American Coaster Enthusiasts

Founded	1978
Headquarters	1100-H Brandywine Blvd Zanesville, OH 43701-7303
Members	7,000
Website	http://www.aceonline.org/

The American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) is an organization dedicated to the enjoyment and preservation of roller coasters. Membership is open to anyone with payment of yearly dues, and membership benefits may include discounted admission to certain amusement parks. ACE members often meet at various parks around the United States and other countries for special events, sometimes sponsored by the parks themselves.

[edit] History

ACE was founded in 1978^[1] by Paul Greenwald, Roy Brashears, and Richard Munch. At the time, it was commonplace for thrill-seekers and prospective Guinness record-breakers to participate in marathons on roller coasters. Such a marathon was arranged in 1977 on Rebel Yell at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia to promote the release of the movie Rollercoaster, starring George Segal, Henry Fonda, Richard Widmark, and a young Helen Hunt. Rebel Yell was an exceedingly appropriate choice, as it was also featured in the film. Three of the participants in this marathon, the aforementioned Greenwald, Brashears, and Munch, discussed what a great idea it would be to form a club for those who have a passion for riding roller coasters. With that, the idea for ACE was born and Coaster Con I (where the group officially became an organization) was held a year later (almost to the day) just down the road at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Side note: Another participant in this landmark marathon was a young man by the name of Mike Boodley. Boodley went on to co-found Great Coasters International, one of very few firms that design and build wooden roller coasters.

[edit] Purpose and membership

ACE is governed by five officers, four of which are directly elected and one indirectly elected by the club's membership. These officers are the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Immediate Past President. Additionally, ACE currently has twelve Executive Committee positions, which are appointed by majority vote of the elected officers.^[2]

One such Executive Committee position is the Regional Rep Director, who oversees a system of ACE regions, Regional Representatives, and Assistant Regional Representatives. These regions and their reps often sponsor events at amusement parks, produce regional newsletters, and keep members within the region up to date via email and regional web sites.

ACE is almost entirely run by volunteers, only employing Offinger, a management firm, to run certain day-to-day operations regarding mailings, receipt of event payment/membership dues, and merchandise. Annual membership dues are available in individual, couple, family, and corporate memberships.

ACE offers a variety of club logo merchandise and back issues of its magazine, RollerCoaster!, for purchase to its members.

RollerCoaster! is published quarterly in full-color heavy stock glossy magazine format. The club's newsletter, ACE News, is published six times a year in black and white 8 1/2" by 11" format.

ACE Regions

• California Northern
• California Southern (including Hawaii)
• Canada (except British Columbia)
• England (including Ireland and the United Kingdom)
• Florida
• Heart of America (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and southern Illinois)
• Michigan
• Mid-Atlantic (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia)
• Midwest (Indiana, Kentucky, parts of West Virginia)
• New England (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont)
• New Jersey
• New York City
• New York State (except New York City)
• North Central (Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota)
• Northwest (Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington)
• Ohio Northern
• Ohio Southern
• Pennsylvania Central
• Pennsylvania Eastern
• Pennsylvania Western (including parts of West Virginia)
• South Central (Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and western Mississippi)
• Southeast (Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and parts of Florida and eastern Mississippi)
• Southwest (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming)
• Western Great Lakes (Wisconsin and northern Illinois)

Membership dues

There is an annual publications postage fee of USD $10 for members in Canada or Mexico and USD $30 for members outside of North America.

[edit] Events

At the national level, ACE typically sponsors several events each year including an annual Convention (usually in June, starting on Father's Day), two or three Conferences held at various times (often Spring Conference, Summer Conference, and Preservation Conference), and two winter non-riding events (No Coaster Con held near Chicago in mid-January and Eastcoaster held near Allentown, PA in early February).

[edit] Coaster Con

The annual convention, called Coaster Con, usually features two or three host parks, but sometimes focuses on just one and other times may feature as many as seven. It is the most complete and extensive event that exists for coaster enthusiasts on an annual basis. Not only are ACErs admitted to the host parks, but Exclusive Ride Time (ERT) is often granted on certain coasters before a park opens and/or after it closes. This is a time during which only registered attendees of Coaster Con may ride whichever roller coasters are offered. Coaster Con also generally includes a photo contest, video contest, Midway Olympics (where teams of participants play carnival games for "Olympic Medals"), ACE annual business meeting, banquet (with presentations, awards, industry keynote speaker, and auction to benefit ACE's funds), workshops, discussion groups, displays, and memorabilia sales tables.

