originally posted on 10/6/2023
Photo: Ken Jones Collection. View full-sized image.
Roller Coasters, Eh?, ACE Canada’s signature event, was held on September 16 at Canada’s Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario. This year there were 98 attendees representing 12 U.S. states and one province.
Registration started bright and early with everyone in attendance being given a small goodie bag as part of the registration package. Morning ERT was planned for the all-new Tundra Twister and Yukon Striker. Unfortunately, Yukon Striker was down for morning ERT, and after minor issues, guests were finally able to ride a coaster not part of the plan but still a great experience nonetheless — Vortex, a 1991 Arrow Dynamics suspended coaster atop Wonderland Mountain. This coaster absolutely screams around the track regardless of whether it’s first thing in the morning or late at night.
With Yukon Striker unexpectedly unavailable, attendees enjoyed ERT on the park’s powerful Arrow Dynamics suspended coaster, Vortex.
Photo: Ken Jones. View full-sized image.
Breakfast followed ERT, then everyone was free to enjoy the park until lunch — a full buffet with something for everyone. Door prizes were given out, after which came one of the annual highlights of the event, a Q&A session with Director of Maintenance and Construction Peter Switzer. Switzer spent a half hour doing his best to answer the many questions thrown his way by attendees. When asked what he would choose if he had free rein to build any ride at the park, Switzer’s answer was a log flume — an answer met with cheers and applause, as the park has been without one since Zumba Flume closed in 1994.
ACE Canada Assistant Regional Representative Ken Jones and Canada’s Wonderland’s Vicki Sotiropolous pose with attendees during the 2023 edition of Roller Coasters, Eh?
Photo: Ken Jones. View full-sized image.
Following lunch, attendees returned to the park, which was extremely busy owing to beautiful weather and the park’s Oktoberfest event taking place. Besides breakfast and lunch, ACE members enjoyed the traditional evening snack of a Beavertail pastry, invented in Ottawa in 1978.
As the evening started to wind down and park guests headed for the exits, attendees made their way to Planet Snoopy and KidZville for another ERT session. This year ACE members were given the chance to ride the two coasters in the park typically requiring an accompanying child — Taxi Jam (1998 E&F Miler) and the new-for-2023 ART Engineering family coaster, Snoopy’s Racing Railway. This new coaster was a hit during the night, with many guests just staying for multiple rides — and for good reason.
One of (now) two coasters at the park typically requiring a child companion to ride, Taxi Jam was made available to attendees.
Photo: Tim Cronin. View full-sized image.
Snoopy’s Racing Railway features a simple layout with two launches enabling the train to reach a top speed of 31 mph, whimsical theming and even a story. Riders are invited to hop aboard the Beagle Express and help Snoopy get a shipment of root beer to Root Beer Saloon without being thwarted by Woodstock and the Bad Seed Gang. With Charlie Brown on the case, the Mounties get their man — or in this case, bird.
The installation of Snoopy’s Racing Railway is punctuated by charming details throughout.
Photos: Ken Jones. View full-sized image.
Snoopy’s Racing Railway is a perfect roller coaster for inexperienced riders preparing to sample the park’s many larger rides. The launch out of the station is a quick one, sending the train into a high banked right turn and twisting around to the Root Beer Saloon. The second launch sends the train toward the station for a final turn, where it is launched again for a second lap around the course.
Following the hour of ERT, the event sadly came to an end. The ACE Canada regional representative team extended thanks to the staff at Canada’s Wonderland, particularly to Switzer for taking time out of his day to join attendees for Q&A, and to Vicki Sotiropolous for doing everything she could in the morning to get everyone riding. ACE Canada will return next September for the 2024 installment of Roller Coasters, Eh?
— Ken Jones, ACE Canada Assistant Regional Representative
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