Top Thrill Dragster 2022 Status

Just to clarify my tunnel post above, my intention was 99% for adding a fun, unique element to the ride experience, not for the safety aspect. I mean, who doesn't like the laser lights/fog tunnels on coasters or exploding out of the darkness into the light. Pairing a synchronized lights experience with themed audio with maybe fog while launching at 100+ mph would be pretty darn cool. That was my point above, not safety.

vwhoward:

Full track replacement.

As in replace in kind or replace with a new layout?

Replacing in kind, beyond what would need replaced for a new launch/brake set-up, would not seem to have much benefit unless there something wrong with the original track.

But replacing the whole track makes more sense then partially IF Intamin is not involved. You’re asking a different manufacturer to change their proprietary track and train designs to be compatible with Intamin’s. That means more R&D dollars. That would cost more than having them just replace the entire thing with their track. 50-60% of the track is stripped. No sense in keeping the remaining. Now, that being said if it’s Intamin doing the reimagining, then sure, no sense in replacing everything.

SRE123:

Seems to me like when this is all set and done it will no longer just be a launch, up the tower, down the tower, breaks type of ride. If they’re going through all of this it makes sense to give the ride some unique elements.

Well I sure hope it'll no longer be a "breaks type of ride", they've already been down that road with Intamin too many times.

I would be surprised if they remove track from the tower, unless there's something wrong with the track. Cranes of that size aren't cheap, and it's not as if Company X can't design track to mate with Intamin's. Of course, who knows, I've been surprised before. As Kevin said, it's pretty neat that there's this much genuine mystery around whatever they're doing, and who they're doing it with. That hasn't really been the case for most recent additions, and I welcome the suspense.

Haha yes, we don’t want no breaking here. Braking more like it.

I don’t think the issue is with the track. The issue is more likely the trains. Would it cost more for cranes or would it cost more for say, Mack or RMC to design a train that fits Intamin’s track rather than use the designs they already have?

Red Garter Rob:

Which physics says...

He blinded me... WITH SCIENCE!

Potential energy, kinetic energy, friction, blah blah blah. Middle school physics, y'all.

No matter what they do, even if they're going to reuse track, do you really think some dudes are gonna climb up on it, weld some stuff to it, in the comfort of outdoor Sandusky in October? Y'all know what the weather is like, right?

That’s an assumption. We don’t know if this will open in 2023 or 2024. Maybe they’ll do the tower next spring or summer. I do know it took them 2 (or was it 3?) seasons to repaint dragster so I think this is a long project. It’s safe to say there’s a good chance they’re repainting if they’re going to completely retheme the ride. Also, dudes for other a century have been up 1,000+ feet in the air welding ****. If they could do it when the Empire State Building was being built, they can do it now. Then again people are pansies nowadays

There's actually a lot of things they were able to do while building the Empire State Building that they cannot do now.

Several people died constructing Empire State, which is probably something Cedar Fair would prefer to avoid, even if it means being branded "pansies" by Internet Tough Guys.

But to Jeff's point, even if they were reusing track for a new launch, incorporating mounting provisions (and whatever other modifications) is something better done in a machine shop where they not only aren't fighting inclement weather, but also have better access to precision tooling, etc.

I think their point was that people work outside, including welding, in conditions much harsher than Sandusky in October.

True though my guess is that major modifications to the tower structure would take us beyond the possibility of opening next year anyways so why not do that next spring with better conditions. Also as has been brought up before I would think additions to the tower would require revisions to the current foundation which may or may not actually be possible.

My point is there are many professions that work outside in the deadass cold weather everywhere. It’s part of the job. How do you think all the coasters were built at cedar point?

But obviously the more machining they do prior to install and then bolting/torquing things into place is the best way to go.

Either way people will be 400 feet in the air, whether it’s paining, welding, or torquing giant bolts into place.

Cool. You should let Clermont Steel Fabricators know that they don't need their building.

Sandusky weather in October can be pleasant. It’s once you get to December that the outdoor weather can be consistently unpleasant. Cedar Point has assembled rollercoasters in the winter before, they can do it again. There was a video of Cedar Point topping Millennium Force with lots of snow on the ground.

Assembling a roller coaster isn't the same as modifying an existing one, especially when we're talking about potentially incorporating new, sophisticated launch technology into an existing product.

Yes, it can be done outside in the winter, no one is saying otherwise. But if it doesn't have to be done in those harsh conditions, why would you?

Right, I really don’t think this will be done this off-season as I believe this is more likely a 2024 project.

Considering the Daleks were in charge of the construction of the Empire State Building as it was nearing completion, I dunno that that's the best comparison to make here, SRE123.

I’m so excited just to see how this all plays out. I can’t say that Mantis/Rougarou did anyone any favors. It truly is-what-it-is. However, MS/SV was a home run. I appreciate this trajectory of bringing old attractions into the modern age. Cheers to back-to-back coaster homers!

I've secretly been hoping for a T Rex track up that tower. I am not an engineer, I am an electrician. I have know idea what is even possible. But RMC using that T Rex track up, over, around that tower sounds like a good thing to me. Highly unlikely. Definitely a wishlist type thought. But hey, dream big.

My guess is that the re-envisioned ride concept will be announced on January 9th, 2023, the 20th anniversary of the original announcement / press kit send out.

I couldn't imagine a better date to put the details out, since they seem to be following the "you can see it but you don't know" scheme that they did originally with TTD.