Top Thrill Dragster Media Day (Extended Version) - 2003 - Cedar Point

This is the extended version of the footage I recorded at the Top Thrill Dragster media day on May 1st, 2003. Top Thrill Dragster opened as the world's tallest and fastest coaster on the planet. Billed as the world's first Tera coaster, this Intamin creation rockets riders from 0-120 in four seconds before climbing up 420-feet into the sky, then plummeting down 400-feet while twisting 270-degrees. This video has been rendered in 60fps for smoother playback.
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#cedarpoint
#topthrilldragster
#intamin
#rocketcoaster
#teracoaster
#rollercoasters
#themeparks
#amusementparks

[@jacobsmith2193]

It's wild to see it flying over the hill so fast!

[@masongamerd2981]

and then a women gets hit by a flying peace of the ride going so fast and fucking dies

[@Coasterdude02149]

@@masongamerd2981 She didn't die, I didn't hear anything about her dying.

[@masongamerd2981]

@@Coasterdude02149 ik i was joking :/

[@imthatguythatmakesdumbvide9330]

@@masongamerd2981stupid “joke”

[@iloveham6923]

U should see how fast it goes now, I was there a few days ago and it’s legendary

[@AJH1004]

I won’t forget that day but what I DID forget was how fast it was flying OVER the top!

[@SeanFlaharty]

It really was. I remember it being painful in a way.

[@thisirishcobcan]

Wow! I can’t believe how fast it used to go over the top hat!!!!!

[@jjmailman]

I believe that’s the first time I’ve seen the original trains (nose, tires & engine). That looked cool!! BTW - how many times did Justin ride??

[@MaryFaulds]

At 3:30 you caught my ride! I’m the one talking and pulling a headset back on my ears because I was calling in live on my local radio station. THANK YOU!

[@SeanFlaharty]

Wow! That is really cool. Thank you for pointing that out.

[@texasbbq3191]

I will never forget my first ride in 2014...I was coming off the dopamine high of getting to ride Millennium Force for the first time ever and Dragster had a 15 min wait...for the first time in my life I was PETRIFIED sitting in that front seat waiting for our launch...one of the greatest feelings ever!

[@masongamerd2981]

and it will be your first ride on topthrill 2 in 2024 if you plan on going that year

[@Coasterdude02149]

I remember taking a couple years to get on it...was really nervous lying on my back shooting up to the sky but when I did get on, the nerves disappeared as soon as I got on and buckled up. Waiting in the queue was the most brutal part of it, the ride itself was fun. Intamin did their job well.

[@nathanpayne1502]

Those trains were so freaking awesome!!🤙 I forgot how sweet they were

[@SeanFlaharty]

They were incredible looking indeed.

[@Coasterkitty7]

I'll never forget my first ride on opening day that year. We waited for the front row. It literally took my breath away! :)

[@guyt6244]

great footage!! was there two days later on opening day. it was still going that speed over the top and it was EJECTOR airtime! completely insane. it's weird seeing those big decorative tires in the station. brain erased the memory. cheers to TTD 2.0!

[@IlysianOfficial]

IT WAS GETTING ABSOLUTELY SENT OVER THAT TOP HAT!!!!

[@armandconiglio9620]

I was at Cedar Point for Dragster's second season, but I have no idea why we didn't decide to wait in line. It's been 17 years and I need to go back! 2004 was also the year of Iron Dragon's new yellow support repaint.

[@OakViewFilms]

Holy cow, that airtime looked insane! Makes me wish it always ran with those shorter trains, haha. ( Though that'd mean cutting the capacity down by 1/5th). Also you and Howard are right, you do live in a cool state! Ohio undeniably has the best coaster collection in the U.S (Millennium Force, Dragster, Steel Vengeance, The Beast, Orion, Mystic Timbers, Diamonback, Maverick..)

[@UserAbcd-wd4zo]

How many people did these hold compared to the Trains they have rn?

[@goatedpond531]

I say Pennsylvania is best coaster state

[@SeanFlaharty]

They held two less riders per trains when the ride had the theming on it.

[@oceanthresher6184]

It might not cut the capacity, because the dispatch times would also decrease.

[@liz8549]

Stumbling across your channel and reliving some CP nostalgia is giving me life through this cold winter!

[@SeanFlaharty]

Thanks for checking out the channel!

[@ThyPandora]

Been loving the nostalgia uploads - awesome as always! =]

[@CC-sv9fs]

I betcha TTD looked insane for it’s time now imagine if they finally got that 500 ft coaster...

[@jaya1000]

Well 18 years later and ttd is still the bar

[@Brandon-qd2lb]

Sucks intamin won't build this launch anymore.

