Top of the tower

Even before the last weekend CP was open, the back spine of the tower has been erected going up on an angle. I have been sitting patiently to see what the purpose of the angled spine support is.

Does anyone have any idea why the support angles inward? Is the tower going to actually peak where all the supports come together? Or is there something more to that?

It will probably come to a point.

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"Who needs drugs when you have Cedar Point."

http://www.rcdb.com/installationgallery281.htm?Picture=2

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP
"There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, when it's all in your mind. You gotta let go." - Ghetto, Supreme Beings of Leisure

So, the new ride will have an inverted top hat (just joking).

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Bob M.

WHOA! Thanks for that link, Jeff. I never really did any looking for an inverted top hat before, but now that I see it, that is awesome.

My only question is wouldn't something like that require OSTR's?

As cool as that element looks, I just KNOW my husband won't fit in an intamin train with OSTR's, not with his height and broad shoulders.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead

As seen in this picture, it does use OTSR's. It is still possible to use only a lap bar though. Batman And Robin; The Chiller has an inverted tophat, and uses lapbars. I don't that it will be inverted though.
*** This post was edited by rollercoastO3 11/8/2002 1:47:35 PM ***

If the support on the tower is slanted because of an inverted tophat, then what is This for????(4th row down, last one on the right)
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"...That is what an unbelieving world, simply finds unbelievable!" - DC Talk

I think Jeff posted that link to show how the tower will come to a point, not to claim that #16 will have a "standard" (i.e. run the train upside-down) top hat. I could be wrong, though.

Xcelerator has an "inverted" top hat, but "inverted" top hats are those the train goes over right-side-up, which is confusing, but that's how it goes.

Yes, the photo I referenced was for illustration of a similar support structure only, not some indication that it's what we'll see in Sandusky.

It's my understanding though, that both Mr. Freeze rides have been retrofitted with the Premier Rides lapbars. I think that makes all of them except for Speed: The Ride in Vegas.

This is actually Dave "Rideman" Althoff's rant, but because something goes upside down doesn't mean it needs lapbars. As Dave has said over and over, your body is far more comfortably, and efficiently secured by your waste. Unfortunately, about three decades of ride design dogma still lingers, and rides like Disney's California Screamin' are built with OTSR's for no good reason.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP
"There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, when it's all in your mind. You gotta let go." - Ghetto, Supreme Beings of Leisure

Someone remind me of the name of that shuttle coaster that was at Kennywood before Steel Phantom was built. Something Loops?

Anyway, it was the first and only coaster I have ever ridden that had a loop but only a lapbar. Now, I have ridden other looping coasters without the OTSR's but that is another story.

Not only was that shuttle looper more comfortable, it was more fun! Just the idea of NOT having an OTSR made the ride more exhilarating.
*** This post was edited by Chief Wahoo 11/8/2002 2:04:58 PM ***

Chief Wahoo, it was called "Laser Loop".

My bad!!!! I thaught Jeff was implying that it was going to be an inverted tophat.

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"...That is what an unbelieving world, simply finds unbelievable!" - DC Talk

Wahoo: Such is the case with most of the Schwarzkopf rides from that era. Dorney's Laser, Busch Tampa's Scorpion, Knott's Montezooma's Revenge are examples of others.

What strikes me as odd is that while Schwarzkopf was building these rides, Arrows was building rides with OTSR's. Worse yet, one of the first looping coasters ever, with only one loop mind you, Revolution at Magic Mountain, was retrofitted with OTSR's. Absolutely ridiculous.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP
"There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, when it's all in your mind. You gotta let go." - Ghetto, Supreme Beings of Leisure

I didn't take it as gospel that the link meant that was what we are seeing, just that it could be a possibility.

Regardless, I am also aware (as FLight of Fear showed) that you CAN have inversions with lapbars. I just wonder if a park would have an inversion 400+ feet off the ground without OSTR's.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead

Son of Beast at King's Island has only a lap bar.

But that's what I'm getting at... what difference does it make regarding height? Physics don't change no matter what you do.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP
"There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, when it's all in your mind. You gotta let go." - Ghetto, Supreme Beings of Leisure

It is not a normal lap bar like the one on Blue Streak. If the new ride has restraints like MF, that would be great. The only way to get out of those is to brake your legs.

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

And even firmer leg retraints are on HypersonicXLC. I know it doesn't invert, but it has foot, shin, and waist restraints. I feel like I'm in a electric chair, but atleast they aren't OTSRs! All OTSRs need to be reasonably replaced with safe lapbars, MF's lapbars put me to sleep (i think) their so comfortable. Just depends on the builder and location (as in laws and such). ..... Ok.... I'm done.

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If the roller coaster scared you...

RIDE IT AGAIN!!!

hey jeff man i went to texas a couple fo years ago to see my aunt and i rode Mr. freeze. That ride kick soo much a$$ it was soo awsome

Jeff said:
As Dave has said over and over, your body is far more comfortably, and efficiently secured by your waste.

That being the case, will CP sell 'Depends' from a booth at the entrance or from self-serve vending machines? Can visitors bring their own or will they be stopped at the gate? Will the autospiel recommend a double order of chili fries for a smoother, more confortable ride?

At least this resolves any ummmmm, preparation issues before waiting in a four-hour queue.

-'Playa
(who could never, ever, ever pass that one up)

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The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo.

the otsh are for the lawyers benefit

in case some idiot trys to get out of his seat during the ride. to commit rollercoaster herry kerry. :)
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I'm not an old foggy I'm just an old coaster rider..