Question about ACE...

I am not sure if this topic violates the TOS but I would not think so. Anyway, is it worth it to become a member of ACE? I love rollercoasters. However, time restrictions prevent me from really becoming a die hard enthusiast. I just like hearing about them and studying them. Would joining ACE be a wise decision?

ACE is a wise decision if you are interested in the publications. Roller Coaster magazine has some really good articles, especially the issues that contain the previous seasons' new coasters. ACE News is kind of "after the fact" when it comes to news if you frequent this site, but it also contains some very good articles. I guess it depends on whether or not you think that $50 for 10 publications is a good deal (I have thought so for 12 years now.)

You may want to look at the European Coaster Club... I have found their First Drop magazine to be fantastic, as it contains articles about coasters all over the world, including the U.S.

The other thing about ACE is getting discounts at some parks. PKI and HW give 1/2 off entry to ACE members (if I remember correctly). Also, IB did a discount for wrist bands during June and July.

I think the publications alone are worth it. The discounts are gravy.

-----------------
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

I could never justify the expense for ACE on publications alone. I used to be a member of ECC, but even that didn't seem worth it. Once I got over the novelty of having a glossy magazine in my hands, I decided getting the goods online worked for me.

Of course, I'm a little biased with my own club... 320 members and growing. ;)

-----------------
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"Let's stop saying 'don't quote me,' because if no one quotes you, you probably haven't said a thing worth saying." - Dogma, KMFDM

Jeff is right about getting all the "real goods" online way faster ...(WAY faster, lol)...but there is still something nice about going to the mailbox and finding something from ACE...the events are fantastic, and the discounts are good, too....

the best way to go, IMO, is to belong to ACE and CB Club, too....

The ACE publications fill that magazine rack in "the office" rather nicely. :)

-----------------
"The perfect machine, you seemed to be, when I built you up in my mind..." - Reverend Jon Autry

chris, you must really do some "business" in there....:)

The problem is, I love reading about roller coasters, whether it be about the history of them, how they work, or the future about them. However, I cannot find that much out there, book-wise, about roller coasters. I have the book written by Scott Rutherford which seems to be thorough but there has to be more out there. Does anyone have some good recommendations? This site is great for info but it is also nice to have some hard copies, to display in my casa.

I live in one the most coaster deficient regions of the nation and I still consider it worthwhile to be an ACE member. In addition to the publications,there are other perks that come with being an ACE member. Some parks offer reduced price admission to the park to ACE members and there are lots of ACE events held around the nation.Recently ,there was an ACE appreciation day event held at the Vancouver PNE Playland.For $9.00 US you got free parking, 1 1/2 hours ERT on Coaster,admission to the park,lunch,and the park gave out souveniers to ACE members in attendance.

-----------------
I can fix anything.....where is the duct tape?

I would definetly recommend joining ACE. I am in my first year, and the magazines and newsletters are awesome. Bill (rollergator) was right, there is something about opening your mailbox and seeing you've gotten something from ACE. I am a lifelong member.

Eric

-----------------
"Air time is not a crime. Take a click, you're a prick" - Kris Allen (Jul 2002, HW)

Although ACE is a great group, you may want to check out some of the other clubs out there also.
Many of the others do the same as ACE, but at a lesser cost to you. Almost every club has a monthly or bi-monthly publication with info on all you may want to know. And every club has it's perks like park discounts during the year, not just ACE.

Here's a few of the other groups you may want to check out:
the Western New York Coaster Club ;) "WNYCC" -- www.WNYCC.org
the Mid-Atlantic Coaster Club "MACC" -- http://members.aol.com/macclub1/index.html
the Greater Ohio Coaster Club "GOCC" -- http://gocc.coasternewsnetwork.com
Coaster Zombies -- http://members.aol.com/coasterzombies/CZPAGE..html

All of these groups do things on a more localized level, just as CoasterBuzz is doing now. You may find one of the groups closer to you to be more appealing if you can't travel too far.

There are also other groups like the Florida Coaster Club "FLCC", or the National Amusement Park Historical Assoc. "NAPHA", but I don't have their web addresses for you now.

Most of these groups work more on the newsletter type of information, so their websites may not be all to informative. If you e-mail any of the members of the club, they'll definitely respond back to you with all the information you haven't found on their site that you'd like to know.

Well I am a member of ACE, CB club, IAAPA, and I subscribe to AT and AB so I get things almost on a daily basis :) The ACE magazaines always come at least a month late. AT always runs a couple weeks behind and I think AB is devlivered via Pony Express!

Anyways, if you like to read articles by none other than the infamous Paul Reuben, join ACE. Since most of us spend alot of time online, I think membership to Coasterbuzz club is just as good, and you avoid all of the ads on the site. In regards to the HW discount, its offered to ANY coaster club card carrying member.(whew, say that 10 times!)

