Jon's Racers Update: Catalina

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

10,000

The day has come.

My first time on Radiator Springs Racers was on June 10th, 2012. This was a Preview day for the attraction. My very first ride, I lost my hat. It was recovered and I got it in the mail 2 days later. I also found out they had a single rider line. I ended up with 7 rides on that day. I did not plan to go on the ride 10,000 times. A couple things happened to start me towards this goal. After ride 999, the cast members were waiting for me at one of the unload areas. Five of them jumped in the car for ride 1,000. That spurred me on to reach 2,000. The local ABC news came out to cover that ride. By that time I was on my way to becoming friends with several cast members. Their support kept me coming back for more rides. It was after the 5,000 ride that I knew I wanted to reach 10,000. It is a good round number. I also told the OC Register reporter about obtaining that goal.

This year was the most crowded of all the years of racing. I went on 2823 times in 2016 but only 1610 times so far this year. The secret of the single rider line is no secret.

I arrived as usual when the parking structure opened. My friend David Crown took me to breakfast at Rainforest Cafe. We came into the park and went on Guardians. This was number 107.

I wanted the 10,000 to be very special and these are my friends I was lucky enough to ride with.

Carlene Beckius, Catalina Simpson, Heather Hebenstreit, Rosanna Hughes and Meli Carlos.

I first met Carlene back in 2013. It was right after I went on Racers for the 300th time. One of the managers had the cast members clapping when I came back after the ride. I asked to get a photo with the crew, and Carlene was one of them. I was also lucky enough to have her in the 1,000 car with the other cast members. When I reached the 3,000 ride, Carlene came in on her day off so she could ride with me. She was in the front row and I was in the back. She took some selfies of the ride. Since then, I’ve made sure she was able to ride in all the big milestone cars. She has always had a knack for knowing how many rides I have during the day or if I was in a certain color car a few times in a row.

I also got to know Catalina in December 2013. On the 2,000 ride there was an empty seat and I asked if Catalina could get in the car. Besides that ride, she has been in the 4,000, 5,000, 6000, 7,000 and 8,000 Cars. Catalina also invited me to her wedding. I could not make it because I could not get the day off from work. She always had something nice to say every time I came to the ride. She and her husband Deane have a 5 month old little girl. Sierra is very cute. The few times I’ve gone to visit them, Catalina tells Sierra, this is your “Uncle Jon”.

Carlene and Catalina are my “Besties” at the ride. Their support and motivation have helped me along the way. They have taken countless photos with me. They have never said no to a selfie. Even on days they did not think they looked their best. They are still 10 times better looking than Ian on my good days. I’ve been lucky to know them away from the ride. From watching them play softball to going to dinner and movies. They have been the best “sisters” I could ever hope for. I always wish them the best in all their future endeavors.

I’ve known Heather the longest. We worked together at HRTV. She now works with the Main Street Trolley horses in Disneyland. It’s fun to go see her working there. I’m also friends with her Mom Dorise. I’ve gotten to go to their house for Christmas and 4th of July parties. She was also in the 8000 and 9000 Cars. She is also a great GoPro operator.

Rosanna is the cast member who always blames me for the ride breaking down. Jokingly of course. She points her finger at me and tells me “to behave”, after the ride has experienced a downtime. I’m glad she was able to ride with us today.

Meli is another of my good friends at Racers. She always welcomes me with a “Lucky Hug”. She is always amazed how many rides I can get when the single rider line is short. She was also in the 7000 car.

So at around 12:15pm, I got all my riders together and we got into car red 4. We were on Luigi side for the race and won the race. Carlene and Heather held my 2 GoPro cameras. There were also several of my friends taking pictures and videos. We got post race pictures and I got a little emotional as I gave each one of my co riders a hug. I’m the lucky one who got to ride with these awesome ladies. I also got photos with my other friends who came out for the milestone. And my friend Karen gave me a hat with Mr. 10,000 on one side and 11/13/17 on the other. Best gift ever.

Then I went with my friends David, Heather and Dorise across Harbor Blvd. to meet Greg Lee. He is a reporter with ABC7 LA. He did an interview of the big ride. Pretty cool.

Went to lunch with David, Dorise and Heather. After, we went on Racers, Luigi’s and then Guardians. I did a Skype interview with Cal State Fullerton TV news. Went on Racers one more time. I’m now at 10,002.

It was a great day. We will see what the rest of the year holds for me. I know I need to reach 10,101 on December 8th with the Cree Family, coming down from Oregon. And continue on from there.

