Corkscrew (Cedar Point)

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Corkscrew
The train finishing the corkscrew section
roller coaster
Cedar Point Location Sandusky, Ohio, USA Status Operating since May 15, 1976 Cost $1,750,000 USD Height restriction 48 inches (122 cm)
Statistics
Manufacturer	Arrow Dynamics
Designer / calculations	Ron Toomer
Type	Steel
Model / product	Custom Looping Coaster
Riders per train	24
Hourly capacity	1800
Propulsion	Chain lift hill
Height85 feet Drop65 feet Top speed48 mph Length2050 feet Inversions3 Duration2:00
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Corkscrew is a steel roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, USA. When opened in 1976, it was the first roller coaster in the world with three inversions. The ride was built by Arrow Dynamics and opened six days after Revolution at Six Flags Magic Mountain.Citation needed Cedar Fair's Flash Pass can be used on the Corkscrew.

Location

Corkscrew is located on the midway directly across from Top Thrill Dragster, between Power Tower and Magnum XL-200.

Design

Elements
Chain lift hill Hill Vertical loop Double corkscrew

The ride is made out of blue tubular steel track with a 48-inch (1,200 mm) separation between tubes. Corkscrew was built upon 5 acres (20,000 m²) of land.

Trains

3 trains with 6 cars per train. In each car, riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train. The three trains are painted red with white stripes, blue with white stripes and white with blue stripes. They are designed like this because they debuted in 1976, the U.S. Bicentennial.

Almost daily, a train is transferred off the track once ridership reaches a point that permits two-train operation with little or no waiting in line. A different train is cycled off each day.

Ride experience

When the pneumatic station brakes are released, the train rolls out of the station due to a slight decline in the station and down a small drop. The train the goes round a declining 180 deg curve until reaching the lift hill. A lift chain pulls the riders up the 30 deg lift hill at a speed of 5 mph. Then riders drop 65 feet at a 45 degree angle, reaching speeds of 48 mph. After this riders traverse a bunny hop and a vertical loop. It then coasts up a slight incline and curves around a 180 degree slight decline into the double corkscrew element, across the midway path. In the "eye" of the corkscrews, it is traveling at 38 mph. After this, Corkscrew goes through trim and block brakes and back to the station.

Historic Significance

Corkscrew was the first roller coaster with three inversions when it opened on May 15, 1976, overtaking Corkscrew at Knott's Berry Farm (now located at Silverwood). It lost this record in March 1980 when The Demon opened at Six Flags Great America. It was also the second modern roller coaster with a Vertical loop, opening six days after Revolution at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Also, Corkscrew was the first roller coaster to feature a corkscrew located above the midway, and the first inverting coaster ever at Cedar Point.

Trivia

• Corkscrew has thrilled over 30 million riders since opening in May 1976.

Photo Gallery

• 

  The train going through the Corkscrew (http://www.joyrides.com)

External links

• 
  Corkscrew on the Roller Coaster DataBase.

Most inversions on a roller coaster (3) May 1976 - 1980
Preceded by Corkscrew	Most inversions on a roller coaster (3) May 1976 - 1980	Succeeded by Carolina Cyclone Demon Demon