Holiday World's Will Koch issues letter to enthusiasts, cancels all 2004 events

Many are hoping that this letter will be a wake-up call. Sorry to say, but I don't think that it will. Someone died this spring. If that was not enough of a wake-up call, than this letter certainly will not be. There are those few out there that will continue to not obey the rules and I think that we will suffer more lost events in the future. I hope that I am wrong, but only time will tell.

Hopefully, those who break the rules will clean up their acts and maybe SRM will be back in 2005.

Maybe we need to start policing ourselves somehow. Encourage eachother to obey the safety rules and report those who are not.

Remember, the stupid things that we do will give people like Rep. Ed Markey more ammo to do what they want to do.

------------------
2003 Parks: Cedar Point, SFWOA, Kennywood, PKI, MIA, SFGAM, SFKK and HW.
Still deciding where to go in 2004.

Those pictures... and other folks' I've seen...

Damn. Just damn.

"But it's not our fault nor our problem! Until we get hurt that is!"

------------------
Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
*** This post was edited by General Public 9/18/2003 8:17:11 PM ***

One idiot ruins it for the rest of us. I have never done anything more than one click higher than it should be, and that was on Viper SFGAM because I knew that it wouldn't come down with those springs. Everytime I ride the coaster I give myself airtime room but also make sure that I wouldn't be able to come out. The worse thing about this is that Holiday World, the worlds greatest amusement park had to go down this low because some enthusiasts are just that stupid. It sickens me from what I have heard and seen. Loosening the seat belts and holding the lap bar up so it doesn't come down. Come on people it is a roller coaster not a religious experience, we need to pull our heads out of our a$$es and realize that.

Actually, it's a lot of idiots, but these particular idiots have Internet connections.

------------------
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

Exactly, it's many people, and I'm sure almost every one of us has been guilty of a safety violation at some point whether accidental, innocently, or intentionally, small, large, etc..... We must be extra conscious now of our actions and decisions. And for gosh sake, don't freaking flaunt it if you break the rules, and don't sell copies of it!

------------------
- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

It really is sad........

Woul you all say that websites that host On Ride photos contribute to the whole situation as well?

------------------
If I was part of a coaster, I would be an upstop pad on an Arrow Mine Train.
MAGNUM HAD MY BABY!

First off, lets make one thing clear: regardless of how you feel about Robb and Elissa, this isn't about them, now matter how much some of you might try to make it about them or use them as the "glaring example." If it was only them, then the parks would deal with them directly and it would be done and over with, so push your personal grudges aside.

This is about the enthusiast community as a whole and the very large numbers of people in it who continue to bend, push, and break the rules every chance they get,and the horrible attitude they then have on top of that; from cameras to lap bars to seat belts to abusing the employees and gp to so much more. It's a lot more than just 2 people. At the events I've been to I'd venture to put that number as high as 20-25% of the people I've seen. And the clubs have consistently and continuously refused to crack down on their errant members. And that's where the true blame lies.

And as long as we haven't tried to take steps to stop such behavior when we've seen it, we may as well as have participated by in essence giving them permission. It's something that ALL of us need to take steps to correct. After all, we're supposed to be the example of good and safe behavior. In far to many instances we're just the opposite.

And get rid of the personal crusades and look in the mirror first.

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

Brent.....some places have given permission, like my onride pics of Wildfire....they gave us surgical gloves and duct tape and let us take photos. I don't see anything wrong posting those....

------------------
- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

In response to iucoaster's link to the Elissa White photo, it's funny that they say they are not breaking any rules when two are being broken in that same photo. It's also funny that they put in the caption (which I paraphrase) "she is in no different position than during the extreme airtime moments on Cheetah." There's a big difference between just casual air time on a coaster and just standing up on one.

I don't remember seeing any captions under their Cedar Point/Top Thrill Dragster video explaining how "the camera was allowed by the park" ... hmm, that video seems to have disappeared. Curious, huh?

I've never considered myself a coaster enthusiast (I like to refer to myself as the ultimate Cedar Point enthusiast). Indeed, my track record - outside of Cedar Point - is all of three coasters. Yes, I do enjoy roller coaster very much - I just haven't had the opportunity to visit many other amusement parks.

