Top Thrill Dragster Question

[pgathriller]

Top Thrill Dragster was built to be the tallest fastest coaster in the world but it was short lived. My idea is kind of weird but I want to know if it's possible. Some coasters get renovated so it's taller or shorter for speed purposes but can Top Thrill Dragster be modified so that it can be a couple of feet taller than Kingda Ka and then adjust the speed so the train can make it over the top hat and be faster than Kingda Ka. I know to do this they would have to add more track to the top hat and adjust the speed so it makes it through the circuit. So is this possible. I know Top Thrill and Kingda Ka has had major problems since they opened and modifiying it in this way would probably add to more problems but all I want to know is if it's possible. The benefits would be a more forceful launch because they say that Dragsters launch is weak, and it will regain it's title as fastest tallest coaster in the world. Cons would be even more problems and even more money. So what do you guys think?

[benzo41190]

Im sure it is but it would be pretty point less to do and wouldnt be worth the money. Also, they were the first for 400ft. so they will always have that record.

 

But I think they should connect TTD and MF to a giant super coaster

[V2-dude]

I don't think so. The money for that could be used better on something else. SFMM didn't modify S:TE when TTD opened, so I don't think CP will modify TTD just because KK is taller.

[Twister II]

Its been done before on Mr. Twister at the old Elitch Gardens.

Height and angle changes.

[Freefall]

PGAthriller, dude if your the kina guy that feels like his got somthing to small that needs to... and I quote 'be modified so that it can be a couple of feet taller' you should know all you need to do is play with it.

[Millennium ForceJZ]

it should be done....b/c SF just wants to piss off CF

[TheStig]

There was an interview with somebody from CP on an old In The Loop Weekend review where this question is asked. His answel was no, he said that the whole tower would have to be modified and that it would cost too much. I thought this would be possible too, but considerinq that the vertical sections are not straight (they all have a curvature to them), it wouldent be possible.

 

Colin C

[Jon Sabo]

It more than likely could be done, but why would CP make the investment to even do such a thing. In terms of track fabrication, installation, testing, more testing, and so on, it would be a financial disaster. My guess would project a cost of at least $2-4 million EASILY. That money could be spent on any modifications to its current state.

 

The only thing I would (possibly) invest in is perhaps a new air-launched system.

[coasterdude5]

Wouldn't the launch track also have to be made longer?

[mforce79]

I remember rumors a few years ago that they increased the power on Xcelerator at Knott's (after park hours) to test the limits of the hydraulic system. Of course those were probably just rumors, but I imagine the amount of power can be adjusted somewhat.

 

The benefits would be a more forceful launch because they say that Dragsters launch is weak...

 

Anyone who says Dragster's launch is weak has not been on Dragster. It might not be the most powerful acceleration out there, but it's still a very powerful launch.

 

I know records are a big deal for marketing purposes, but I figured most people would prefer Dragster the way it is simply because it doesn't have OTSR's.

[B.Toast]

But I think they should connect TTD and MF to a giant super coaster

That might be the best idea ever.

[Carnage]

I remember rumors a few years ago that they increased the power on Xcelerator at Knott's (after park hours) to test the limits of the hydraulic system. Of course those were probably just rumors, but I imagine the amount of power can be adjusted somewhat.

.

 

That was before the ride opened from what I understand. They had it launch at well over 100 mph. However that speed would also produce lethal amounts of g-forces. It was only to test the launch system.

 

You can't just add 30-40 feet to the top of a ride like TTD. Increasing the speed that much would require the pull outs to be re-profiled to make the forces bearable. You'd basically be rebuilding the entire ride from scratch.

[The Cheat]

117 to be exact.

[XII]

I think they should make it faster but keep it the same height so maby you could get some airtime! I'd also rea;;y like to have them extend it a little, maybe have an overbank, 2 or 3 airtime hills and a vertical loop! That would really make it good!

[VegasCoaster]

There was an interview with somebody from CP on an old In The Loop Weekend review where this question is asked. His answel was no, he said that the whole tower would have to be modified and that it would cost too much. I thought this would be possible too, but considerinq that the vertical sections are not straight (they all have a curvature to them), it wouldent be possible.

