Vekoma Rides: Good Gravy, Tilt Coaster, Super Boomerang and More (IAAPA Expo)

The show floor has been wiped clean, but the memories of IAAPA Expo 2023 continue as co-host Jessica Gardner interviews the team from Vekoma.

Jessica talks with Ricardo Tonding Etges and Carin Davits about the new Good Gravy roller coaster at Holiday World and other upcoming/newly opened projects that many ACE members have already enjoyed. Jessica and the team take a tour of the Vekoma booth and get a close look at the tilt coaster train model.

We hope our continued coverage of the IAAPA Expo is helping to keep the winter months bearable. (See what we did there?)

In this Episode:

• [1:42] Designing the Good Gravy roller coaster for Holiday World, a close look at the train on display

Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: [email protected]. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.

Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:

• Having an impact on the future of ACE

Podcast Volunteer Team

• Host: Jessica Gardner

IAAPA Expo 2023 was a whirlwind of activity for your podcast team. From setting up the ACE booth before the show began to doing interviews with anyone and everyone we could, we were on the show floor from start to finish. This episode brings several IAAPA Expo show floor conversations together with the teams who are bringing new life to the Comet coaster at Hersheypark.

Jessica Gardner does a carside chat from inside the new Comet train with Tom Rebbe and Laura Woodburn Krolczyk about the design and build process for these eye-catching new trains.

The series of conversations moves on to a chat with Quinn Bryner, Director of PR at Hersheypark. Our episode finishes with Tyler Hoffman and Mike Birardi from Illuminated Integration – all of these fantastic conversations add up to a detailed glimpse into what Hersheypark will look like next summer.

In this Episode:

• [02:48] Tom Rebbe and Laura Woodburn Krolczyk “live” from the Comet train

Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: [email protected]. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.

Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:

• Having an impact on the future of ACE

Podcast Volunteer Team 

Hosts: Jessica Gardner

Producer: Derek Perry

Editor: Bob Randolph

Show Notes: Liz Tan

Production Manager: Corey Wooten

Correspondents: Bryant Yeager and Doug Perry

Legacy of Schwarzkopf – Documentary Team Highlights

Fellow ACE members and documentarians Robert Ingle, Kris Rowberry, Nicholas Laschkewitsch, and Scott Schaffer are currently filming the next ACE documentary, exploring the multitude of roller coasters and flat rides worldwide created by the legendary Anton Schwarzkopf. The team has been tirelessly capturing these rides and coasters in action, traveling across the globe this year to bring the story to life for coaster enthusiasts everywhere.

A familiar voice joins us once again. Listen in as one of the original Ride With Us Podcast co-hosts, Kris Rowberry, and the team discuss what they've been up to since our last conversation. (Spoiler: They've been BUSY!)

In this Episode:

• [02:23] Filming at Six Flags Great America and a comparison between that park and California's Great America.  

Legacy of Schwarzkopf: Trailer #1

Legacy of Schwarzkopf: Trailer #2

Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: [email protected]. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.

Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers various ways to share your talents by:

• Making an impact on the future of ACE.

Podcast Volunteer Team:

• Hosts: Jessica Gardner and ACE's Documentary Team

The ACE Ride With Us Podcast team had a busy week at the IAAPA Expo. We’ve had a great time walking the show floor, meeting theme park industry partners and spending time together. Bringing our listeners along for the ride has been a real treat for your podcast team.

Our final broadcast from the event brings the event to a close. Join co-host Jessica Gardner as she talks with ACE Communications Director Derek Perry about their immersive experience at the expo.  

In this Episode:

• [02:30] Check out ACE’s YouTube channel for our interview with S&S

ACE’s YouTube channel has all of the awesome video coverage from the week (and a lot more).

Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: [email protected]. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.

Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:

• Having an impact on the future of ACE

Podcast Volunteer Team 

Hosts: Jessica Gardner and Derek Perry

Producer: Derek Perry

Editors: Bob Randolph

Show Notes: Liz Tan

Production Manager: Corey Wooten

As many seasonal parks begin their winter hibernation, the theme park community is keeping busy this month with the IAAPA* Expo in Orlando.  Most members of our intrepid podcast team will be at the Expo, ready to share highlights with you.

We will be recording often, so stay tuned for exciting announcements from parks and manufacturers and a taste of the excitement from the show floor! 

In this episode, co-host Jessica Gardner chats with our guest co-host and Podcast Production Manager, Corey Wooten. They share their thoughts and excitement from the first day of the Expo, including some featured interviews with top professionals in the attractions industry.

Our featured guests include Tony Clark, Director of Communications at Cedar Point; Lauren Crosby, Director of Entertainment and Events, and Leah Koch-Blumhardt, Director of Communications at Holiday World; Brad Thomas, Park President at Silver Dollar City; and Preston Perkes, Executive Director of Administration at S&S Worldwide.

