Dayton Daily News from Dayton, Ohio • 172

-r DAYTON DAILY NEWS TRAVEL SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2001 aster: Cedar Point rollin' along with thrill seekers 7T Continued from Page IK 1 4 1 "i i i 4 1 I WV. I With 13 others, giving Cedar Point more roller coasters than any other amusement park in the world. It also has the most rides 68 the oldest of which is the Midway Carousel dating from 1946. One of Cedar Point's plusses is that it reeks of history without reeking. The park looks modern, not tired, and the employees everyone from summer interns to the park's executives walk around picking up wayward trash like beachcombers gathering up seashells.

Another plus is that, for the most part, the roller coasters are situated on the midway rather than set off on i the perimeter somewhere. It's not uncommon to be walking along and have a coaster zoom by just a few feet over your head. Cedar Point is a traditional amusement park, not a theme park, with an emphasis on its rides. But there is plenty to do for visitors who aren't compatible with roller coasters. There are areas devoted to children, including Camp Snoopy and Kiddy Kingdom, each of which has a j- kid's-speed roller coaster.

There are a handful of live-entertainment venues, an MAX theater, an aquatic stadium, a nightly laser show, six restaurants just outside the park's gates, a marina, a water park (Soak City, requiring separate admission) and Challenge Park, offering go-; karts, miniature golf and the sky-' coaster RipCord. Cedar Point also has four hotels two adjacent to the park and two off-property plus an RV camp-' ground and new cottages and cabins. All of which adds up to a No. 1 ranking in Amusement Today's poll. "The reason they are consistently "ranked as one of or the top amusement park in the country is the whole resort atmosphere," says Gary Slade, the publication's editor and publisher.

"You have one of the largest selection of rides and shows and attractions that you'll find anywhere in the country. And along with that, you've got the best selection of roller coasters anywhere on the planet." Bill Linkenheimer, president of American Coaster Enthusiasts, says he loves Cedar Point but ranks his hometown amusement park, Pitts-. burgh's Kennywood, as his favorite. But he says many of his organization's members rate Cedar Point as No. 1.

"There's a member from Florida THE MULLER ARMORED HORSE from the Kiddy Kingdom Carousel at Cedar Point amusement parkresort is considered one of the finest examples of carousel art. THE WOODEN 'MEAN STREAK' is one who come from all parts of the country and make it a point to get to Cedar Point on an annual basis." Cedar Point's secret to success is simple, says director of operations Bill Spehn. It's safety first, then guest services, courteous and passionate employees and cleanliness. "If you do those things and introduce new rides or attractions that people are going to enjoy, that's a pretty good formula for us," he said. "People can always try to imitate you or throw up rides and claim they have more of this or that, but what you provide for guests who come through the gate, that's what allows you to be voted the best amusement park." In the "est" world of amusement parks tallest, fastest, wildest standing pat is anathema.

You can open a $25 million ride one year, but you'd better not rest on your laurels. "Our guests always expect Cedar Point to do something new, something different," Spehn said. "It doesn't necessarily have to be higher and faster, but something that's quality entertainment. When you put in Millennium Force, it's tough to top that." But a park in Tokyo did that just. It opened a ride last September that was 8 feet taller than Millennium Force and goes 2 mph faster.

Now Millennium Force is merely the Millennium force is merely tne "When you come over that first hill, you're looking straight down. "If you come to Cedar Point, you've got to ride that ride, even if you have to wait three hours. I'm glad I did." Gary Czerniejewski, 48, of Toledo, struggled to find a way to describe the ride that would do it justice. "I'd like to think of something besides awesome," he said, pausing. "How about 'better than awesome'?" Czerniejewski was especially appreciative of Millennium Force's smooth ride.

"I'm a little older," he said, "and some of these other roller coasters beat you up." American Coaster Enthusiasts' Linkenheimer was "pretty blown away" by Millennium Force. "It's smooth, flawless and just negotiates every hill and turn perfectly." Unlike some coasters in which the of the attractions that has made Cedar highest and fastest ride in the Western Hemisphere. Frustrating? "I don't think so," Spehn said. "How many people from the United States are going to venture to Japan to ride that ride? Magnum was the first to top 200, and within a short time some others topped 200, but it doesn't mean they were better coasters. "When you're the first to top 300 feet.

It was an exhilarating feeling on opening day when we were able to do that." Excitement was running so high before opening day May 13, 2000 that Cedar Point was able to raise $50,000 for charity by auctioning off spots in the first ride on Millennium Force. A seat in the front row of the first car went to a bid of $3,000. With the queue lines running upward of three and four hours during peak times last summer, Cedar Point experimented with a "Ticket to Ride" system for Millennium Force. Guests were issued tickets that allowed them to return during a certain one-hour window, say from 2 to 3 p.m., which would reduce their time in line to a maximum of one hour. But the experiment was scrapped because some overly eager guests insisted on returning early.

