Tim’s Rides by the Numbers
Number of Rides: 1,000
Number of Visits: 65
Average Number of Rides per visit: 15.4
Most visits in a day: 45
Total Time Spent on Ride: 50 hours
Distance Traveled on Diamondback in total: 998.8 miles
MASON — When Andrew Klenk is asked what he did during his summer vacation, one word will explain everything: Diamondback.
The 13-year-old, who is about to enter the eighth-grade at Lebanon Junior High, rode the Diamondback roller coaster for the 1,000th time Monday, Aug. 24.. The roller coaster, which opened in April, is the longest and tallest in Kings Island’s history.
“I had no idea I’d ride it so much at first,” said Klenk, who kept a running tally of the number of times and dates in a binder. “They just kept adding up. I hit 100 and thought I’d go for 200.”
Klenk, who is a season pass holder, visited the park 65 times in order to achieve the millennium mark, averaging 15.4 rides per visit. His highest ride total for a single day was 45 times.
“Some people say the thrill wears off, but it doesn’t for me,” Klenk said. “The best part is the first drop. It’s so high.”
Klenk first rode the Diamondback on its opening day, April 19, conquering the metal monster three times.
Klenk’s father, Tim, rode with his son for rides 999 and 1,000. It was the first times he had ever ridden the roller coaster.
“I figured with the attitude he has he would make the mark if he wanted to,” said his father, noting his son is preparing for his Eagle Scout badge. “When he sets his mind to doing something, he’ll do it.”
Tim Klenk described the roller coaster as phenomenal, but didn’t commit to trying to match his son’s mark.
“I’d ridden a couple roller coasters before, but never a lot,” Klenk said.
Klenk was actually the second person to reach the feat this summer. Gary Coleman of Monfort Heights, Ohio, made his 1,000 voyage down the serpent-inspired track on Sunday, Aug. 23.
“To have two people with that many rides tells you how good (the Diamondback) is,” said park spokesman Don Helbig.
With the park still open through October, Klenk said he will try to rack up more rides, while taking the occasional break for some of the other roller coasters. He is not sure what next summer will hold.
“I may try for 1,500, just to see if I can do it,” Klenk said.
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