Hands Up on Dragster

For some reason this topic just sprang in my head.

While riding Dragster do you put your hands up or down? The recording says arms down head back, but is this the rule or a suggestion. For me I keep my hands up all the way from when the launch lights come on to the breakrun and I never got yelled at or hurt.

Well, I think it's a rule. Just like any other ride where they tell you to keep arms, legs, etc. inside the cars at all times. You always have people holding their arms up. Look at Gemini, do you really think that slapping five with the other train is encouraged?

Actually, it is Ohio State Law, but not really enforced.

However, should you hurt yourself, you will have a hard time suing the park for that very reason.

I'll let Dave come in with the actual section of the Ohio Revised Code.

Oh, wow. I didn't know that.

Since you asked...

ORC 1711.551 - Duties of Riders:
(A) No rider shall fail to do any of the following:

(1) Heed all written warnings and directions that require a person to meet certain conditions or to refrain from certain actions regarding an amusement ride, as determined by rule by the director of agriculture;

(2) Refrain from behaving or acting in any manner that may cause injury or contribute to injuring himself or other people while occupying an amusement ride.

(B) The director, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, shall adopt, and may amend and rescind, rules governing the types of warnings and directions required to be followed pursuant to this section. Rules adopted by the director determining the types of printed warnings and directions shall include specifications as to the character, size, and print size of such warnings and directions. At a minimum, the rules shall require the following:

(1) The warnings and directions prominently disclose the penalties imposed if a rider violates section 1711.551 of the Revised Code;

(2) The warnings and directions be based upon the standards of ASTM or the American national standards institute, or any other principles, tests, or standards of nationally recognized technical or scientific authorities that research the proper use of each amusement ride and the potential injuries that occur or are unique to each amusement ride if it is used improperly;

(3) The owner of the amusement ride display the warnings and directions in a public and conspicuous place on or near the ride.

Effective Date: 07-23-1992

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

This is actually my area of expertise. I love 1711.551. It is a misdemeanor in Ohio to ride in anyway that may place harm upon yourself or others around, and the ride operator may refuse you admittance to any ride if they believe you may be a safety hazard to yourself or others. State Law does not say directly what the safety hazards are, as it directly references ASTM standards for amusement ride safety.

Copied directly from the Online Ohio Revised code:

(A) No rider shall fail to do any of the following:

(1)Heed all written warnings and directions that require a person to meetcertain conditions or to refrain from certain actions regarding anamusement ride, as determined by rule by the director of agriculture;

(2)Refrain from behaving or acting in any manner that may cause injury orcontribute to injuring himself or other people while occupying anamusement ride.

(B) The director, in accordance withChapter 119. of the Revised Code, shall adopt, and may amend andrescind, rules governing the types of warnings and directions requiredto be followed pursuant to this section. Rules adopted by the directordetermining the types of printed warnings and directions shall includespecifications as to the character, size, and print size of suchwarnings and directions. At a minimum, the rules shall require thefollowing:

(1) The warnings and directions prominentlydisclose the penalties imposed if a rider violates section 1711.551 ofthe Revised Code;

(2) The warnings and directions be based upon the standards of or the American national standards institute, or any other principles,tests, or standards of nationally recognized technical or scientificauthorities that research the proper use of each amusement ride and thepotential injuries that occur or are unique to each amusement ride ifit is used improperly;

(3) The owner of the amusement ride display the warnings and directions in a public and conspicuous place on or near the ride.

Wow Dave, it seems we must have read and visited the site at the same time ;)

As for the hands up on Dragster. They are required to be down for sure and positively on Dragster as there is a higher probability for joint dislocation with the initial force of the launch. Obviously it doesn't happen every time to every person, but probability does exist. Yes you could say the same for Magnum or Millie or whatever, but there is a greater chance of bopping your neighbor on the head on those rides.

My hands go up as we crest the top, until then, they're down.

I just keep them out in front of me. Perpendicular to my body. That way they're safe and I can still enjoy breaking the law.;)

Mine go up as soon as it launches. Always doing whatever I can to get that rollback...

^agree with dvo, I heard that people have been able to get a roll back by putting their arms out to the sides...any truth to this?

^no.

1 person, no. But you get the whole train to do it and in a way that creates enough drag on the train and it would work. At least theoretically.

I got yelled at for doing that on my last rollback. O well.

Yeah, sorry. I meant the whole train. ^Is that what caused the rollback in your opinion?

No. It just gave a good morning adrenaline rush.

CP rush said:
^agree with dvo, I heard that people have been able to get a roll back by putting their arms out to the sides...any truth to this?

Your kidding right? :-)

I won't start another topic for this. Is it true that TTD is getting kicker wheels on the tophat so there aren't any more rollbacks? I thought it was made up but I'm starting to hear it more and more.

I know I'm a little early, but APRIL FOOLS!!!

^^^I could have sworn that someone here said they got a group of riders to do it and it created enough drag to cause a rollback... ^^I think theres a topic about that somewhere