Jeff, it would be a wonderful idea to work it out with parks having ACE events to where CB members can attend as well. I know the ones run by ace would be hard, but the park sponsored ones shouldnt be difficult. Hey, its more money for the parks anyways!

By the way, AT=Amusement Today and AB=Amusement Business (for those of you that dont know)

-----------------
I hear a train a comin'
Comin' round the bend :P
TR2k3....GET READY!

I also think it is well worth joining. The publications are excellant, if not always timely but good reading. I havent been too alot of the events but the ones ive been to were very good and the people were friendly and the parks always seemed to go out of their way to make it a good expierence.

The big reason I am part of ACE is because we help to support the smaller parks and we donate money to help them continue operating their coasters. We have saved so many old rides, and we continue to try and do so.

We gave Lakemont Park $5,000 for their continued operation of the Leap The Dips and we gave Conneut Lake $5,500 to help with the painting of the Blue Streak.

ACE not only prides itself in loving coasters, we help to continue their operation.

I joined ACE in 1992 so I could get the newsletter and magazine to help plan trips my Dad and I would take. That was before I was on the internet. After I finally got online I found more up-to-date info on the net, but I still enjoy ACE News and RC Magazine for their indepth articles.

To counter what someone else said, not all the articles are by Paul Rubins and if you don't enjoy reading what Paul has to say, write and submit one yourself...ACE is always looking for articles for RC Magazine.

In 1999 I finally attended my first ACE event [Fall Conference, Bay Area parks] and was finally able to put faces with screennames, and I had such a great time I was cursing myself for not having attended an event sooner.

Is ACE [or any club] orth joining? ACE is for me, but I think each person has to answer that for themselves.

-----------------
"Three simple words: I am gay." - Homer Simpson, giving advice on how to dump a girl.

*** This post was edited by Mamoosh on 9/3/2002. ***

Mamoosh, I agree but the last issue of RC! had at least 4 big articles written by Paul. I guess I was spoiled by Coker's awesome reviews and articles from the old Thrillride... If only ACE would call him for articles instead...

Ace events are great if you are a somewhat sociable person. Its great to talk to members while you stand in queue lines or eating meals. But, if people are not very open, its difficult to break the ice. I love ACE and I will continue to be a member. Its a great investment. I know in my earlier post it may have sounded like I was bashing ACE, but since I have the means to purchase multiple memberships, I will continue to do so.

-----------------
I hear a train a comin'
Comin' round the bend :P
TR2k3....GET READY!

---

Mamoosh said:

To counter what someone else said, not all the articles are by Paul Rubins and if you don't enjoy reading what Paul has to say, write and submit one yourself...ACE is always looking for articles for RC Magazine.

-----------------

they're SO *hard up* for articles they even took mine, LOL...of course, I was forced to submit to the concept of punctuation....ok, so I am a sell-out, so what.....

-----------------
If you're not watching "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart", you're just watching the news....

---

I think it is WELL worth the membership if you are able to attend the events, even if they are regional ones. The yearly conventions (been to two so far) have been some of the best times of my life. The ERT alone is worth the membership. The magazines and newsletters are very cool too, but it's the events that make it worthwhile, and the chance to meet some cool people who are just as crazy as you about coasters.
I joined in Summer of 2000, and attended my "first" enthusiast event at Coastermania 01 and was very pleased with the ERT's, etc. Then I did the PA Con and was hooked for life. I think it was the insane nightime ERT on Lightning Racer that really did it for me. The recent California COn was also a very memorable event and I had much fun. I try to do as many as the local events around the OH/PA/KY/VA areas as possible.
It is also nice to know you can get discounts to parks such as PKI and Holiday World. PKI is the closest park to me and I tell everyone if they pay $50 for an ACE membership, two trips to PKI will almost pay for that membership, since they charge ACEr's half price. The morning "walkback" is also a nice perk.

If you have the time by all means join it. I wouldn't pay the $50 for the publications alone, although they are very cool. RC! and ACE NEWS always has some very in-depth articles and photos. The regional publications are very nice also. You can also get an ACE Directory listing every ACE member, and my favorite Guide To Ride, which is a great reference tool. But of course sites like Coasterbuzz and RCDB and RRC can provide more updated info and news/gossip.
I would say if you don't have time to attend any events I would hold off on joining, but when you do it will be well worth the cash. I will be a member for life (as well as a Buzzer I hope!" lol.

Tina N.

-------------
Feel The Adrenaline....
www.intenserides.com

*** This post was edited by coasterqueenTRN on 9/3/2002. ***

I am in my 2nd year of ACE and my daughter and I love it. We have been to some great events and met some great people. The publications are pretty good too. But if you're not going to attend the events it might not be worth the $50. I am also a member of a few other clubs. CB is a pretty good deal at $20 and you get most of the same park discounts and you still get to attend two of the best events there are, SRM and Coastermania.