Top Thrill Dragster
Encyclopedia
Top Thrill Dragster is a steel, Hydraulic-launched roller coaster
located at Cedar Point
in Sandusky
, Ohio
. It was the first "Strata Coaster", loosely defined as a complete circuit coaster that is over 400 feet (121.9 m) tall. It was built by Intamin and debuted to the public on May 4, 2003. It is one of only two stratacoasters in existence, the other being Kingda Ka
(2005) at Six Flags Great Adventure
in New Jersey
. The 'Dragster is the second tallest roller coaster in the world, only behind Kingda Ka
.
It was the second hydraulically-launched roller coaster built by Intamin, following Xcelerator
at Knott's Berry Farm
. The tagline for Top Thrill Dragster is "Race for the Sky".
Due to aviation safety regulations and for the purpose of warning air traffic, the tower is equipped with four dual strobes: three midway up and one on the highest point on the coaster.
It was the fourth roller coaster to break the 100 miles per hour (44.7 m/s) speed barrier. It was preceded in this feat by Tower of Terror II 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 (126.5 m). Top Thrill Dragster broke this record at 420 feet (128 m). Its record was broken in 2005 when Kingda Ka
opened at Six Flags Great Adventure
, in New Jersey, USA, standing 456 feet (139 m) tall.
The previous record holder for speed was Dodonpa, at 107 miles per hour (47.8 m/s). This record was broken by Top Thrill Dragster, which reaches speeds up to 120 miles per hour (53.6 m/s) (depending on wind and other conditions), which was later broken by Kingda Ka which reached a top speed of 128 miles per hour (57.2 m/s) and, in November 2010, by Formula Rossa in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with a top speed of 240 kilometres per hour (149 mph).
In 2007, it reached its goal of a million riders in one year. The following years proved its ability to entertain riders. Since 2007, it has reached at least 1 million riders in a year and continues to be one of the best rides at Cedar Point.
Top Thrill Dragster is easily seen from nearly anywhere in the park.
In the station, two trains are loaded simultaneously before both are dispatched to a separate track to wait for the launch. Each one is launched individually while two more enter the station to receive more passengers. While there, the ride's theme song, "Ready to Go
" by Republica
, is played.
To the left of the track is a "Christmas tree" light, similar to those employed at the starting line of a drag strip
. A brief message is played to the riders to; "keep arms down, head back, and hold on." Once the train is prepared to launch, a motor revving sound effect is played and its magnetic braking fins are lowered from the launch track. It then launches, accelerating to a speed of 120 mi/h in 3.8 seconds.
Shortly after reaching its maximum velocity, the train begins its ascent up a 90-degree incline, twisting 90 degrees counter-clockwise before climbing over the 420 feet (128 m) hill. Upon descending, the track twists 270 degrees before leveling out, allowing the train to be stopped by the magnetic brakes.
motor sport. A real Top Fuel dragster weighs approximately one ton, while each train on the coaster weighs 5.3 tons. Its dragster themed trains once had decorative spoilers and engines, but these were removed soon after opening, allowing an extra row of seats to be added to each one.
Intamin's term for this occurrence 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 very rare occasions a combination of the weight distribution of the train, the force of the launch, and the wind can stall a train on the top of the tower. This has happened on June 24, 2005, October 25, 2008, and May 25, 2009.
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
located at Cedar Point
Cedar Point
Cedar Point is a 364 acre amusement park located in Sandusky, Ohio, United States on a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Erie. Cedar Point is the only amusement park with four roller coasters that are taller than...
in Sandusky
Sandusky, Ohio
Sandusky is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Erie County. It is located in northern Ohio and is situated on the shores of Lake Erie, almost exactly half-way between Toledo to the west and Cleveland to the east....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. It was the first "Strata Coaster", loosely defined as a complete circuit coaster that is over 400 feet (121.9 m) tall. It was built by Intamin and debuted to the public on May 4, 2003. It is one of only two stratacoasters in existence, the other being Kingda Ka
Kingda Ka
Kingda Ka is a roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, USA. It is the world's tallest roller coaster, and was the world's fastest until Formula Rossa opened in November 2010. The train is launched by a hydraulic launch mechanism to in 3.5 seconds. At the end of...
