socalMAN123 Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Hey all! Here's the article: Sunday, January 21, 2007Top of the roller coaster A Whittier man takes his 20,000th Xcelerator ride. By SERENA MARIA DANIELS The Orange County Register BUENA PARK – From the first time Richard Krieger got into the seat of Knott's Berry Farm's new roller coaster, he knew it was unlike others. Xcelerator took him to speeds of up to 80 mph almost instantly. He was shot 205 feet into the air and went sailing sideways, momentarily feeling a sense of weightlessness. It was 62 seconds of bliss for the Whittier man. On Saturday, Krieger got to enjoy Xcelerator for the 20,000th time, by far a record for the attraction that was introduced almost four years ago, said Jennifer Blazey, spokeswoman for the amusement park. A small crowd of friends and park employees gathered in front of the thrill ride that morning to witness Krieger's feat. Krieger climbed into the front seat of the hotrod car, with friend Nancy Davidson by his side exclaiming, "LET'S GO!" And go they did. "It had that thrill, that speed. I got attached, I kept coming back," said Krieger, 61, a day before his big ride. Krieger's first trip on Xcelerator took place on a Tuesday in July 2002, he said. When Krieger's not working at part-time jobs such as passing out fliers for a real estate company, he makes a 30-mile round-trip bicycle trek from his home in Whittier three or four days a week and often stays until closing, minus rainy days and the busy vacation season. To get to his milestone, he rode some 60 times a day, once reaching his personal one-day record of 124. "Most of the crew knows Richard, especially at Xcelerator," said ride operator Josie Hernandez, 35, who usually lets him stay seated for repeat trips if the crowds are light. At the end of each day, he'd walk to the information hut and tell park employees how many times he'd ridden. When he'd get home, he would tally up his total on a calendar. Tim Keeler, 45, of Whittier took his first trip on Xcelerator on Saturday, Krieger's second of the day. "We could see the excitement on his face, on his quest to ride it," said Keeler after the experience. Keeler, executive producer for KCAT, a Hacienda Heights cable channel, lugged a large camera to the park so he could document the occasion. He plans to post the 20K ride on YouTube and KCAT. Blazey said in her years working at the park, she hasn't seen such enthusiasm for one ride, although she pointed out there is a growing community of dedicated coaster lovers. In March, Knott's will host a roller coaster enthusiast appreciation day, in which hundreds of members of ACE – American Coasters Enthusiasts – will attend. Krieger will be there. "We look to them as a gauge to see if (the rides) are something they'd enjoy," said Blazey, who presented Krieger with a plaque and letterman-style jacket with the ride's logo on it. "I'm hoping to get 30,000 rides by Thanksgiving of 2008," Krieger said as he got off the coaster. This guy is amazing. I would get really bored of Xcelerator if I rode it that many times. The link to the article is: http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/article_1550718.php . Brent "I love how he's an ACEr" Shenton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyrider06 Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Wow, that is crazy.. To ride a roller coaster 60 times in one day.. I wish i could do that.. Congrats to this guy to reach his ride total for xcelerator of 20,000 that is so insane! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemesis Inferno Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 There are much worse rides to do 60+ times in a day... Don't think I'd like to do any ride 60 times in a single day, cos I get bored after 10 in a row at any place/park/ride... Taking enthuisiasm to a new level... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheArchfiend Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 This guy seriously kept track of how many times he rode this coaster? You'd figure that once you hit atleast 500 rides that you'd just stop counting. OR... did he even keep count to begin with and just threw out a big number? I'm sure the park could verify that he has been on the ride ALOT and then take his count for whatever he says it is. Whatever. I love riding coasters and all but this is a level of geekdom that I will never understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeezus Juice Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Krieger climbed into the front seat of the hotrod car, with friend Nancy Davidson by his side exclaiming, "LET'S GO!" Ahh Mantis Man. I just love how you do that countdown into your hand, and the way you mumble psychotic stuff into your shirt collar on the brake run. ready...set...g...go...damn! Messed up again! I wonder if he goes home and cuts himself if he doesen't reach his daily xcelerator goal. Real conversation: ME: (while seated behind him on Xcelerator) This is the tallest coaster on the planet. Pyscho Knotts Guy: NO! THATS TOP THRILL DRAGSTER AT CEDAR POINT IN SANDUSKY OHIO. ME:Oh right. The green tiger one. PKG: NO!!!! tHAT'S KINGDA KA IN NEW JERSEY. I'VE BEEN THERE. ME: I think that's the red one...Maverick, at Hershey Park. I've ridden that. PKG: (getting pissed) NO!!! I HAVE PICTURES OF MAVERICK. I'VE BEEN THERE!!! ME: No, I think you mean Kanonen, at Alton Towers. PKG:NO!!!!!11!!1....... Then it was time for his ritual countdown to launch into his hand. Beware kids. If you see this man, get an adult IMMEDIATELY!