Top Thrill Dragster 2022 Status
djDaemon:
You can tell by the specific shade of yellow straps they're using that Intamin is doing this project.
How can you tell that? Curious is all, not doubting this comment.
Kevinj:
Funny you should say that, because there is also "Formula Vee" road racing, which is based on the original VW beetle. It still seems a bit outdated, but it's out there.
Formula Vee racer here! Not outdated at all in the sense new cars are still being built and improved for it. But yes, still using components from Beetles of the 60's. Formula Vee racing actually turned 60 this year. Despite that, there was a brand new car built this year with a new way of doing the rear suspension geometry that hadn't been done before. Formula Vee racing is still super popular thanks to its (relatively) low cost and the wonderful community involved with them.
If it indeed does relate to planes, could it possible that the keychain/logo being used is actually a two-blade propeller?
Michael McCormack
www.youtube.com/mccormackxl200
I see what you're saying. I've never seen a shear key like that on any Zamperla. I understand Zamperla's are typically smaller coasters that my not have a need for shear keys, but if you look at the footers from Velocicoaster, almost every single support had a shear key like that. Here's another seemingly small detail that could be a hint. Zamperla Masks off the entire mating side of their flanges, while Intamin only masks off the actual mating surface, painting the center with the finish color. If you look at the flange on the support in the picture you shared, its painted like Intamin does now. I also understand that I attached images of track sections, not supports. The trend carries over onto the supports as well, but all the pictures I found were grainy as hell. I know its a really small detail, but companies get into the habit of doing things one way, and "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Idk...probably just wishful thinking.
I'll take your word on the painting comparison because I went down the shear key rabit hole this weekend. I found shear keys on just about every roller coaster, regardless of manufacturer. They all seem to use the rolled section wide flange as pictured below. I found Intamin even uses the rolled section on all but Kingda Ka and TTD. So like others have stated, the unique design on the new supports could be dictated by the scale of this coaster. Fury, Orion and Leviathan are the next closest, (non-Intamin) coasters in size and all appear to use the rolled section design.
It's amazing how tight lipped CP has been with this project. I feel in the past we've had more to go off of this close to announcement.
No 4:20 tweet today. Surely there will be one tomorrow since we will be a week out… right?….. RIGHT?!
I don't know if there are already any examples of this but is it possible that Zamperla is the overall design firm for the project but Intamin is subcontracted by them for track/manufacturing? This project could be a partnership.
Intaperla? Zampamin? Intazampaminerla?
In all seriousness, that's not out of the realm of possibility. And to my mind seems at least as likely as CF tagging Intamin alone for this project.
Brandon
This is true, but B&M uses a standard wide flange beam shear key like you'll see on basically every coaster that uses them. Intamin combines "rolled section" and "cross plate" using 2 sections of wide flange beam crossed.
I dont think that's necessarily true at all. Pictures from Red Force (pretty much the closest we'll get to what CP is doing) show a standard wide flange shear key as well.
So here’s something interesting. Fox 8 reporting they will be on site with manufacturers next Tuesday. Guess we will know same day who it is doing the retrofit!
Are there any top hat-like structures on a B&M coaster? And if so, are there pictures of the shear key used there?
Brandon
The beginning of that quote was "Reporters are invited" . Haven't heard anything about a public presentation on Tuesday. I remember the one they did for SV, don't think they've done one since. If there were, I missed them.
Guessing the best place to be for info will be in front of a computer. That's fine as I'll be at work anyway, but wouldn't have minded taking a few hours off for a fun reveal event.
If there is going to be a public event for the announcement I’d expect it to be teased today at 4:20. I don’t think reporters getting access to the construction site and manufacturer(s) negates that but I wouldn’t be surprised if there is no event either.
A week out what are everyone’s final guesses for specs/theme/name? Mine:
Formula Air or Pole Position
325 Ft spike.
3 launches
95 mph forward - 110 mph backward - 125 mph forward
Themed around airplane racing
I wouldn’t take the wording of a news article like this too seriously. They also said they don’t know if it’ll be a roller coaster or not, as if TTD is going to magically become a flat ride or something.
Closed topic.