Hersheypark Skyrush - Sunday, May 27th, 2012

Has anyone let someone (who cares or matters) know?

SLFAKE said:The new paint is pealing off (granted, "guests" help it by picking at it), but it comes off in long sheets that look and bend like latex.

Excellent! This is good to fashion your own You Better Run Pat Benatar head band with. And it will match the train color as you ride!

Speaking of Pat Benatar, walking past the concert stage a couple of times at Dorney Sunday, I had the misfortune of hearing (and remember, I'm partly deaf) the cast members of the "Awesome 80's" (I think that's what it was called) musical revue absolutely BUTCHER Hit Me With Your Best Shot, along with Springsteen's Born In The USA and Hungry Heart. God, it was awful. I did enjoy seeing the real Pat Benatar at GAdv a few years back...

^There was a big festival south of my neighborhood last week "Andersonville fest" or something... The grocery store (which I was at) parking lot is directly next to the stage, and when I heard "Head over Heels" I really thought it was Tears For Fears. Lord, does that song sound dated...

A couple nights later (back at the grocery store) I heard a cover band doing "Purple Rain." When I finally made out what I was hearing, the pop I was drinking immediately rushed out my nose. (You know what that's like.)

All that 80s stuff is fun to hear; but sometimes it gets somehow lost in translation.

Or lost in perception, take your pick.

SFGAdv lover, it was mixed. One nephew enjoyed it. The other and my niece did not. My sister-in-law did not, either.

CoasterDemon: Yes. The park has been told. I believe they are still collecting feedback.

Carrie J. said:

The park has been told. I believe they are still collecting feedback.

But did you just tell them...

...or did you tell them and then either flash, display, explain or otherwise qualify your enthusiast credentials so they'd know you were super serious and knowledgeable in your opinion?

Lord Gonchar said:

But did you just tell them...

...or did you tell them and then either flash, display, explain or otherwise qualify your enthusiast credentials so they'd know you were super serious and knowledgeable in your opinion?

I guess I should have explained that sort of thing is NOT suggested. I have heard of people doing that.

(Sometimes I forget what I am up against here.)

Good point, Gonch :)

Well, exactly. The flashing your ACE card is a long standing joke based on someone who actually claimed to have done that (non-ironically, mind you).

It's an awfully fine line when dealing with parks. I prefer to err on the side of assuming that as an enthusiast of sorts, everything I say is going to seem douchey - even if that's not the intent. In other words, self-awareness of the fact that I'm no longer the average guest.

I haven't heard of many people flashing an ACE card. (I never have understood all that ACE bashing. ) Perhaps it happened a few times and has been blown completely out of proportion (BED BUGS, anyone?)

I have seen people "I'm so and so from so and so site... and I need..." though. Not to mention any names...

Remind me to tell you some closing day stories on the platform of Magnum.

CoasterDemon said:

I haven't heard of many people flashing an ACE card.



Oh, man.

I believe the story was along the line of overhearing others discussing a ride while in said ride's queue. Upon overhearing incorrect info the enthusiast in question interrupted the conversation to make corrections and provided a flash of the ACE membership card as an action of credibility and authority the same way a law enforcement officer might flash his badge.

And the person who did it willingly posted the story as if nothing were completely bizarre and embarassing about it.

I've heard of, read about, seen and have been told too many stories to comfortably identify myself as an enthusiast in most situations.

It's worked out pretty good for me so far. :)

Hrm... interesting.

I have seen all kinds of strange, illegal and ... I dunno, just off the wall behavior by enthusiasts.

I've been in ACE since 1985 and sure, there was always something to behold. I never thought it too be really *bad* stuff, though.

I'll keep shut about the clubs that I am NOT a member of, and the stories and first hand accounts of what I've seen and heard from them.

At the end of the day, every specialty group has it's fair share of wackos (look at sports fan, or go see your favorite band..) it's comes with the territory.

Well, I just let my "I Survived The SooperDooperLooper" t-shirt confirm my credibility.

Wwooowwwww...have you noticed if this is ACE specific, or does it extend to other coasting enthusiast organizations?

My belief is that it all falls under the enthusiast umbrella - not group specific.

Huh...that's...interesting.

I do occasionally post at another enthusiast site, and they did mention that an Intamin representative had been out to the park to investigate and felt that adjustments could easily be made without any massive trouble. Hershey has stated that they would like the restraints modified, as they do not want to reduce the speed and intensity of the ride. If I remember correctly (my phone does not let me copy and paste for whatever reason, so I dont recall for sure), adjustments can be expected later in the season.

A bunch of dudes with blue satin ACE jackets made a scene two years in a row on closing day at Cedar Point, on the Magnum platform, literally demanding that they get the last ride. It was a level of dicketry I've rarely seen. I had seen a lot of similar nonsense around that time (1998 to 2000 or so), and quickly started distance myself from it. We "lost" people who acted like that from this site, but really, that's not much of a loss.

The first online club as CBC, in 2001, and I've long held the belief that your $25 (or $20 at the time) was not worth it if that's the crap you associated with the organization.

ACE may have its wackos and stuff... but I have yet to find another club (online or not, no offense) with as many nice, fun and genuine folks as ACE.

As far as other clubs and online forums go, it's hard to see how big of a prick you are being when everyone else around you is also a prick (asshat/douchebag/ass/jerk/etc.).

We have a pretty good time at our events. Even more when it rains.

Dicketry...hehe...best word EVER.

CoasterDemon, I've only met two ACErs, and they were a lovely older couple that talked to me during PPP about some of their coasting experiences, so I've only experienced the good people, but they were so nice that it made me truly think about joining ACE. I MAY have been mesmerized by the shiny satin jackets though.