Or rain delays fouled up the 1920s and 1930s, mostly in a Mercedes. His widow donated the collection. A small bus that holds 30 people provides a tour of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. For information: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, 4790 W. 16th Indianapolis; (317) 484-6747, www.indy500.com.

Open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (till 6 in May); closed Christmas. Admission $3 more for track tours. NATIONAL CORVETTE MUSEUM Ever since its present structure opened in Bowling Green in 1994, this has been one of Kentucky's most popular destinations. The collection occupies a dramatic building with slanted sides, inspired by the car itself and designed to look like speed.

Its 11-story yellow cone is visible from afar. Inside, more than 60 Corvettes, some one-of-a-kind concept vehicles and others well-preserved production models, including Stingrays and Sharks, represent every era since the Corvette was introduced in 1953. The cars are set against backdrops, such as a typical 1950s U.S. main street with a barbershop and service station and the famous Route 66. The museum is often host to special scneauie.

Travelers get in gear 102,000 square feet over two floors, TheCaracciolacoUectionismadeup many are considered the most beau- of the trophies won by the champi- tiful ever produced during Ameri- onshin racer Rudi Caracciola in the tiful ever produced during Ameri schedule. rider is recessed into a seat and should experience in their lifetim down memory lane Among them, on loan from the this collection displayed on Smithsonian, is the 1894 Duryea, the first two floors of a onetime dep; first mtpntpd antnmnhilp hniit hv ctn in th. rc a. Smithsonian, is the 1894 Duryea, the first patented automobile built by should experience in their lifetime." this collection displayed on first two floors of a onetime department store in the Los locked in with a harness, Millennium Force is quite open, allowing unrestricted views. "I describe it almost as a flatbed trailer with folding chairs on it," Linkenheimer said.

Spehn, the director of operations, marvels at the reaction the ride created. "People came from all over the country," he said. "I don't recall that happening as much in the past, with people from all parts of the country wanting to come to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, to ride a ride." Slade, the publisher of Amusement Today, visited the park several times and was quickly made a Millennium Force believer. "Where else can you go and experience that kind of speed, those kinds of drops, all right on the banks of a major lake where you've got that lake breeze blowing in?" he said. "It's a ride that any true thrill-seeker the Angeles museum district near Beverly Hills displays its vehicles in a cultural context, but with a California twist.

Tracing the evolution of the automobile and its influence on Los Angeles, the exhibits allow visitors to walk through dioramas of the city at the turn of the century, Hollywood in the 1930s and a custom-car shop in the 1950s. The ever-changing collection of more than 200 vehicles may include anything from a Ford Model to a classic 1930s Duesenberg to an iconoclastic 1959 Cadillac with tail fins. This year the museum honors 50 years of rock 'n' roll with a Cars Guitars exhibition, featuring one of the largest collections of cars owned by rock stars, according to the museum. It ranges from Janis Jop-lin's psychedelic Porsche to a 1957 pink Cadillac belonging to the modern rock band Lit. For information: Petersen Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Los Angeles (323) 964-6331, www.petersen.org.

Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday; closed Monday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day. General admission $7. Parking $6. Bureau www.GoChampaign.com try CEDAR POINT Point the world's roller coaster capital.

And some people, the marketing department's Janice Witherow said, "wouldn't take a ticket They'd say, 'I don't care. I'll wait five The fervor to ride was such that on many days last summer, cars would begin appearing in the parking lot before sunrise, well before the park's 10 a.m. opening. When the gates finally swung open, there was such a race to get to Millennium Force that some employees took to lining up along the midway in marathon fashion and handing paper cups of water to the racers. Millennium Force accommodates about 1,400 riders an hour.

Cedar Point posts guards and takes a firm stance against line-jumping or similar hanky-panky, and smoking is not permitted in the queues. But the park recognizes that human beings have needs, so the guards will issue passes that allow people in line for Millennium Force to take bathroom breaks. Venture over to the ride's exit gate, and you'll be hard-pressed to find someone who'll say the ride wasn't worth the long wait. Although one youngster was overheard telling his friend, "You'll never get me on that thing again," in general the teenagers deliver their verdicts this way: "awesome" and "cool." "I have never experienced anything like that at all," said Gary Hallman, 42, from Greenville, Mich, for a drive events and exhibitions, such as this year's display of Corvette pace cars Oct. 12-14 and eatherins of owners of Oct.

12-14 and gathering of owners of Chevrolet Camaros and Pontiac Firebirds, Sept. 21-23. After seeing the museum, a visitor can take a free tour of the nearby Corvette assembly plant to watch the cars being built or, in a special room at the museum, take delivery on a brand-new Corvette. For information: National Corvette Museum, 350 Corvette Drive, Bowling Green, (270) 781-7973, www.corvettemuseum.com. Open daily 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas.