(2005) at Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure is a theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the world's largest amusement park corporation...
in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. The 'Dragster is the second tallest roller coaster in the world, only behind Kingda Ka
Kingda Ka
Kingda Ka is a roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, USA. It is the world's tallest roller coaster, and was the world's fastest until Formula Rossa opened in November 2010. The train is launched by a hydraulic launch mechanism to in 3.5 seconds. At the end of...
.
It was the second hydraulically-launched roller coaster built by Intamin, following Xcelerator
Xcelerator
Xcelerator is a steel launched roller coaster at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. Xcelerator was Intamin's first hydraulically-launched coaster. Xcelerator is the fourth Intamin installation at Knott's...
at Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm is a theme park in Buena Park, California, now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, and a line of jams, jellies, preserves, and other specialty food, now part of The J. M. Smucker Company based in Placentia, California....
. The tagline for Top Thrill Dragster is "Race for the Sky".
Due to aviation safety regulations and for the purpose of warning air traffic, the tower is equipped with four dual strobes: three midway up and one on the highest point on the coaster.
Records
When Top Thrill Dragster first debuted, it set four new records:- Tallest coaster
- Fastest top speed of any coaster
- Steepest drop on a roller coaster (tied with other coasters)
- First complete circuit coaster to top 400 feet (121.9 m)
It was the fourth roller coaster to break the 100 miles per hour (44.7 m/s) speed barrier. It was preceded in this feat by Tower of Terror II at Dreamworld
Dreamworld
Dreamworld is a large theme park situated on the Gold Coast in Queensland. It is currently Australia's largest theme park with over 27 rides including 4 roller coasters. The park is made up of several themed lands: Ocean Parade, Kid's World, Wiggles World, Gold Rush Country, Rocky Hollow, Tiger...
, Australia, Superman: The Escape
Superman: The Escape
Superman: Escape from Krypton is a launched steel shuttle roller coaster located in the Samurai Summit area of Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California that opened in 1997. It is similar to Tower of Terror II, which opened two months prior in Dreamworld, Australia...
at Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain is a theme park located in Valencia, California north of Los Angeles. It opened on Memorial Day weekend on May 30, 1971 as Magic Mountain, by the Newhall Land and Farming Company. In 1979, Six Flags purchased the park and added the name Six Flags to the park's title. In...
in Valencia, California and Dodonpa
Dodonpa
is a roller coaster at Fuji-Q Highland, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi in Japan. It opened in 2001 and is a steel sit-down roller coaster with a compressed air launch. The ride was built by S&S Power of Utah, U.S.A....
(located at Fuji-Q Highland
Fuji-Q Highland
Fuji-Q Highland is an amusement park in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan.The theme park is near the base of Mount Fuji. It has a number of roller coasters, as well as The Haunted Hospital, the world's second largest haunted attraction, and Thomas Land, a children's area with a Thomas the Tank Engine...
).
The previous record holder for overall height was Superman: The Escape
Superman: The Escape
Superman: Escape from Krypton is a launched steel shuttle roller coaster located in the Samurai Summit area of Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California that opened in 1997. It is similar to Tower of Terror II, which opened two months prior in Dreamworld, Australia...
at Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain is a theme park located in Valencia, California north of Los Angeles. It opened on Memorial Day weekend on May 30, 1971 as Magic Mountain, by the Newhall Land and Farming Company. In 1979, Six Flags purchased the park and added the name Six Flags to the park's title. In...
in Valencia, California 415 feet (126.5 m). Top Thrill Dragster broke this record at 420 feet (128 m). Its record was broken in 2005 when Kingda Ka
Kingda Ka
Kingda Ka is a roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, USA. It is the world's tallest roller coaster, and was the world's fastest until Formula Rossa opened in November 2010. The train is launched by a hydraulic launch mechanism to in 3.5 seconds. At the end of...
opened at Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure is a theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the world's largest amusement park corporation...
