Some Concerning Notes...

MFJedi, metal can and does bend - I looked at the bottom where the supports are bolted to the footers and they don't move at all. As long as it doesn't bend too much, it will return to its normal straight condition. I recall years back on Iron Dragon, every time they stopped the train in the station, I would see the track and supports sway a little bit, yet that ride is still standing and running fine, although I haven't seen it sway from stopping the train when I rode it Sunday.

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Top Thrill Dragster - the best 20 seconds of my life!!! (my GTTP sig)
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I would rather hear synthesizers sing than hear rappers talk. (my universal sig)

*** This post was edited by Kevin Lehman 5/6/2003 11:47:20 AM ***

Actually, the sled can't even pull back immediately (I'll explain why shortly), which means that it actually has slightly less than those 30 seconds to get back there.

Why, you ask? The sled can't come back until the previous train has definitely cleared the hill. Otherwise, in the event of a rollback, there's a chance the train would collide with said sled, which wouldn't be pretty. Now, that's only a few seconds, but it's a precious few in this world of making interval.

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--Greg
My Home
MF count: 54 TDD: 4

I agree a little bit of sway is natural on most rides. But the grey supports for Dragster are very thin at the pull-up/outs compared to other rides throughout the park. Granted, no other ride in the park goes 120 mph, but even Millennium Force has enough support in the first overbank to prevent excess vibrations from occuring.

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Michael McCormack
Magnum Count: 634
"Is it raining nickels?"

all i know if this thing better not topple over until after i've ridden it and been off of it ;)

I'm certain the manufacture of the ride and the park itself are more than aware of the problem.

uh, so now it's a problem? who said that? Monty Jasper?

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Free your mind.
05.15.03
Races for the Sky: 1

The ride had to sway BEFORE Sunday when they were testing it in the previous weeks. Intamin and CP must be aware of this and either considered it in design or have determined that it is not a problem.

Think of the glass as half full, not half empty.

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The best thing about Six Flags "Worlds of Adventure" is that Cedar Point is nearby!

AND LET THE SWAYING BEGIN...

Oh my God! Last season I noticed this on Raptor too! Every time the train passed over a section of track the track moved a little! I also noticed it on Mantis! They had better stop building roller coasters that move or we're all going to die!

[/sarcasm]

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- John

I don't understand, Cedar Point has a great saftey record, what's the worry. I don't think they'll have people going on a ride that's ready to break. I trust CP's judgment on saftey and I'm sure you people do too.

Look at WT the swaying "was" a problem and they fixed it this year. It never fell no one died and it is a great ride.

Even though I haven't yet ridden TTD, I've heard it is a great ride. If the sway doesn't effect the ride then I'm fine.

"Advise: You guys shouldn't be so negitive!"

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CP Coaster Guide
*** This post was edited by TopThrillDragster03 5/6/2003 8:55:15 PM ***

Could this be why the trains were shortened to 4 cars? I know that both Fiesta Texas (Rattler) and SFOT (Texas Giant) shortened their trains due to excessive structural movement and the resultant increased maintenance costs.

Idora Wildcat

No. In fact, 5-car trains should be running by Memorial Day.

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Free your mind.
05.15.03
Races for the Sky: 1x
Went full force: 86x
Broke scream barrier: 17x

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GregLeg1 said:
..........The sled can't come back until the previous train has definitely cleared the hill. Otherwise, in the event of a rollback, there's a chance the train would collide with said sled, which wouldn't be pretty.........

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Good thing that hasn't happened! ;) Skyscrapers sway, coasters sway, things sway, it happens the world is imperfect!

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Besides the great rides and being the best of everything, the best part about Cedar Point is that it isn't Six Flags! YAY!

Its just a simple amount of give, all rides have them, nothing to worry about ;)

if I ride never gave anything, ever, they would break and crack and it wouldnt be good =|

OK. sorry i "classified" it as a problem. Jezzz. anyway. I completely understand coasters "give" "sway" "shake" ..I know this. It's SUPPOSED to happen. It was just I had never seen another coaster do it like this before! .. It kind'a makes you think.

-By the way. 0-120 takes so less than 4 seconds on this monster. I think that maybe the supports which hold the launch track to earth are in great design, but for downward force only. When you pull a motionless vehicle to an !INSANE!! amount of speed -like RIGHTNOW, the forces being applied are more than just a "downward" (to earth) angle. ..keep in mind, this is where INTAMIN excels with their intelligent track design.

...I'm not try'n to make me seem like I know it all, but Phantoms' Revenge opened with insufficient breaking, so I'm not ruling out the margin for design miscalculations.

-the best SEVENTEEN s-e-c-o-n-d-s of SHEER iNsAnItY ever!

I expressed some concern a week ago because it was taking 80 seconds from launch until the catchwagon reset...

I'm pleased to announce that today, while they still weren't anywhere near their projected launch interval, it was only taking 31 seconds from launch until the catchwagon reset.

Maybe they will be able to launch every 35 seconds or so...

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

If they do 35 seconds, they'll hit their numbers. Can't wait to see what happens on my next visit!

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP - Sillynonsense.com
"Pray that your country undergoes recovery!" - KMFDM