Dragster Question

Anyone else remember the GIANT spotlights it had?

Bodes said:
Here's a picture of them....http://www.rcdb.com/ig1896.htm?picture=55

Who else really misses that view?

The ride only gets better at night. Those two spotlights that went up the tower were amazing. Why did CP ever turn them off?

No point in making an SBNO any more obvious than it already is.

Ouch.

Funny.

I don't get it. When the ride is open you complain about how short and not worth the wait the ride is, but when it has downtime, you complain about that. I don't mind it when people say the ride isn't for them. Take Jeff for example. He doesn't comment much on the ride, but has said he doesn't get the same rush on it after riding a few times. That's an understandable reason.

It's like going on a Star Wars fan site and saying the movie sucks. It's unneeded information, and really just puts attention on yourself. Adam (TTD 120mph) and I don't go around this forum how much we love TTD, but you go around saying how much it sucks. This forum has a TTD section. When people aren't big fans of something, they don't usually go on a forum all about it.

As for the lights. Didn't they turn them off during the summer of 03 to readjust them, since they were shineing in riders eyes on the drop? They were on during Halloweekends 03. I'm not sure if they were ever on in 2004 or 2005.

You guys don't go around this forum talking about how much you love TTD? Am I reading a totally different forum than you?

We talk about it. We don't need to advertise how much we love it. I'm just talking for Adam and myself. He's the only other notable TTD fan here.

Gomez said:
We don't need to advertise how much we love it.

TTD 120mph's signature:
2006 will be Dragsters year to shine!!
Top Thrill Dragsters' biggest fan!! Total Rides=113 Total rollbacks=0
Next CP trip: Opening Day 2006 See you then Dragster!!

Yes Ben, you are reading a whole different forum.

What Josh said.

Wow, it feels like I've just been insulted....and I didn't even say anything!!

Signatures don't count because they're in every post you make unless you change them...which I don't intend to do for mine, so get used to it!!:)
And so what if I'm a huge Dragster fan! Just because you may not be doesn't mean that I cant be a fan. I love the ride and I'm proving it more and more,(especially in my room;)).

I mean honestly, what have we(Gomez and I) done to be insulted?

And I mean in general.

P.S. Oh and Gomez, be a little bit more careful of what you say.;)

That wasn't aimed at you, I have no problem with the signature. Good, show your love for your favorite coaster. Why should I care? Why should anyone care?

You two are not the only people who like Dragster on the forum, I will guarantee. Go back and find some threads from late 02 or early 03 and you'll see like, 500 people who love it just as much as you guys. Hell, I freakin' love that ride so much it became my username.

You guys like to praise it, which is fine. I happen to think that after 3 season, it should be running more reliably than it has been. Yes I have heard the arguements that 2005 was its best year ever, but that really isn't saying a whole lot. I think there are a lot better ways to have invested 25 million dollars than on an SBNO ride. Like, (and this from another thread) upgrade the housing, increase pay, do anything for the employees. Especially those who keep coming back year after year.

Agreed, Jugga.

MrScott

I guess I can kind of agree with you Jugg.
But Dragster is not an SBNO ride....well at least not like some other coasters. You want to know a coaster that's much more of a worst investment that Dragster can ever be, Steel Dragon 2000. It's been SBNO since 2003!!!!! Worst yet, IT WAS A $50,000,000 invesment!!!! And from what I've heard, they havn't put any effort into fixing it because of fear of "badluck". You have to admit thats way worst than Dragster. I don't even think the added amount of repairs to Dragster plus its 25 million come close to SD 2000.
Cedar Point isn't the only park making bad investments so don't think Dragster is the worst of them all because compared to some coasters, these downtimes are a hiccup. ;)

CP put alot of money into fixing it over winter04, which helped, and theyll do the same this winter. And like I say "2006 will be Dragsters year to shine". :)

*** Edited 12/9/2005 5:56:34 PM UTC by TTD 120mph***

Its true there are other places that have worse records than Cedar Point. In fact, just about EVERYWHERE has a worse record because CP is amongst the very best when it comes to keeping a ride up and running. That's what makes it even worse for Dragster to have the problems that is has had. I expect much more from CP.

TTD 120mph said:
P.S. Oh and Gomez, be a little bit more careful of what you say.;)

Sorry about that. I went on a little rampage there. But I still don't see why some of you have to constantly come out with some kind of sarcastic comment about TTD every day. I have my dislikes around the park but I don't share them.

Though to calm the argument. I'd have to be stupid to not see why Kinzel and many others on this board get upset about TTD. I get upset with all the downtime the ride has had. It's when someone exaggerates the situation by saying the ride is closed all the time. It may seem that way sometimes, but how did happen to get 9 rides on it over the past 3 years, over quite a long period of time. I understand the complaining and anger the ride has brought on some of us, but some of the things said aren't necessary. I'm not a mod nor do I have control over you, but I'm just asking some of you guys to stop exaggerating the downtime and state of the ride. *** Edited 12/9/2005 7:57:57 PM UTC by Gomez***

JuggaLotus said:
Its true there are other places that have worse records than Cedar Point. In fact, just about EVERYWHERE has a worse record because CP is amongst the very best when it comes to keeping a ride up and running. That's what makes it even worse for Dragster to have the problems that is has had. I expect much more from CP.

Very true comment but one thing to remember is not all break down can be prevented. you dont know some things can have a problem till it happens. Some are Intamin problems and some are cedar point problems, but the park has put alot of time and effort into the ride and will only learn more and make it better.

TTD 120 said ,

CP put alot of money into fixing it over winter04, which helped, and theyll do the same this winter. And like I say "2006 will be Dragsters year to shine".

How do you know what the park is doing with the ride? and how much $ they spend on it.

*** Edited 12/9/2005 8:12:54 PM UTC by arms_down***
*** Edited 12/9/2005 8:20:48 PM UTC by arms_down***

arms_down said:

Very true comment but one thing to remember is not all break down can be prevented. you dont know some things can have a problem till it happens. Some are Intamin problems and some are cedar point problems, but the park has put alot of time and money into the ride and it should only get better.

How would you define a "Cedar Point problem" and an "Intamin problem."

I can understand if you are talking about something either party did or failed to do that directly caused the problem. Many of the problems that occur are extremely difficult if possible to fix. It's easy to blame Intamin or Cedar Point for it. Being realistic, there are many problems that cannot be foreseen, prevented, or fixed. A model can get only so close before it fails. Sometimes the engineering industry faces situations that are not computable at this time. The reason comes down to a number of factors, but the results of theory end up being different than the real world.

A simple example is a 1" cube.
A 1" cube cost $.50 to make.
A 1.0" cube cost $1 to make
A 1.00" cube cost $10 to make
A 1.000" cube cost $100 to make
A 1.0000" cube cost $1,000 to make
A 1.00000" cube cost $10,000 to make
A 1.000000" cube cost $100,000 to make
A 1.0000000" cube cost $1,000,000 to make
As the max deviations approch zero, the cost approches infinity.

While my numbers are probably far off to what it would actually cost, the cost does increase exponentially, and exact is subjectively impossible. When a part is designed, there is an infinitely large range that the actual dimensions will be. Parts tend to effect each other as well. One part may work perfectly in one setup and not so perfect in another. Top Thrill Dragster has a complex and brute mechanical system and an even more complex control system. There is not a designer in the world that can get such a ride to run better than some of the simpler rides.

Sig figs (Significant Figures), fun stuff. arms down, I think it is pretty much a given factor that CP will be spending time as usual this off season on Dragster's issues. They are going to get the ride as close to perfect operation as possible, which requires a lot of time.