Besoyan - ACENorCal.org

Official Newsletter of the
American Coaster Enthusiasts,
Northern California Region
Volume 3, Issue 2
Spring 2006
All Clear for Dispatch!
Did we get a new roller
coaster in Northern California this year? You might
think of Survivor The Ride
as a hybrid of a spinning
ride, roller coaster, and
television reality show.
Whether you decide to call
it a roller coaster or not, it
is a fun ride!
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR REGIONAL REP
preservation is one of ACE’s
primary objectives, it remains a tough challenge.
Losses outnumber the wins.
But that makes the wins all
the more significant.
Recent months have not
been so good for the cause
of preservation. We quickly
lost an entire park: HousThis issue’s “Blast from the ton’s Astroworld. While
Past!” looks back at the
some of the coasters were
cherished Willard’s
saved, many were lost —
Whizzer. It is a reminder of including some of the most
another coaster lost, unhistorically significant coastderscoring the importance ers.
of preservation. While
Inside this issue:
Roller coaster preservation
is a worldwide challenge.
In recent days, we learned
that Japan’s Nara Dreamland is set to close after
August. This unofficial
Japanese interpretation of
Disneyland, with its top tier
wooden coaster, Aska,
soon may no longer exist.
Blast from the Past!
2
ACE NorCal Auction;
A Sad Farewell;
Boardwalk’s 100th
3
Opening Day at Six
Flags Marine World
4
Stay Up to Date with
ACE NorCal
5
Take time to appreciate
what he have here. I encourage you to support all
of our Northern California
parks this season and enjoy the ride!
— Steven Wilson
Emi and Matthew with 6
ACE in Japan
BELOW: Remembering Willard’s Whizzer in Santa Clara. See story on page two.
Survivor The Ride
8
ACE NorCal Spotlight: 9
Pete Dusza
Page 2
Northern California Dispatch
Willard’s Whizzer
All Whizzer photos courtesy of
Paramount’s Great America.
We could fill an entire issue
of the Northern California
Dispatch with articles devoted to all of the coasters
that have been removed
from Great America in
Santa Clara over its 30year history: Gulf Coaster,
Turn of the Century
(transformed into Demon),
Tidal Wave/Greased Lightning, and Stealth. For
many, however, the most
beloved of the removed
coasters was the Whizzer,
originally named Willard's
Whizzer after Marriott Corporation founder, J. Willard
Marriott.
Designed and built by Anton Schwarzkopf, Whizzer
was one of two identical
coasters that made their
debuts in the Hometown
Squares of the new Marriott’s GREAT AMERICA
parks in both California and
Illinois in 1976. Today only
the Illinois Whizzer remains. It is one of only two
surviving examples of the
Schwarzkopf Speed
Racer / Extended Jumbo
Jet model. The other was
relocated from Kansas City
to a park in Colombia.
At a height of 70 feet, with
a drop of 64 feet, and a top
speed of only 42 MPH,
Whizzer was not the tallest
or fastest steel coaster for
its day. But it was, without
a doubt, one of the most
fun.
The trains had on-board
motors that drove them to
Volume 3, Issue 2
Page 3
the top of the unique spiral lift. From the top of the spiral, gravity powered the trains through the remainder of
the course. Whizzer's hills and ground-hugging curves
gave riders a heightened impression of speed. Lacking
inversions, the coaster was a favorite of families. Many
children grew up with Willard's Whizzer being their very
first "big" roller coaster ride. Passengers rode tandem,
so a small child could ride feeling comfortably protected
in the arms of a parent. To the surprise of many riders,
the trains had no lap bars or even seat belts. The forces
of the ride were designed to keep well-behaved riders in
their seats, in accordance with the laws of physics.
Eventually, seat belts were added as a safety precaution.
Tragedy struck on Saturday, March 29, 1980. A 13year-old boy was killed in an accident on Willard's
Whizzer. The boy was attempting to board when he
was struck from behind by another car as two trains collided. Eight others were reported injured in the accident.
