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Top Thrill Dragster
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Top Thrill Dragster is a steel, hydraulically-launched roller coaster located at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio. It was the first "Strata Coaster," loosely defined as a complete circuit coaster that is 400-499 feet tall. It was built by Intamin AG and debuted to the public on May 4, 2003. It is one of only 2 stratacoasters in existence, the other being Kingda Ka (2005) at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey.
Top Thrill Dragster was the second hydraulically-launched roller coaster built by Intamin AG, following Xcelerator at Knott's Berry Farm, and it was the last one to use lapbars instead of over-the-shoulder restraints due to mechanical problems.
Top Thrill Dragster first debuted, it set five new records:
Top Thrill Dragster was the fourth roller coaster to break the 100 mph speed barrier.
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Encyclopedia
Top Thrill Dragster is a steel, hydraulically-launched roller coaster located at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio. It was the first "Strata Coaster," loosely defined as a complete circuit coaster that is 400-499 feet tall. It was built by Intamin AG and debuted to the public on May 4, 2003. It is one of only 2 stratacoasters in existence, the other being Kingda Ka (2005) at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey.
Top Thrill Dragster was the second hydraulically-launched roller coaster built by Intamin AG, following Xcelerator at Knott's Berry Farm, and it was the last one to use lapbars instead of over-the-shoulder restraints due to mechanical problems.
Records
When Top Thrill Dragster first debuted, it set five new records:
- First continuous-circuit roller coaster to go beyond 400 feet in height
- First roller coaster to reach 120 mph using a hydraulic launch system
- Highest drop of any coaster
- Fastest roller coaster in the world
- Tallest roller coaster in the world
Top Thrill Dragster was the fourth roller coaster to break the 100 mph speed barrier. It was preceded in this feat by Tower of Terror at Dreamworld, Australia, Superman: The Escape at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California and Dodonpa (located at Fuji-Q Highland).
The previous record holder for overall height was Superman: The Escape at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California (415 feet tall). Top Thrill Dragster broke this record at 420 feet. Top Thrill Dragster's record was broken in 2005 when Kingda Ka opened at Six Flags Great Adventure, standing 456 feet tall.
The previous record holder for speed was Dodonpa, at 107 mph. This record was broken by Top Thrill Dragster, which reaches speeds up to 124 mph (depending on wind and other factors).
The ride
Top Thrill Dragster dominates the Cedar Point skyline today, and is easily seen from nearly anywhere in the park, as well as surrounding locations near the Cedar Point peninsula. The towering structure consists of red and white Intamin 4 rail track that is affixed to a bright yellow support tower. It was the fastest and highest coaster until Kingda Ka took its place in 2005.
The entrance to the queue is a concrete gateway that leads underneath the launch track. The queue itself, however, never crosses under either side of the ride. Rather, it consists entirely of the space between both tracks. This makes for an interesting experience as trains speed by either side of the people waiting in line. Along the left wall of the queue area, facts about the ride are posted and compared to similar statistics on an actual drag race car.
Near the end of the queue, the queue branches off into two sides. Riders may choose to follow the queue to the front or rear station. The two stations are connected, but riders are prevented from entering the other side of the station by a barrier. In the stations, two trains are loaded at the same time before both are dispatched into the waiting area outside of the loading area. There, the front train is launched first, and the second after that. While this is occurring, two more trains have entered the station and loading has begun again. Very rarely does loading take long enough to create a situation where there is no train ready to be launched. By the time two loaded trains have been dispatched, two more have already been filled to follow them. Because of this set up, the line moves rather steadily. Whenever it does stop, it often means that a rider has failed to meet the requirements necessary to ride, and loading was temporarily delayed, or the ride has broken down, in which case the line will not move for possible hours. Such pauses in queue movement are often followed by large moments of progress as two more trains are launched once things are sorted out.
Once riders actually enter the station, they will be asked to choose a secondary queue to wait in which corresponds with the position in the car where they wish to ride. Often, the longest queue is for the front seat, though many enthusiasts insist that the second is the best due to the possible discomfort from wind or bugs. When the riders are next in line, they are quickly instructed to enter the train as the gates before them open. There, they must fasten their seatbelt in such a way that at least a half an inch of slack in the belt can be exposed. If a rider is unable to do so, they are declared unable to ride. The passenger restraints are exactly the same as the ones used on Millennium Force, and the exact same policy is enforced at both coasters. For those that fear being unable to ride after waiting in line, sample seats are provided at the entrance to both of these rides. While in the station the ride's theme song is played, which is "Ready to Go" by Republica.
After all guests are fully secured by a seatbelt and lapbar, the two loaded trains roll forward to the launch area. To the left of the track is a "Christmas tree" light, similar those employed at a drag strip. At this time, a brief message is played to the riders: "Arms down, head back, and hold on!". Due to the unsafe nature of raising one's hands on such a roller coaster, the ride host will not launch the train if any riders are holding their hands up. The host may replay the "arms down" part of the message repeatedly until the guests lower their arms, and stop the ride altogether if a guest persists. Once the ride is prepared to launch, a motor revving sound effect begins. At this time, the magnetic braking fins lower from the launch track, and the train rolls backwards a slight amount in order to connect with the launch car below the tracks. The lights on the tower itself and the small light fixture to the left of the track cycle from three yellows to a green light.
