Pictures od Dragster's new seats

It seems as if the Dragster trains are going to be themed along with the new seats. Caution: page may download slowly files are a little big.

http://dprintonline.com/new_page_2.htm

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tambo

It's a real shame that the spiffy theming on the trains went away. On the other hand, I'm not going to complain about a 10% increase in capacity.

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Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
"It's not a Toomer" - Arnold Schwartzenkoph
"Those who know don't talk and those who talk don't know." -Jeff

It looks like there's still a hardpoint on the back of the trains for some sort of engine/tire themeing element. If you never saw the old ones, I'm sure with even just the front end on them, those trains look great, but if you remember what the old style looked like, they look naked and well ... sad. I hope they find some way to bring the engines and tires back.

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"As soon as you design something that's idiot-proof, the world will go and design a better idiot."
--Brett

I don't see anything on the back, but I find it odd that under the bumper there appears to be another ball joint there.

Yeah, the trains don't look as cool, but on the other hand, even slow dispatching will score them another 120+ people per hour through the queue. That's what they should've done all along.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
DELETED! What time does the water show start?

In the second picture Jeff, it appeared that there was a large metal "box" that looked a lot like the old hookup for the themeing? Is that the joint you're talking about? (perhaps for another car which would have the themeing on it?)

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"As soon as you design something that's idiot-proof, the world will go and design a better idiot."
--Brett

Jeff - I don't think thats just a bumper. It might aswell be, but I don't know any Intamin rides that have bumpers in the rear. As for the extra ball joint, all the Intamin hypers have them, as does Millennium so that isn't a big suprise.

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Corey
"Another disadvantage is that people, in their enthusiasm, not only aim for the bottles but also for my head. And a wooden ball can hurt a lot." - From an article on Ananova.com

*** This post was edited by rOLLocOASt 7/3/2003 9:12:53 AM ***

As for capacity issues, we all know CP needs to pump as many people through the line as possible.

BUT...

I would have DEFINETLY choose to keep the themeing over adding the seats. The back of the train REALLY pulled the ride together and all the dragster theming. Without the tires and engine it just looks like a funny train with a nose on the front.

I felt aweful when they pulled the tires and engine off. It was like what they did to Disaster transport when they pulled out the robots, movies, line effects and more. That was a very much part of the whole ride.

With looking at the pictures and seeing it in person, I'm also really hoping that they can bring back the themeing.

On the note of the themeing. It seems to me that the Slicks were to heavy or mounted in a bad way. I have yet to figure out why they don't go with a "Fake" slick...something that is really light and still gives the look. Maybe that's what they are making now. Who knows. But I sure hope the engine and tires come back. Even in all the pictures we have now and promos the trains have slicks.

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"The Future of Roller Coasters"
-RollerCoasterGod
OhioThemeParks.com

The joint is inside that little cage, and looks like this (MF example shown).

I guess the wing and slicks were mounted to that bracket, as seen here. Only the engine was sitting where the seats are. That said, I suppose they could remount the wing and slicks.

edit: Corey... MF does have a rear bumper. A horizontal plate comes out of what kind of looks like the hitch joint. WT has it as well, only it's in the front because those trains are built in the reverse order (the rear car has the rolling axel).

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
DELETED! What time does the water show start?
*** This post was edited by Jeff 7/3/2003 9:19:24 AM ***

Thanks for clarifying. I didn't remember that part :)

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Corey
"Another disadvantage is that people, in their enthusiasm, not only aim for the bottles but also for my head. And a wooden ball can hurt a lot." - From an article on Ananova.com

Rats. I know it seems ridiculous and quite petty to complain about such a thing, but I'm pretty disappointed that they had to sacrifice the themeing. It's nothing I'll lose sleep over, and I understand why it's been done (and of course the capacity increase is a major plus), but the wing and racing slicks made those some of the greatest looking trains ever. It just doesn't look quite right seeing the pointed nose without the wing and slicks. :(

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-Mike B.
Son of Hulk
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I agree with RollerCoasterGod, The fake engine and the rear wing did pulled the ride together. I hope they do come back.

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WOOF !
*** This post was edited by Dennis 7/3/2003 10:50:04 AM ***

They'll probably put the "themeing" back onto the trains next year (fingers crossed) after they get all the problems with the motor and such figured out.
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Top 3 Wooden Coasters: The Villain, Thunderbolt, Blue Streak
Top 3 Steel Coasters: Magnum XL-200, Millennium Force, Top Thrill Dragster

If this means a 15-20 minute shorter wait in a 2 hour line, im all for it. Forget the fake wheels and engine, I dont want to wait longer than I have to. Im not big on mimicky things anyways.

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Kennywood Park, America's finest traditional amusement park.
Track Record: 60 coasters at 17 parks.

I really liked the theming, and I was upset to see it go, but the more I thought about it the more I liked the idea of new seats. Think about it. TTD never really had a back seat ride because of the theming. What would you prefer? Theming, or a true back seat ride? Of course, it remains to be seen if the new back seat will deliver The Happy Negative-G Experience(TM), but I think that it will.

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Rich Genthner / PTC99

ok I have to say it. As long as the ride is running who cares about the themeing? I would much rather get a ride on the fastest and tallest coaster in the world than have it dow for whatever reason. The themeing was cool but now there is more room for riders and thus more chances for people to ride and thus more chances for me to ride.

I agree TCKR, although the themeing was sharp, I think capacity is more important. On a ride as popular as this, that for now has suffered from problem after problem just trying to remain open all day, capacity wins hands down. Besides, I wouln't want to lose my back seat rides to wheels that fall off and an engine that doesn't run. The spoilers could stay though - they were cool.

Wood - anything else is just a cheap imitation
*** This post was edited by Thrillerman 7/3/2003 8:46:53 PM ***

I just want it to open by the 12th. If it doesn't open then oh well. I'll be back next year for a ride.

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Are You Ready To Take The Red Pill? Matrix RCT parks
Enter The Matrix V.2

As cool as the theming may have been, I think they should definitely lay off the tires; they basically caused more problems. Plus, a few of my friends thought the tires looked a bit of an overkill aspect. Well, in reality, they said the tires looked stupid.

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Well, I used to be able to see TTD from my house, then I moved.
Life's not fair.

I don't think the tires looked stupid, but I agree with you about causing more problems with all that extra weight and mass being on the back of the trains. When I rode the coaster on media day, I couldn't help thinking that all the nice detail work on the back of those trains wouldn't last a season. That launch is so powerful and intense, and we've all heard how some Intamin rides have developed stress cracks after just one season. It's just too bad that it happened so soon after the ride debuted. I really wasn't too surprised when I found out one of the tires let loose after just one week of operation. I'm just glad that nobody was injured when it happened.

wood - anything else is just an imitation
*** This post was edited by Thrillerman 7/4/2003 1:13:35 AM ***

I think that Cedar Point should add an engine mock up and tires that are specially designed to be lighter. Thus, removing the excess weight on the back, and making the trains lighter. And why didnt CP just make the trains longer in the first place.
*** This post was edited by Immelman 7/5/2003 12:32:52 AM ***