Following the accident, the ride was renamed as simply
Whizzer. The Whizzer lived on for eight more seasons,
only to be dismantled — without warning — following
the 1988 season.
While the Whizzer is long gone, its site remains largely
unoccupied. The Xtreme Skyflyer and Whitewater Falls
take up only a small portion of the land where the Whizzer
stood. A new coaster would fit nicely in there. Many
coaster enthusiasts are still bitter about not having the opportunity to say goodbye to the Whizzer. A new coaster
would certainly help to make up for that, but the Whizzer
will continue to be missed for as long as there is a Great
America park in Santa Clara, California.
— Darren R. Besoyan
Auction Supports ACE Goals
A Sad Farewell
Donors and bidders at the 2005 ACE NorCal Holiday
Party raised $500 in support of the ACE Preservation
and Museum Funds. The money was allocated according to bidders’ preferences, with $210 going to the Preservation Fund and $290 going to the Museum Fund.
ACE Northern California would like to thank members
Meg Keehan, Paul Asente, and Richard Tuck for donating such great items for the auction. Special thanks
also go to Al García of Six Flags Marine World for
donating auction items. We also thank and
congratulate winning bidders Cliff Aldecoa, Frank
Biafore, Emi Pearce, and Derek Willhite!
In our last issue, we dared to dream of riding our beloved
Tidal Wave / Greased Lightnin’ one day in Vallejo. It had
been stored in the parking lot of Six Flags Marine World
ever since its much-lamented departure from Paramount’s
Great America. As much as we would have loved to see
that loop and spikes of track rise again in the North Bay, it
was not to be. The coaster’s parts have been shipped to
Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville where they will
be used for that park’s Greezed Lightnin’ Schwarzkopf
shuttle loop. The Kentucky ride was originally the Tidal
Wave at the Gurnee, Illinois Marriott’s GREAT AMERICA.
Now the two Tidal Waves essentially are becoming one.
AT OUR ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY
GOODBYE, OLD FRIEND
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: 100 Years and Millions of Memories
YOU ARE INVITED TO SHARE
Here in Northern California we have an important birthday coming up. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2007! This calls for
a real celebration. The park is planning a year-long
centennial celebration with fireworks, special events,
and more. ACE’s 2007 Spring Conference will be at the
Boardwalk to celebrate the centennial.
Furthering the Boardwalk’s commitment to historic preservation, the park is working on exciting centennial projects for a commemorative book and DVD. The Board-
walk has an archivist going through their extensive collection, selecting all sorts of delightful rarities from the park’s
one hundred years of history.
The Boardwalk’s visitors, including ACE members, are encouraged to share their favorite stories, photos, and even
home movies. Material from 1970 and earlier is especially
welcome. The contributions from visitors may be shared
on the Boardwalk’s web site or may even be used in the
DVD. ACE members are encouraged to contribute! Go to
http://beachboardwalk.com/memories/ .
Page 4
Northern California Dispatch
Opening Day
AT SIX FLAGS MARINE WORLD
The 2006 season for Six Flags Marine World (SFMW)
opened on March 4th. Six Flags is under new corporate
management, which seeks to take the parks in a different
direction. Late in 2005, Daniel Snyder and Mark Shapiro
made headlines when they took over Six Flags’ top positions. The company has been struggling with more than
two billion dollars of debt. Snyder and Shapiro want to turn
the company around. Many of the changes that SFMW
has already made this year reflect the new CEO’s thinking
and most of the changes are very positive.
