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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 built by Intamin AG and debuted to the public on May 4th , 2003 . It was the first " Strata Coaster " to be built, surpassing the 400 foot mark, and is one of only two in existence today, the other being Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey . Top Thrill Dragster was the second hydraulically-launched coaster that Intamin built, and was the last one to utilize lapbar restraints. RECORDS Cedar Point has a penchant for shattering records and they usually lead the way when it comes to breaking new height and speed milestones. Cedar Point was the first to build a coaster over the 200-foot and 300-foot marks with Magnum XL 200 and Millennium Force , respectively and the first coaster with a drop over 100 feet with Gemini . When Top Thrill Dragster debuted, it hit two big milestones:
It also held two prominent records:
THE RIDE Top Thrill Dragster dominates the Cedar Point skyline today, and is easily seen from anywhere in the park, as well as surrounding locations near the Cedar Point peninsula. The towering structure consists of red and white Intamin box track that is affixed to a bright yellow support tower. The ride is launched along a horizontal section of track by a catch car that is powered by a hydraulic motor. This motor provides enough energy, 10,000 Horsepower , to launch the 6.3 ton trains to a speed of 120 mph in 4.2 seconds. At the start of the ride, the train leaves the station and rolls forward slowly to the launch area. To the left of the track is a christmas tree light, similar to the ones employed at a drag strip. Just before the lights cycle down to green a pressure release is heard and the magnetic braking fins, visible down the length of the launch track, retract. As soon as the green light comes on, the train begins its acceleration. Shortly after reaching its maximum velocity of 120 mph, the train begins it ascent up a 90 degree incline that has a 90 degree clockwise twist that takes the train straight over the top, where riders will experience quite a bit of airtime. 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 but comfortable stop. THEME Although the theme of the roller coaster is based on the Top Fuel Drag Racing motorsport, many riders state that this ride feels more like a Space Shuttle launch than a drag race. A real Top Fuel dragster usually weighs about one ton, each train on Top Thrill Dragster weigh 6.3 tons. The ride opened with a Drag Racing theme, each train was outfitted with dragster racing wheels, fins and an "engine" on the back. These have since been removed and replaced with an extra set of seats since an incident where one of the dragster wheel decorations sheared off its axle and fell to the ground near the end of a ride. 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. It is a common occurrence -- especially in cool, wet or breezy weather -- for the train to not reach the necessary speed to complete the ride. 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. To avert disaster, the launch track is equipped with retractable magnetic braking fins. After every launch these fins pop back into place to slow down a train that rolls backwards to stop it safely. These "rollbacks" are something that many Cedar Point fans look foward 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 to do it twice without waiting in line. On Friday, June 24, 2005, a 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 until a maintenance worker arrived via elevator, gave it a push, and sent it on its way. Video of this event has become popular across many roller coaster websites. {Link without Title} WEATHER Top Thrill Dragster will never operate in the rain, even if it is only a slight drizzle. This is due to the pain caused by raindrops hitting the riders at 120 mph and the effect moisture has on the hydraulic system and the track itself. After a rain, ride operators are required to successfully launch six empty trains in a row without a rollback before it can be reopened to the public. Top Thrill Dragster will not run if there is a brisk wind. For reasons mentioned in the previous section, a headwind can cause the train to lose momentum causing it to rollback. RIDE TRIVIA
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