Volume 3, No. 9. May 9, 2003
Eric's Turn
The
real thrill
Let’s talk racin’.
Sarah and I once attended a Winston Cup stock car race in Rockingham, North
Carolina. I was on assignment, doing a story about pit crew chiefs. Sarah’s
uncle, Billy Hagan, was then the owner of the car driven by Sterling Marlin,
so we spent the race weekend in their infield garage and the race in their pit
stop area.
During that weekend I met Marlin and encountered many other NASCAR drivers.
But the moment that sticks out most in my memories came when I was walking along
the garage road, and I felt a presence behind me. What does a presence feel
like? Energy, palpable, measurable, a force field you could enter like passing
from an air conditioned room into the Arizona desert day. I turned around, and
there was Richard Petty, wearing his trademark sunglasses and cowboy hat. Just
then, a couple of fans rushed up asking for his autograph, and with a natural
smile and greeting, he obliged.
I used to be a music critic covering rock and country musicians. I’ve been
a sports writer assigned to covering professional golf and Major League Baseball.
In both of those fields, and in covering the amusement industry which sometimes
engages film stars and government officials, I have met countless celebrities.
Some I have questioned among press conference crowds, some I have interviewed
one on one, and a few have evolved into casual friendships. Some celebrities
I merely passed without communication or I observed from a distance.
Among all of these a few stand out for carrying about them an aura of greatness:
country music legend Roy Acuff, Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz, Charleston,
South Carolina, Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr., and, though she’s not a celebrity,
my wife, Sarah. The greatest aura of all was that surrounding Richard Petty.
I didn’t stop to talk to him, probably because I was awestruck. And you
know what? Not only was Rockingham's the first race I’d ever attended in
person, it was the first NASCAR race I’d ever seen, period. I knew little
about the sport, and I only knew Richard Petty had won a lot. But upon seeing
him in person, it brought to mind something Kent tells King Lear in Shakespeare’s
play: “You have that in your countenance which I would fain call master—authority.”
Let’s talk racin’.
Last week I attended the media preview of Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar
Point (see story above). For my first experience on the 420-foot,
121-mph coaster I was fortunate to hitch a ride with Cedar Fair CEO Dick Kinzel
and his daughter (pictured above). Of course, the story of the day was the record-breaking
coaster with a launch, climb and dive that sets your heart to racing.
I’m noticing a trend, though. Every time I visit Cedar Point—to cover
Wicked Twister’s opening a year ago (THE
LOOP May 10, 2002) and to attend last fall's IAAPA Summer Meeting (THE
LOOP September 27, 2002)—I end up writing in my Turn about Dick Kinzel,
either as president of such a high-quality operation with a number of talented
officers, or as gracious host with his wife, Judy.
This time, I’m just writing about the man himself. He is one of a couple
of people I’ve met in the amusement industry who have that aura of greatness
about them. Though our relationship is wholly professional and cordial, I tend
to feel a bit awestruck every time I’m near him. And here I have a corroborator
in Funworld’s Frank Elliot. After we interviewed Kinzel together
at the foot of Dragster last week, Elliot said as we walked away, “You
can tell the quality of this park starts at the top with him.” So true.
But the guy who has the audacity to send paying customers 121 mph up a 90-degree
incline 420 feet; who lets slip a sly twinkle in his eye as he talks about the
“business decision” to run a park with the most, largest, fastest,
and arguably best coasters in the business; who oversees a 11-property company
that has paid out dividends to its stockholders year after year even in tough
times; this guy has something that makes him truly valuable. And, I’ve
come to realize, it’s the one thing he shares with the country fiddler,
the baseball pitcher, the Charleston mayor, the stock car driver and the professional
executive I listed above. All are genuine people sincerely friendly, caring
and giving of their time and attention to anybody no matter the scenario.
Kinzel and the rest have that in their countenance that I would fain call friend—humanity.
THE LOOP is written and produced by Eric Minton, Minton Enterprises, LLC. To see more examples of Eric Minton's work and Minton Enterprises services, visit www.ericminton.com.
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