bb_dg
Posts: 3568
Registered: 7/31/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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 8/12/2002 12:52:00 PM
let me just start out by saying i have never had soooo much fun at a theme park- ever! the ERT was unbeatable and these two park, canobie lake and funtown, had great atmosphere, friendly staff and great rides.
FRIDAY: DAY 1
after driving from just north of philly to just north of hartford the day before, we headed to salem, nh for canobie lake. we took the long way through vermont just because none of us (me, my brother and my dad) had been to that state before.
we arrived at canobie at 3 for registration. i got my VIP badge and we headed to rockin' rider, the parks SDC galaxi. i had never been on a galaxi and found this ride to be a nice smooth coaster with two good drops.
next coaster was the yankee cannonball. this coaster has great air all throughout and some huge laterals on the turn around. i am proud to call this ride my 50th!!!!! roller coaster.
we headed to the corkscrew next. this is a very short coaster that is a very bad head banger. after this ride, we ventured around the park to do some flat rides and water rides.
by 8, it was time to go to the ACE reception at the dance hall. an interesting fact- this dance hall was built by PTC and could have been a coaster somewhere else if it wasnt built. there was some gourmet platters with cheese and crab claws. not your typical park food. after this was a slowing of freedom sings. it was a decent show.
by 10, it was time for ERT on the yankee cannonball!!! very fun and in the hour and a half we were there, i got six rides in. i also got to lead out the first train of ERT in the front seat and lead out the last train of ERT in the front seat.
SATURDAY: DAY 2
woke up early to get to the park by 9 for ERT on all the coasters. first ride was the kiddie dragon coaster. it surprised me with a good amount of laterals. next was the corkscrew and then we headed over to the yankee cannonball.
bad news though, the cannonball was having some problems with the new consign operating system. the skid brakes were not releasing. by the time they got it up and running, the park was open and the ERT was cut down to just getting on before everyone else for one ride.
it was now time for the free ACE picnic at the groves. the food was good and afterwards there was a auction. i am not the proud owner of a yankee cannonball wheel off of one of the old PTC trains. i am planning on mounting it on a plaque. also, there was a triva question for people under 16. i made the cut by two days. the question was 'when was the yankee cannonball built?' i was the first to get the answer (1936) and my prize was a set of coaster card, a 13 dollar value.
after lunch we drove to funtown usa in saco maine. there was alot of traffic but we got there with time to spare.
we got to funtown and did a good number of flat rides, the log flume and the two coasters before ERT. they have a galaxi and a CCI woodie.
excalibur was a great ride in the day time, but come ERT at night, it was crazy!!! the ride ops were very pumped (i have never seen ANY ride op this pumped!!!) and they were allowing anything!!! after turning out the parking lot and walkway lights, it was pitch dark (no moon too) and this ride was... words cant describe it. the best seat is back seat, left side, which i made sure i got often. i got many rides in with, get this, NO LAP BAR!!! it was insane. the ops also let us go a half hour over the scheduled ERT. this was the best time i had ever had on a coaster.
SUNDAY: DAY THREE
after ERT in the morning on excalibur (with the same ride ops- hats off the them!) we ventured around the park with a huge group of ACErs. we took over the bumper cars, bumper boats and go karts. that was alot of fun.
we headed out after the lunch for the 8 hour ride home. we took a different way around NYC and avoided alot of traffic.
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overall, this was a great trip. i got to hang out with the pres of ACE, events
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Cyclonic
Posts: 2636
Registered: 7/19/2002
Rank: Experiment 626
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8/12/2002 11:41:00 PM
I hope to be there with you next year. This has inspired me to finally get off my butt and join, something I should have done years ago. Glad it was a great time.
 Oh good, my dog found the chainsaw!
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bb_dg
Posts: 3568
Registered: 7/31/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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8/13/2002 2:22:00 PM
yeah, its a great club. sadly, it wont be anywhere near us next year- it will be in colorado at SFEG and lakeside amusement park. good thing is that the convention will be at BGW and PKD in 2003 and CP and SFWoA in 2004.
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smk
Posts: 1123
Registered: 6/26/2001
Rank: Platinum Critic
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8/13/2002 4:01:00 PM
I've been thinking hard lately about joining too...only problem I might have is transportation to the events
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
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Cyclonic
Posts: 2636
Registered: 7/19/2002
Rank: Experiment 626
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 8/13/2002 4:10:00 PM
On the webite (www.aceonline.com)they have information on setting up car pools. I'm sure that as long as another member who lives close is going, you should be able to get a lift.
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bb_dg
Posts: 3568
Registered: 7/31/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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8/13/2002 4:14:00 PM
it probably wouldnt be a problem- everybody is really friendly and once you go to one event, you get to know alot of people.
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Twirlnhurl
Posts: 844
Registered: 4/29/2002
Rank: Gold Critic
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8/13/2002 4:18:00 PM
The magizenes are worth the membership price anyway.
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smk
Posts: 1123
Registered: 6/26/2001
Rank: Platinum Critic
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8/13/2002 6:06:00 PM
Ok thanx, Ill look into it.
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mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001
Rank: TPC News Minister
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10/14/2002 11:32:00 AM
The event was great. I promiss kevin and I wont let Greg order food ever agen. in fact we might just order hime a liftime suply of tombstones. and we didn't get the ride weel either. though we now have a weel from the Rock'n rider car. we are also picking up alot of ride part in the next week are so. oh!! did you play a game at the spinny- roundy thing(fishing pond) the oldest game in the park?
Funtown was fun two it took us 5 hours to get their. our lead convoy car kept having truble. Excalaber was truly amazing. the operaters with no-doze in hand were alot of fun alot of high fives an hugs befor we left. the flum was good and Dragons had the best view I've ever seen I really liked the fire works desplay untile those peaple showed up and made us stop.
Message updated 10/14/2002 11:16:00 PM by mrceagle
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bb_dg
Posts: 3568
Registered: 7/31/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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10/14/2002 6:28:00 PM
those fireworks were you! i cant believe they complained- didnt the cops come too?
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mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001
Rank: TPC News Minister
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10/14/2002 11:19:00 PM
I wasn't the one with the Fireworks. Those peaple( the cops) I didn't want tosaythat the cops came. The reason was fireworks are ileagle inthe state of maine. I was theone standing at the botom of the coaster lift hill taking photos.
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