 

Colin C

 

Yeah that would be the deal braker for this. Most of the tower supporting the tophat would have to be redesigned to hold the extra weight of the track, different angles, and the pullouts probably would have to be reprofiled slightly. I don't think making the hyrdraulic engine launch you faster would be that much of an issue, but I'm not sure how close to the max the engine is at currently. But yeah accounting for all the extra track on the tower would create a lot of re-engineering and some interesting connections to the existing support structure.

[socalMAN123]

I remember rumors a few years ago that they increased the power on Xcelerator at Knott's (after park hours) to test the limits of the hydraulic system. Of course those were probably just rumors, but I imagine the amount of power can be adjusted somewhat.

Actually, this did happen once and I saw it with my very own eyes. It was after park closing and we were all walking to the McDonald's across the street from KBF. Suddenly, I heard Xcelerator launch and I watched it go around the whole circut. It seemed to go faster than usual, so I turned around and walked back to the enterance of the park and asked one of the employees why they were still running Xcelerator and why was it going so fast. She seemed very hyper and she replied with "It just hit 100 MPH." And I'm not lying about this, it really did happen.

 

As for TTD, I don't think they should modify it. Would you rather ride TTD or wait a whole freakin season for it to be modified. I still think the ride is amazing and very cool even if it is not the fastest ride in the world. IMO, remaking this would be pretty pointless and just a waste of money. I mean, you don't see SFMM modifying Canyon Blaster to be the tallest and fastest coaster in the world. So to me, this is just a bunch fantasies.

---Brent

[TheStig]

I think they do the "over speed launch" on all Rocket coasters, because I remember hearing that TTD tested at close to 150 in some cases. Even the first POV video and test videos on the CP website show the train FLYING over the tophat. I guess its to make sure that in the extreme case that something like this happens that the structure will hold up.

 

Colin C

[coasterlover420]

Ok...It would be possible to add feet on to TTD, but the tower would have to be re-engineered. The tower is built to be able to withstand the weight of itself and the forces of the train, and considering that the train would be going faster through the same radious curve would mean like 6 Vert. G's, and why make it taller anyway? It's a great ride the way it is. They should probably add more track and make it weave through MF on the island! That would be cool!!

[Carnage]

I think they should make it faster but keep it the same height so maby you could get some airtime! I'd also rea;;y like to have them extend it a little, maybe have an overbank, 2 or 3 airtime hills and a vertical loop! That would really make it good!

 

Though realistically you can only have one or the other. Huge hill and nothing else, or smaller hill and other inversions/hills/etc.

 

Having both would simply be far too expensive. Even adding an overbank or a couple hills would have taken up ALOT of room, and would have made the ride way too expensive. The ride was already 25 million as it is.

[coasterlover420]

^But, you see, if they spent money, instead of on a new ride, on the extension of TTD, it would obviously bring lots of people to the park. It would be like adding a whole nother ride.

[Carnage]

^ Sure it would be like adding a whole new ride.

 

But how many existing rides would you have to remove to make this happen? Corkscrew and Iron Dragon would probably have to go if you added hills and overbanks to TTD. You can't just build overtop of rides like that.

[coasterlover420]

Sure you can, if you fit supports inbetween them. And who says it has to go over them?

[Carnage]

Where else is it going to go??

 

I don't think you're really thinking about how hard this would be to do.

 

And really why spend tens of millions of dollars to add fluff onto the end of a ride? Even on Excelerator, the top hat was the fun part. The two overbanks were just kind of meh.

 

I'd much rather them spend that money on a new ride. Changing an existing rides that works just fine doesn't make any sense to me.

[coasterlover420]

Why do you think that people complain about TTD? "one trick pony" I think this would change that.

 

I think it doesn't make a difference becuase CP makes new rides anyway, so whatever...

[Carnage]

Only enthusiasts complain about it being a one trick pony.

 

The GP doesn't go "this sucks because it doesn't have overbanks". The GP are blown away by it, and think it's the best thing ever.