[@Brav3thrills]

This is still insane for 2022…(if it reopens)

[@joeyharper4976]

This could very well be a possibility 🤷

[@Son-Of-David1990]

Wouldn't it be insane instead of going over the top the way it does you start to loop upside down at the very top Then continue to go down the hill after

[@jamielaw3881]

Wow that ride when it first opened went over the top hat mega fast, then over the years was a lot slower👍Hope TT2 kicks ass again 👍

[@SeanFlaharty]

I started noticing it going over the top slower soon after it opened. The airtime was absolutely brutal going over that fast. It was kind of scary.

[@Calakapepe]

Once again providing amazing documentation. 🎉🎉

[@SeanFlaharty]

Thanks! I currently have a couple older videos being released every couple of weeks all the way into 2026. Thanks for being a long-time subscriber. I think you may have been one of my first ones.

[@Calakapepe]

@@SeanFlaharty since I was a wee lad posting piano and no limits videos. Not much has changed except I better appreciate the amount of effort you do. Take care ~

[@fms7293]

I will never forget my first ride on this. I chickened out my first 3 times to the park, then rode it when I was 12 my 4th time back at the park. I hope the new version of dragster is insane.

[@SeanFlaharty]

I hope the new version will be insane as well.

[@billchief397]

With a 101 mph backward launch...it will be. I think it's going to be even better too. Top thrill was fun...but the spike going backwards...YES!!!!! Top thrill 2 is a perfect name

[@SeanFlaharty]

@@billchief397 When I rode Superman: The Escape at Six Flags Magic Mountain backwards in 2020, I preferred that version to going forwards. If TT2 (or T3) will feel anything like Superman's spike, then we are in for a treat. While I am still getting used to the name, I hope it will be a great ride and, more importantly, run reliable for the park. I may wait a few months to visit the park just so the bugs can hopefully be worked out by then.

[@RollerCoasterExpedition]

I’m loving these media day videos! Dragster looks like it zooms over the top hat were now it’s seems slower these days.

[@micurides]

Its cause they got rid pf the back wheels and spoiler and they added more seats which are heavier

[@notablesquid968]

​@@micurides Surelu if the seats were heavier the train would fly over the top hat even faster because it would carry more momentum.

[@micurides]

@@notablesquid968 i didnt even think of that at the time of writing

[@RollerCoasterExpert]

The airtime must have been so insane!

[@armandconiglio9620]

What a pure display of speed on this ride! People always brag about how their souped-up car can do 0-60 in 4 seconds. Sure a real dragster is faster than this ride, but the fact that this 12,000 pound train is accelerated from a stop to 120 mph in LESS than 4 seconds is amazing. And then it goes up 420 feet, which no land vehicle can do (yet). People get too caught up in their egos with their cars and trucks performance abilities. If you want pure, breathtaking acceleration without your ego, just ride Top Thrill Dragster.

[@SeanFlaharty]

Agreed. There is something even more powerful I have ridden. Dododonpa. It's in Japan and launches trains from 0-112 in 1.5 seconds as opposed to 0-120 in 4 like Dragster. Both are incredible rides. However, DoDodonpa is currently closed (same with Dragster) at the time of this post.

[@JJJJ-he8bz]

It took me 3 years to ride this I just wasn’t having it it’s opening year. We still have news clippings from the announcement and I thought the ride looked ridiculous.

[@ellexking681]

Don't know how Tami and I missed you. We were there for media day, arrived at Cedar Point 0:dark am. I still remember thinking how could something be taller than the Space Spinal as we were driving the causeway to the Magnum entrance. Once we got inside the park I asked Tami WHAT IN THE (F) ARE WE ABOUT TO DO HERE!!! The moment of truth came when we strapped into the front of the Train, pulled forward out of the loading station, hearing the sound of the Top Fuel Racer engine revving. Simotainusly Tami said OH NO and I said I WANT OFF!!! But it was too late. The pics of us are priceless, especially on the return trip. It was VERY EASY WHAT THE BOTH OF US WERE SAYING!!! Tami was in the process of saying the (F) Word and I was Saying (S$*T). When when we exited the Train, our reactions were just like Neil's. We were so traumatized by what happened to us, we had the giggles for about an hour. Someone from a newspaper stopped to ask me what was the experience like riding Top Thrill Dragster. We both told him we wanted to scream but the G's sucked it right out of us. Then he asked what was the view like up there. I put a hand on his left shoulder and said, Buddy all I could see was Jesus, because my life just flashed right before my eyes. 😳 I don't even remember what city or state he was from and completely forgot to ask him for a copy of the news paper. Tami and I was still under a state of comatose. 🤣

[@SeanFlaharty]

I remember talking to you at this media day. Actually, I believe I can see you sitting in the green train, the last train of the video actually.

