Meeting "famous" coaster people

I spoke to Chris Sawyer back in 1999. If the full version of RCT was out yet at the time, then it can't have been long. I don't know about calling it famous. I think Ben Folds (formerly of Ben Folds Five - the underground threepiece piano-based band mistaken for soft rock after the release of Brick) sums it up for me best in an article from a few days ago:

"When it comes time to fulfill my contractual obligation, and put things into an album and put them out, then what the record company does for me is makes me look important," says Folds. "Probably get on MTV a couple of times, [in a] couple of major publications and people who come to the show will think I'm famous. And it works. ..."

I've met him too. They don't get much more down to earth and just 'genuine good fella' than him. On his recent Australian tour (along with Texas' Ben Kweller and Aussie Ben Lee - "The Bens"), his wife and even 3½ year-old twins came along to some of the shows (and Ben Lee brought along his girlfriend Claire Danes, who wasn't more than a few metres from me at the gig I went to :)).

Anyway, the point is, fame is so trivial, particularly to those that couldn't care less either way, like Walt and Claude and everyone else (and of course Ben Folds). Though of course, I'm sure they appreciate the support (as anyone would), especially when you chase them down the midway with a marker and your copies of the B&M brochures that you requested from them a few months earlier.

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Total Thrills Amusement Guide
Australia's Premier Source for Thrills!
*** This post was edited by auscoasterman 7/9/2003 9:26:51 AM ***

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MarimbaGuy87 said:
Seriously though, you're not funny.

I was just thinkin the same thing.

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"You know its a good ride when you come into the final brake run wiping tears from your eyes."

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I've probably met everyone but Stengel, but while famous, I wouldn't call them celebs. I used to meet celebrities all of the time when I worked in radio, and most are uninteresting jackasses. At least coaster people have something to talk about.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
DELETED! What time does the water show start?

Maybe not "funny", but it made me smile.

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Goccvp1

omg olol i shok jeffs hand!!!!111 i haev n0t w@sh3d my hadn sense th3n!!!!!11111 rotfl wtf!!!1

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A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.

Okay, I'll play (though I don't know why).

Met Bill Cobb and Charlie Dinn at the Ace Convention for the Texas Giant. I Interviewed Claude and Sandor during their respective CP media days.

If we count coaster people who have made it into a Termite Production, then I have to add Carol Sanderson, Eddie Visi, Alan Shick, and Howard Gillooly (just off the top of my head).

Almost forgot...myself...since I won the Gerstlauer "name the coaster contest" ([with sarcasm] now that's fame).
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Goccvp1

Let's see...
*Dana Morgan at WoF's press day for Mamba
*Clair Hain Jr. at ACE Coaster Christmas 2003
*Jeff Pike & Chris Gray at a Preview Day at Celebration City

Oh and I met Jim Wolgamuth and Jeff Mast (again) at Coaster Christmas - ACE area reps, as well as a lot of the brass at HFEC there.

I've also met GMs of parks as well, but too many to list (and I don't want to leave anyone out).

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SW:):)SH
The new and improved! MidwestInfoGuide.COM

He almost met me too but I wasn't at my home park that day.

If ACE reps are famous I'm famous too dagnabbit!

Guess I'm not worthy of my CBuzz membership because I have no idea who these people are....

I just want to ride.

I met Nina Fraley,daughter of Carl Phare,at the PNE Coaster celebration event this past April.

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Meet me at the PNE in 2003. Happy 45th birthday,Coaster!

GregLeg and I met Mike Boodley last year at Kennywood. He was getting off PR and we were getting on and we said hi to him real quick. Got off PR only to find Mike and his friends waiting at the exit to meet us. Really nice guy.

I got Mooshed on Legend! What an experience!

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If given the choice I'd choose a hamburger over a hotdog anyday of the week.

You know, Brent, you have a bigger fascination with that guy than any other straight man I know...

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
DELETED! What time does the water show start?

No, I do!

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Mike Miller - Con-Quest 2003 pictures now available at http://photos.yahoo.com/bassistist

Was thinking along the same lines as jeff....but didn't want to say anything. It's okay if you've been thinking bout getting Mooshed, MF, we all wanna try "it" out at least once. Well, maybe not, but I like to make Mooshie think he's special;)

BTW, I've never met any "famous" coaster guys, that I know of.

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"Gee, I wish I was witty!";)

That would definitely be Rob. Wait you said straight man.....

I am just as fascinated with Gator, but it's just not as much fun to make fun of him as it is Moosh ;)

Besides G:TR just doesn't have the ring to it M:TR does.

BTW I did get mooshed on Legend, to tell you the truth it was a bit painful but fun. And it WASN'T that! Sickos!
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If given the choice I'd choose a hamburger over a hotdog anyday of the week.
*** This post was edited by MagnumForce 7/9/2003 4:56:09 PM ***

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sparky697 said:
Got to ride Whizzer at SFGAm with Nasai.

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Wow! Here I was having such a crappy day, and Frank makes me smile.

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Join MY coaster club! - It's absolutely FREE!

I wouldn't really mind being "Mooshed", if its not too painful, i'm not into pain...

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"Gee, I wish I was witty!";)

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MagnumForce said:

Besides G:TR just doesn't have the ring to it M:TR does.

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But R:UE does!

Elissa White in a bikini on the top platform of Zoombabwe! Yowsers!!!!

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Bob Hansen
Resident Airtime Whore