Don Helbig(born inCincinnati, Ohio) is best known as aKings Islandenthusiast who holds several riding records at the park, including aGuinness world recordfor the most nonconsecutive rides on aroller coaster.[1]He later became the public relations manager for Kings Island in 2007, and was so until 2023.[2][3]
As of 2014[update],Helbig has taken over 12,000 rides onThe Racer,generally recognized as a world record.[4]Helbig was hired as the Kings Island public relations manager in 2007. He has also been a broadcaster and media relations director working in professionalice hockey,winning the American Hockey League'sKen McKenzie Awardin 2003. During his years in pro hockey, Helbig worked for theCincinnati Tigers,Cincinnati Cyclones,Carolina Monarchs,Cincinnati Mighty Ducksand theAlbany River Rats.He also spent one season as the broadcaster for theAlbany Conquestof the af2.[1]
Helbig began his pursuit of setting records on the Racer on June 15, 1981. Employed at the time as a novelty vendor for theCincinnati Reds,he found free time during aMajor League Baseballstrike that lasted nearly two months. Initially, Helbig wanted to attain the single day park record for rides on the Racer, which was previously 96 set in 1976. On August 9, 1981, he broke the record finishing the day with 97 rides. On September 1, 1982, he broke his own record with 111 rides. Years later on September 2, 1987, he established the current record of 112. In addition to the single-day riding record, Helbig also pursued the goal of reaching 10,000 nonconsecutive rides – a feat he accomplished by 1990.[4]
The endeavor brought attention from the national news media on his milestone rides (1,000, 2,000, etc.). Helbig continued to ride the Racer almost daily throughout the 1980s, accruing a single-season high of 2,211 rides in 1982, while mixing in more than 3,000 rides on the legendaryBeastroller coaster and enjoying Kings Island's live shows. He is a member ofAmerican Coaster Enthusiastsand wrote reviews of amusement park books for the club's quarterly newsletter.
In 2004, Kings Island held a "Don Helbig Day" in honor of his 1,000th visit to the park.[5]Helbig has appeared live onGood Morning America,been onEntertainment Tonight,and has been featured in the pages of numerous newspapers and media outlets includingStar MagazineandUSA Today.
References
edit- ^abJohn Lachmann. Don Returns - Don Helbig is Back at the Scene of his World Record. "Cincinnati Post.October 2, 2007.
- ^"Knip's Eye View: Coaster fan races toward 1,000th Kings Island visit".Cincinnati Enquirer. May 22, 2003.Retrieved6 February2012.
- ^"Kings Island opens April 20: As '08 season roll in, coaster veteran holds his dream job at theme park".Dayton Daily News. April 11, 2008.Retrieved6 February2012.
- ^abHodson, Margaret (June 18, 2014)."The Racer: An Interview With Record-holding Roller Coaster Enthusiast Don Helbig".Candor News.RetrievedJuly 8,2015.
- ^Coaster fan marks 1,000th visit.The Cincinnati Enquirer.July 23, 2004.