http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio-news/man-70-takes-7-000th-turn-on-kings-island-coaster-1400539.html

thats the guy i was talking about in my trip report

Pretty impressive! I've seen him multiple times, and I believe I had a short conversation with him once. I love looking at his shirt every time he is there to see how many rides he's gotten up to.

Congrats Gary! Such a great guy, I rode with him on my 300th Diamondback ride!

I've always been curious about this, but is someone keeping track of his rides besides him? Is there like an official log somewhere? What's keeping me from showing up with a custom t-shirt claiming that I've ridden something like maybe Flight of Fear 7,000 times? Not saying that he hasn't done this, but I've always wondered how or who was keeping track.

No, it is just him counting, but the park does have data to "confirm" that he is being truthful - pass scans at entry, ride ops seeing him at DB constantly, etc.... He also made a big deal about marathoning it and counting from the beginning so it's been a continual journey with the park.

What is always sad to me is the rude (get a job, get a life for example) comments that accompany this story on Facebook and other places. Gary is a nice friendly guy, who enjoys riding DB - I say congrats, enjoy, and ride on!

Oh ok that makes sense. I think doing something like that would be pretty fun. And what's up with people? The guy's 70, let him enjoy his life! I'm assuming by this age he's probably retired? If so, if this is what he wants to do with his retirement than who cares? Looks like fun to me!

He was really friendly to me at KI. People on Facebook and other social media are proably jealous of him. So thats why there angry

Great, and wonderful accomplishment! Way to go, to this outstanding record.

He keeps a clicker counter in his pocket like the ops who count Fast Lane people, and clicks it every time he gets on. Congrats fellow warrior!

Gary is a good guy, I've rode with him many times and I've had some neat conversations with him. Here's to 7,000 more rides Gary!

Not to hijack the thread or anything, but on a related note...does anybody know if Darlene is still keeping tabs on her ride count?

Great to see Gary get 7K. I've ridden with him several times also, he is a great guy and I hate seeing anyone question his integrity or the way he spends his time. He is beyond retirement age and still works he has lived a life and doesn't need to get one. Maybe some of the Facebook haters need to get off Facebook and get the life they suggest for others. If nothing else he should be an insperation to people I'm going to be 50 in a couple of weeks and hope I have his energy and spirit in 20 years.

Gary. I usually see him on Diamondback although I have not seen him that much this year. I guess that is around 2000 times a year.

I am not sure if Darlene still counts the rides. She has not talked about the counts for over a year. I stopped after 2500 which was earlier this year.

Assuming the guy is retired, he is spending his retirement in a way that anybody would be lucky to to be able to do!

I have ridden with him before. He is a very nice guy and the ride ops help his journey by letting him jump back on in empty seats. (Thats how I ended up with him).

Most of us could only dream of riding that many Coaster rides.

Congratulations to Gary! Very nice guy with whom Mrs. Gator and I have ridden a few times. I never would have guessed him to be 70.