General admission $8. BLACKHAWK MUSEUM Tucked away in a corner of a shopping plaza in Danville, about 45 miles southeast of San Francisco, this museum treats the automobile as art. The building's black, ruby and pink polished Italian granite is accented with copper skylights and vast expanses of glass. A 30-foot waterfall spills into pools in front. Inside, the 63,000 square feet of floor space is filled with more than 100 artistically as well as historically significant cars; many are one of a kind.

jjrV 937653-5764 Champaign Contact the Massachusetts brothers credited with founding the American automobile industry, and the 1948 Tucker Model 48 Torpedo built by Preston Tucker, who went out of business after producing only 51 of his "cars of tomorrow." One-of-a-kind models include a 1931 Bugatti Royale Berime de Voyage and a 1924 Hispano-Suiza Tulipwood Torpedo racer covered with strips of mahogany that was commissioned by Henri Dubonnet of liqueur fame. Other cars were selected for their star appeal, such as the yellow 1935 Duesenberg convertible that whisked Clark Gable and Carole Lombard up the Pacific Coast Highway to escape Hollywood. On weekends, vintage cars pack the parking lots, as the museum is a meeting place for collector clubs. For information: Blackhawk Museum, 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville, (925) 736-2280, www.blackhawkmuseum.org. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Wednesday through Sunday and some Mondays; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission $8. PETERSEN MUSEUM Like many automobile museums, is going to Cedar Point this month and will stay almost a week there," Linkenheimer said. "There are a lot of people like him, people peupie imc nun, peupie museums: Continued from Page IK i Daimler Chryslers headquarters Daimler Chrysler's headquarters in the suburb of Auburn Hills. Its 55,000 square feet accommodates 75 of the museum's growing collection at any time.

On view on a rotating tower are three historically signifi-'cant Chryslers: the classic 1941 'Chrysler Thunderbolt; a 1963 Chrysler experimental gas-turbine and the original Dodge Viper concept vehicle. The exhibits trace the history of the company from its establishment in 1925 by Walter P. Chrysler, Kansas farm boy and self-taught mechanic, to its takeover by Daimler-Benz in 1998. Dioramas set vehicles in con-" text: a Jeep emerges from the rubble of a French village. The basement is filled with 1960s high-horsepower muscle cars and a re-creation of the lab, where Hemi V8 engine and Ram Charger racing engines were developed.

For information: Walter P. Chrysler Museum, 1 Chrysler Drive, Auburn Hills, (888) 456-1924; on the Web at www.chryslerheritage.com. Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; noon-6 p.m. Sunday; closed Mondays and holidays.

General admission $6. AUBURN CORD DUESENBERG MUSEUM This collection, in Auburn, 20 miles north of Fort Wayne, is set appropriately in the Art Deco structure that was once headquarters and the original factory for the Auburn Automobile a holding of the Cord Corp. Of the 115 classic cars displayed on Visit the very best of Alaska from the Juneau 'Skagway Inrtiidna RT Airtnr Flw fn ftartl hnarri HnllAnH Passage tor a week. After the cruise, tour Penticton. I Country, Lake Coer d'Alene, Yellowstone National Park, "Lake City Hotels.

Fworteri MntorcnHrh Sirjhtsflfiinq and VACATIONS open sunoay. ppdo Call ca automotive golden age. Duesen-bergs and Cords were favorites of America's upper crust and Hollywood stars in the 1920s and 1930s. A standout is the 1936 burnt-sienna Cord 810 prototype with flashy exposed copper accents, designed by the famous stylist Gordon Buehrig and considered to be one of the 10 most beautiful cars ever built. There are seven galleries, with one set aside for changing exhibits.

For information: Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum, 1600 S. Wayne Auburn, (219) 925-1444; on the Web at www.acdmuseum.org. Open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day. General admission $7. INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY MUSEUM About 120 miles south of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and its Hall of Fame Museum.

The museum displays more than 75 race cars, pace cars and antique and classic cars built in Indiana and bearing names such as Stutz, Cole, Marmon, National and Duesenberg. Unique to the museum are its trophy collections. The Borg-Warner trophy, on display since 1936, goes to the winner of the Indianapolis 500. From Columbui Oh dUJ 1800-923-8580 Call For Detailsj comfort of your deluxe cruise ship 'Glacier Bay Ketchikan 7 Day Cruise 8 Day Motorcoach A morgan r.mie Chin anH nuiu AiuoLa'a BC's Wine Country. Grand Coulee Dam.

Bin Skv Old Faithful, Grand Tetons, Jackson Hole and Salt Bnnnnoe Handling. 1-800-888-8204 County Visitors JULY 30 SPLIT BUS $15 JULY 31 GRAND VICTORIA $15 JULY 31 BELTERRA $15 JULY 31 ARGOSY EVENING $15 AUGUST 1 ARGOSY $15 AUGUST 1 GRAND AFTERNOON $15 AUGUST 2 BELTERRA $15 AUGUST 2 GRAND VICTORIA $15 AUGUST 3 SPLIT BUS $15 AUGUST 3 BELTERRA REDEYE $18 AUGUST 4 SPLIT BUS $15 AUGUST 5 ARGOSY $15 AUGUST 5 BELTERRA $15 us to request a travel brochure. 937652-1 599 i.