Timestamps: 

• [03:32] Cedar Point/Zamperla - Top Thrill 2 (feat. Tony Clark)

Did you know that ACE members/volunteers can attend the IAAPA Expo?  If you’re chosen to work one or more shifts during the show, you’ll get access to the entire show.  Watch your email for more information about working at next year’s show.

Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: [email protected]. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.

Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:

• Having an impact on the future of ACE

Podcast Volunteer Team 

Hosts: Jessica Gardner and Corey Wooten (Guest)

Footnotes

• IAAPA: International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions

As our podcast team prepares to head to Orlando for the IAAPA Expo, co-host John Davidson took a moment to look back on the IAAPA Europe Expo in Amsterdam that took place this September.

ACE Europe Regional Representative Jo Pools joins co-host John Davidson for a lively discussion of European theme parks, upcoming ACE Europe events and the Expo.

In this episode:

• [01:52] IAPPA Europe is in the books, Jo talks about some European rides and parks

Join ACE Europe’s events at: https://jointheride.eu/

Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: [email protected]. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.

Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by: 

• Having an impact on the future of ACE

Podcast Volunteer Team 

A chill is in the air these days and many beloved seasonal theme parks are now closed for the season. While we’re hunkering down for the winter, it’s a good time to remember some new rides that opened this summer with this First Drop.  

This episode takes a close look at some new coasters from around the world. We start with ACE member Luke Reynolds joining co-host John Davidson to share his ride on Batman Gotham City Escape at Parque Warner Madrid, a Warner Brothers park. We continue as co-host Jessica Gardner chats with our very own "ACE - Ride With Us" Podcast Production Manager, Corey Wooten, about his recent Europe trip, visiting Parc Astérix in Plailly, France and riding their new launch coaster, Toutatis. We finish up as ACE Communications Director, Derek Perry, and Social Media Manager, Doug Perry, interview ACE member Raffi Kilejian about Primordial at Lagoon Park.

These conversations cover everything about each coaster, from queue theming to the first drop!

 In this episode:

• [01:00] Meet Luke, discover his home park

Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: [email protected]. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.

Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:

• Having an impact on the future of ACE

Podcast Volunteer Team 

Hosts: Jessica Gardner and John Davidson

Credits (Cover Images)

Toutatis: Samy Debbabi 

Coaster enthusiasts may know Dorney Park as a charming trolley park that grew from a salmon hatchery in the 1860’s into a park, then into a theme park. Today, it’s known as the home of historic rides like the Whip, some relocated rides from other parks (shout out to Demon Drop and Possessed!) as well as Thunderhawk – an ACE Landmark Coaster plus many other crowd-pleasing attractions. Though Dorney Park has its share of historic rides and thrill rides, it hadn’t had a brand new large-scale attraction in quite some time.

Until now! Iron Menace is a thrilling new B&M dive coaster that’s being built in the location where another relocated ride, the Stinger, used to be.  This August announcement took the coaster enthusiast community by storm and created a lot of buzz around Dorney Park.

This week, correspondent Bryant Yeager talks to Ryan Eldredge, PR and communications director of Dorney Park about this exciting new attraction and many other great changes coming to the park. 

In this episode:

[01:00] Meet Ryan, learn how he found his way from government work to Dorney Park

[05:10] The team explored different options for the space, the dive coaster fit the themed steelyard vision and the space

[12:18] The ride will include first of their kind ride elements, the Zephyr will go through the station!

[15:49] The extra 5 degrees of drop and no mid-course brake run make Iron Menace unique 

[19:10] Additional 2024 projects (including food updates) and 2024 opening date

[20:51] Thunderhawk’s 100th birthday is coming, look for ways to celebrate

Follow Dorney Park on Facebook to see construction progress and other announcements.

Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: [email protected]. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.

Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:

• Having an impact on the future of ACE

Podcast Volunteer Team 

Hosts: Jessica Gardner and John Davidson

Correspondent: Bryant Yeager

Producer: Derek Perry

Editor: Derek Perry

Show Notes: Liz Tan, huge fan of Dorney Park, the Zephyr and Demon Drop

Production Manager: Corey Wooten

This week’s episode covers two important topics: the Phoenix Phall Phunfest at Knoebels Amusement Park and the ACE Events Rundown for November 2023. 

The first segment has co-host John Davidson chatting with ACE Publications Director and Phoenix Phall Phunfest attendee Lee Ann Draud. It sounds like quite an event, with great food, ERT on the Flying Turns and the Halloween-themed antique cars, plus a Fascination tournament.

We wrap up the show as co-host Jessica Gardner shares ACE News highlights and the ACE November Events rundown. 

In this episode:

• [01:30] Meet Lee Ann, she reads and edits almost everything that ACE writes from RollerCoaster! magazine to ACE News, ACE 360 and everything in between.

Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: [email protected]. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.

Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:

• Having an impact on the future of ACE

Podcast Volunteer Team 

• Hosts: Jessica Gardner and John Davidson