Ride Warrior Weekend - with photos - by Mike

by **illinois** » Tue May 12, 2009 8:39 pm

Saturday, May 9th

After rolling out of bed at 5am, I arrive at KI about 6:30 to register for Ride Warrior Weekend. This was the second time in a few weeks that I had arrived at KI before 7am.

They gave us lanyards/passes and an unexpected bonus - a free drink wristband. We got one the next day too. Check-in was very quick, as were the metal detectors.

At 7am we walked back to Beast ERT. Vortex and Stunt Coaster opened an hour later, and after a few rides on the Beast we enjoyed no waiting for the steel coasters.

At 9am many of us made a break for Diamondback (DB) ERT, during which I had four rides. As the park opened to the public at 10am, I headed for the Crypt, and I was on the ride in only a few minutes. I have to say, I really enjoyed it. After quite a few flips, I had no idea which way was up in the dark building. I'm glad I caught it before the line formed.

At this point I headed to my car to get my camera for the Beast walkback at 11am. We walked back to where the track goes under the second lift, and took a bunch of photos. I was lucky enough to catch two jackasses in the front seat flipping off the on-ride-camera and all of the enthusiast onlookers. Everyone else who saw us was waving and smiling, though.

We were done before noon, so I decided to pull out the telephoto lens and see what kind of rider reactions I could get for people on DB. After some adjustment of the camera and a slight learning curve, I started getting results. I've attached some parts of the photos below - they are too large to fit at full resolution, so, I've selected some of my favorite reactions and cropped and reduced them a bit trying to preserve detail.

Based on how the photos came out, I'd say I've got a better camera body and quite a lot more ride photography in my future. Can't wait to snap some photos of -G-ers and friends having a great time on a ride, preferably DB.

At 4pm we met at Bubba Gump's for beer. Naturally after having a drink I had to head for the DB line, and Kevin joined me while Greg and Brian went in search of other beverages. I believe I talked Kevin into a row 2 ride, and we both had a great time. (The front two rows are still my favorite.)

Next was the 6pm talk, which featured a general park question and answer session, followed by a video from the president of PTC describing his experiences working on the Beast. He described what it's like when you're in the front seat of the ride and you hit a sack of cement that someone has left lying on the tracks just outside the station - that happened on his first Beast ride. Next up was another gentleman involved in surveying the land and constructing the ride (his name eludes me). Then there were question and answer about the ride, before we headed out to catch another DB ride and then go to the Beast birthday party.

The party had cake, snacks and soda, but also a very loud, not-so-great DJ. The raffle was dragging on, so we left and caught a Beast night ride and another DB ride or two before the park closed to the public.

At 10:30pm DB ERT started. The line went down the steps, under the lift, and up the steps at first, but it shortened until early in the morning you could basically walk on, if you could get around the slow-walking people in the line. Seriously, if you're tired, step aside so I can get past and find an empty seat!

Later in ERT the full moon rose through the hammerhead turn - very cool to see from the second hill. I could also turn around on the lift and see my car in the parking lot!

I spent the bulk of the ERT riding with Adam, a guy I met at CP on the night he had his 3000th MF ride, but I also had at least one with Kevin. I lost Greg and Brian somewhere in the line, but they looked like they were having fun when I saw them.

By the end of the ERT at 1am I had 16 rides under my belt that night and I was wearing gloves to keep my hands warm. Then it was off to the hotel for some (not enough) sleep.

Sunday, May 10th

I was back at 8am, and since Firehawk was down the opened Vortex for ERT as well as FoF and Racer. I ran into Zach, who also enjoys taking DB photos, and we caught two or three rides on FoF, four rides on Racer, and then a couple on Vortex. I then got a zen ride on Vortex in the front seat, and Zach got photos.

At 9:30 we went (OK, we ran) to DB, and it paid off - our first ride was in the front seats, and the next ride was in the very back. A great way to start the day.

Later on we took a couple rides on Drop Zone, a ride on Invertigo and Delerium, and then it was lunch time. I finally tried out Avatar and it was quite a bit of fun. The Son of Beast walkback was interesting, and I took more photos, though the distance and lighting did not make it easy. The DB photos that I got are better.

As the line got shorter later in the day, I went back over to ride Drop Zone again, and caught a walk-on ride and reride on Flight Deck. Then I headed back to DB. As a number of us were getting in line, four guys ducked under railings and line jumped all of the people walking through the queue, about 30 of us or so. I told them they should get behind all of us, but they ignored me. Soon afterward four more of their "friends" showed up mysteriously in line with them, ahead of well over 100 people now. For the finale, they were soon joined by four girls!

I asked the couple in front of me if they had seen them, and if I talked to security, would they back me up. They said yes. The security guard was standing near the vending machines. After the group passed, I told him what happened, and the couple verified it. He went and got some other security people, and about 10 minutes later they asked us to point out who had jumped. After displaying a serious attitude problem, the group finally left. Mission accomplished, and well done KI security.

At the end of the day, we lined up for last rides. They emptied the queue of non-event participants, and announced we could re-ride if we wanted!

I ran into Adam again and we got three rides in row 2 without leaving our seats. Yes, folks, that's right, we got a double re-ride in row 2! (That's how long it took for the line for the front and back seats to cycle through.) Once again, from the lift I could see my car from the parking lot, and the last ride was my 60th.

All in all, it was a great weekend. I'd like to say thanks to KI and Don Helbig for putting on a great event with nice perks and an exhausting schedule - I mean exhausting in a good way. I enjoyed it all, and I look forward to next year's event. -Mike