Opening day kicked off with a ceremony in which two
young boys celebrating their birthdays threw a large switch
to open the gates. Confetti rained down on the entering
guests and employees graciously greeted every guest. It
is Six Flags’ 45th anniversary this year and many of the
employees were not shy about letting others know about
that. There was a lot of hand shaking between employees
and guests and an improved sense of communication between the two. The park is really making an effort in guest
relations this year and it was evident this first day. They
are also promoting a safe family image this year. Another
change is that all Six Flags parks are banning smoking inside the parks. Also new this year is a big increase in the
number of costumed characters at the front gate and
around the park. Not only will the Looney Tunes characters be out, but the DC Comics characters will be signing
autographs and posing with guests, too. Watch out for
some surprise characters as well. Opening day had an
“American Idol” character running around trying to impress
guests with her singing.
The area previously known as the Gentle Jungle is being converted into Tava’s Jungleland. Named in honor
of the elephant residing adjacent to the new area,
Tava’s Jungleland will offer seven new family rides and
two interactive attractions. The new area extends from
near the elephant ride area down to the lakeside walkway near the giraffes and lions. The park describes the
new rides and attractions as:
•
•
•
•
•
•
PHOTO: SCOTT CRAIG
Cosmetic changes to the park include a new decorative
plant ring around the main dolphin fountain and a much
cleaner eating area at the lakeside food court. The park
removed the defunct jumping fountains, creating a new
eating area that supports many more tables and chairs.
This also opens up the walkways between the food vendors and the eating area.
•
•
•
Congo Queen -- Set sail for an unforgettable adventure on the latest innovative family ride that features a unique combination of rocking and whirling
motion. (This is a Zamperla Rock N’ Tug.)
Nairobi's Look Out Balloons — Up, up and away
we go! Take a sky-high ride for a spectacular view of
the park on unique hot air balloon gondolas.
Tava's Elephant Parade — Kids fly round and
round on soaring pachyderms.
Monkey Around — Glide through the air with ease
on these monkey-themed swings.
Safari Jeep Tours — Kids hop aboard and convoy
through the backside of Tava's Jungleland.
Frog Hopper — Little explorers are lifted twenty
feet above the landscape before "hopping" down to
their descent.
Safari River Journey -- All aboard on these miniature safari vessels for a most memorable voyage.
Splashwater Oasis — Two towers of wet and wild
excitement where kids can splash and cool off from
the summer heat.
Treehouse Play Structure — Kids climb high and
explore one of the worlds’ largest play structures,
where they can explore three towers of fun offering
cargo nets, slides, bridges, and more.
Volume 3, Issue 2
Regarding the roller coasters, Roar has undergone some
extensive TLC, including track work as well as new wheel
assemblies for the orange train. The coaster is running
beautifully — just like it did when it first opened. Zonga
remains out of service and faces an uncertain future. In
other ride news, the miniature train that ran along the
lakeshore has been removed.
Page 5
ABOVE: Views of Tava’s Jungleland construction.
Photos courtesy of Six Flags Marine World.
BELOW: Merlin and Shouka perform together in
Shouka’s Splashtime Show. Photo by Scott Craig.
The big new animal attraction this year is Shouka’s
Splashtime Show. The new show features the park’s killer whale Shouka teaming up with Merlin, the Atlantic bottlenosed dolphin. For the first time in the park’s history
both species will be performing in the same tank. Together, they will show off their aerial skills and educate
the guests by demonstrating learned behaviors.
Another new show for 2006 is the 45th Anniversary Parade with Bugs Bunny and friends. Make sure to take the
family down to see a good collection of Looney Tunes
characters and animals parade though the park from the
Shouka Stadium all the way to the Shark Experience.
Six Flags Marine World extends its season through December this year with a new winter holiday celebration.
The park plans to install a million twinkling lights for Holiday in the Park. Activities will include ice skating, sledding
down a snow hill, and creating holiday crafts. To see
Six Flags Marine World’s operating calendar, check out
http://sixflags.com/marineworld/.
— Amy Craig and Scott Craig
Stay up to date with ACE NorCal
Thank you!
To receive our ACE NorCal email announcements, make
sure that your correct email address is on file with ACE.
