On Ride Central interviews Chris Ozimek of Dorney Park

Great interview... I'm so glad to see one that doesn't ask the stupid questions that enthusiasts are so notorious for asking. Great job!

I really love Dorney. I wish I could find a little time to get out there this year.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

Good stuff to hear! Having been a Cedar Point fan growing up, it's wonderful to have Dorney here as "Cedar Point Jr.". I've been very impressed the last few years with what they've accomplished, and can't wait to see what's coming in the future.

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Men are like parking spaces... the good ones are all taken and the rest are handicapped or too far away.
www.TiggerMan.com

Interesting. Looks like we picked the right year to move to Allentown. Dorney is really a great little park and it sounds like it's only going to get better. 12 visits already this year and I'm still having fun there - that says something.

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www.coasterimage.com
Dorney Park visits in 2002: 12 *** This post was edited by Lord Gonchar on 6/21/2002. ***

The only problem I have with Dorney is there is always a 30-45 minute wait for Hercules because they only run one train. Its not orth it for a ride that is the roughest ride in the park. if they ran 2 trains there ould be no wait at all.

B&M rocks - when do you visit. I've never seen that kind of wait for Hercules. In fact 90% of the time the line doesn't even thread down the stairs to the station. I usually see one or two train waits with a line that walks you all the way up in.

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www.coasterimage.com
Dorney Park visits in 2002: 12

Yeah - This year especially, Hercules has been relatively empty. The line never exceeds the station, let alone the stairs. As far as the roughness issue goes, a true enthusiast likes to be bumped around a little bit. :-)

Also, I just wanted to thank everybody for their kind comments regarding the interview and OnRideCentral.com itself in the past. In our first few months of operation, I'm happy with what we've accomplished thus far.

Lord Gonchar said:

B&M rocks - when do you visit. I've never seen that kind of wait for Hercules. In fact 90% of the time the line doesn't even thread down the stairs to the station. I usually see one or two train waits with a line that walks you all the way up in.

I went two times last year in mid July. Hercules was only running 1 train and had about a thirty five to forty five minute wait both times.

When I went two years ago they had two trains running, and the wait was about 5 minutes.

Jeff, you like Dorney Park? I would've never have guessed considering that it looks just like Cedar Point!
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If coasters are your life, than maybe you need to re-examine your life.

"Little Cedar Point" is exactly what I thought when I got there. ;) As a matter of fact, I prefer Talon and Steel Force to Raptor and Magnum (which is not say I don't love the CP coasters).

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

Ohhh, controversy from Jeff!

I too prefer Talon to Raptor, but I'm dead even on the Steel Force vs Magnum debate. They're similar but give totally different rides. I don't necessarily think one is better than the other, they're more like different takes on the same general coaster.

B&M Rocks, I see. Like Brett said, this year Hercules is about as empty as a ride can get. Hercules itself is another coaster that's hard to pinpoint. I've had two rides this year one was perhaps the worst coaster ride I've ever had to endure while the other wasn't bad at all, just not anything special - pathetically average. I'll have to try it a few more times - I'm just afraid I'll get a ride like that first one.

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www.coasterimage.com
Dorney Park visits in 2002: 12

Whether your preference for riding coasters is front or back, it's easy to pinpoint which is the roughest on Hercules. Sitting in the back is pure torture despite whether or not you get a 'good ride.' The front is not quite as rough, but it still throws you around a little bit. Either way, I like both - roughness, intensity, and being thrown around are all parts of being a true enthusiast.

I rode first seat, second car both times and got a totally different ride. I haven't tried the back and can't imagine how it could get any rougher than the front on that first ride I had.

"roughness, intensity, and being thrown around are all parts of being a true enthusiast."

You'll find many, many people on these very forums who disagree with that statement. There's a difference between high forces and general roughness on a ride. Hercules at it's worst is like one of those cheesy vibrating beds you find a sleazy 70's motels - amped up to ten! Except this one goes to 11 (Spinal Tap fans?) It's not about good forces, it's about ugly roughness. My second ride proved (to me at least) that the ride can be hit or miss.

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www.coasterimage.com
Dorney Park visits in 2002: 12 *** This post was edited by Lord Gonchar on 6/21/2002. ***

That's true...Well said. It all depends on who you are and what you like, really.

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Brett Stevens - Webmaster/Producer of www.OnRideCentral.com
-"Providing high-quality coaster photos and top-notch information."

I was just at dorney last sat and there was not a wait at all for hercules. i rode it twice, once in the direct front and once in the dead back. the ride in the back was a little rougher than the front, but not by much, but was more exciting. we actually got a little air when we went under the station and when we were coming down the last hill into the station. the front was less interesting.