Bring Back the Rotor!

One of my favorite rides at the old Geauga Lake was the Rotor. Unfortunately, I think it was removed when the park was rebranded.

I feel bad for the poor Rotor Guy, who I hear now rides a different ride. And I thought Magnum Robert was bad...

Does anyone think Cedar Fair will ever install a Rotor at Geauga Lake or any of its parks? Or are rides like that not safe for today's strict industry standards?

Just some questions for thought while we wait for the season to start,

Sam
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Avalanche Run - My first Roller Coaster.
Magnum XL-200 - The BEST Roller Coaster!

Ahh, the Rotor-man, aka Fred, aka Haybayer-man. He's been riding the Haybayer the past few years. When he's at the park riding, he dosen't miss a single cycle from open to close. Not even stopping to eat or drink anything, he might take a rare bathroom break, but he always makes it back in time for the next cycle. He's a cool guy to talk to.

Anyway, I don't see any Rotors being installed at any parks, intill a ride company decides to re-design and build new Rotor models, and I don't realy see that happending any time soon. The older ones are just out of date and have a few safty issues. The newer ones aren't too bad, but they are hard to come by now days.

If I'm not mistaken, the Rotor at COSI Columbus is new.

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2003 Super Screw Crew

I wonder how old Fred is. He was riding back in the 80's when I went to the park on a more frequent basis. They kept moving that Rotor but Fred kept finding it.

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"You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world...but it requires people to make the dreams a reality."

Isn't there a rotor at Worlds of Fun???? At least I think there was last year... in the area over by whatever their witches wheel is called.

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Arms down.....Arms down.....Arms down.......Arms down.....Arms down....Arms down...(you think they would get it the first time?!)

2003-TTD-15 Rollbacks-1
2004- Demon Drop (first year)

There is a rotor at WoF and a similar ride that sticks you to the wall and goes vertical like Witches Wheel.

Worlds of fun is a great park... I love Mamba and will take it over Magnum any day, thier boomerang is SMOOTH and I love the thunderhawk! Although detonator is REALLY bad!!!

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Arms down.....Arms down.....Arms down.......Arms down.....Arms down....Arms down...(you think they would get it the first time?!)

2003-TTD-15 Rollbacks-1
2004- Demon Drop (first year)

Front Seat Rider- That'd be called a Round-Up.

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- John
I Snap Flyers

Yeah Hay-bayler man is awesome and even has made his own shirt with how many thousands of rides he has had on it. He used to ride the Double Loop quite a bit too. They would tape a car off for him. The last time I was on a Rotor was at SFGAdv last summer and it looked pretty new or nicely refurbished. I don't see why they couldn't restore the old Geauga Lake feel and bring it back.

I decided to just add to this thread instead of starting a new thread on the topic

I was wondering, since Cedar Fair doesn't seem to let members of the general public stay on rides without getting back in line, if the park would continue to let Fred keep riding (if he is allowed that now). I remember he would just stay on the Rotor, with no need to get back in line, and am curious to see if the park, with the new management, would exempt him from the rules, since he has been doing what he does for at least 20 years, according to various accounts.

-Sam

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Avalanche Run - My first Roller Coaster.
Magnum XL-200 - The BEST Roller Coaster!

They made Rob Lowe wait in line for Millennium Force. You do the math.

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

I am a Political Science major. I don't do math. (Though I did somehow pass that math test at HR).

Seriously, I understand policies, but was wondering if they might make an exception for this guy. Chances are no, based on policies at Cedar Point, but then again, the parks can make their own decisions, and it would be interesting to see if they might make an exception for him. If they don't, it is no big deal for me. He can stand in line like the rest of us, but it would be a nice gesture if he didn't have to, except on busy days. Maybe I just feel bad for the guy, who has been on riding marothons on Rotor (and now Hay Bayler, I guess, though I haven't ridden it recently, if ever) for about as long as I can remember.

-Sam (who is used to going from the exit to the entrance of Magnum as quickly as possible, and who started to get the hang of it on Gemini, during a failed attempt at Gemini 25).
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Avalanche Run - My first Roller Coaster.
Magnum XL-200 - The BEST Roller Coaster!

