The Thrill of a Rollback

At Cedar Point they like to push the limits on rides. It is their thing. If they can build it bigger, better, and faster they will do so. Well they have a roller coaster called Top Thrill Dragster that does just that. At one time, for two years, this coaster was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world. It has now been surpassed by two other coasters but it still is one of the best thrill coasters out there. (2^nd in Height and 3^rd in speed). If you want "thrill" then you got it with this coaster.   

In Awe of Top Thrill Dragster

More Thrills Than You Can Imagine...Correct

Built in 2003 Top Thrill Dragster defied the odds and broke the 400-foot-tall coaster barrier. At the time it was built, going that high on a roller coaster was unheard of. In fact, some people probably thought it was impossible. But, if there is a way to push the envelope then Cedar Point knows how to do it. They always go for the biggest and fastest rides so Top Thrill Dragster was built.

Race to the Sky

  

Top Thrill Dragster cost $25 million to build which at the time was a TON of money. Heck, it still IS a ton of money today by amusement park standards. The track is 2800 feet long and is mostly straight. There are no loops or funky elements like some of the modern-day coasters out there. There are only two twists on the ride and the rest is just straight track. The key feature of the ride is height and speed and that is all it needs. The ride only lasts 17 seconds from launch to brakes. The ride may only last 17 seconds but those 17 seconds are some of the most memorable seconds you will experience on any ride, at any amusement park, and at any time. 

Good Gracious

The ride itself has six 18-person trains that you sit in with high backed chairs, a seat belt, and a lap bar that pulls down on your legs. This can be a bit unnerving when you realize you are about to go 120 mph up a 420-foot tower with only a seat belt and lap bar across your legs. It only adds to the thrill. Yes, pun intended. As you enter the Top Thrill Dragster station the 1996 song "Ready to Go" by Republica is playing to remind you about what fun is to come.  

See restraints and Kids reactions

The ride experience is unlike any other that you will experience at any amusement park. As you leave the station you slowly inch forward towards the launch spot. On your left you see a prop with lights and a sign that says “keep arms down, head back, and hold on.” You will also here a rumbling motor noise and the same phrase, “keep arms down, head back, and hold on” as you sit in the launch position. The most terrifying part of the ride happens at this point as you just sit there knowing you are about to be launched 120 mph in just 3.8 seconds! Yup, you read that right. If the launch itself doesn’t scare you to death then the 420-foot-tall tower will.

Launch Track on Right

It will only take about 10-20 seconds sitting in the launch spot before you hear a clanking noise under the train as the train prepares for launch. The clanking noise is the catch mechanism that holds the car on the track and is nothing to be alarmed about, although I’m sure you will be. Then you will feel the train roll back very slightly on the track and at this point know you are seconds away from going 120 mph on a roller coaster. The lights on the left-hand side will illuminate as the people scattered about on the right-hand side will look at you in amazement as you blast off towards your race to the sky.

Higher Than The Moon

The launch itself is extremely fast. When I ride I usually get butterflies in my stomach and the feeling is like none other than I have ever experienced on any other coaster. It really pushes your body to the limit as you hit 50, 75, 100, and 120 miles per hour in about 1, 2, 3, and 4 seconds. It is so fast that you really don’t even have time to think about what is happening except that you know you are going ridiculously fast. Oh, and there is a lot of wind. If you are real brave you can try and throw your hands up in the air as they are blasted with fierce 100 mph winds. Yes I have done this and it is crazy!

50mph...75mph...100mph...120mph

I love the emoji signs. Nicely done. 

Even the Trees can't Hide Top Thrill Dragster

Then, as you push forward at 120 mph, you hit the upward section of track that takes you and turns you 90 degrees to the right preparing you to reach the 420-foot-tall summit of the ride. Once you are at the top you get just a few seconds to look to the right where you see the back side of Cedar Point and Lake Erie. Or you can look to the left and see the front half of Cedar Point, Lake Erie, and the Causeway. If you look towards the front you look over top of the 310-foot-tall Millennium Force, Sandusky Bay, and the city of Sandusky off in the distance. It is a spectacular view from the top that sadly only lasts maybe 2 seconds then you plummet and twist down the 420-foot vertical 90 degree drop. Yes, it is insane.