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phazan Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Wow, that CAN'T be healthy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayjay719 Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Thats nuts! I think the most Ive ridden a roller coaster was 15 at the Great Ecsape, the Comet of course. I don't know if I can count to 20,000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginzo Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Xcelerator would be pretty lame to marathon. It's just a launch, a top hat, and a few turns. Big deal. It sounds like this fellow has some mental health issues. Oh well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CP_RULES Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 You have to atleast give him some credit (no pun intended). I mean, he's 61 years old and he bikes 15 miles to get to the park before he rides. I give him props for trying to stay in shape along with his love for coasters, even if 20,000 is just a little obsessive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubba Z Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Awesome story Don ! We did the same thing at SFGA to an expert coaster freak while waiting in line for Deja Vu. You know the typical stat guy who must tell everyone the dynamics of the ride. So we just started talking really loud and started to throw out random facts about different boomerangs thinking that they were the same as Deja Vu. Good thing the ride finally opened so we could get away from him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vjgx Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 I have a new goal... Seeing as I never get bored of Xcelerator, I'd actually ride it 60 times in a day if I got the chance... But really, that's a bit absurd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 "Man rides Xcelerator 20,000 times......." ".....in a row????" Sorry I saw that header today and I just couldn't help to think about one of my favorite lines in Clerks.... Dante: "My girlfriend's sucked 37 dicks!......." Customer: "......In a row?" And yeah......Mantis Man....CREEPY! He came to the Tatsu Media Event (Not as a TPR member thank god, but representing those wholesome awesome people known as ACE!) and he pretty much was off in a corner the whole time making weird faces at us. At least he wasn't as bad as the ACE members who showed up and demanded a T-Shirt and Pizza from us because "Their regional rep said they could have them!" LOL! Anyway, yeah..... ".....in a row?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeezus Juice Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Well, the thing is, most of the year Knotts is completely dead and the ops will let you sit on Xcelerator as long as there in an empty seat, which I totally appreciate. And yes, it's awesome that a 60 year old guy bikes to the park and hangs out on an awesome ride. What gets me about the guy is the crazy random stuff he does. He's obviously obsessive compulsive. He's got this whole ritual down where he has to count before each launch, somtimes multiple times to get it "right". Usually he does it into his hand or shirt collar to...avoid drawing attention i guess? I'm not trying to be mean to the guy or anything. I only hope I live long enough to be some creep power-riding a coaster. Something about him just facinates/creeps me out. I'm totally a fan of watching this guy, mumbles and all! ^^Awesome story bubba, coaster people piss me off sometimes. I love throwing out knowingly false stats to coaster "professionals" and watching them get super mad! All kinds of gravy sweat begins to form on their brow...love it! -Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 What a waste of 4 years. All offence meant when I say he needs to do something else with his life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Wait Wait Wait!!! You guys are all missing some of the best quotes in the article!!! 'When not working part time jobs such as handing out flyers' = Totally unemployed Loser!!! 