I remember working at Geauga Lake back in 1989. I was operating the Parkview Express that day and they needed someone to cover the Rotor during a break, so of course I jumped at the "chance". They gave me a quick overview of what switches did what (I found it a fun ride to operate since everything was manual) and how to line up the doors. I was paying no attention to who was actually on the ride at that time. So after I did my first run, I announced to riders to please step away from the wall while I raised the floor and that I would open the door shortly. When the crowd emptied, there was still someone standing in there behind the door. I said "Sir, you'll have to get out..." and was immediately cut off by one of the Supervisors who said "No, no no!!! That's Rotor Man! He stays on!" And from that day on, I knew of the legend of Rotor Man. How anyone could ride the Rotor that many times is beyond me.... once is more than enough for me! :)

There have been other "interesting" marathon people at the park as well.... In 1998, "ThrillerMan" was garnering all the publicity as he had ridden Serial Thriller (now Thunderhawk... does that make him Hawkman?) over 2800 times over the course of the season. And not to be left out was "Country Show Man"... a very creepy individual who claimed he saw just about EVERY performance of the old Country Show at the Stagecoach Theater. Sometimes, there would be about 5 people in the stands and this guy was always there. If I was one of the performers, I'd be a little concerned that the guy was a stalker or something!

While the park has had its ups and downs, there always seems to be something (or someone!) strange at Geauga Lake!

ray p.

Unfortunately if they made an exception for him, they would have to make an exception for someone else and so on.....I think you get my point. Granted he has done this for years, but someone else could start up and then someone else. I don't see it happening. Zoos also have their own "marathon" type people, and some of them I would be worried about! I know of two, but one is at the zoo more than I am. And I work there. But for the most part they don't bother anyone.
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*** This post was edited by newt 4/12/2004 2:33:48 PM ***

Agreed. I say boot their asses off. I'd like to sit on The Ride Formerly Known as Batman Knight Flight all day. Can I be Dominatorman?

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

Ok, ok, I get it. Geez. Lighten up, people. I was curious. The season is almost here and I am bored. Just trying to bring up interesting topics of conversation.

-Sam

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Avalanche Run - My first Roller Coaster.
Magnum XL-200 - The BEST Roller Coaster!

Haybayler man is at the park every day. He is a really nice guy and obviously isn't all there. I don't know if he gets dropped off at the park or what but I really think it would cause an uproar if they tried to boot him off the ride. I'm surprised that Six Flags didn't kick him off the rides when it went from the old park to Premier. You think they will still allow him to stay on? We're still not talking massive crowds at Geauga Lake this year. I guess we'll see.

Don't get me wrong - we love the people that come and ride our rides over and over all day long. We look forward to seeing them, saying hi, maybe talking to them a little bit now and then about the park or the ride at entrance or freeway or whatever. We even had a couple frequent riders go out to dinner with us last season. But when people start asking for or expecting favors just because they ride a lot, it is not cool.

You may think it's not a big deal giving one person something more than everyone else gets, but trust me - other guests see it and it irritates them. You don't want to be getting a guest complaint because you were being "extra nice" to someone. But that's what can happen if you don't give the same treatment to the next "regular" guest that comes along and asks for it.

I know it may seem harsh, but you have to treat everyone equally. Rules have to apply to someone who rides 1000 times the same as they do for someone who rides once or twice.

-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew
2003 Magnum Crew
2004 Magnum ATL

I really think most local guest expect to see him on these rides all day long, hes not the type of person who asks for favors or anything like that, hell most of the time he stays very quiet, to himself. I dont know how CF will want to handle him, but I do think individual ops who have been here for the long haul will still keep it "old school" with him. And for the most part we never get complaints about him staying on, guests see that hes kinda well mentally handicapped and just feel its something nice we can do for him.

Honestly I think he lives within walking distance of the park, thats why hes there everyday.

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GL rides sup 2004
"The Fun is Back!"

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XFlight said:
I dont know how CF will want to handle him, but I do think individual ops who have been here for the long haul will still keep it "old school" with him.

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Personally, I think "how CF will want to handle him" is a nonissue. A rule is in place, and it's for everyone. I doubt there will be a big ride-op meeting to discuss the future of a guy that rides the ride constantly.

And, "individual ops who have been here for the long haul," who break CF rules, may be surprised that CF holds up their standards, which is why they have success. The cornerstone of INTEGRITY comes to mind. You can't have integrity only once in a while.

That's my opinion. :)

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"Hmm. . .we don't have anything like that. . .but I can give you this comment card."
*** This post was edited by LIVE ENTERTAINMENT 4/13/2004 4:00:21 PM ***