If your address is not in the membership database, or if it
is incorrect, you will miss out on important late-breaking
information from ACE. Update your email address online
at: http://www.aceonline.org/MemberServices/ . Our announcements are sent out under “bcc:” with the subject
starting with “[ACE]”, so check your spam folder and update your spam filters if necessary.
•
ALSO VISIT OUR WEB SITE: http://www.acenorcal.org/
FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH THIS ISSUE
Paramount’s Great America: Holly Perez and
Carrie Williams
• Paramount Parks: David Cobb
• Six Flags Marine World: Al García
• ACE NorCal: Darren Besoyan, Amy Craig,
Scott Craig, Pete Dusza, Emi Pearce,
Matthew Pearce, Jerry Willard
Text and photos not otherwise credited are by
Steven Wilson.
Northern California Dispatch
Page 6
Emi and Matthew with ACE in Japan PART ONE
Emi and Matthew Pearce were two of the many Northern
California ACE members who went on the ACE / European Coaster Club tour of Japan in 2005. In this twopart series, they share some of their memories of the
adventure. All photos are courtesy of Matthew and Emi.
after returning home had an article describing the park
when it was open!
Emi at the
closed
Oyama
Yuenchi
park.
Next was a short jaunt to look at the Tokyo Tower. Then
we headed to Aqua Stadium and rode the Galaxy Express 999 roller coaster. We purchased the related movie,
with subtitles, and now understand the ride’s theming.
Matthew
Emi
We flew to Tokyo ahead of the scheduled trip so that we
could go to more parks. After our first breakfast, we met
other ACE members at our hotel. We tagged along with
them to Arakawa Yeun. On the way to the park, we got
to ride a trolley in the only area of Tokyo served by
streetcars. Arakawa Yeun is a small children’s park with
a wacky worm coaster, a Ferris wheel (with a manual fan
for cool comfort), and other small rides.
We had researched Oyama Yuenchi prior to the trip. Its
web site listed three coasters: Jungle Mouse, a Schwarzkopf Shuttle Loop, and W Face Coaster. Upon arrival,
we found that the park was closed, but the security
guard gave us passes and allowed us into the park unescorted! We got to explore the Schwarzkopf shuttle.
Some walked the track. Others used the catwalk and
climbed over a roof to stand on the track. Ironically, the
first issue of RollerCoaster! magazine that we received
The first park of the official tour was Hanayashiki, a tiny
park near the Asakusa Kannon Temple. Opened in 1853,
it is the oldest park in Japan. Hanayashiki has Japan’s
oldest roller coaster, dating back to 1953. This Togo
roller coaster circles the entire park. It goes through
buildings and has some amusing props. While you go up
the lift hill, a message sign, shaped like the head of a man
wearing a night cap, pops out!
The park was remarkable for packing about thirty rides
into a small area that is more compact than Indiana
Beach. The park has many gems, including a scary
sound effects room. The next time a park manager says
that they just can’t fit another ride into their park, ask if he
or she has been to Hanayashiki.
Rain started as we left Hanayashiki for Toshimaen. All of
the outside rides closed because of the rain. So the group
converged on the carousel which has three rings -- each
spinning at a different rate. The outer ring rotated the
slowest and the inner ring was the fastest.
We moved on to Tokyo Dome City, a shopping area with
the LaQua amusement park. Thunder Dolphin runs on
top of the mall and goes through the center of the Ferris
wheel called the Big O. Also there are Linear Gale, the
first Intamin impulse coaster, and Geopanic, an enclosed
Togo sit-down coaster, and Maihime, a spinning mouse.
The following day we saw how similar Tokyo Disneyland
is to the original Disneyland and Magic Kingdom. Space
Volume 3, Issue 2
Mountain was the same as the original Anaheim configuration, as were Big Thunder Mountain and Gadget’s Go
Coaster. Our visit to Tokyo DisneySea was the next day.
Raging Spirits was the new coaster at this park. Signs
warned us that people of unusual size could not ride. We
were measured and allowed to ride!
