Kickstart your heart
- Seeing dragster run for the 1st time after the storms had past. Watching it launch for the 1st time really was a Awesome sight to see. The pure force behind the hydraulics was impressive.
- The whole expereince itself was a treat as always. Being able to be a part of something so special with the usual suspects gives the event so much more character to me! Dan, Maria, Jeff, Tim, Steve, Lindsay, Brian, etc etc etc, Thanks for a memorable time...Even if I am the new king of Awning at CP! Watching a Media unveling like that really gives you a everlasting memory of the 1st ride and everything that goes with it!
- Seeing the reactions from the press members as they rode or watched is always fun! Some of the best times spent yesterday was looking at onride pics of those not used to power riding like us enthusiasts. The gal in my pic ripping the shirt off the guy next to her is priceless...
- Finally, My first ride it self with my pal Matt, Jeff, Tim, and Brian. I've never felt such power in my life. The feeling of complete helplessness as you tried to move a muscle forward during that launch was actually invigorating! Cresting and seeing MF below you while you swear your inches from touching a cloud! (I still think a bird asked me what I was doing up there..hehe), and finally the plunge back to earth is incredible!
Thanks BE and rest of you in PR for the wonderful memories and great times!
Sparty on.....
Heres the text of an article I wrote..
Heres the text...
On Thursday, I kicked the sky.
Nearly every year, Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, unleashes a new creation for thrill seekers. This year's offering, the Top Thrill Dragster, zooms to 120 mph in just four seconds and an amazing 420 feet in height.
The world's tallest and fastest roller coaster anywhere on the planet, it's called a "strata-coaster" because of its height. It sends you up and down its two hills at perfect 90-degree angles.
As a major fan of Cedar Point attractions, I was invited to attend Thursday's Media Day, the unveiling of the amusement park's 16th coaster. The park opens to everyone for the summer season Sunday.
I drove from Saginaw, arriving at 4 a.m. The steel monster towered over the park, its bright yellow, red, and white paint job gleaming on the midway.
I've been riding coasters since I was 4 years old, and I have never been so taken by a first impression. The Top Thrill Dragster is the 104th creation I've conquered.
Based on funny car drag racing, the Dragster is a themed ride in every sense of the definition. From the grandstands to the checkered flags, the theme is carried even to the Goodyear racing tires on the trains.
We waited out an early-morning rainstorm. As the sun made its entrance, I decided to watch others take on the Dragster before approaching the starting line.
The ride roars before take-off, the sound of squealing tires announcing the start of the circuit.
Top Thrill Dragster puts the pedal to the metal with a high-tech hydraulic acceleration system to launch. I stood there with my mouth open, watching as it reached its top speed and the train took a turn straight up.
The train crested a monster hill and seemed to pause, grunting at the world below before making its descent. It twisted and zoomed down the track, back to the brake run.
Ever an adrenaline junkie, I rushed to take a ride myself.
Before I could say "nitrogen-launching system," I was strapped into the sleek train. All counted, Top Thrill Dragster has six 16-passenger trains. They feature stadium-style seats designed to give an unobstructed view of what lies ahead.
The motors revved. We were off, our bodies pinned to the seats as we raced up and up.
Seeing nothing but blue horizon as we approached the crest of the hill took my breath away. It seemed as if we could see Michigan from the top.
We plummeted to the ground with magnificent velocity; the world below seemed to grow large as we made our way down the track. The train had gone full circuit.
I couldn't stop smiling. I wondered if drag racing is for me.
I thought back to my first coaster ride as a youngster. It was with my father as we rode the Cedar Creek Mine Ride, which opened in 1969 at Cedar Point and is second oldest at the park. It's impressive what you can experience these days as new heights and technology barriers are torn down.
From the Top Thrill Dragster's peak, I looked 110 feet below and saw another coaster, the Millennium Force. At 310 feet, this once was Cedar Point's king of coasters.
See you on the midway! I'll be the one still smiling from ear to ear.
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http://www.msu.edu/~armbrus9/cp.html
Preparing for Daddy 101 again!!
http://www.msu.edu/~armbrus9/dragster.html
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http://www.msu.edu/~armbrus9/cp.html
Preparing for Daddy 101 again!!
Anyways, GREAT article, and great pics!!
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Jeff Shumway
~no replacement for displacement, except for that big freakin' turbo hanging on the front. Well, maybe that 420 ft. monster...
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