ACE supports riding roller coasters responsibly and following all posted ride rules, especially those regarding remaining seated at all times. To this end, ACE members must follow a code of conduct. Failure to do so may result in suspension or expulsion of the offending member from the club.^[3]

[edit] Awards

[edit] Coaster Classic

The Coaster Classic award was developed during a period when changes in the design, equipping, and operation of wood coasters threatened to erase these time-honored experiences and rituals. The award is designed to recognize coasters that still adhere to these principles, while allowing riders to safely experience the thrill of the classic wooden roller coaster ride. To be eligible for ACE Coaster Classic status, the coaster must meet the following criteria:^[4]

• Traditional lap bars that allow riders to experience so-called airtime, or negative G's, the sensation of floating above the seat, must be installed. Individual, ratcheting lap bars do not meet this requirement.
• Riders must be able to slide from side-to-side in their seats. A coaster with any restraint or device that restricts this freedom, like seat dividers between riders, does not meet this requirement.
• Riders must be able to view upcoming drops and thrills. A coaster with headrests on every seat or the majority of seats that restrict this view does not meet this requirement.
• Riders must be free to choose where they sit. A coaster where riders are assigned seats before boarding does not meet this requirement. The amusement park or theme park operating a coaster that is recognized as a Coaster Classic is usually presented a custom plaque. The plaque typically states:

It has been noted, however, that most coasters usually have disqualifying racheting lap bars, seat dividers, and head rests to prevent people from trying to stand up during ride. For example, Rolling Thunder at Six Flags Great Adventure has Buzz bars which meet traditional lap bar Coaster Classic requirements, but it is not a classic because of headrests and seat dividers being added in 1981 to prevent people from standing up during the ride. ^[5]

[edit] Roller Coaster Landmark

ACE Landmark Award plaque outside Magnum XL-200 at Cedar Point. Magnum is the world's first hypercoaster

In 2002, ACE introduced the Roller Coaster Landmark award. The award is designed to recognize coasters of historical significance that may not qualify for ACE Coaster Classic status.^[6]

The amusement park or theme park operating a coaster that is recognized as a Roller Coaster Landmark is presented a custom plaque. The plaque typically makes a statement about the award and provides information about the coaster and its opening.

[edit] Golden Age Coaster

The Golden Age Coaster award, a prequel to the Roller Coaster Landmark award, was established to recognize significant roller coasters that were built during the 1920s. Giant Dipper at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk received the Golden Age Coaster award in addition to the Roller Coaster Landmark award. Giant Dipper at Belmont Park also received the Golden Age Coaster award.^[7]

[edit] Preservation

ACE takes an active role in the preservation of endangered roller coasters. Since 1985, the club has either directly or indirectly helped to save more than half a dozen coasters. Most notable among these are the Phoenix at Knoebels in Elysburg, PA, the first wood coaster to be relocated from a significant distance away (San Antonio, TX) in modern times; and Leap the Dips, the world's oldest operating wooden coaster, located at Lakemont Park in Altoona, PA. On occasion, some parks have also sought the opinions of ACE members about the design of new coasters. Most notable among these is The Legend at Holiday World in Santa Claus, IN.

Because opinions on what makes a coaster great are many and varied among coaster fans, ACE does not officially rate or rank roller coasters.

[edit] External links

• American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) (Official website)

[edit] References

1. ^ About ACE http://www.aceonline.org/aboutACE/
2. ^ ^{a b} Constitution and Bylaws http://www.aceonline.org/constitution/
3. ^ Code of Conduct http://www.aceonline.org/conduct/
4. ^ Coaster Awards http://www.aceonline.org/CoasterAwards/?type=1
5. ^ [1]
6. ^ Coaster Awards http://www.aceonline.org/CoasterAwards/?type=3
7. ^ Coaster Awards http://www.aceonline.org/CoasterAwards/?type=2