The next day we visited Yomiuriland. This park features
an aerial gondola that provides transportation between
the park entrance and a train station. The park’s smallest
coaster is the Wan Wan (bow wow) Wandit., while the
park’s best coaster is Bandit, a non-looping Togo hyper
coaster. The cars of Bandit’s trains are shaped like logs.
The SL Coaster is a Togo mine train. Many of the group
dubbed it the “Slow, Lazy Coaster.” MOMOnGA is a
unique combo stand-up and sit-down coaster with one
stand-up and one sit-down train.
Page 7
pendently-spinning cars, and Panic Drive — a Sansei
wild mouse with cars styled like antique automobiles.
Others were Batflyer, Big Boom — a Meisho single
looper, Camel Coaster — a Meisho non-looper, and
Thunder Coaster — a Meisho corkscrew.
Meet the Prez!
ACE President Carole Sanderson
seated behind NorCal ACEer Paul Asente
Thunder
Dolphin!
There is plenty of steel
at Nasu Highland Park.
After Yomiuriland we went to Joypolis, an indoor park
featuring the unique Speed Boarder. This coaster runs
individual two-seater cars that are shaped like skate
boards. The ride is mostly in the dark, but it also flies out
to a glass-enclosed area offering a view of Tokyo bay.
The next day we visited Nasu Highland Park. The coaster
setup reminded me of a scenario from Roller Coaster Tycoon in which you had to squeeze eight coasters into a
small park by intertwining them. Favorites included F²
Fright Flight, Spin Turn — a Meisho non-looper with inde-
On right: NorCal ACEers
Rick Widger and Colleen Hutchings
aboard Thunder Dolphin.
Tobu Zoo was a surprise! Here we enjoyed Regina — a
great wooden coaster by Intamin, a Togo wild mouse
with a loop through a cat’s mouth, and Tentomushi — a
Zierer medium Tivoli coaster. We had fun on the Skylove monorail, a Ferris wheel, and the Gmax drop ride.
Night ERT on Regina and Tentomushi was the only
nighttime ERT of the trip. We really appreciated it!
On Saturday we rode the bullet train from Tokyo to
Osaka to visit Expoland on the site of the Expo ‘70
world’s fair. Their Daidarasaurus coaster was both the
longest and noisiest we have ever ridden. It began as a
twin racing coaster, but was modified to combine both
tracks for a total length of 7,677 feet. Fujin Raijin II, is a
TOGO standup whose name means “thunder god”.
Other coasters were Family Coaster, Mini Coaster,
Space Salamander, Wild Mouse, and Orochi — a B&M
inverted with a baby dinosaur theme. Next, we took a
monorail and train to Universal Studios Japan where we
rode Snoopy’s Sound Stage Adventure indoor coaster.
(Continued on page 10)
Northern California Dispatch
Page 8
Survivor The Ride
NEW FOR 2006 AT PARAMOUNT’S GREAT AMERICA
Paramount’s Great America (PGA) opened for the park’s
30th anniversary season on April 1, 2006. Ready for
opening day was their newest attraction, Survivor The
Ride. The first of its kind at any park in the world, the
ride is a Zamperla Disk’o Coaster. It combines the action of a spinning ride with that of a roller coaster.
Themed to the CBS television show Survivor, the park
touts the new ride as the world’s first “reality coaster”.
Should you count it as a roller coaster or not? Come
take a ride and decide for yourself. In any case, the ride
is definitely lots of fun and is a welcome addition.
ABOVE: Left to right: David Cobb of Paramount Parks
and CBS Survivors Katie Gallagher, Stephenie
LaGrossa, and Lex van den Berghe.
PGA graciously invited ACE members to participate in
the making of the ride’s television commercial and to
come out for media day on April 13th. On media day,
ACEers were treated to unlimited rides, plenty of food,
and the opportunity to meet three CBS “Survivors” as
well as chat with David Cobb, creative designer of the
ride’s theming and interactive effects. Thanks, PGA!