KA CHOW

Back row: l to r: Meli, me, Rosanna

Front: Heather, Catalina, and Carlene.

Meli, Heather, Carlene, Catalina and Rosanna

Goofy photo

Berit and Karen

Only 1 time. Thanks ladies.

Better

ABC interview

Greg Lee

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

9000

I was 7 rides away from 9000 times on Radiator Springs Racers. I did not want to chance not getting those 7 rides today, so I came last night to get on the ride at least twice.

I left work at 5pm and arrived at the single rider entrance of Racers at 6:50pm. I was feeling a little nervous until I got on that first time. I met some nice ladies that recognized me. They wanted to get a couple pictures, which I always love taking. The single rider line got shorter, so I knew I could do at least 3 laps. On the 3rd ride, I was in a car with a couple families. They wanted to get pictures with me and their kids after we got out of the car. I was able to get back in line right before they closed the ride for the night. Four rides to reach 8997.

I got to the Mickey and Friends Parking lot at 7:03am. The parking lot opens at 7:30am. Just a bit anxious today. Got to park entrance at 7:50am. Came to Racers after rope drop at 9am. Turned 2 laps by 9:51am. Now at 8999. Time to relax until the big ride tonight. It also gave me time to write about my friends who will be joining me tonight in the 9000 car.

I met Ken and Sandra W. at 5am, waiting to get in the 2013 D23 convention at the Anaheim Convention Center. We saw each other at panels during the convention and have been friends ever since. We've been to a few Disney Halloween parties and a friend of a friend of Sandra got us in Club 33. Dick Van Dyke was even eating when we were there. They were in the 2400 car and also the 7500 car. I think I've ridden the most times on Racers with Sandra.

I've been friends with Heather H., since we worked at HRTV together. Over 7 years now. Also friends with her mom, Dorise. Heather now works with the horses on Main Street in Disneyland. And at the off site ranch, were they stable the horses at night. Saw her and her boyfriend Jon, in Orlando at the Star Wars Celebration. They mainly went to get a photo with Sarah Michelle Gellar. They maybe bigger Buffy fans than me. But not by much.

Katie H., was one of the first cast members at Racers that I became friends with. We hit it off from the start. She and her husband Glenn even invited me to their wedding. Katie had to leave Disney because of back issues. But I still see her from time to time. Glenn still works in the parks. She always had the best hugs.

Carlene was also one of the first cast members I got to be friends with. By chance she was in the very first photo I got with the Racers crew. She is the only one who has been in every big lap car. 1000 and 2000 were by chance. But the day I reached 3000, she came in on her day off. We got in the single rider line. And she was in the front seat and me in the back. So ever since then, I make sure she is in the car. She is one of my favorite "sisters" at Racers.

I also need to mention my other favorite "sister", Catalina S.. She came up to me a few months ago to tell me she would not be able to ride in the 9000 and 10000 cars. I knew immediately what that meant. She was pregnant. I'm so happy for her and Deane. They even told me they are having a girl before they told everyone. Catalina and Carlene have been my 2 buddies from the start. They really treat me like their big brother.

I went over to Disneyland and spent some time with my friends Lesa and Liz. I met them last night in the single rider line at Racers. We got a snack at Starbucks. We then went on Buzz Lightyear. I still have it. I scored over 1.4 million points. Liz and I then went on Hyper Space Mountain. And I did not lose my phone. I kept it in my tote bag.

I then caught up with Heather driving the Horse "Lucky" on the Main Street Trolley. She is getting pretty good with the horses.

I came back over to DCA at 2pm. I went by Hyperion to say hi to Amos. I also got to say hi to Sarah P. Always great to see one of my Tower favorites. I guess now it will be Guardians. Back to Racers to visit with the crew a little bit. I got to see the 10,000 showing of DJ. They have a show several times a day in front of Luigi's.

I had a Fastpass for Soarin', so I went on the ride at 4:30pm.

Found out Ken got stuck at work and will not be able to join us tonight. So I asked Glenn to join us.

Everyone showed up around 7pm. We got on the ride about 7:25pm. Heather's boyfriend Jon took video with my phone. On the ride, Carlene and Heather had my Go Pro cameras and Sandra took a much of Selfies. My friend David will put together a video for You Tube.

Now 1000 more rides to reach 10,000. It took 4 months to go from 7000 to 8000 but 5 months to go from 8000 to 9000. I hope I can get to 10,000 by the end of August. Which would be 4 months.

Katie, Heather, Sandra, Glenn and Katie