Sweet 16, Features, Cedar Point-on-Lake Erie

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Certainly unlike anything before, the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world for 2003 will open at Cedar Point and sure make anyone who dares to ride it scream. The monumental Top Thrill Dragster will open the public in May 2003 with an unheard of height of 420 feet and reaching speeds of 120 mph in only four seconds.

The unbelievable new ride will let the park again claim its title of 'The roller coaster capital of the world' and bring the parks total of roller coasters to 16. The Top Thrill Dragster, also known as "strata-coaster" for its extreme height, will also be the first roller coaster to break the 400-foot height barrier and reach speeds of 120 mph. Just last year, the park opened the worlds tallest and fastest "double-twisting" impulse roller coaster and in 2000 the worlds tallest and fastest roller coaster at the time, Millennium Force.

Riders will enter the themed trains that resemble top fuel dragsters and be transported to the starting line area where the riders will launch 120 mph in four seconds when the light tower and coaster tower lights green. The train then will climb a 420-foot tower and rotate 90 degrees. Once at the top of this monster, riders will only have a brief second to see the heightest point at the park before hurtling 400 feet down. On the journey down, the train will rotate 270 degrees before reaching the bottom of the hill and break run.

The $25 million dollar investment was initially discussed soon after the epic Millennium Force roller coaster opened in 2000. During the 2002 season at the park, the eight-acre area where the ride now stands was cleared in secrecy of its true identity. To add this scream machine, the existing Chaos and Troika rides were relocated near Wicked Twister. The 2,800 feet of track that makes this ride is nearing completion for its opening day debut. Top Thrill Dragster is currently being made by ride manufacture Intamin AG of Wollerau, Switzerland, which also designed the Wicked Twister and Millennium Force at the park.

The public will first get a chance to ride this new ride on the parks opening day in May 2003.

Taken last day of the 2002 season.

PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS

Track Length: 2,800 feet
Lift Height: 420 feet
Angle of Lift Hill: 90 degrees
Vertical Drop: 400 feet
Angle of Descent: 90 degrees
Angle of Twist on Descent: 270 degrees

DESIGN

Model: Launched out-and-back coaster
Structure: Steel tubular track
Features: Hydraulic launch system
Magnetic braking system
Tiered seating on the coaster's cars for better viewing (similar to stadium seating)
270-degree spiral on descent
Color Scheme: Red and white alternating colored track on launch

TIME, SPEED, CAPACITY

Launch Speed: Approximately 120 mph in four seconds Drop Speed: Approximately 120 mph Capacity: Approximately 1,500 riders per hour

VEHICLES

Coaches: Six 16-passenger trains
Five cars on each train; three four-passenger and two two-passenger cars
Design: Fiberglass and steel coaches with individual lap bars, interlocking seat belts and padded head restraint systems
Train Colors: Black cherry; Indy green; florescent purple; cobalt blue; sunshine yellow; and sunset red

FIRSTS
First roller coaster EVER to top 400 feet
First coaster EVER to reach speeds of 120 mph
First "strata-coaster" built on planet Earth

HELD TITLE OF WORLD'S TALLEST ROLLER COASTER
Gemini (125 feet, 4 inches)
Magnum XL-200 (205 feet)
Millennium Force (310 feet)
Top Thrill Dragster (420 feet)

INVESTMENT
$25 million

RIDE MANUFACTURER
Intamin AG of Wollerau, Switzerland

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