History
ACE was founded in 1978 by Roy Brashears, Paul Greenwald, and Richard Munch. At the time, it was commonplace for thrill-seekers and prospective Guinness aspirants to participate in marathons on roller coasters. Such a marathon was arranged in 1977 on Rebel Yell at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia to promote the release of the movie Rollercoaster, starring George Segal, Timothy Bottoms, Henry Fonda, Richard Widmark, and Helen Hunt. Rebel Yell was an exceedingly appropriate choice, as it was also featured in the film. Three of the participants in this marathon, the aforementioned Brashears, Greenwald, and Munch, discussed forming a club for those who have a passion for riding roller coasters. With that, the idea for ACE was born and Coaster Con I (where the group officially became an organization) was held a year later at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
Read more about this topic: American Coaster Enthusiasts
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“In nature, all is useful, all is beautiful. It is therefore beautiful, because it is alive, moving, reproductive; it is therefore useful, because it is symmetrical and fair. Beauty will not come at the call of a legislature, nor will it repeat in England or America its history in Greece. It will come, as always, unannounced, and spring up between the feet of brave and earnest men.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)