Retrospect… 1974

I started this little blog back in May of 2009 with 1 picture and a simple statement “Hello World… Welcome to The Lost Coaster… More to come..”

This post was almost 35 years after my first and only ride on Cedar Point’s Jumbo Jet. I’ve posted lots of pictures, videos and links of many Jet Star, Jet Star 2 and Jumbo Jet Roller Coasters and I’ve even told you some of what happened on my first trip to the Point!

I have decided to take you back 39 years to my first ride on the Jumbo Jet. I was finishing up my 8th grade at Butler Elementary School (May/June 1974) and it was tradition that the 8th graders would take a class trip before heading to Clear Fork High School for their freshman year. Our trip started at the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village and then on the way back home we would make a stop at Cedar Point on Sunday. This would be my first weekend away from the parents and could really be myself. Back in those days I was a bit backwards or even awkward and may have been considered a loner.

We arrived at Cedar Point and all ran like dorky kids to get to our 1st ride. Favorites back then were the ones with the smallest waits like the Cadillac Cars, Cedar Creek Mine Ride, The Pirate Ride, Earthquake, Sky Ride, Log Ride, Shoot the Rapids and who could forget the slide? This part may be sad to you, however needs to be told because it is very important to why I rode the Jumbo Jet at all, let me explain…

I found myself abandoned late in the afternoon and decided to head back to the bus, because it was hotter than heck. As I got on the bus the driver asked me if I had ridden all the rides. I said yes, but that really wasn’t the truth. We were all scared to ride the Blue Streak and the Jumbo Jet because of their size. We told ourselves that why would anyone want to wait that long for just one ride? We were lying to ourselves. The bus driver had asked me earlier in the trip if I was “Lester’s Boy”? Oh great, I thought now if I do anything wrong it will get back to my dad!. The drivers name was Bill and he started to asked me if I had rode the Blue Streak and Jumbo Jet. I had not and it was time to come clean with Bill. I told him that no I had not ridden the Blue Streak or Jumbo Jet because no one wanted to ride those with me. The hard truth is that no one wanted ride with me and I had spent most of the day being a 3rd wheel. It’s hard growing up being that kid. I think that Bill kinda knew that and offered to ride the Blue Streak and Jumbo Jet with me and off we went to ride…

First up was the Blue Streak, Cedar Point’s biggest wood roller coaster. I know that we enjoyed the ride, but I don’t really remember a lot about it. As we got off the ride, Bill asked me if I wanted to ride the Jumbo Jet. Unsure I reluctantly said Yes and we headed off to the Jumbo Jet. I did not take this picture, but this is what I saw:

We got in line and I remember how hot it was and thought that we would never get to ride, I would surly die of thrust. Since I was with Bill, who the ride op thought was my dad, they allowed me to ride even though I did not meet the height requirement. We finally got the chance to ride, as the train went up the spiral lift hill, I remember thinking this is what I waited for all this time in the heat for, a leisurely ride?

Little did I know how scared I would be heading down that first hill. I am sure that I thought “Oh Shit, we are gonna die!” The Jumbo Jet did not have any type of restraints and it really wasn’t needed. As you went into that first banked conner you were planted into the seat. Same thing when you came off the second hill. In the middle of the ride was the area that one might call “Meet Yourself” and you couldn’t have gotten out of your seat even if you wanted too.

I remember how fast and loud the ride was and before I knew it the ride was over. My next trip to Cedar Point would be years later in 1984 and by that time the Jumbo Jet was long gone. I want to thank Bill the Safeway Bus driver (where ever he may be) because with out him I would never have ridden Cedar Point’s Jumbo Jet…and this blog would have never happened!

**Note this is my 212th post. Through out the years this number shows up in my life and I consider the numbers 212 as lucky**

One final look…

Things are not looking good for the Jet Star 2 at the amusement park Lithuania o Vaikų Pasaulis Elektrenai. One of our favorite Facebook friends Gordonas left us a post with pictures and video of a recent trip to see his favorite Jet Star 2. Seems that the park will be demolished by years end. Hopes are that Gerstlauer would save the ride. (Perhaps an email to info@gerstlauer-rides.de is in order?) Gerstlauer is the company that refurbished ALton Tower’s “Dark Hole” that was renamed the Rocket (see post The Rocket Up Close!) and is currently at a park called Furuvik. Let’s Join Gordonas for one final look of his lost coaster…

**Update** 7:10am 08/03/2013
I cannot stand by and do nothing, so I’ve done my little part by writing Gerstlauer and asking if there is anything that they can do.. What will you do?

From: thelostcoaster@remove.com
To: info@gerstlauer-rides.de
Subject: Soon to be a lost coaster? / Bald ein verlorener Achterbahn sein?
Date: Sat, 3 Aug 2013 07:03:39 -0400

Greetings Gerstlauer,
I am writing your company because of the work you did refurbishing a Jet Star 2 roller coaster that original was at Alton Towers and is now in Furuvik called the “Rocket”. There is a grave situation for another Jet Star 2 that is SBNO in Lithuania o Vaikų Pasaulis Elektrenai. The news is that this Jet Star 2 and the entire park will be demolished by years end. I think that you will agree with me that this original Jet Star 2 needs to be saved. Is there anything that your company can do? Thanks so much for your time and consideration.

Kind Regards,

Jerry

German Translation: / Deutsch Übersetzung:
Grüße Gerstlauer,
Ich schreibe Ihr Unternehmen wegen der Arbeit, die Sie Instandsetzen eines Jet Star 2 Achterbahn kam das Original in Alton Towers war und ist nun in Furuvik namens “Rakete”. Es ist eine schwere Situation für einen anderen Jet Star 2, die SBNO ist in Litauen o Vaikų Pasaulis Elektrenai. Die Nachricht ist, dass diese Jet Star 2 und der gesamte Park nach Jahren Ende abgerissen werden. Ich denke, dass Sie mir zustimmen, dass diese ursprüngliche Jet Star 2 gespeichert werden muss. Gibt es etwas, dass Ihr Unternehmen tun kann? Vielen Dank für Ihre Zeit und Überlegung.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen,

Jerry

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Jumbo Jet – Let’s Ride!
thelostcoaster@remove
Cell: remove
Blog:
https://thelostcoaster.wordpress.com/
The Lost Coaster:
Jumbo Jet (Jet Star 3)
1972 – 1978 at Cedar Point
1979 – 0000 at Palace PlayLand, Orchard Beach Maine
0000 – 0000 at ???? Touring Europe
0000 – 0000 at Malmö Folkets Park, Sweden
0000 – 0000 at ????, Prague
0000 – 0000 at Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
0000 – 0000 at Minsk, Belarus
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