Dora, the CBS Survivors, and NorCal ACE members pause for a photo.
Volume 3, Issue 2
Page 9
ACE NorCal Spotlight
Pete Dusza
Asked when he became a coaster enthusiast and park
fan, Pete replied, “I don't think I became a park fan. I was
BORN a park fan.”
Pete was born a park fan in Chicago, Illinois and grew up
there. He was too young to remember his very first roller
coaster ride, but his mother says that it was probably one
of the kiddie coasters at a suburban kiddieland park.
Pete’s first big roller coaster was the Silver Flash woodie
at Chicago’s famous Riverview Park. The Silver Flash
was the first coaster just inside the park’s entrance. It had
caged cars and the coaster trains resembled a streamliner
locomotive. Pete recalls, “The great thing about Riverview
was when you came back into the station, you could ride
AGAIN without getting out of the car for only 10 cents and
as long as the dimes held out.”
Pete moved to California in 1979. It was not until 1988
that he found out about ACE. He was waiting in the lobby
of a company here and picked up a copy of the trade
magazine Hydraulics & Pneumatics. That issue had an
article about coasters and included a mention of ACE. He
joined ACE immediately after that, but wishes that he
would have found ACE earlier.
PHOTO: PETE DUSZA
LEFT: Pete’s sign from the Riverview Bobs station. ABOVE: Laughing Sal
and Pete with his NorCal ACE Spirit Award plaque at the 2005 ACE NorCal
Holiday Party. BELOW: Renewing wedding vows on Colossus.
Choosing a favorite coaster is a tough question for Pete. When pressed, he indicates that his current favorites are Hades in Wisconsin Dells for wood and Millennium Force at Cedar Point for steel. The coaster that he has not ridden, but
would most like to ride, would be the defunct Crystal Beach Cyclone.
Pete and his wife Nancy took a coaster tour of England in 1994, which was
dubbed the year of the roller coaster in England. Pete travels a lot to Japan. In
1997 he wrote an article for RollerCoaster! magazine (issue number 65) about a
coaster tour he did in Japan. Pete says that he is working as hard as possible
to get to semi-retirement so that he can be even more active in ACE.
Pete and Nancy’s 25th wedding anniversary occurred during CoasterCon XVII at Six Flags Magic Mountain. With
ACE member Father Gerry Chleborad at the Con, they
renewed their wedding vows on Colossus on their anniversary date, June 7, 1994.
Pete has a big collection of roller coaster souvenirs and a
few antiques, including an original sign that was above a
treasure chest in the Riverview Bobs station. The treasure chest was full of earrings that had been found under
the Bobs roller coaster.
For his many behind-the-scenes contributions to ACE
Northern California, Pete was awarded the NorCal ACE
Spirit Award at the 2005 ACE NorCal Holiday Party.
Photo courtesy of PETE DUSZA
Northern California Dispatch
Page 10
ACE in Japan
(Continued from page 7)
On Sunday we went to Nara
Dreamland, seemingly a copy
of Disneyland, but with an Intamin wooden coaster, Aska.
We also enjoyed Bobsleigh,
reminiscent of the Matterhorn
Bosleds, Fantasy Coaster — a
Meisho mine train, Kid’s
Coaster, and Screw Coaster
(yes, that is its name).
Hirakata Park was next with
Elf — an Intamin wooden
coaster, Red Falcon, Crazy
Mouse — a Reverchon nonspinning mouse, Peekaboo
Town, and Fantastic Coaster
Rowdy. Afterwards, a group of
us took the subway to Festivalgate to ride Delphis.
— Matthew Pearce
PART TWO OF THE STORY WILL APPEAR IN
OUR NEXT ISSUE!
PO Box 23817
San José, CA 95153
http://www.acenorcal.org/
Survivors! See story on page 8.