It's media day at Cedar Point

[SuiteDisney]

On FOX News they were just showing that crazy coaster that Barry Hom wants to ride. One of the reporters had just ridden it 3 times and was describing it. 120 miles per hour! He said that as you take off, you can feel the skin on your face pulling back because you're going so fast.

No way would I go on this thing!!!

 

[BarryHom]

Some days I wish I was a reporter!

 

[Tess]

This a.m. there was a discussion on a radio station out of Toledo that the new coaster was struck by lightning in the storm last night? Did anyone else hear anything about this or have more information. The lightning was brilliant around our area last night. It can't be a very good thing for CP to have its new attraction struck before it "officially" opens on 5/4!

Having grown up as a summer visitor to the Lake and CP (we had a cabin up there), I know how quickly those storms roll through. CP doesn't have nearly the handle on weather that WDW does and I'd be concerned on that monster (and MF too for that matter) if the weather looked ominous.

BTW, I'm with you Barry--this would be the up side to being a local media rep.! My kids' are going with their band later this month--while I would like to go--my daughter wants to go with her "friends" not her Mom. Sadly, my son welcomed me to go with him, but I don't think it would do much for his standing in HS to be seen dodging through CP with his Mom! My husband won't go because he HATES the coasters (although he now likes RnR). Guess I won't be headed there in the near future.

 

[BarryHom]

I was checking some of the roller coaster websites and it appears that a circuit board was fried by the lightning strike, but it has been up and running since 9 am.

 

[Towncrier]

Wow. Deja vu. We were on the Cedar Point causeway a couple of years ago on our way to an overnight stay at the Hotel Breakers. The next day was our company picnic and we wanted to be first in line for the Millennium Force. On our way across the causeway, we saw the MF get hit by lightning. Twice. The next morning we were greeted with a sign at the entrance to the park that said that the MF would be down all day due to "technical difficulties". It seems that they had installed lightning rods on the MF, but had neglected to ground them. The lighting strikes took out the ride's control system and new parts had to be flown in from California.

I'm glad that the media got their rides in today. The weather was a bit iffy this morning and another line of storms is headed our way. Not to worry Barry. The forecast for the weekend is for no rain and for temperatures in the low to mid 60's.

 

[BarryHom]

It's 90 down in Florida. Sigh...I got to break out the sweatshirt.

 

[Tess]

My miniature violin is playing a melancholy tune for you Barry. . . Hope you enjoy the ride--it won't be that cold, really. . .I'm not kiddin' 63º isn't so bad--just stay off Snake River Falls! I don't think it's supposed to be overly breezy this weekend either--you may not need that sweatshirt through the day!

 

[Evil Princess]

Coasters often get struck by lightening....hence them closing during a thunder storm

 

[Dax]

I am going to ride that monster this summer. I am worried but i am sure it will be fun...of course if Barry doesnt return in one piece...I may skip it..LOL

 

[dizneenut]

Channel 5 was there this morning and one of the reporters rode it. They are going to talk to Coaster Enthusiasts on Live On Five to get there reactions.
It looks so awesome. I can't wait to ride it.

 

[BarryHom]

I saw a bit of the coaster on Fox News. I missed the part where the coaster was on the track! Anyway, I contacted the local paper to write a story of my adventure (how many Floridians would travel that far for the world's tallest lightning rod?), but I haven't heard back from a reporter. I guess I will have to take someone hostage to be newsworthy.

 

[Dax]

I pulled this from the Cedar Point site....

Entry: A ride on Top Thrill Dragster
By: Monty Jasper
Vice President of Maintenance and Construction


I had seen it run. I had reviewed and evaluated all the results of the extensive testing with the experts. Everything shows it’s a perfectly safe ride. I’ve ridden dozens of coasters across the country. Then why did Top Thrill Dragster scare the dickens out of me?
Just sitting in the station, before the train even moved into the launch position, I wanted to holler for someone to let me out. But it was too late—the train smoothly and almost silently rolled into position hundreds of feet below the towering Top Thrill Dragster hill and there was nothing I could do but wait…

Without warning, we launched, and the intense acceleration was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. 120 miles per hour is a rush, too fast even to manage a yell. Then up, up, up we climbed, slowing as the track made a 90-degree turn and the train inexorably approached the 420-foot-tall apex. Fear gave way to exhilaration as we crested the top and I stole a glance at the beautiful view.

But the view didn’t last long as the train began the 270-degree spiral on the descent, coalescing glimpses of sky, concrete, lagoon and bright yellow support structure into a visual whirlwind.

Then suddenly, it was over. The train glided to a smooth halt. My first experience on this great ride was complete. And I couldn’t wait until I rode it again.




It still scares the dickens out of me

 

[Kitty 34]

I think going up that thing would be a blast but going down.....I dunno! Looks pretty scary!!!!

 

[Tess]

I got to watch the media "ride" today via a camera on the front seat. All of the local news media were there it seems. I was watching the local NBC channel (Toledo) and it looked pretty WOW! My 15 y/o son is geeked and my 12 y/o daughter says NO WAY! She said the same thing about MF (Magnum, Mantis, Raptor. . .); she'll get over it--her curiousity will kill her fear!

I wanna' go! Waahhhh!

 

[BarryHom]

Well, Top Thrill Dragster is going to be my 100th coaster, so I'm going to celebrate with a bang!

 

[Pam]

KDKA in Pittsburgh sent Dave Crawley and an intern - they rode in the front seat - with a camera crew filming them. Dave screamed the whole way through and only rode it once. The young female intern rode 8 times!!