The Engine Removed on the cars

Gomez said:

2005
- The nose piece on each train was replaced to cover the hole left from the front spoiler.
http://pointphotography.net/images/roller_coasters/top_thrill_dragster/19.jpg

I never noticed that until now. It's nothing more than a coaster train with a long nose!

That was actually all off of my memory. If it wasn't for this forum I'd know nothing.

And the wheels that they've turned into display tables in Speed Zone... anyone have any idea where those came from... ;)

Do you have pictures, I've never paid attention. Speed Zone is the only gift shop I go to even.

I thought the tires where cool and the spooler was awesome also. But hey if the ride is at a better preformance then it really does not matter to me . I still feel the themeing as the day it was opened.

If any news appears on here that someone gets caught for vandalizing a certain souvenir shop at CP, don’t look at me.;)

I still don't understand why the front spoilers were taken off and why they couldn't figure out a way to put the spoiler and tires back on. The extra seats just took up the spot for the engine, the spoiler and the tires sat on the giant black bumpers behind each train.
http://coasterimage.com/pictures/cedarpoint/topthrilldragster10.htm
(^The caption on this photo is a little interesting)

They figured out how to get a ride to launch to 120mph every 45-60seconds, but they can't figure out how to bolt down some theming on the trains. I guess we're lucky they got the seats bolted down correctly. :)

Be sure to ask Monty about this if one of you get to eat lunch with him. TTD just hasn't been the same without this great added feature. *** Edited 7/26/2006 2:58:00 AM UTC by Gomez***

Gomez said:
Do you have pictures, I've never paid attention. Speed Zone is the only gift shop I go to even.

No, but I made the connection today, after reading your post last night.

Man, whoever wins lunch with Monty will have a lot of questions to ask from PB. :)

Forget 20 questions, it'd be more like 100!:)

DBCP said:
And the wheels that they've turned into display tables in Speed Zone... anyone have any idea where those came from... ;)

Actually, those tables with the wheels have been there since the shop opened along with TTD in 2003. The wheels are not the ones that were on the train.

I hope someone from here wins. We could start a new thread of questions to ask him. The winnner would have to take notes and report back pronto. ;)

I don't know if this is right or not but couldn't the theming not only of caused more weight causing more stress on the cable pulling the train but also cause wind resistence causing even more stress?...

lol, thats a tongue twister with all of those cause words...

If the fin was designed right, it should barely cause any wind resistance. The tires on the other hand would cause some resistance but not as much. And as for weight, the gear weighed just as much (if not less) as the 2 seats and everything that was done to put them in do now.

I agree with you TTD 120, i suppose a cross wind to the dragster as it went up the tower might add a little bit to the wind resistance, but again i don't think it would be that bad.

And if they're concerned about rollback b/c of the tires, they could add a counter weight in the front, maybe put the engine up there? It just saddens me that the theming seems to be retired

The problem with the tires was that they were able to spin freely. When an object gets spinning, it's difficult to change the direction it's moving in (this is basic high school physics). You've got a spinning tire getting twisted around going up and down the top hat and then, also, accelerating and decelerating on launch and brake runs all the time.

Eventually the stress was too much on the axle and it just snapped off.

Whichever engineer said "Yes, we'll put a freely rotating body on a thing that's going to change direction constantly" is a complete and total idiot and should lose his PE certifications. . . if he has any.

Yeah, well i assumed most ppl knew that a rotating object resists acceleration in a different plane, they would just need to mount the tires so they wouldn't spin freely... not to tough i think

Is it any wonder that this "very complex" piece of machinery doesn't work consistently? Or that it has taken 3 years to get it where it is now?

It's a wonder, Jugga. It's a wonder.

MrScott

I bet a nice long talk with a CP mechanic or Intamin designer will change you're guyses attitude.:)