Dragster closed today and yesterday?

I wouldn't exactly think that is something CP is going to want to jump on and come out and tell everyone about..

As an employee of cedar point i will tell you that the top thrill dragster will be at least closed untill May 21st. I work on the ride and that is the next time i am sced. to work it. And i am supposed to everyday. It seems they are having problems with the launching device that gave it is same problem last year when people were injured due to the cable shredding and metal flying at guest. They see the same kind of rubbing in the new cord. I will keep you updated!!!!

If this becomes an extended problem, could you imagine the line for MF at coastermania. They'd have to open up Mantis and/or WT. Even then, it would be looooonggggg. I hope its up by then, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Cedarpoint.com does say that it is not currently operating.

Yeah figures: going this weekend for first time in 2 years, used TTD to talk 3 other people into going who've never been there, and this happens. Unbelievable!

Hopefully it will be up for ya. I wouldn't count it out yet.

We've had pretty good luck with ride being open every time that we have visited CP. Hopefully that will remain true when we visit CP June 2-3.

-MiG

As of this post TTD is running. Here is a thought that I posted in another thread, but it prob. belongs here, sorry, anyway. I was wondering if CP has been waiting to see how the setup on Kingda Ka is going to work out, the harder launch with trims on the tophat, if they have better luck with reliability maybe CP will try it with TTD next year. Just a thought.

I dunno about that, Grady... It's a logical idea, but I think their problems are actually with the launch mechanism itself, more than it is with rollbacks. So turning up the juice would only cause more problems. Any ideas on how much of this mess would've been avoided had CP not cheaped out on the cooling system Intamin originally designed?

You are prob. right Shane, turning up the juice might make it worse, but what an awsome launch it would be, LOL. I just hope they figure something out because that ride is very frustrating, I can only guess what it must be like for the ops and mechanics.

I was there for a week out of the month plus it was down in June of 03. I tell ya, my wife and I stared at the thing and WILLED it to work. Then, the Wednesday of the week, I was riding Mantis after close and during the ride I saw the lights go down the tower and a train launch. So I got off Mantis and ran to TTD, thinking I would watch a few launches since this was the first time I'd seen it move in three days. But what's this? They were letting people in line AFTER CLOSING TIME!!! I hopped in line and after 45 minutes, I was about to board the next train. The train pulls out to the prelaunch, the engines start rumbling, and the ride goes dark... NO!!! So there I am standing in the station. I waited till 1AM, and they asked us to leave... We got front of the line passes, but still frustrating. I guess this is the nature of the beast, though...

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Grady said:
I just hope they figure something out because that ride is very frustrating, I can only guess what it must be like for the ops and mechanics.

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I don't really think the ride operators care, it means less work for them ;)

Mechanics? Yes they're the ones stuck fixing the thing while being yelled at by guests.

On the status page, I think it said that it opened today (although the webcam showed the station as empty, however current that is). Can anyone confirm how (well if) it ran today (5/19)?

Saw it run on the web cam a few times this morning. And ride of steel, I bet it gets frustrating for the ops having to answer questions all day like, when it will be running, and whats wrong with it, stuff like that.

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I'm still worried about KK. So many peole are claiming it has been and will be pretty problem free. I'm waiting to see....

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There has been *zero* evidence to say Kingda Ka has been having mechanical/ride related issues.

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ahhhhh, but if you noticed with Dragster, the ride operated absolutly fine prior to opening and operated ok on its media day too, and it was only when the ride offically open when all the problems started to develop so I will wait and see too how KK operates.

Personally I am worried Six Flags just wanted the tallest coaster record back, and havent realised what a life of hell that awaits them,I just hope what they know what they are letting themselves in for. KK will have problems like Dragster you can be assured of that and for people to say it will be problem free dont know what they are talking about.

Its certaintly going to be interesting to hear about the first offical operating day of KK later

Exactly. And KK has already started the Dragster trend. 2 major downtimes during the first day (not counting the rollback) I really wish a trouble free ride on SFGAd, but I doubt that's what they have.

I would have to agree PaulD. I don't think people are computing the difference between day-to-day, 10am-10pm operations everyday for months and testing/media previews. I understand they probably try hard to replicate live situations while testing but we're talking whipping four trains through there every two minutes for 12+ hours a day everyday. They have the technology to build these rides and make them work. The key is how often and consistent they can make them work. They appear to be a little too extreme or ahead of their time right now. Maybe many years down the road, they can build something 400+ ft that will go all day, everyday, all season for multiple seasons and be near as trouble-free as your average conventional lift coaster. I don't believe it's going to happen yet and judging it after a week or two of public operation won't change that thought. I will say that Stormrunner was pretty good last year and all new coasters have computer issues anyway but SR is 276 feet shorter and 56 mph slower. Whenever there isn't a reasonable progression in height and speed with coasters, you'll have problems. I think they got too big, too fast, too quick for a ride to work as it should.

I really hope TTD is up and running cause I'm planning on making a trip up on May 26 (a 3 hour drive) with some friends and I really don't even see the point if there is NO chance in getting to ride it.

I"ve had pretty good luck in riding it. I went last August and it was up and running but the second day I was there it rained so that kept it out of commision. I know there is nothing CP can do about the rain aspect (they can't control weather) but I've always thought it is quite silly to design a ride that is weather dependent even though TTD is the most kick ass ride ever!

From what i have seen today TTD has been running all day.

That's just from what i have seen. I haven't been at the computer all day.

Newsflash - KK apparently had a 5hr line on its opening day, with many brakedowns and rollbacks(Some have mentioned Rollbacks are taking 40mins-1hr for the ride to get working again with people)

Also,check out this picture, this was taken on opening day apparently

http://www.gainsider.com/scripts/pictures/popup.php?
albumID=204&imageID=673