originally posted on 12/17/2021
Photo: Jay Jacobs. View full-sized image.
All good things must come to a close, and the IAAPA Expo is no different. It’s an exhausting pace but a rewarding one. Many attendees return home amazed at how tired they are — and also at all the cool things that they had just seen. The days are filled with conversations and networking, checking out unusual booths, attending press conferences, catching up with friends, confirming meetings, conducting interviews and checking on social media coverage — including ACE’s. The nights are filled with uploading content for everyone at home as well as with social functions. Is there time for sleep?
Elizabeth Ringas and Robert Ulrich from ACE; Phil Zirkelbach, Brad Little, Janine Rebbie Matscherz and Tom Rebbie from Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc.
Photo: Cheri Armstrong. View full-sized image.
The donated car had the theme Connected by Coasters.
Photo: David Lipnicky. View full-sized image.
American Coaster Enthusiasts volunteers were busy at ACE’s booth, which featured photos from the 2021 and 2022 host parks, a beautiful slideshow tribute to ACE Roller Coaster Landmarks and Classic Coasters as well as recognition of our corporate members. New for 2022 was a stunning Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc., coaster car wrapped in ACE’s 2022 theme — Connected by Coasters, featuring the logo and a shout out to both wooden and steel coasters. This car will be on display again in 2022 and will then be auctioned off to one lucky ACE member to enjoy in his or her home. Members can watch for more to come in 2022 from Connected by Coasters as the club celebrates the healthiness of the hobby — and how hobbies evolve into so much more.
The ACE booth was kept staffed by numerous volunteers, many who are pictured here.
Photo: Vasillios Ringas. View full-sized image.
Photo: David Lipnicky. View full-sized image.
All who stopped by ACE’s booth to say hello and update us on their 2022 plans were given World Roller Coaster Appreciation Month pins for their event lanyards. In addition, copies of the newest issue (as well as past issues) of Roller Coaster! were available. Corporate members were invited to stop by for an extra gift — ACE member pins exclusively for them. For ACE’s corporate members exhibiting at the show, a gift bag with their member pins and World Roller Coaster Appreciation Month pins was personally delivered to them.
The Axis vehicle at the S&S booth grabbed lots of attention.
Photo: Cassie Titko. View full-sized image.
The car on display at the Great Coasters International Inc. booth had lights to give it a flashy look.
Photo: Cheri Armstrong. View full-sized image.
The Lightning train vehicle at the Zamperla booth was available for people to check out its comfortable seating.
Photo: Cheri Armstrong. View full-sized image.
The ACE booth saw many visitors including Jeffrey Seibert and Chris Ozimek of Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Steve Thomas of Traders Village, the Knoebels family, Brian Rath of Kings Dominion, Tony Clark from Cedar Point, Scott Fais from IAAPA’s FunWorld, Leah Koch from Holiday World and so many more! ACE representatives enjoyed the opportunity to discuss how American Coaster Enthusiasts can assist them with their 2022 goals, as well as reconnecting in person.
IAAPA celebrated organizations and businesses that have been members for over 100 years, which included Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc.
The lead car for Tonnerre 2 Zeus was on display at The Gravity Group booth.
Photo: Cy Kidd. View full-sized image.
Official delegates were Cheri Armstrong, Robert Ulrich, Jimmy Titko and Elizabeth Ringas.
Photo: Vasillios Ringas. View full-sized image.
For coaster fans, excitement was in the air with a variety of trains displayed on the show floor, including the reimagined new car for Tonnerre 2 Zeus from The Gravity Group. Fun Spot America Atlanta announced the details of ArieForce One being constructed by Rocky Mountain Construction, which was displaying the car in its booth. View the press conference here:
The sleek lead car of ArieForce One was on display at the Rocky Mountain Construction booth.
Photo: Jay Jacobs. View full-sized image.
Get behind the scenes with John Chidester, senior Vice president of marketing for Fun Spot:
More was to come with an announcement from Ride Entertainment that finally revealed the details and location of the Gerstlauer Amusement Rides GmbH coaster that had been teased. Palindrome will be arriving in fall 2022 at COTALAND at Circuit of the Americas, a Formula One racetrack in Austin, Texas. Check out the unique elements coming in this Infinity Coaster:
A new press announcement area was convenient for media for such big reveals as Palindrome at COTALAND.
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
Zamperla introduced new products, including the Family Thrill Launch Coaster that fills the special niche of thrill coasters for families with kids who are looking for more than a kiddie coaster but are not yet tall enough for the 48-inch thrill rides. Thrills will be greater than what one might expect with its small height requirement and include backward launches, a spike element plus custom design options.
See more from the press conference at:
Get behind the scenes with Adam Sandy, roller coaster sales manager:
ACE Communications Director Elizabeth Ringas chats with Adam Sandy from Zamperla.
Photo: Elizabeth Ringas collection. View full-sized image.
On Thursday afternoon, ACE officially presented the National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives (NRCMA) with the second check in its three-part donation totaling $150,000. Many of the NRCMA board members were present for the presentation by Robert Ulrich, president of ACE.
ACE’s support of the NRCMA was made visible with a public announcement.
Photo: Jay Jacobs. View full-sized image.
Rides 4 U was displaying an updated version of the hamster wheel car for the compact spinning coaster that integrates the wheel that generates the spin into the car itself. Visitors could also take rides on Rides 4 U’s Drop’N Twist going to CJ Barrymore’s in Michigan; Zamperla’s Pump and Jumpz, which will be installed at Adventureland in Iowa; a Mini Break Dance and Mini Reverse Time spinning ride; and Hammered from Altitude Rides & Attractions. In addition to coaster cars and rides, the show floor was filled with food samples, parts like wheels and padding, wristbands, press penny machines, arcade games, uniforms and holiday décor.
Photo: Cheri Armstrong. View full-sized image.
Options for Skyline Attractions’ new P’Sghetti Bowl children’s coaster were colorfully done in a display at the company’s booth.
Photo: Cy Kidd. View full-sized image.
See more of the busy IAAPA show floor in ACE’s summary video:
A huge thank you is owed to all the volunteers who staffed the ACE booth, provided social media coverage, wrote ACE 360 articles, took pictures, edited videos, assisted with set up and breakdown of the booth and designed the in-booth slideshow — a team that involved more than 50 people to execute the week’s goals.
— Elizabeth Ringas, ACE Communications Director
A small portion of the massive show is seen here. It takes days to fully take in the trade show.
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
ACE’s past and future event hosts from 2021 and 2022 were featured in photo enlargements.
Photo: David Lipnicky. View full-sized image.
@#$%&!
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