pic: top thrill dragster

[Yan Wang]

Yeah, I lived in Cleveland, OH for 5 years and Cedar Point was a fun place to go to. Our music department here in Ithaca, NY went there this year as part of the music department trip to Cleveland, OH (also went to Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame). The dragster is fast and weightlessness is cool, but it's definitely not the most fun ride there.

Ya like thats not the funnest ride there, but its awsome. Like when i was there it kept on breakin down, so we would have to wait in line for like 5 hours. It would keep on falling backwards and that would always hold up the lines and stuff. I also like the MIllenium Force too. That one is cool. Doesnt that one go like 314 feet or sumthin.

[ahecht]

I think that this picture, from the Associated Press, says it all:



And this was from before they made the launch more powerful (it now gets to full speed in under 3 seconds).

[spears312]

I dont know much about roller coasters, but if it can do that to your face, then I think it looks powerful

[NoRemorse]

I think the best rides there are the rapter and millenuim. mellenium is fun bc it is UBER fast and decent length, rapter is just the best designed coaster ever, hands down.

[MrToast]

Originally Posted by ahecht

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww........

MrToast

[Joshua May]

Originally Posted by ahecht

I think that this picture, from the Associated Press, says it all:

And this was from before they made the launch more powerful (it now gets to full speed in under 3 seconds).

That's just plain crazy.

[Joe Matt]

120 in 3 seconds? Phhhpt...

How about 82 in 1.8 seconds? Now THATS a launch, and it's at my home park of Paramount's Kings Dominion. It's Hypersonic.

[Greg Ross]

Originally Posted by JosephM

120 in 3 seconds? Phhhpt...

How about 82 in 1.8 seconds?

OK, so 45.6 mph/s acceleration is greater than 40 mph/s, but I think it's the ultimate speed that really gives the thrill, and not the initial acceleration, don't you?

[Yan Wang]

Originally Posted by gwross

OK, so 45.6 mph/s acceleration is greater than 40 mph/s, but I think it's the ultimate speed that really gives the thrill, and not the initial acceleration, don't you?

Acceleration is what scares you. The max velocity doesn't really matter because you don't feel constant velocity - you feel acceleration. And that's why the fun comes during the dips, climbs, loops, and corkscrews. The dragster only has a huge hill/dip so it's only attraction is the ability to go weightless. Other coasters with more 'features' entertain me a lot more.

Originally Posted by ahecht

I think that this picture, from the Associated Press, says it all:



And this was from before they made the launch more powerful (it now gets to full speed in under 3 seconds).

thats so wierd. thats probably how my face looked like when i went on it. I also think its the ultimate speed that give you the thrill. i love goin on like really high and fast rollercoaster. But i do really like the corkscrew rides and all of those rides. If you ever went on Rock and Roll Rollercoaster in disney world at Flordia, that gives a lot of speed and also has loops and everything. It has everything combined. That rides go i think 60mph in 2 seconds or something.

[Greg Ross]

Originally Posted by CourtneyB

I also think its the ultimate speed that give you the thrill.

In truth, I think Yan is right, and I knew that when I made my previous statement. I just felt like I needed to deflate JosephM a little.

The initial straight-line acceleration of this type of coaster really doesn't do too much for me. The twists and turns are the whole reason for roller coasters' existence.

[sanddrag]

I really want to go on X at Six Flags Magic Mountain but after I read an article of somebody falling out of Superman and dying, I'm not so sure I want to ride these things any more. There are always things in the news about roller coaster malfunctions leading to injuries and deaths. Also, someone I know who used to work there was telling me about all the problems that they would have that never even reach the press. Last, one time on Ghostrider at Knotts Berry Farm they almost set the train off for a run when my lap bar wasn't even latched in; it wouldn't go. I had to yell at them to wait and they literally got on the wlkie talkie to radio the operator just before his finger was going to push the start button.

I don't know about some of these theme parks. It just seems like too many accidents happen too often. Don't get me wrong, they are great fun and I love it but it seems like there is an unneccesary amount of risk. Even Disneyland is bad - they try to conceal everything that happens.

Originally Posted by sanddrag

I really want to go on X at Six Flags Magic Mountain but after I read an article of somebody falling out of Superman and dying, I'm not so sure I want to ride these things any more. There are always things in the news about roller coaster malfunctions leading to injuries and deaths. Also, someone I know who used to work there was telling me about all the problems that they would have that never even reach the press. Last, one time on Ghostrider at Knotts Berry Farm they almost set the train off for a run when my lap bar wasn't even latched in; it wouldn't go. I had to yell at them to wait and they literally got on the wlkie talkie to radio the operator just before his finger was going to push the start button.

I don't know about some of these theme parks. It just seems like too many accidents happen too often. Don't get me wrong, they are great fun and I love it but it seems like there is an unneccesary amount of risk. Even Disneyland is bad - they try to conceal everything that happens.

ya thats true. Crazy things happen like that. My mom was like scared for me to go on like top thrill and Millenium force cuz she was afriad i would fall out of the seat because of my wieght and stuff. thats happened before, but i just ignore her when she lectures me on that stuff haha

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

I really want to go on X at Six Flags Magic Mountain but after I read an article of somebody falling out of Superman and dying, I'm not so sure I want to ride these things any more. There are always things in the news about roller coaster malfunctions leading to injuries and deaths. Also, someone I know who used to work there was telling me about all the problems that they would have that never even reach the press. Last, one time on Ghostrider at Knotts Berry Farm they almost set the train off for a run when my lap bar wasn't even latched in; it wouldn't go. I had to yell at them to wait and they literally got on the wlkie talkie to radio the operator just before his finger was going to push the start button.

I don't know about some of these theme parks. It just seems like too many accidents happen too often. Don't get me wrong, they are great fun and I love it but it seems like there is an unneccesary amount of risk. Even Disneyland is bad - they try to conceal everything that happens.

Actually sand, that death was due to rider error and staff error, not the coaster malfunctioning.