[@SnoopyMan6000vids]

Rip Original Dragster gone but not forgotten.

[@SeanFlaharty]

I am really looking forward to version 2.0. I am sure it will be out of this world.

[@adamdragster]

@@SeanFlaharty But it just better be more reliable

[@SeanFlaharty]

@@adamdragster I have my doubts that it will be more reliable considering who is working on the new version. No matter if it turns out to be Intamin or Zamperlla, both companies aren't known for their reliability. Do I think the ride will be finished in 2024? I sure do. Do I think it will run incredibly well for the first couple of years? I highly doubt it. I would love to see it run well but a coaster of that magnitude isn't going to run without many hiccups. One thing is for sure. None of us will know until it opens.

[@KIorio809]

Takes me right back to 2003

[@Desertsniper15]

I was there on opening day I waited 4 hours and 45 minutes in line to ride it and it was well worth it. Cant wait to see Top Thrill 2. I look forward to waiting 5+ hours in line.

[@SeanFlaharty]

I was there as well on opening day but I didn't stand in that line. I had friends and family in line but since I had ridden it a coupe days before, I didn't feel the need to ride it again. However, much to my surprise, my friend Justin was asked to do a live voice commentary while riding for a radio show in the UK, where he is from. The park had him wear a headset and secured it to his head. We were brought up the exit and put on the ride immediately as the show was about to go live. I felt guilty for riding that day and almost didn't do it but the park had asked us to ride, so we did. The interesting thing was our train was stopped on the launch track for several minutes while the show was at commercial. The operators were told not to launch the train until Justin gave them a hand signal, signifying that the show was back on live. So, in reality, Justin controlled the ride, via a show in England who told him to launch the train on -air. It was a very surreal thing to witness.

[@juicegodalpha]

Here after Top Thrill 2 Media Day

[@RobertUlrich]

Things I remember; the wheels rotated, Iron Dragon paint on my hoodie, and Sam not wanting to ride with me giving me a chance at a couple of extra rides.

[@KentuckianaCoasters]

Miss the theming on the train, but it’s still such a rush 💨

[@Coasterfreak1456]

Incredibly, the original dragster once had 4 cars.

[@william._.sandberg]

Damn did this ride look cool back then. With the theming on the trains and that insane speed it has over the top hat. The airtime must have been absolutely killer up there.

[@SeanFlaharty]

The airtime was kind of painful. It caught me off guard as I was thinking it was going to crawl over the top. My first ride was in the front row and I remember saying some "choice" words as we were going over the top at that speed.

[@Son-Of-David1990]

Those whees and rllbacks were the best

[@triple7marc]

The way the brake fins extended on the launch track was so cool back in the day. It’s like they just shot up and you can easily hear the release of pressure. Seems like they slowed down in a big way as the coaster got older. I wonder if that was intentional.

[@SeanFlaharty]

I don't remember exactly when but they did modify the brake fin extended rate. It was shorty after it had opened. I never heard a reason as to why they did it although the brake fins were constantly an issue for the park.

[@j.johnson7891]

Holy shit was it flying

[@SeanFlaharty]

It was actually kind of painful to go over the top with that speed.

[@EOSProductions394]

Hey Sean, I remember you once had opening day footage of Raptor, since it is 30 years since it open, are you going to do a updated video?

[@SeanFlaharty]

Unfortunately, that was one of the 500 videos I had to remove due to a conflict with KZbin a couple years ago. Since the video was a news videos and not one of my own, KZbin came down hard on me so I had to remove all those old Discovery Channel and other coaster news videos. It was a bummer but they call the rules. I do have a scheduled post being released on the 30th anniversary with enchanted footage I recorded in 2005 of Raptor though.

[@rmc_fan]

ah yes, back when it actually launched to 120 mph and flew over the top…

[@noahb2804]

imagine the air time

[@rmcjake5190]

Dude fucking right. I miss that

[@SeanFlaharty]

The airtime at the top when it was running with four trains was painful.....in the best way possible.