As you drop the 420 feet down you hit a 270-degree turned piece of track that straightens you out in preparation for the brake run at the end. You reach speeds of 120 mph again as you reach the bottom of the descent and then cross the finish line sign as you hit the brakes. Once you take a moment to gather yourself you really start to realize how brave you were for being able to ride a ride like Top Thrill Dragster. Usually your heart is beating fast, your adrenalin is pumping, and you are on the biggest high you will ever get from riding a ride. I’m serious. It is quite the experience. 

It is often funny, as you stand in the queue of the line, watching people and their reactions as they hit the break run. The looks on their faces of sheer joy and or excitement is second to none. You can really capture some neat moments while waiting for the ride. This also builds some great anticipation. You may here a few expletives as people sit on the track but that is just all a part of the wild experience of Top Thrill Dragster. One of the best sayings I've heard is when the Top Thrill train came to a stop and someone exclaimed loudly, “I can’t feel my hands!”. Well then, the ride has done its job.   

Hair Check, Yup, Still There

Arms Down, Arms Down, Arms Down

So now that I have thoroughly described to you the awesomeness of Top Thrill Dragster let me share my “rollback” experience on the ride. I have ridden Top Thrill Dragster probably over 50 times total in all my trips to Cedar Point. I have never experienced the rareness known as a rollback. That was until Coastermania! extra ride time in June of 2017.

Man it goes on Forever

What is rollback you ask? A rollback is essentially what it sounds like. You get to the launch position, get launched 120 mph in about 4 seconds like normal except once you reach about 415 feet up the tower you fail to crest the 420 hill and roll back down the 420-foot tower backwards. Yup, you read that right. You get to drop down the 400-foot-tall track backwards going about 120 mph!

Into The Clouds

As I said before, rollbacks are a rare occurrence and if you get one you can think of yourself as lucky or unlucky if you are scared out of your mind. There is really no reason to be scared though because the ride was designed so that if a rollback happened it would safely stop on the other side. Nothing to worry or be alarmed about. Most coaster enthusiasts wish and pray for just one rollback to happen. It is like a badge of honor so to speak. I honestly never thought I would ever get one. Seriously, it is almost like winning the lottery, or bowling a 300 game, or hitting a game winning shot in a basketball game. Rollbacks are unique experiences and very rarely happen.

I'm Ready to Go Fast

 

I was the 5^th train of our extra ride time session during Coastermania! when our train rolled out to the launch position. I sat there, as I usually do, with butterflies in my stomach as I anticipated the 120 mph launch. The launch came and something just felt a little off as we started to crest the tower (like the train wasn’t going as fast as it should be). As we approached around 415 feet you can hear people on the train start to yell, “ROLLBACK! WE ARE GOING TO ROLLBACK!” Then the train starts to roll backwards back down the 400-foot-tall tower as we free fall at 100+ mph.

Thank-You for the Rollback!

I was in complete and utter awe. I could not believe that a rollback had actually happened to me. A rollback! I had finally gotten, what I heard so much about all those years, a rollback! As we hit the brakes backwards on the launch side of the ride people on the train were screaming and clapping in jubilation because of the rollback experience. I got a high-five from the guy sitting in front of me. People on the right hand side of the ride watching were also cheering for us with smiles on their faces to see people from Coastermania! get a rollback. It was an amazing experience and probably one of the top coaster experiences that I have ever had.

Admiration

I will never forget it. It will be etched in my mind forever. A great moment that I never thought I would experience on a coaster. My first rollback on Top Thrill Dragster.

Intense!

Me and the Woman in Front of Me LOL

Ooohhh

Ahhhhh

Tallest Ride at Cedar Point