From: wjf@controls.ccd.harris.com (Bill Figie)
Subject: IAAPA and Texas Giant III
Originator: wjf@rs2
Organization: Harris Controls
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 13:38:31 GMT


I just thought I would post something on the IAAPA Convention and the
Texas Giant III get together.  I was only at the IAAPA for one day.  It
was even more overwelming then the previous ones I have attended.  They
had hundreds (maybe even a thousand plus exhibitors) there with huge
displays.  ACE was there in force with a real nice booth and lots and
lots of ACE members.  I learned nothing new about any new coasters. 
Most everyone was silent.  I point blankly asked someone at the B&M
booth about the Kumba and she (she didn't seem to be in the know much)
said that I would have to wait.  She didn't have any information on it.
 I think I asked the wrong people.  Everytime I was by the booth the
real sales people of the company were sitting at a table with plans
and stuff looking like they were making sales.  I will post more
information at another time about simulators.  It was something else. 
They even had a bungee jumping device set up in the parking lot for $12
per jump or if you visited the booth it was free.  I didn't try it but
I did watch several friends of mine try it.  All in all, it was great. 
I didn't find any coaster calendars like I got last year.  I also
didn't find the good fudge place.  But I did come back with about 20
pounds of literature on most major coaster builders and simulator
manufacturers.

The Texas Giant III thing was something else.  I didn't get a chance to
see anyone from the news group in line.  You probably didn't recognize
me.  On the first day the temperature was about 51 at the time of our
ride session.  I was pretty well bundled up, but it was quite
tolerable.  I got about 6 or 8 great rides on the Giant during our 2
hour ride session.  Anyone that says they don't build them like they
used to needs to ride the Giant.  It is one wild and wooly coaster. 
Almost non-stop action with about as many twists and drops and turns to
satisfy the most hard-core coaster enthusiast.  It was really running
great considering the cold weather.  At about 9:30 it started to rain. 
A little too much for my wife and me to put up with (also for many
other ACEers also).  It continued raining just about all day.  After
about an hour plus of the rain and cold, we decided to leave and we
went back to the hotel.  We heard that the 12 o'clock BBQ was good, but
they announced that the park was closing and no ERT at night and no
guest speakers.  On Sunday they gave us 2 hours more of ERT on both the
Giant and Shockwave.  It was clear but even colder (the sign at our
hotel read 41 degrees when we left for the park).  Again the Giant ran
very well.  What is this coaster like on a warm summer night after it
has been running all day with a light rain on the tracks?  The
Shockwave never woke up in time for our ERT session.  Just too cold for
it.  It was having a problem with its station brake and the wheels and
motors under the platform being able to get it rolling out of the
station.  Later on in the day, the park was open, and I rode all their
coasters.  Considering it was cool (low 50's) all the coasters ran very
well.  The Shockwave finally warmed up and gave some great action in
the back seat.  This is one coaster I feel needs those seat belts in
the back several cars.

I am sure some ACEers left a little disappointed at the lack of park
time and coaster riding time, but I had a good time.  Let me hear from
others on what they thought and what they did around Texas when you
couldn't go to the park.

		Bill "Kumba is going to get you" Figie