[@retrochristmas7329]

These guys have a curse. When they say "we live in such a cool state" the coasters get closed years later 😆

[@rollamusement8698]

Closing forever

[@SeanFlaharty]

....as we know it. :)

[@BateMasterJeff9887]

Too bad they got rid of the back wheels and spoiler. That made it look sick

[@ItsParadise304]

As someone from The UK the biggest ride I’ve seen is stealth (205ft). I can’t actually imagine how big this must look in person

[@SeanFlaharty]

It's funny you say that as I remember looking at Magnum (also 205 feet tall) after my very first ride on it in 1990 and telling my friends, "There will never be anything taller or steeper.". Little did I know. Ha ha. In early March I am releasing a new version of the construction footage I recorded on a tour. As I am standing below the top hat, looking up, I mention in the video what I said about Magnum in 1990.

[@jakekreutzer]

Slightly off topic, but what camera was this recorded on for video quality this good from 2003? Was it MiniDV by chance? Either way awesome video and very impressed by the quality!

[@SeanFlaharty]

I did record this on MiniDv. It was a Sony DCR-TRV10....I think. I had two of them at one point and they were both similar, but had different model names. They recorded in 480 but I rendered them in 1080p and 60fps for a smoother look.

[@smith9808]

Had so much power at the top. Hopefully this upgrades restores it to its glory days

[@CoasterGuy95]

Todays the DAY

[@Theimpulsecoasteraddict72]

Why did they take off the back can anyone tell me

[@coasteraddict_]

To add more seats

[@coolminer6242]

@@coasteraddict_ Also because it caused excess drag and the rear wheels got ripped off during a test.

[@coolminer6242]

-from the drag

[@FrankFrankly711]

For more fun, Search: "Top Thrill Dragster Stuck" I dont think I could handle being stuck 400 feet up in those tiny seats!

[@punkrockcentral1812]

4:28

[@punkrockcentral1812]

6:31

[@derrickabbey6428]

TTD use to fly over that top hat!

[@SeanFlaharty]

It was kind of painful to be honest.

[@nathanpayne1502]

I wonder how many times it broke down on day one?

[@SeanFlaharty]

On opening day it went down at least a few times from what I remember.

[@nathanpayne1502]

@@SeanFlaharty that’s great content! Thanks

[@KM-bf8ij]

What are we in line for? *shrugs* Mantis Lmao

[@SeanFlaharty]

That was Greg Legowski who said that. Not to be a bummer but he passed away earlier this year. He was a good dude and I really like riding and chatting coasters with him.

[@visionist7]

Why weren't they loading the back seats? Too much airtime? lol

[@SeanFlaharty]

I don't remember exactly. Maybe there really was too much airtime as I couldn't believe how much was felt while riding in the front. It was painful but in the best way possible.

[@davecoasterdudew1206]

My first time riding Top Thrill Dragster was in 2018 and it took me a minute to get the safety belt to latch which I had to get assistance on the actual ride, but it was awesome ride .

[@chrisstralka4598]

Date?

[@SeanFlaharty]

This was recorded on May 1st, 2003.

[@cedarflags]

Could I use this in an upcoming video? I’ll give full credit!

[@SeanFlaharty]

Yes. Thanks for the credit!

[@ryanmogar4580]

And seeing that infamous green train that would later end the ttd

[@MrDan11422]

This was the 1st roller-coaster I had to ride. In 2015 I got to experience it.

[@arthur.jaanus]

What happen to chaos at cedar point?

[@SeanFlaharty]

Not sure. It didn't seem to operate very well at the park.

[@jeromehowell694]

Maybe this is the reimagined TTD..back to how it actually worked perfect.

[@ryanmogar4580]

That thing was getting ripped over the top compared to the later years when it would crawl over I remember riding this for the first time in 2004 and I knew it went over faster and it still had the Goodyear wheels and spoiler on the back so this was to cool to see with the old trains before they took all of that stuff off the back

[@huddyr1112]

Look at the crowd, the Enthusiasts the media, such a simpler time, a A much better time. People were so much better💯This world has went to $hiT....

[@adamdragster]

I was born 18 days later on May 19th

[@pokeninja77]

At least the ARMS DOWN thing wasn’t a thing here

[@donald_trump69420]

This was one top thrill dragster wasn't Top thrill cubster

[@derekwhite9932]

I want to make a naughty comment, but I won't.

[@s3ah0rs33]

To be honest I’m glad they got rid of the back wheels, wing and engine, it looks so unnatural and it doesn’t add a lot to the theming.

[@paulvonauth7254]

Absolutely the best ride in the country, and being from Ohio, yes, the best amusement park, I road it 11 times in one day, you must always seek the front seat, hands/arms up, often it struggled to crown the top hat.

[@SeanFlaharty]

While TTD wasn't my favorite ride, I still loved it greatly. I never got tired of riding it. It will be interesting to see what the new version will be like. I would love to see something stronger than the launch on Dodonpa (my favorite) at someplace in the US but I doubt that will happen.