My day as an S&S employee... (pretty long)
So I've spent the few days AT VertiGo. litterally.. from about noon or 1pm when I got to the park till closing and later.
On Thurs I arrive to see none other than Stan Checketts of S&S Power Sports walking around the site. Waiting for my "fanboy" moment, I manage to catch him for a second when he litterally had nothing to do. I walked up to him and said "Arent; you Stan Checketts of S&S?"
"Yes.. wow I'm surprised anyone would recognize me"
and the convo went on from there. I showed him some of the pictures I had taken and it hits him. I'm the guy that Tyson (the S&S guy who put the towers up) was telling him about. He asks where I put my pics and I wrote down the GTTP address and told him the links can be found there. We talk for a few more moments when I hear someone from behind me say "I knew it was only a matter of time before you realized who this was Rob."
I turn around to see Dick Kinzel, beloved CEO of Cedar Fair. I shake his hand and he proceedes to introduce me to a few other CF and CP people. Mr. Keller, Monty Jasper (who recogonized me from previous meetings), Bill Spehn (Head of Park Operations for CP) and Mr. Lee Jewett, VP of CF. Mr Kinzel did me more justice than I deserved telling them about pictures I've taken and my love for the park.
After a few minutes of talking to them, they all start to head their seperate ways. As MR. Jewett walks away, he comes over and says "If you ever have ANY problems in here, my office is right over there. You come talk to me" and points to the P&D Building. I said thank you and it was a pleasure to meet him and the march of the silver tags starts. Just as I thought I was out of the clear, Mr. Kinzel comes back over and tells Bill from CP Park Ops. "This man gets to ride first thing.. make sure he's taken care of". I thank him and they are on their way.
So the day goes on.. and on.. and it's getting late. Various people stop back, and all go out of their way to make sure I'm doing ok and having a good time watching basically nothing except some construction and a few test shots. It's at this point where Stan comes over and says "You can't get good pics on that side of fence, come on over" and procedes to let me in to take the pics I posted this morning. Answering every question I had when it came to what this box does, what this does. More than nice and ended it with a great pic of me and the whole crew from S&S.
Move to today... I get to the park about noon. I walk up and Stan see's me and walks over to shake my hand and ask me how things are going. "Pretty good, we gonna get people on today?" .. "Don't know yet.". At this point Bill from Park Op's comes over as he's hanging up his cell phone and says "I just got off a conference call with Mr. Kinzel. He told me again to make sure you get to ride as soon as it's safe enough. You're pretty much going to be the first non CP employee to ride." .. I was stunned...
So the day goes on.. Stan talks to me now and then as I sit in the sun. He takes a few rides on his own machine for the crowd of people who formed over the course of the day, including our beloved Mr. Skyward.
He comes over to me pretty late in teh day and says "So you ready to fly tomorrow?" .. I have to tell him there is only a small chance I will be able to make it up because of some other things I have to do.. So he says "Wait here" and walks over to Wyane, his project manager and starts talking. He walks back over to me and says "I'm trying to get you on right now.. give me a second" .. my heart stopped..
He talks to Wayne for a few then comes back over and says "here's the deal, Wayne promised them he wouldn't let any non employee's ride today. So I'm gonna hire you for the day. You're going to work for S&S for today.. is that ok?"
After my heart went back down into my stomach, I said sure. "Ok.. you're now an S&S Employee, I'll give ya $10 or so at the end of the day. Let me find something for you to do." .. I'm dying.. I can't believe this is happening to me. He walks over to Wayne and starts to talk to him again.. Wayne looks over at me and they go their seperate ways. Stan walks over and says "We're afraid we'll upset them too much by doing this. Let me see if I can do anythign else." .. at this point my dream is slipping so I do what anyother fanboy would do.. I get desperate. "Well Mr. Kinzel did tell Bill to have me on the ride first.. hehehe" .. "True.. you still work for me.. let me see what I can do".
In the end, it was deemed that it would be better off not pushing anyone buttons at this point. So Stan comes back over to me and says "If you can get here tomorrow.. I'm running the show and I'll make sure you're on that thing for a while.. Deal?" .. "I'll FIND a way to get up here, btw.. am I still an employee?" with a nice grin on my face. "Yeah.. who knows.. may actually use you for something tomorrow if you show".
With that I said goodnight to Stan as he was heading off to dinner and I needed to get back home. I get here only to find out my plans have been changed and guess who's gonn abe at the VertiGo at about noon tomorrow to be a test rider. :)
HUGE thanks goes out to Stan and Mr. Kinzel and all the other CP and CF people who have made the past few days some of the best I've ever had at CP. I know most of the higher ups know of this site (Heck, when I told Mr. Kinzel which site I post the links at he mentioned Jeff's name) and read this, including Stan from S&S now. Thanks alot guys and I'll be there bright and early tomorrow for my once in a lifetime chance to be the first person to ride outside of the park.
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- Egg Whites -
MF total - 385 laps
June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100
*** This post was edited by Red Garter Rob on 8/12/2001. ***
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Steuks!!
-MH, back at last
*** This post was edited by Majin Heero on 8/11/2001. ***
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http://tiny3k.cjb.net
'Gravity knows no force like Millennium Force.'
Live it up, man would I give anything to be in your schools.
I didnt know you were still in school Rob-
Bud University?
But seriousely---
Congrats on your new found fame-
Wish I knew what it felt like.....
oh never mind...I do!!!!
Jo
(the oao Raptor Jo) :)
2000 Raptor Crew
2001 Raptor Crew
Gemini 100 "Survivor"
Po!nter Girl-FOREVER!
(& who wishes Talon wasnt so far away!!)
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Welcome back Raptor riders-how was your flight??
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Next trip to CP on August 25th - 26th!
Anyway, it was pretty late when I posted that and you can guess that I meant shoes.
Like I said before, late night posting can play tricks on teh eyes and brain. ;)
BTW Rob-there is a Red Garter Saloon at Dorney Park too-want you to know my b/f had a beer there just for you!!!
Jo
2000 Raptor Crew
2001 Raptor Crew
Gemini 100 "Survivor"
Po!nter Girl-FOREVER!
-------------
Welcome back Raptor riders-how was your flight??
-------------
- Egg Whites -
MF total - 385 laps
June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100
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