'Rides his bike 30 miles' = Too poor for a car, or too retarded to get a license! LOLOLOLOL!!!! Yeah, this guy is so cool...Knotts is awesome for promoting him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Parents, don't let your kids grow up to be Mantis Man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exmouse Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 No doubt a stupid question. But why is he called Mantis Man and not Xcelerator man, or are they different people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knottslover77 Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 That would be so boring. I've been on Xcelerator 42 times, GhostRider 52 times and around there for most of the rides and I'm bored everytime I go. How could he do that, 20,000 times! --Jay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 No doubt a stupid question. But why is he called Mantis Man and not Xcelerator man, or are they different people. I am not 100% sure on this, so please if anyone else knows, add to it, but I had *thought* I heard that he used to live in Ohio and his whole obsession started with Mantis. Then he moved out to So Cal.... --Robb "Who tried not to know too much about Mantis Man!" Alvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exmouse Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Too many rides on Mantis might explain why he is like he is today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 I think the Mantis Man thing is because he wears a Mantis t-shirt all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DATman Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 I think this guy needs a nice whit, padded room to go live in... Some people are just TOO obsessed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snuggles Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 I love screwing around with ACE fanatics Waiting in line for spinning dragons ACE guy: This is the newest addition to worlds of fun Me: Since when did orient express get inversions removed, and spinning cars? ACE guy: orient express is defunct. Me: Oh, I thought that was mamba. ACE guy: no. ME: Did you know mamba is the tallest fastest roller coaster in the world? ACE guy: no, thats top thrill dragster at cedar point in ohio. Me: Did you know six flags astroworld in new jersey is building one 2 times as tall as top thrill dragster? ACE guy (getting mad): NO!!111! Thats six flags great adventure in new jersey, and it is only 36 feet taller and 8 miles per hour faster with a 128 foot tall speed hill!!!!! Me: Oh, isn't it going to be called superman the escape? ACE guy: NO!! SUPERMAN THE ESCAPE IS IN SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN AND IT OPENED IN 1996!!!!!!!!!! Me: I thought that was millenium force.. ACE guy (pissed off): NO! THATS IN CEDAR POINT! Me: I thought that was liseberg in new york... ACE guy: NO!!!! LISEBERG IS IN SWEDEN!!! THEY GOT A NEW WOODEN COASTER FOR 2003!! Me: Isn't it a mean streak clone? ACE guy: *leaves the line* Me: And that is waiting in line for spinning dragons.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Nagel Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Umm...yea Over the years i've most likely ranked up maybe 500 rides total rides on some of my home park coasters. Some which are my favorites of the 400 coasters i've been on but I couldn't go more than 15 rides on those coasters in one day by myself. I'm usually bored by 10 or so. With friends yea I could go more than that, because we're talking most of the time. The most i've ever gone on one ride by myself (for the most part my dad rode a few times and was of course at the park with me) was like 75 times and after that it was like 50 then 25 a bunch of times. Once I did about 100 laps in one day (actually a few hours) with a bunch of friends. Not only would I get so bored of the same park and really bored of the same coaster, but i'd get more lonely and feel pathetic more than anything. I love my home parks but I only visited them weekly at the start and end of the season. The summer month i'll get there once maybe twice and the rest of the time is spent traveling. It's impressive but i'd think someone who has ridden 1000 DIFFERENT coasters once is much more impressive (even if 100 of them at kiddie coasters and another 150 are clones). At least then you know they have a good and successful career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Krieger climbed into the front seat of the hotrod car, with friend Nancy Davidson by his side exclaiming, "LET'S GO!" Ahh Mantis Man. I just love how you do that countdown into your hand, and the way you mumble psychotic stuff into your shirt collar on the brake run. ready...set...g...go...damn! Messed up again! I wonder if he goes home and cuts himself if he doesen't reach his daily xcelerator goal. Real conversation: ME: (while seated behind him on Xcelerator) This is the tallest coaster on the planet. Pyscho Knotts Guy: NO! THATS TOP THRILL DRAGSTER AT CEDAR POINT IN SANDUSKY OHIO. ME:Oh right. The green tiger one. PKG: NO!!!! tHAT'S KINGDA KA IN NEW JERSEY. I'VE BEEN THERE. ME: I think that's the red one...Maverick, at Hershey Park. I've ridden that. PKG: (getting pissed) NO!!! I HAVE PICTURES OF MAVERICK. I'VE BEEN THERE!!! ME: No, I think you mean Kanonen, at Alton Towers. PKG:NO!!!!!11!!1....... Then it was time for his ritual countdown to launch into his hand. Beware kids. I have no idea who you're talking about but it makes me want to crash ACE'r events and do the same thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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