Top Thrill Dragster 2022 Status

Jeff (from my understanding) wrote the software that powers the forum. He's not asking Jeff to laugh, but to add a laugh reaction along side the current "+1" reaction.

A drone update shows fresh concrete and footer casings in the former unload area have been poured and the turn back into the station is definitely a tighter turn. It now looks all but confirmed that there will be a transfer table probably just outside the station. I attached a horrible drawing that a 9 year old could've done better with but it shows what we will probably see.

It's kind of wild to think that after a very unfortunate accident happened where a piece of debris struck someone standing in close proximity to the circuit, they're now going to send a train at 100MPH going both forwards and reverse within feet of the crew and the next riders that are loading. I firmly believe that was a one-off incident and understand that there are plenty of rides that go through the station during the ride, but the optics are tough. I wonder if they'll have some form of divider in place?

^ I just responded to a very similar comment in a FB group. But I don’t think the backwards launch is going to be at the same elevation as the station once it gets to that point. I think the reverse into the spike is going to pull up early enough to be above the station as it starts to go up into the spike. This sequence:

1. Load
2. Launch just outside the station into an S-Bend and up the Top Hat.
3. Quick switch track a-la Pantheon as the train ascends the tower.
4. Train rolls back into the straight track upward slop begins before station sending train up and over and into a massive spike
5. Drop down spike/curve back to flat track and then up over top hat and done.

^ that's me in that FB comment chain that's trying to explain to that other guy how this is gonna work. The elevated track section makes perfect sense too. They will either elevate it or put some sort of divider in place like a fence. Millennium Force goes flying past guests at 90mph who are standing on the ramp a few feet away with nothing between them but a fence.

Cartwright:

The park itself hasn't worried about that status since Kinzel left, which has been more than 10 years now.

Actually, they registered that phrase as a trademark, and they renewed the trademark on March 2, 2018. I'd say they still care about it quite a bit, even if they've broadened their focus.

I would think that a "roller coaster capital of the world" would take enormous pride in having a wide range of coaster options, which Cedar Point has, continues to be dedicated to, and will likely do so for the foreseeable future.

There is a reason Iron Dragon, Corkscrew, Gemini, and Blue Streak still exist. Are they old? Of course. But Cedar Point has the luxury of being able to give you Steel Vengeance and Gemini and Maverick and Corkscrew and (do I need to go on?) all in the same park.

Cedar Point does not have a "OMG WE NEED TO BUILD SOMETHING NEWWE@%#$!" problem.

It's just not a thing.

Yep it says "Rollercoaster capital of the World" not "Record breaking everytime Rollercoaster capital of the world"

vwhoward:

Jeff...when are we getting that laugh react? 🤣

I emphatically downvote this idea. The laugh emoji is one of the most childish, lazy, and passive aggressive reactions and makes conversations completely toxic, because more often than not it's used as a substitute for reasoned, substantive disagreement. After all, it's much easier to lazily hit the laugh emoji button than to communicate disagreement. Hitting a laugh emoji button requires 4 brain cells, whereas making even a poorly-constructed good faith argument against something requires some base level of intelligence. There's a reason why FB has a laugh emoji, and it sure as hell ain't because they're interested in fostering healthy, constructive conversation there.

SpeedDemon:
I don’t think the backwards launch is going to be at the same elevation as the station once it gets to that point. I think the reverse into the spike is going to pull up early enough to be above the station as it starts to go up into the spike.

If that were the case, wouldn't we have seen numerous large footers arranged in a wide stance straddling the station by now?

Also, I'm not sure how it makes sense that elevating the track there would make an incident involving a high speed projectile less risky, since all that would achieve is embiggening the area of potential impact.

Agreed. I don't think we've seen evidence as of yet that the track will go over the station canopy. THat could change of course but it does not appear that way. Hence why i still think the canopy itself looks like it'd interfere with the ramp up to the back spike and they might still do some re-work there.

djDaemon:

The laugh emoji is one of the most childish, lazy, and passive aggressive reactions and makes conversations completely toxic, because more often than not it's used as a substitute for reasoned, substantive disagreement.

Jesus. That's an oddly strong reaction to four bytes of data.

Here's the thing about getting the train on the circuit. A table is slow, but a switch is fast. Ice Breaker is an example of how not to do it, and the worst part is that they can't put another train on the table until the launch sequence is done. (Not that it matters with the awful restraints and slow loading.) A switch can move very quickly if it's rotary. See those before and after the stations on Guardians of The Galaxy. Or even the switches that are on Hagrid's, or the rotary switches on Expedition Everest.

I think dj is completely based when it comes to the emoji button. It's similarly why I would be against a mute button. Having a mute option would make the conversation on the form way harder to follow.i agree about the laugh emoji, Well put DJ.

Jeff I agree, I hope we are looking at a quick switch track. Which is why I'm still hoping intimin is involved. They have gotten really good at the fast switch track and I'm worried that it's potentially too complex of a system for zamperla to make. I hope I'm wrong and that they could nail it.

BleauxJays:

they might still do some re-work there.

I was operating in the headspace of the permit for a two story station and that may insinuate changed canopy. 🤷

I'm not sure why if they were going to remove part of the canopy they wouldn't have done it when they removed everything else initially but perhaps they didn't quite have everything figured out just yet.

Speed demon, Someone mentioned earlier that stations that have a slightly raised control booth apparently constitute as a two-story station. It could be that the station is like before, where the controls are a step up. Or maybe it might be something akin to Gatekeepers controls.

I agree, if the canopy was going to be changed, I would have expected to see it come down by now.

Jeff:

Jesus. That's an oddly strong reaction to four bytes of data.

I'm sure you understand that data size of the component in question has absolutely nothing to do with the component's impact on the tone of the conversation.

As for the canopy, I really don't see why there would be a need to adjust it or go over the top of it. And if there were, yes, we would almost certainly have seen work done there. All signs point to the track curving up after exiting beneath the south end of the canopy. I guess people are still holding out hope for some record-breaking spike that would necessitate a massive curved pullout?

I just see that new footer located maybe 70 feet south of the existing canopy with two pretty big anchor bolt patterns leading me to believe thats a sizeable support going there (i.e. fairly tall) and I just wonder how long it takes horizontally to ramp up to something say 100 ft tall or so there.

djDaemon:

record-breaking spike that would necessitate a massive curved pullout?

I can say personally I’m not expecting a record breaker. I’m mostly thinking about the speed it’s going to carry in either direction and how tight is too tight? (I hope that makes sense). I’m just thinking if it doesn’t begin it’s ascent/descent closer to the top hat that is going to be a wicked pull through to have it flat before/at the station.

I had a dream that I saw an announcement online calling it “Dragster 620” so I’ve just confirmed it will be 620 feet high. Also, “Formula 420” could be a good name.

Yeah, "Formula 420" wouldn't be controversial at all, especially for a family park like Cedar Point...