BoddaH1994 Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 Kings Island, OH – Kings Island continues its 35th anniversary celebration by hosting roller coaster enthusiasts from 35 states across the USA as well as from Canada, Australia and Europe. Well over 500 members from American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) kick off their 30th annual Coaster Con convention at Kings Island June 17-20. Coaster Con is an exclusive seven-day event that features behind the scenes tours, catered meals, guest speakers and a coveted twelve hours of Exclusive Ride Time on Kings Island’s fourteen world-class roller coasters. Kings Island is one of the most popular places on the planet according to Mark Cole, ACE’s president. That shouldn’t surprise anyone, considering Kings Island boasts fourteen roller coasters including Firehawk, an innovative flying roller coaster that has riders literally flying in the prone position. Kings Island is also home to The Beast, renowned for being the world’s longest wooden coaster. “Kings Island has a rich history with ACE. The park hosted the organization’s second convention back in 1979,” said Cole. Perhaps the highlight of the event will be The Racer, the venerable 1972 twin-tracked ride, which will be honored as an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark, an award reserved for rides of historic significance. According to Richard Munch, ACE’s historian, “The Racer was the first wooden coaster to be built in a modern theme park and helped spawn a rebirth of wood coasters.” A permanent marker will be unveiled at a ceremony on June 18. Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (NYSE: “FUN”) is a publicly traded partnership headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio. The Partnership, which owns and operates twelve amusement parks, five outdoor water parks, one indoor water park and six hotels, is one of the largest regional amusement park operators in the world. Its parks are located in Ohio, California, North Carolina, Virginia / District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan, and Toronto, Ontario. Cedar Fair also owns and operates Star Trek: The Experience, an interactive adventure located in Las Vegas, and operates Gilroy Gardens in Gilroy, California under a management contract. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted June 13, 2007 Author Share Posted June 13, 2007 ...and ACE's press release. For Immediate Release June 2007 For more information contact: Bill Linkenheimer phone: 412.487.7499 mobile: 412.725.7499 NEWS RELEASE email: blinkenheimer@ACEonline.org AmericanCoasterEnthusiasts.org The Racer AT Kings Island DESIGNATED AN ACE ROLLER COASTER LANDMARK MASON, Oh. American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) is pleased to announce that it has designated The Racer at Kings Island as an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark. This award is reserved for rides of the most important historical significance. A permanent marker commemorating this honor will be presented to the park on June 18 when over 500 members visit the park to kick off the organization’s 30th annual convention. The following is the text of the permanent marker, which explains the ride’s importance: Kings Island opened April 29, 1972, replacing Cincinnati’s beloved Coney Island, which had endured periodic flooding during its 85 year existence on the Ohio River. For the new park, the signature attraction was The Racer, an 88 foot high twin tracked wooden roller coaster whose design was inspired by the venerable Coney Island Shooting Star. Engineered by John C. Allen and built by James L. Martz, both of the celebrated Philadelphia Toboggan Company, its two tracks totaled 6,830 feet in length, with an initial drop of 82 feet, 2 inches. Constructed at a cost of $1.2 million by park contractors, modified versions of the ride were eventually built at two other parks. In addition to being considered an important part of the coaster renaissance of the 1970s, The Racer was the site of several world record riding attempts and might be best remembered in a television episode of The Brady Bunch. On May 28, 1982, it became the first racing coaster to ever run trains backwards on one of its tracks. Highly rated among riders of all ages for its classic ride experience, The Racer remains an integral part of Kings Island’s outstanding collection of roller coasters. “Kings Island is a favorite for most of ACE’s members,” stated Mark Cole, ACE’s president. That shouldn’t surprise anyone, considering that in addition to The Racer the park boasts eleven other roller coasters. “The Racer was the first wooden coaster to be built at a modern theme park and helped spawn a rebirth of wood coasters,” said Richard Munch, one of the organization’s three founding members who now serves as its historian. Founded in 1978, ACE is a nonprofit, all volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation, education, appreciation, and safe enjoyment of roller coasters. With more than 8,000 members in all 50 states and in 12 different countries, ACE is the largest amusement park enthusiast club in the world. ACE membership includes bimonthly newsletters, quarterly magazines, and the opportunity to attend events at parks each year. # # # # # Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browntggrr Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 How long ago was this announced? Shouldn't this press release have been released sometime ago? But, hey, it's great for the park. This is great publicity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delirium33 Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 I wonder if there will be a push to get Son of Beast operating in time for this event. I understand that the 17th is this Sunday, but you never know... It does say: a coveted twelve hours of Exclusive Ride Time on Kings Island’s fourteen world-class roller coasters. Also, is The Racer considered 2 coasters, or is Avatar considered a coaster (to equal 14)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted June 13, 2007 Author Share Posted June 13, 2007 How long ago was this announced? Shouldn't this press release have been released sometime ago? But, hey, it's great for the park. This is great publicity. The date and place have been on the books with ACE for years. The press release came out today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jondrewfoo Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 I wonder if there will be a push to get Son of Beast operating in time for this event. I understand that the 17th is this Sunday, but you never know... It does say: a coveted twelve hours of Exclusive Ride Time on Kings Island’s fourteen world-class roller coasters. Also, is The Racer considered 2 coasters, or is Avatar considered a coaster (to equal 14)? You know that is a good theory, what better time to have the ride open by? im sure that ace wouldnt be too happy with a closed down world class rollercoaster. the Son of Beast even with its problems has been one of the major attractions of the park since its opening, its one of my favorites, but nothing beats The Beast. I hope they have it open as soon as possible though as im going the 27th... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delirium_Guy Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 I wonder if there will be a push to get Son of Beast operating in time for this event. I understand that the 17th is this Sunday, but you never know... It does say: a coveted twelve hours of Exclusive Ride Time on Kings Island's fourteen world-class roller coasters. Also, is The Racer considered 2 coasters, or is Avatar considered a coaster (to equal 14)? You know that is a good theory, what better time to have the ride open by? im sure that ace wouldnt be too happy with a closed down world class rollercoaster. the Son of Beast even with its problems has been one of the major attractions of the park since its opening, its one of my favorites, but nothing beats The Beast. I hope they have it open as soon as possible though as im going the 27th... I hardly doubt they break their necks to get the ride open for ACE. Add to the fact that MAJORITY of ACEers find SOB to be neither world class or a good ride. It won't be missed by most this time around. - Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 I'd say that the chances SOB would be open by then are somewhere between Slim and None. Remember, they're still in the process of determining if, not when the ride will reopen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jondrewfoo Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 i tend to disagree, i mean we all know it will reopen, even if just for a short time... they woldnt put all the work to remove the loop and create/modify new cars if they thought they werent going to reopen it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIVortex Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 Or build new track to connect the track from removing the loop, or reinforcing the structure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kawana Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 Hmm, what effect, if any, will this have on crowds on the 16th? I'm going then, and I don't want to get crushed by heavy crowds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIVortex Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 It will probably be busy. Saturday's are busy anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted June 13, 2007 Author Share Posted June 13, 2007 Yeah, there will be around 300 people at the convention, which is drops in a bucket at KI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browntggrr Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 i tend to disagree, i mean we all know it will reopen, even if just for a short time... they woldnt put all the work to remove the loop and create/modify new cars if they thought they werent going to reopen it. No we don't know if it will reopen. They put the work in to remove the loop as one of the last ditch efforts to try and make it a ride that everyone will enjoy. What is the lesser of two evils: removing the loop and trying with different cars or not trying at all and TAER it down? I'll give CF credit, they are making an attempt at it, even if it does fail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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