Which coaster riding total is more impressive? It's up for KICentral to deside. This is a very hard to choose a side. 5,000 on Diamondback or 4,400 on The Beast. Hmmmmmm.......................... I'm gonna have to go with Carl on this one. My reasons for this is because The Beast lines moves slower and even back then im sure The Beast would beat you up.

P.S. Has any one ever met either one? If i had, i think i would of had gotten on my hands and knee's and bowed. These guys are coaster gods.

I talk to Gary a couple times a year.

Was someone having some lag? I find The Beast one to be more interesting, mainly because I'd probably be dead if I rode it that many times.

WOW!! No idea how that happened guys.. sorry.

Edit: Well I know how it happened. My work internet just doesn't know how to communicate properly over the internets.

Can someone clue me in on the background of Carl's accomplishment, e.g. how long has he been doing this?

Carl didn't have the benefits that riders today enjoy with early ride times, being able to stay on for repeat rides and things of that nature. Carl probably would have finished with about 15,000 had The Beast had early ride times in the 80s.

Carl worked night shift for the IRS. He would get to the park about 9:15am and ride until 3:00pm to 4:00pm, then go home for 4-5 hours sleep and head to work. On Saturdays he would ride from open to close.

He also moved to Cinci primarily so he could ride Beast.

Obsessed he was. And a truly good guy.

To be honest, I don't view either item as an accomplishment. Its all about just having fun. I have ridden DB 1255 times so far not because I am trying to accomplish somehting but because I love the ride. ( I just figure if I am going to ride that many times I might as well keep count.) I am not out to set any kind of record-I will continue to ride hopefully until the day I am ready to go to my final reward. ( LOL.)

Just a side note about Gary-without going into detail Gary has had a tough time in his private life. I am sure those many rides on DB have given him much needed relief.

Gary is a very friendly person who I've talked to and ridden with several times. Kudos to him for doing something he enjoys, same to other marathon riders.

Does Carl hang around the park anymore? Some have Brad Pitt or Lebron James, I have Carl Eichelman.

Avatar, (I'm assuming it was you, although I could be wrong) thank you for cleaning up my network mishaps from earlier today.

Carl didn't have the benefits that riders today enjoy with early ride times, being able to stay on for repeat rides and things of that nature. Carl probably would have finished with about 15,000 had The Beast had early ride times in the 80s.

Carl worked night shift for the IRS. He would get to the park about 9:15am and ride until 3:00pm to 4:00pm, then go home for 4-5 hours sleep and head to work. On Saturdays he would ride from open to close.

And there were no season passes when The Beast first opened. That man paid a lot of money to accomplish what he did!