Regional ACE Events Regional ACE Events Regional ACE Events from FLORIDA: IAAPA Meet & Greet at T.G.I. Friday's T.G.I. Friday's - November 16, 2011 ACE Day at Tampa Bay

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay - November 19, 2011 PHOTOS BY DAVID LIPNICKY

he ACE Florida region hosted two events to coincide with the 2011 International Association of Amusement Parks and TAttractions (IAAPA) Expo that took place in Orlando the week of November 15 -18. On Wednesday, November 16, approximately 60 ACE members gathered for the annual IAAPA Meet & Greet at T.G.I. Friday's. This get-together near Walt Disney World provided an opportunity to have a great meal and fellowship with other ACE members, includ- ing many from outside the area who were in town for the conven- tion. It is always a fun time sharing stories and making future plans DAVID LIPNICKY with fellow ACEers. Many thanks go to T.G.I. Friday's for allowing MARLON SCOTT the use of the private dining room. On November 19, 109 ACE members from the Florida region, as well as members representing 20 other states and four countries, sprinted to for the annual ACE Day event. The morning started with ERT on Busch Gardens' newest , Cheetah Hunt,the triple-launch coaster that ing, then addressed the appreciative crowd. Rose spoke of made its debut in May 2011. What a way to start the day and get the history of the great coasters at Busch Gardens and the adrenaline flowing! To ensure that the adrenaline kept pumping provided insight into the development of Cheetah Hunt and throughout the day, every event participant was given a Quick its unique construction obstacles. For example, Rhino Queue ticket that allowed access to all of the major rides at Busch Rally, the Sky Ride and the train were all altered to accom- Gardens Tampa Bay without having to wait in line. modate Cheetah Hunt,which now uses the old monorail

At 11 a.m. everyone gathered at the Gwazi Pavilion for a private station as its own. KERRI KELLEY luncheon featuring a tasty all-you-can-eat buffet. The park gener- At the conclusion of lunch, members headed back into ously donated quite a few goodies, including several old pieces of the park to enjoy the rest of the day. The fabulous weath- SheiKra train floor and Cheetah Hunt items, which were given away er, the perks provided by the park and the awesome rides as door prizes during the lunch break. Guest speakers included ACE and animal attractions of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay made Busch Gardens' Mark Rose (second president Dave Altman and events director Paul Blick, who spoke to for a spectacular day for ACE members from all over. from left) enjoyed his day off with the group about upcoming coaster events for 2012 and beyond. —Chris Kraftchick and Robin Wilson, ACE Florida reps Chris Kraftchick, Mark Rose, Busch Gardens' vice president of design and engineer- ACE Florida regional rep and assistant rep Robin Wilson and David Fake. REGIONAL ACE EVENTS ARE EVERYWHERE! Saturday, February 25, 2012 Saturday, March 10, 2012 Saturday, June 16, 2012 Sunday, July 22, 2012 Bumper Cars on Ice Jeepers: It's Winter! ACE Southeast Rafts the Ocoee River KennyKon XXIII TUCKER ROAD ICE RINK SIX FLAGS AMERICA OCOEE RIVER KENNYWOOD Ft. Washington, Maryland Largo, Maryland Benton, Tennessee West Mifflin, Pennsylvania info: Elizabeth Ringas info: Elizabeth Ringas info: Robert Ulrich info: Bill Linkenheimer 804.360.4704 804.360.4704 404.295.7814 412.725.7499 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Saturday, February 25, 2012 Saturday, April 21, 2012 Saturday, June 16, 2012 Saturday, July 28, 2012 Winter Adventure Spring Fling ACE Day at Lake Winnie Hawg Wild SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE SIX FLAGS OVER GEORGIA Regional Add-on Day INDIANA BEACH Jackson, New Jersey Austell, Georgia LAKE WINNEPESAUKAH Monticello, Indiana info: Bret Ulozas info: Josh Herrington Rossville, Georgia info: Paul Blick 732.370.6909 662.323.7136 info: Josh Herrington 270.782.5964 [email protected] [email protected] 662.323.7136 www.ACEmidwest.com [email protected] Saturday, March 3, 2012 Saturday-Sunday, May 26-27, 2012 Saturday, August 25, 2012 CoasterBash! XXIII CoasterFest Saturday, June 23, 2012 ACE Day at the PNE SALVATORE’S CONNEAUT LAKE PARK ACE Day at Six Flags Over Georgia PLAYLAND AT THE PNE Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania Regional Add-on Day Vancouver, British Columbia info: Bill Linkenheimer WALDAMEER SIX FLAGS OVER GEORGIA info: Lisa Zigweid 412.725.7499 Erie, Pennsylvania Austell, Georgia 425.531.4102 [email protected] info: Bill Linkenheimer info: Josh Herrington [email protected] 412.725.7499 662.323.7136 Sunday, March 4, 2012 [email protected] [email protected] Saturday, September 8, 2012 The Great Nor'Easter Riding of the Bull Cuatro SIX FLAGS NEW ENGLAND Sunday, June 3, 2012 Saturday, June 30, 2012 SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE Agawam, Massachusetts Beech Bend Bash ACE’s Rush to the Sky Jackson, New Jersey info: Rus Ozana BEECH BEND PARK HERSHEYPARK info: Bret Ulozas 617.816.9943 Bowling Green, Kentucky Hershey, Pennsylvania 732.370.6909 [email protected] info: Paul Blick info: Brian Watts [email protected] 270.782.5964 717.903.5045 Sunday, March 4, 2012 www.ACEmidwest.com [email protected] Saturday, September 15, 2012 MountainFest Rollercoasters, Eh? WISP RESORT Saturday, June 9, 2012 Saturday, July 21, 2012 CANADA’S WONDERLAND McHenry, Maryland ACE Dives! ACE Goes Idlewild Vaughan, Ontario info: Elizabeth Ringas BUSCH GARDENS WILLIAMSBURG IDLEWILD AND SOAKZONE info: Mike Romiscon 804.360.4704 Williamsburg, Virginia Ligonier, Pennsylvania 519.352.6451 (CAN) [email protected] info: Elizabeth Ringas info: Bill Linkenheimer 941.321.8660 (USA) 804.360.4704 412.725.7499 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

UPDATED EVENT INFO: www.AmericanCoasterEnthusiasts.org/events FEBRUARY 2012 ACE NEWS 10