Once the green light displays a tire-screech sound is heard and the train begins its acceleration to 120mph in just 3.8 seconds. Near the end of the track is a sign which displays the speed that the ride was able to reach at that particular launch; it is usually a number between 120 and 124 miles per hour. Shortly after reaching its maximum velocity in less than four seconds, the train begins its ascent up a 90-degree incline that has a 90-degree counter-clockwise twist that takes the train straight over the top of the 420 foot hill, where riders will experience significant airtime (zero g-forces). On the way down the other side, there is a 270-degree clockwise twist that leads into the magnetic braking section that brings the train to a swift yet comfortable stop. The riders exit the train to their right, and the empty train proceeds into the loading area to be refilled.
As Top Thrill Dragster grows older, Cedar Point is learning how to operate the coaster more efficiently and to minimize downtime. Even though there are six trains, usually only five are being used. The increase in operational efficiency is proven in the increased throughput since the ride debuted:
- Riders in 2003: 562,438
- Riders in 2004: 943,313
- Riders in 2005: 953,945
- Riders in 2006: 994,531
- Riders in 2007: 1,082,218
- Riders in 2008: 8,210,327
Theme
The theme of the roller coaster is based on the Top Fuel Drag Racing motor sport and many riders state that this ride feels exactly like a dragster starting to accelerate, however, the actual acceleration of a Top Fuel Dragster is far more significant than that of the ride. A real Top Fuel dragster usually weighs about one ton, while each empty train on Top Thrill Dragster weighs 5.3 tons.
Rollbacks
The speed of Top Thrill Dragster is controlled by a computer which regulates the speed of the launch in order to minimize forces as the train crests the hill. Occasionally, a train is not launched with enough speed to clear the crest. This tends to happen in cool, wet or breezy weather, when the wind is working against the train. When the track is wet or the weather is cold, the standard launch speed is typically not enough to force the train over the hill. The train's momentum can also be hindered by a good headwind. When this happens, the train will climb the hill, stop just short of the apex, and roll back down the hill in reverse, hence the name "rollback". To avert disaster, the launch track is equipped with retractable magnetic braking fins. After every launch these fins are quickly and systematically deployed, as if chasing the coaster train, to make absolutely sure to slow down a train that happens to roll backwards afterward to stop it safely and comfortably.
A sign near the split in the queue line warns that rollbacks are expected and safe, as systems are set in place to bring a rollback to a safe and comfortable stop.
These "rollbacks" are something that many Cedar Point fans look forward to, and hope to receive at some point. Since the launch is arguably the most exciting and intense part of the ride, a rollback means you get the option to either ride it again without waiting in line, or exit the ride.
Intamin's term for this phenomenon is "short shot" rather than "rollback", but the term "rollback" is used almost exclusively in the parks that operate Accelerator Coasters, as well as in the coaster enthusiast community.
On Friday, June 24, 2005, the green train was launched with exactly enough momentum to bring it to rest at the top of the tower. It remained balanced there for nearly fifteen minutes with 16 passengers on board until a maintenance worker arrived via elevator, gave it a push, and sent it on its way. The same incident occurred on Saturday, October 25, 2008, this time the wait increased from 15 minutes to nearly half an hour. Four riders were stuck for 15 minutes. These riders made it down safely.
Weather
Top Thrill Dragster does not operate in any form of precipitation. The ride's control system operates via a series of proximity sensors that relay the location of the train by magnetic contacts, and the trains are propelled through flat sections of the track by friction wheels. Rain, or any other form of precipitation impedes the safe and efficient movement of trains through the holding and station positions. To re-open the ride, all precipitation must have stopped. Depending on the temperature, how long the ride was down, and how wet the tracks, trains, and friction wheels are, ride hosts determine how many test trains to send. Many times each train is sent around until it makes it over, however, in many instances once one train has gone over the tower the ride may be re-opened with riders. The determining factor in re-opening the ride to guests is how long the train takes to go over the tower, and the speed reduction on the ride's touch-screen. If trains are making it over the tower, but the speed reduction is still too high, trains will be loaded with fewer rows closed off from the back, normally the ride is re-opened with the last four rows closed, this is to ensure that the ride does not rollback, or rolls back fewer times than when sending full trains.
Top Thrill Dragster can not operate in winds exceeding 35 mph. An anemometer on top of the tower relays wind speeds to the ride's computer. Wind speeds above 35 mph for approximately 5 seconds will disrupt normal operation of the ride, placing the ride into Manual mode. This is called an Auto Mode Stop. The ride's control panel notifies ride hosts of this and other faults by a trouble light, which is a red flashing or solid push button and light. The ride also has a high wind speed indicator that illuminated along with a warning on the rides touch-screen that alerts the ride host in the controls position that the ride has detected wind speeds greater than 20-34mph. High winds that cause the ride to stop, result in the ride being reset, a timer being started for approximately fifteen minutes. If within that fifteen minutes winds go above 35mph again, the fault is again reset and the timer re-started. Once fifteen minutes has elapsed with winds below 35mph the ride is re-started, however if wind speeds are persistently high, ride hosts may close off rows in the back of the trains to ensure the wind, and speed reduction will not cause rollback. Although, rollbacks often happen which allows the riders another take off.
Awards
| Golden Ticket Awards: Best Steel Coaster |
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| Year | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
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| Ranking | 11 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 9 |
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