CoasterBuzz Legendary Fall Affair at Holiday World cancelled

A pity that it came to this, especially so soon. I had hoped that they might have waited on a decision until the investigations were done and the emotions had settled down. Seemed like there was time that this could have waited in the scheme of things.

May not bode well for future SRM's either.

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Sometimes it's up. Sometimes it's down.
But with God, life is one thrill ride that you'll never regret being on.

I was not planning on attending, but I think this is a bit too early to cancel an event. It is indeed a shame, and I am wondering if this was a park decission, or a CB decission?

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"If you make it too smooth, it'll be like sitting in your living room."
-Bill Cobb - Designer, Texas Cyclone

While this is sad that this event is cancelled I can totally understand. I don't think it would be proper to hold an event (even though it's in September) after all that the Koch family and their employees have gone through.

Thank you Jeff for letting us know this far in advance.

~Rob Willi

It was the park's decision. Given what they're going through right now, I don't think it's my place, or really anyone else's, to question the decision.

I would like to thank everyone for being enthusiastic about it, and look forward to seeing many of you this weekend at PKI.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"Pray that your country undergoes recovery!" - KMFDM

Thanks for answering Jeff.

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"If you make it too smooth, it'll be like sitting in your living room."
-Bill Cobb - Designer, Texas Cyclone

I can't blame the park one bit for cancelling the event. I've just read somewhere that even at last year's SRM an idiot stood up and than also during my first SRM in 1997 another idiot was kicked out for standing up and never allowed back into the park to my knowledge. I may not be perfect too and love airtime as much as anyone else but one-click ride are rediculiously excessive. I usualy try to ride with at least 3 clicks or what I'd think I'd get with a standard lapbar and if the coaste I am riding don't have too severe of forces maybe 2 clicks if the operator allows it. In short I try to have the bar at least covering my mid theighs and limit myself to 3 inches which would to sufficient for airtime and IMHO still safe and NEVER do I completely undo my seat belt unless I have ridden a ride that previously have operated safely without seat belts in the past.

No, you should never unclip a seatbelt, period. It sets a bad example that leads to things like this.

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"If you make it too smooth, it'll be like sitting in your living room."
-Bill Cobb - Designer, Texas Cyclone

After recent events, this does not surprise me, but it is a bummer. Any reason to get together with CBuzzers is a good reason, though. Maybe something else will come up.

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CBClub member #30 and #364 (renewal)

This is aggravating. The accident didn't happen during SRM ERT. It happened when the ride was open to the GP. I understand that it was an ACE member but, given that the accident happened during GP hours, this accident could have happened any time. I was at SRM this year and during GP hours Holiday World made you put your lap bars down four clicks. This means that she couldn't have fallen out unless she unbuckled her seatbelt and stood up. This could have happened at any time. It has nothing to do with ACE or SRM. It is just a person acting inappropriately. During SRM ERT the ride ops did not allow one click rides. They allowed at a maximum a two click ride for adults. But your seatbelt had to be buckled. Tamara acting inappropriately during GP time should have no reflection on SRM. And I am very sympethetic to the park and the family in regards to their loss. At the same time, let it be known that there must be a balance of how the park and coasterbuzz react. Just because an INDIVIDUAL acts inappropriately, that shouldn't mean that all coasterevents should be cancelled. The lesson learned here should be, DON'T BE STUPID and unbuckle your seatbelt and stand up and Coasterbuzz and the Park will not be held responsible. The reaction and lesson shouldn't be,..all coasterevents and coasterclub events are now cancelled becuase no one can be trusted. I don't think that solves anything. If this is a CoasterBuzz decision, I ask that it be rethought. If this is a Holiday World Decision then, while I understand the pain that you have gone through, especially having attended the event this year, I would ask that you take a step back and ask yourselves why the accident happened and concentrate your energy there. Taking future events away from your biggest park supporters shows fear. Regardless if the event is held, Coaster enthusiasts will still ride the Raven and the Legend. The chance of it happening again are just as possible if someone stands up. Discourage acting inapproapriately on rides and encourage coaster enthusiasts to continue to ride the coasters in a safe manner and have events.

Max
*** This post was edited by maxcoaster 6/5/2003 10:05:56 AM ***

I hesitate to say anything on this matter because I don't have a clue what Jeff and the Holiday World folks discussed.

I will say this. The pictures of the enthusiasts that are floating around right now "showing off" the fact that their lapbars are not down are embarassing to the park and other enthusiasts. I would not be surprised in the least if they show up as evidence in a court case that the victim's family most certainly will bring.

There is no direct or indirect association between Coasterbuzz and all of these events but I don't blame HW for being a little gunshy about things right now. Let's remember, this is not some big corporate park that is dealing with an unfortunate event.

wahoo skipper; I would understand your concern if I felt that Holiday World was wrong in their Lap Bar two click rule during SRM. The point is, as long as your seatbelt is on working properly and secure, it really doesn't matter if your lap bar is at two clicks or four clicks or six for that matter. The pictures that are floating around of high lap bars only enforces that fact that one should be wearing their seatbelt. Tamara's lap bar was four clicks down when she fell out. ALL LAPBARS had to be at FOUR CLICKS during GP time when she fell out. So, high lapbars have nothing to do with tamara's death. Also, the point is, Holiday World was doing nothing wrong by letting you ride during ERT with a two click ride, assuming the enthusiast was wearing their seatbelt. The pictures that are floating arround also show everyone's seatbelt securely fastend. And definately in Tamara's case during GP time, she had to have a four click ride. Which is probably why she decided to have her seatbelt off because she wanted more airtime then the four click ride HW was allowing her to have during GP time. So the pictures can not be used as evidence because her lap bar was down four clicks and she still fell out. Holiday World was never doing anything wrong with the two click rule during SRM ERT. The pictures show nothing innappropriate. Seatbelts fastened are the only way to ride safetly. And again, Lap Bars do nothing as far as keeping some people in a coaster, as in Tamara's case who again had it down four clicks.

Here name was Tamar...not Tamara

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--George H
---Currency tracking experiment... http://www.wheresgeorge.com (Referring to The "George" on the $1 bill - Not Me)

maxcoaster, you have your opinion and that is fine but I think it is a load of crap. I have been on a lot of coasters that had lap bars and no seatbelts but I have never been on a coaster that had a seatbelt but no lap bar. (Perhaps there were some coasters in history that did only have seatbelts but I can't think of any in recent times.)

If a seatbelt was tuggly and securely fastened, what would be the point of taking a one click ride? The seatbelt shouldn't allow you to have any significant airtime. If riders are not securely fastening their seatbelts (ie tightening them) -or- are undoing them after leaving the station that a one click ride is going to provide you with plenty of airtime.

I've operated coasters and I have seen all the tricks. No one is going to be able to convince me that the seatbelt is the primary restraint. On most coasters the seatbelt was an afterthought and was probably installed at the insistence of an insurance company.*** This post was edited by wahoo skipper 6/5/2003 1:12:04 PM ***

We really don't need to have this discussion here.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"Pray that your country undergoes recovery!" - KMFDM