Regardless, I was making plans and looking forward to attending SRM next year. I totally support Mr. Koch's decision and understand why he made it and where he is coming from. No doubt, if I were President and General Manager of Holiday World, I would have made a similar decision.

My wife and I, along with our son, will still make a trip to Santa Claus, Indiana next summer. We are looking forward to experiencing why this wonderful park is so popular.

------------------
Walt Schmidt
Virtual Midway

Well Sir Willow, that's 20-25% too many then. It takes only one to be thrown from a coaster...oh wait, that already happened and we still see **** like this. Does this 20-25% group each have to be thrown from a coaster or injured by a flying projectile brought on board by another rider for people to WAKE UP?

Seems this will be the case.

------------------
I am not who you think I am.

I think it is also funny how Robb added even more caption to that pic in response to me posting that link. Again his justification is complete BS. Her butt is almost completely touching the top of the seatback. Now you know why we have headrests!

He must be keeping tabs.

------------------
Coaster Count = 230
*** This post was edited by iucoaster 9/18/2003 8:43:50 PM ***

I think we can all agree that the problem is much deeper then that of a few people who have websites.

------------------
If I was part of a coaster, I would be an upstop pad on an Arrow Mine Train.
MAGNUM HAD MY BABY!

BRAVO Holiday World!!!

Perhaps I am in the minority here, (although, after reading some of the other posts, I may not be in the minority) but I am glad to read this letter.

Am I surprised that SRM won't be coming back in 2004? No way. As a matter of fact, I am kind of surprised at those that have mentnioned to me that SRM would indeed be back. Face it folks, we haven't a single reason why Holiday World should ever hold an event for us again. That's how it goes. They don't owe us anything.

Sad to say, there will be those clueless folks that don't understand this choice and will probably badger the park to try and convince them to actually change their minds. My advice to those folks would be to let it go and get used to this.

If you think we have seen the last of this type of letter, you are wrong. I am almost 100% certain that more are coming from many different areas. More will probably be announcing less perks as well.

"Oh, but I already have my vacation time reserved for next year's big event."

Tough.

I could say something like, "There is nothing we can do about it now.", but I honestly believe there is something we can do about it.

How about this.

Instead of deciding to whine about less and less events, help educate those unfortunate folks that constantly think they are invincible. I know I am going to do my part.

What about you?

-Sean

Nice post Sean....how can we help educate those other than leading by example.....I don't know any of the big time offenders....what's a guy like me to do other than set a good example? Just trying to open up some conversation :)

------------------
- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

Regarding the Alvey pictures.... one of the motivation for such pictures is pure and simply.... money. Hard, cold cash.

Why? Remember, they sell those DVD's and videos of their visits to those parks. Guess what? One of their most popular seller is them acting like nuts in parks. Just watch the PGA video on their site to see that.

Who doesn't act nuts in a park? ;)

-Brent (we needed some levity) Kneebush

------------------
If I was part of a coaster, I would be an upstop pad on an Arrow Mine Train.
MAGNUM HAD MY BABY!

I see your point, Absmilliard. But, (if it was legal footage to sell) I'd only buy one without a bunch of people I don't know acting goofy. If I'm going to buy a rollercoaster video, I want rollercoasters :) If I want to see people acting goofy, I'll go out with my friends! So, I guess I don't know why that would be popular!

------------------
- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

This is yet another reason why I am not going to ever be a member ACE ever again. I like the fact that they do good things in and around the theme park and rollercoaster community, but the things they think (and sometimes do) get away with makes the club in my eyes lose all credibility. All of us strive to get pictures of on-rides and if this breaks the rules it breaks the rules but i really don't think that getting pictures is all the serious and never will.....however, defeating the safety systems on a ride is going a little bit too far....and if you want to be a daredevil and be stupid about it go right ahead and do what you gotta do....just don't hurt anyone else in the process and don't take away things that other people love......it's a shame that we lost a fellow coaster lover and I feel for her family and friends...but when do you have to join a club to see what you can get away with.....

------------------
If you don't know a thing about rollercoasters, don't stand in line in front of me and act like you do!

Jamin

-Kraken '03
-Dueling Dragons '02
-Millennium Force '01
-Bluestreak '00*** This post was edited by Jamin Bohl 9/18/2003 9:29:08 PM ***