On Monday, I mentioned speculation that the new Cedar Point ride for 2011 could be the StarFlyer, a tower ride that hoists riders into the air and spins them around.
The StarFlyer, produced by an Australian company, is said to be vulnerable to winds. A roller coaster fan at a Dutch website for coaster buffs points out that a Dutch ride company, Mondial, has a new product, the Wind Seeker, that resembles the StarFlyer but can cope with the big winds generated by being next to a big lake. The ride uses arms instead of chains.
Interestingly, Mondial says it designed the Wind Seeker “following requests from clients who wanted a Star Flyer-style ride they could still operate within normal wind conditions.” As for a customer for the new ride, the Feb. 2 dispatch says vaguely, “Negotiations are currently under way to find the first client.”
Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but today’s Cedar Point Facebook clue show a picture of a windmill that links to a Web site for making a “wind detector.”
NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. was a hit at Cedar Point Thursday as fans lined up for autographs and pictures.
Earnhardt attended the park as part of Cedar Point’s third annual Wheels of Thunder campaign, which highlights racing-theme events.
He was also part of the American Red Cross Firelands Chapter’s Ultimate Ride Auction, where winning bidders met Earnhardt Jr., landed a ride in the Goodyear blimp and also got to hop on Top Thrill Dragster without waiting in line.
Later this month, Cedar Point will announce its expansion plans for next summer on Facebook. To offer their fans an opportunity to join in the fun, Cedar Point will begin releasing clues on Facebook.
To be among the first to learn about the park’s plans for 2011, Facebook users can “like” the park’s official page at: www.facebook.com/cedarpoint.
“We have some exciting plans for next summer,” said Clark Culbertson, Cedar Point’s vice president of marketing. “Our followers on Facebook are among our biggest fans. We want to reward them for their support and let them have some fun in the process.”
Throughout the year, the park’s Facebook fans receive some special benefits. These exclusive offers range from discounted tickets to Cedar Point, savings on attractions at North Coast Parasail, located on the Cedar Point Beach, and instant online deal information. There may also be some additional offerings when the park tops 500,000 Facebook fans.
Since first establishing a Facebook presence in 2008, Cedar Point currently has nearly 490,000 fans.
In connection to the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide races at Michigan International Speedway, Cedar Point Amusement Park is putting on a group of events, titled “Wheels of Thunder.”
Located in Sandusky, Ohio, Cedar Point will have events spanning from Tuesday, August 10 to Thursday, August 12.
During the three-day run, if you bring an AMPEnergy can, you will receive seven dollars off of a regular, one-day adult ticket.
Once in the park, Michigan International Speedway will have a display near Dodgem. The display will include driver memorabilia, a cut-away show car, two racing simulators and a Dale Earnhardt, Jr. show car. The experience is open 10 a.m – 6 p.m. (Tuesday and Wednesday) and 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Thursday.
On Tuesday, the deal will be sweetened as ARCA’s most recent winners Joey Coulter and Robb Brent, plus Berlin runner-up Patrick Sheltra, will be signing autographs from 12-1 p.m. They will also have Brent’s ARCA on display for viewing.
Then on Thursday to close the three-day event, NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be there.
First, he’ll stop by the Point Pavilion shortly after 5 p.m. for an all-you-can-eat meal, which you can purchase tickets to ($47.70, including admission to park) through Cedar Point’s website. During the meal, you can win autographed prizes, race-used Goodyear tires, stand-up displays, and more.
Following the meal, Earnhardt Jr. will make an appearance at the WildCat Mindway just before 5:30 p.m. Also, if you submit a question by the registration table next to the stage, you could win autographed prizes, tickets to the CARFAX 400 race on Sunday, pit passes, and more.
The last part of the three-day festival includes the Goodyear Blimp. The Goodyear Blimp will be there and if you’re spotted around the park showing your love for Goodyear, you could win one of five spots to ride the blimp, plus meet Dale Earnhardt Jr. afterwards.
For more information, check out Cedar Point’s official website:
