Just an observation

Hey I'm not going to say I'm a coaster expert or feed a bunch of crap, but a few things seem apparent about the dragster from simple observations.

I've been there tons of times the last 2 years, and one thing is always consistent. TTD runs better when it's cooler outside. It seems that it always runs better in the morning and evening, and has it's majority of daily downtime during the hottest parts of the days. many times I have gone and it has been closed all day to open as soon as it started to cool down. Many time rain has passed through, and the front moved on and it got really cool and the ride ran perfectly the rest of the night.

So..I ask..is it possible it is more prone to downtime due to heat? Did Intamin not calculate for the extreme temperature and humidity on that midway?

Like I said, I'm not going to act like an expert, just thought it was food for thought.

I would imagine Intamin calculated correctly when it came to temperature and humidity...if they even calculated for it. It's a good observation though. I might have to look at that the next couple of times I'm out there.

It is funny that you say that.

When I was there opening day, there were numerous rollbacks. I waited the extra time for the front seat, and just before the gates were going to open for my wife and I to load, there was a electrical issue with the small control booth at the east end of the loading platform. (TTD was only down for about 15 minutes) While waiting, Monty Jasper came up and started asking questions about how our day was, how long we were waiting in line. His parting comment was that TTD absolutly hates the cold. It was not that cold out (I was wearing shorts in the afternoon), but the wind was coming off the lake, which was obviously cool in early May.

It is pretty known that cold trains seem to rollback more often, but perhaps when it is hot outside the building housing the hydraulic motor is too warm even with the massive a/c units that are there. Just a guess though.

That would be my guess too.

Actually, more times than not, after it rains TTD is closed for the rest of the day.

I usually see the opposite. After it rains when it comes up it runs great. After a few rollbacks of course.

I agree Sean. It seems like everytime there is a rain and the humidity and temp drops it runs like a champ. I'm not talking ice cold weather, but none of that deathly hot humid weather the mid west can get :)

Last fall and this spring the ride ran its best, and I don't think there's arguing that. Who really knows though :)

I was thinking since it started having problems again this year, that is seems to be weather related. Makes sence to us, but of course we'll never know what causes all of the down time. TTD must be a female. PMS and can't make up her mind! ;)