, in New Jersey, USA, standing 456 feet (139 m) tall.
The previous record holder for speed was Dodonpa, at 107 miles per hour (47.8 m/s). This record was broken by Top Thrill Dragster, which reaches speeds up to 120 miles per hour (53.6 m/s) (depending on wind and other conditions), which was later broken by Kingda Ka which reached a top speed of 128 miles per hour (57.2 m/s) and, in November 2010, by Formula Rossa in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with a top speed of 240 kilometres per hour (149 mph).
In 2007, it reached its goal of a million riders in one year. The following years proved its ability to entertain riders. Since 2007, it has reached at least 1 million riders in a year and continues to be one of the best rides at Cedar Point.
The ride
In the station, two trains are loaded simultaneously before both are dispatched to a separate track to wait for the launch. Each one is launched individually while two more enter the station to receive more passengers. While there, the ride's theme song, "Ready to Go
Ready to Go
"Ready to Go" is a song by Republica, released as a single on 15 April 1996. The original recording was not included on the band's debut album, Republica - two other versions of the song, the U.S. mix and the original mix, were included...
" by Republica
Republica
Republica are an English alternative rock band formed in 1994. The height of their popularity spanned from 1996 to 1999. The Republica sound was described by the band as "techno-pop punk rock"...
, is played.
To the left of the track is a "Christmas tree" light, similar to those employed at the starting line of a drag strip
Drag racing
Drag racing is a competition in which specially prepared automobiles or motorcycles compete two at a time to be the first to cross a set finish line, from a standing start, in a straight line, over a measured distance, most commonly a ¼-mile straight track....
. A brief message is played to the riders to; "keep arms down, head back, and hold on." Once the train is prepared to launch, a motor revving sound effect is played and its magnetic braking fins are lowered from the launch track. It then launches, accelerating to a speed of 120 mi/h in 3.8 seconds.
Shortly after reaching its maximum velocity, the train begins its ascent up a 90-degree incline, twisting 90 degrees counter-clockwise before climbing over the 420 feet (128 m) hill. Upon descending, the track twists 270 degrees before leveling out, allowing the train to be stopped by the magnetic brakes.
Theme
The roller coaster is based on the Top Fuel Drag RacingTop Fuel
Top Fuel racing is a class of drag racing in which the cars are run on a mix of approximately 90% nitromethane and 10% methanol rather than gasoline or simply methanol. The cars are purpose-built for drag racing, with an exaggerated layout that in some ways resembles open-wheel circuit racing...
motor sport. A real Top Fuel dragster weighs approximately one ton, while each train on the coaster weighs 5.3 tons. Its dragster themed trains once had decorative spoilers and engines, but these were removed soon after opening, allowing an extra row of seats to be added to each one.
Rollbacks
A computer regulates the speed of the launch in order to minimize forces as the train crests the hill. Occasionally, one is not launched with enough speed to clear the crest. This typically happens in cool, wet, or breezy weather, or when the wind is working against it. In these conditions, the launch often does not provide it with enough speed to climb over the hill, which causes it to stop short of the apex, and roll back down the hill in reverse, hence the term "rollback". The launch track is equipped with retractable magnetic braking fins which are raised after the train is launched in order to slow one that did not crest the hill.Intamin's term for this occurrence 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 very rare occasions a combination of the weight distribution of the train, the force of the launch, and the wind can stall a train on the top of the tower. This has happened on June 24, 2005, October 25, 2008, and May 25, 2009.
Accidents
On Wednesday, July 14, 2004, four people were struck by flying debris while riding the coaster. Reports indicated that its metal cable frayed as the train was being launched. Shards of metal sheared off of it and struck the riders as the train reached speeds of up to 120 mi/h. Some riders were left with cuts and minor injuries while others complained of minor burns caused by an oily substance. The injured ones were treated at the park's first aid station, and two of them sought further medical attention at a hospital.Awards
| Golden Ticket Awards: Best Steel Coaster | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Ranking | |||||||||