Top Thrill Dragster 2022 Status

It may not be that removing ID track was strictly necessary for whatever work they're doing there, but instead that removing track makes their job a hell of a lot easier, and perhaps less costly. And again, it's possible that some of that track was due for maintenance anyway. So if they had already planned on having a crane over there to remove a couple sections of track, it was relatively trivial to remove a few more sections and the corresponding supports to make their lives easier.

On the other hand, it's a fair point that a queue pad is a relatively simple thing to pour around existing structures. And it's not like they would have needed to add that much queue, assuming they plan to reuse some of the infield near the station.

So while I'm not entirely convinced the removed ID track is all explained away by adding a new entrance and queue, I'm not convinced they're adding a spike. It could be as simple as them needing a little more launch length, and moving the station back requires major excavation in ID's vicinity.

DRE420:

But will those wheels be on the correct way?

If history is any indicator, not on Opening Day

One other change noted by tourgoers: A large section of track has been removed from Iron Dragon, the 1987-era coaster that is located adjacent to Top Thrill Dragster. Clark said the removal of Iron Dragon track was not related to Dragster’s rebuild.

“We are performing some maintenance work in and around the lagoon below Iron Dragon, so track sections had to be removed for equipment,” he said. The ride should be open in May, he said.

Cleveland.com

Make sure you're sitting tight before you click on the link.

I'd love to get one of those Crystal Rock Raft rafts.

Given that it's not related to TTD, it'll be interesting to see what they're doing in the lagoon that requires ID's track & support removal.

Well Tony wouldn't say even if it was related to Top Thrill, it can still be a combination of both. Equipment for maintineance in and around the lagoon still has me very suspicious. We'll just have to wait and see.

Wasn't there a reference to drainage work being done around Dragster in ElToroRyan's video? Maybe it is related to that?

Hawaiian Coasters 325:

Well Tony wouldn't say even if it was related to Top Thrill

Can you provide a single example of Tony or anyone else flat out lying about something like this?

In fairness, the comment in the article about ID track removal not being related to TTD was not a direct quote.

It was the reporter's summarization of his interpretation of what Tony said.

The only direct quote was that FF area will not be used for TTD, and that there were other reasons for the ID track removal.

Doesn't necessarily mean that those other reasons are the only reasons.

I'm not saying this is likely, I'm just saying that unless i missed something, I don't see any direct quote from Tony that definitively rules out the spike, or that rules out some TTD work being done in that area while they are doing whatever to the Lagoon.

Tony was directly quoted saying the track removal was to facilitate "maintenance work". Now, is it possible that Tony is straight up lying? Perhaps, but I cannot recall the park taking that tack in the past. Their typical response is to not comment or at most make a vague comment along the lines of "we don't comment on future attractions" or whatever.

Correct. The most recent example of this I remember was with Wicked Twister before its removal was announced.

"I’ve been tweeting images and videos of our rides coming back to life for the season and I just happened to see Wicked Twister testing on Saturday, so I grabbed some video and posted it with a fun note about the weekend," Clark tells 3News in an e-mail. "We love that people are passionate about our park (and, as we see, some of our attractions). It’s all in good fun…something we all need right now!"

But since he didn't really address the rumors of Wicked Twister's removal, we pushed a bit further by asking him this follow-up question: "Does that mean the ride is staying?"
His reply: "Cedar Point doesn’t comment on rumors or speculation."

https://www.wkyc.com/articl...3351455a0c

His direct quote

"We are performing some maintenance work in and around the lagoon below Iron Dragon, so track sections had to be removed for equipment."

I see no direct mention of TTD in that quote.

Furthermore, if there were more to it than just maintenance, I wouldn't say Tony lied, there very well be some maintenance needed there, he just isn't revealing the whole story.

Bernie Bernie:

I read a lot of past comments of people telling others they were crazy and almost stupid to think a spike was even possible.

No, you read comments that indicated that there was absolutely no observable evidence that it was likely. Even now, there are a lot of dreams and wishes, but nothing even leaning toward a thing.

I agree that with the wording, it wouldn't be an outright lie. It could be an omission in that coincidently two things are true about the removal of IDs track and they only revealed one of things. He never ruled out the possibility of it also being done for other reasons. Either way, we're still not any closer to knowing anything except Bernie Bernie is probably not long for this forum.

I actually had inside knowledge that it was about regular maintenance on the river but I was just sitting tight until this moment. Pranked you guys so hard.

Yes, not at all saying Tony is lying.

I'm saying he could be speaking one truth while omitting another, and that the reporter could've taken too big a leap in connecting the dots between what was actually said and how he interpreted it.

Again, not clinging to the spike theory, just saying I don't think the article rules it out completely upon close examination.

It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack, except the needle is actually a spike and the haystack is Tony's statement.

I thought the needle was the Gatekeeper keyhole #THREADTHENEEDLE

Pouring footers for a future project could qualify as maintenance.