*
-When all else fails, put in a fatty lipper.

-There are 10 types of people in this world that understand binary...those who do, and those who don't.

pole-lock:

I understand that Xcelerator was a "test version" for TTD, however simply look at the height differences they had to overcome. The strain the motor is having to put out is quite an enormous difference. I expect TTD to be running better than this year, but don't be surprised if they close it certain hours/days/etc. for stuff they have to do.

Also TTD, was built (with the exception of the major supports) over the course of the late fall/winter. That is quite a feat for 420'.

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MANTIS ROCKS 2002 & 2003

pole-lock said:

If Xcelerator doesnt have the offseason that TTD will have, doesnt it only make sense that Xcelerators problems would continue or get worse? And then that means TTD's operation will perform BETTER than Xcelerators after this winter? I cant remember the last day I saw Xcelerator closed, or in a rollback...and i dont know how much better a ride can operate than that.

Top Thrill Dragster has three times as many trains and launches the trains about 150% faster than Xcelerator. It's only natural that TTD will have more problems. I was simply trying to say that TTD has a somewhat better chance of improving than Xcelerator did when it opened because of the off season.

You made the statement "Unfortunately, i would be willing to say that Dragster will most likely always have problems no matter how much *tweaking* is done this offseason." and then "I cant remember the last day I saw Xcelerator closed, or in a rollback...and i dont know how much better a ride can operate than that"

I don't understand why you said that for two rides that are both Intamin hydraulic launch roller coasters starting vertical construction about 6 months apart. The difference in the two rides isn't large enough for one to be great mechaniclly and the other a failure.

pole-lock said: I dont believe Xcelerator was delayed a Month, perhaps a week...It was scheduled to open Mid-June 2002, on a Monday, the 17th. In fact, it opened on the 22nd, the Saturday of that same week. It was closed for about a month, however, that was for structural reasons, not operational problems.

I recall the announcement for Xcelerator, May 2002. Not an exact date, but an approximation. The fundraiser originally stated that the opening date would be June 6th then June 20th, the actual opening date was June 22nd. Evidence: Figure 1, 2, and 3.

My exact statement: "It's opening was delayed by about a month." It follows the evidence very well. Your extraneous statement: "It was closed for about a month, however, that was for structural reasons, not operational problems." Downtime is downtime, It doesn't matter whether it's because of mechanical, electrical, structural or other problems.

I pole-lock said: dont think I have to pull out any more facts to prove you wrong. SteelMonsters, if you dont know what your talking about, stop posting like you do.

I disagreed with your opinion and then you turned around and said that. You didn't prove me wrong in any way. You certainly didn't have any basis to accuse me of not knowing what I'm talking about.

You don't have to agree with my opinion, on the same note, I don't have to agree with your opinion either. If you want to continue acting immature, go ahead and make yourself look like an idiot.

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Eddy the retard is awesome.

When Xcelerator was down for a month wasn't it going through rehab like all the other rides at Knott's goes through?

This is my idea on the subject. Both rides did some what open late. If you remember CP was doing everything to get the ride done for opening day. They were running late. On opening day the ride could only run trains with 4 cars and the last row had to be empty. The christmas tree on the tower wasn't working untill early June. And the area around TTD wasn't exactly complete untill early June and then the ride was closed for about a month. I think CP was doing everything to get TTD operational for opening day and then get the ride finish the following week and get the themeing in. So what I'm saying is that if CP close TTD for the first month maybe they wouldn't have as many problems. But since they opened it right away they paid the prince and had to close it later on.

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CP Coaster Guide Ride Count
TTD: 2; WT: 11; MF: 7; Mantis: 4; Raptor: 7; Mean Streak: 7; Magnum: 4
*** This post was edited by Gomez 11/15/2003 1:18:11 PM ***

I dont see what having 6 trains has to do with the ability to operate a hydraulic motor properly, except maybe trains launch more often. And I understand that TTD is quite faster than Xcelerator, but I dont see that as an excuse, nor do I take "its only natural it will have more problems" as a reason to forget, or excuse TTD's problems. Engineers knew the facts, corners were cut on budget somewhere (like cooling systems, etc.), and these problems should of and could have been avoided...sorry, this is a multi-million dollar investment, no excuses.

I dont see how your figures are evidence to prove anything remotely close to your predicted opening dates for Xcelerator. I believe those numbers are closer to my dates, not yours. You said OPENING was delayed a month, that was not true.

Downtime is downtime, yes, but we are talking about similar hydraulic motors, not similar structures. There is a huge difference between something not working because of its structure and something not working because of mechanics. Besides, Cedar Fair didnt have to close down Xcelerator, they just decided it would be better off in the long run if they fixed the minor problem as soon as possible...unlike rushing things to operate on opening day...ahem. If TTD's structure was designed like Xcelerators, there would have possibly been downtime for TTD's structure as well.

I dont understand how anything I said was immature and im sorry if you have to call me an idiot to feel better about yourself because you cant prove me wrong.

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-Adam Carolla is GOD
-*Perturbed at the world*
-No good deed goes unpunished
-There are 10 types of people in this world that understand binary...those who do, and those who don't.
*** This post was edited by pole-lock 11/21/2003 2:34:30 PM ***
*** This post was edited by pole-lock 11/21/2003 2:40:12 PM ***

I think a timeout is needed for both of your swollen egos. These forums are not a place to jump down member's throats and say I'm right and you're wrong and thats that. Accusing each other of being immature is the most immature thing you can do of all.

http://www.rcdb.com/quicksearch.htm?quicksearch=Xcelerator

Try that link for the official facts.

Honestly, some of you just need to chill out.

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Every end, brings a new beginning.
The Matrix: Online. 2004

...I think we both agreed on opening day neo...it was predicted opening day that we didnt agree on.

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-Adam Carolla is GOD
-*Perturbed at the world*
-No good deed goes unpunished
-There are 10 types of people in this world that understand binary...those who do, and those who don't.

Well after seeing a van beside the control room earlier and now seeing a train in load 1 I think they are doing off-season testing as I speak, or at least were earlier today.

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Final 2003 Stats: Trips: 37
Top Thrill Dragster: 17
Magnum XL-200: 85 (last train of the year in 6-1)
*** This post was edited by fat chris 11/21/2003 3:54:07 PM ***

this is the best ride ever!!!

fat chris said:
Well after seeing a van beside the control room earlier and now seeing a train in load 1 I think they are doing off-season testing as I speak, or at least were earlier today.

Yeah, I saw that too. The train is also in the station today. They seem to be testing or planning on testing.

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The number 1 thing needed to ride Dragster is... Patience!