3500

I usually write a post on the day a milestone occurs.  But I did not think I could get 28 laps yesterday. I was able to get 29 on Monday to put me within 28 of 3500. I got some motivation at the beginning of the day and again with 8 laps to go from Carlene B. She knows what to say to get my competitive nature to kick in. The rest of the Pit Crew also helped me count down to 3500. 

I also got a surprise visit from some TVG friends. Dave C., Eddie and Damian. They saw how the crew makes fun of me from time to time.

I started the day at 10:10am. I got 8 laps before my first break from 12:10pm to 12:23pm.

Got 15 more laps before my last break from 5:35pm to 5:40pm. Then got the last 5 laps and 3500 at 7:20pm. I went around and got the first round of Pit Crew photos before leaving for the day. 

In the first 4 months last year, I had a total of 505 laps. This year I'm at 728. I've been to the park 55 times for an average of 13.2 laps per visit.

If I can reach 4000 by mid July, I think I'll have a good shot to reach 5000 by the end of year.

Carlene and Catalina early in the day

Damian and Eddie from TVG

Kimmy

Frances 

Raymundo 

Paul

Jared 

Heyse 

Emily

Alejandra 

Allison

Shelly 

Alea 

Greg 

Jenny 

Oliver 

Star Wars Celebration

ITook a few days off from Racers to attend the Star Wars Celebration at the Anaheim Convention Center. Celebration takes place every 2 years and when it was announced it would be in Anaheim, I knew I had to attend. Some of my close friends showed up. Ken and Sandra White, Heather H. And her boyfriend Jon. Mike Garcia. And some of my Racer family. Ruth C, Phil P, Cian, the 2 Yesenias, Bryan, Chris, And Amos. Saw some great panels with Carrie Fisher, Billy D Williams, the new creative team of the upcoming Star Wars movie, Rogue One, and Anthony Daniels. Also took lots of photos. 

I saw that my 2 favorite Star Wars characters were signing autographs. Did not think much about a signature. But then I saw a chance to get a photo with Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill. Leia and Luke. This was a once in a lifetime chance I could not pass. I thought I could bring anyone with me for the photo. So I invited my Racer friends to join in. When we all showed up, I found out only 4 people per photo ticket. I did not want to let anyone down, so I bought another one. It was the least I could do for my friends that have given me so much in my Racer journey. I even wore my Racer jacket and the hat the crew all signed.

The shot turned out great and Carrie and Mark shook all our hands and thanked us. 

It was 3 days I will never forget. 

So back to Racers tomorrow to continue my race to 5000 laps.

Photo with the Skywalker twins

A Packed House.

I thought last Monday was crowded at Racers. Was I mistaken. Today is the busiest day I've been this year. And I have visited California Adventure 44 times this year. It's a good excuse to have a blog post, since I'm waiting in line. 

The morning started out great. Only 10  or 15 minute wait. But by 1pm, the wait is 40 minutes or more. I've turned 11 laps as of 2:15pm. Not a good lap total for over 6 hours of waiting. Today, I even question how I can continue with this adventure. I just keep sight of that number out there I want to reach. 5000. I don't know if I will laugh or cry when I reach 5000. Maybe a little of both. I'm glad the Pit Crew likes to take photos and talk to me. They make the time waiting bearable. Plus they thanked me for bringing them chocolate cookies today. We kind of help each other. 

As if this post, I'm at 3314 all time. Nineteen more to my next sign of 3333.

Carlene and Catalina

Andrew

Greg and Ruth

Greg and Stephanie

April and Cian

The Show Must Go On

I arrived at the attraction today at 12:36pm. The cars were running but the ride was not open for guests. This was due to part of the attraction was not working. It is called The Show. These are all the moving animatronics in the ride. All the moving figures or in this case, cars. There are a total of about 19 cars or tractors that move and talk to you on the ride. If they are not moving or talking, guests will not get the full story of Radiator Springs. It could be Mater, Lightning McQueen, Frank, Sally, Guido, Luigi, Red, Stanley, Sheriff, and the 2 tractors. If 1 or more of them are nor performing, they need to be reset. 

All the characters want you to enjoy their town. They just ask for patience if they are not working up to par.

Guido and Luigi

Frank

Lightning and Mater

Fillmore and Sarge

A life of its own

It is becoming clear to me that this adventure is becoming bigger than me. Everytime I go to Radiator Springs Racers, I meet people that have seen my posts on Facebook or see my ride total lanyard. They all have words of encouragement and congratulate me on what I'm doing. Just today, one of the tram cast members, wanted to shake my hand and told me to keep going. Then yesterday, one of the Pit Crew at Racers was asked by a guest if I was for real or just a Disney myth. 

All the Disney groups I've joined have also had words of encouragement.

I feel I need to keep going and gladly will.

This all may of ended last year when I hit 1000 laps (for the year). The surprise ride with the Pit Crew and giving me a Piston Cup and 2 art pieces was way more than I deserved. Then the love and support to keep going from the Crew took over. I can honestly say, they are the main reason I kept going and keep going today. Some of them have become great friends. 

So who knows what the future holds. But I will continue to add to my lap total. I don't even get down when the ride has issues. It gives me time to visit with the Pit Crew. KA CHOW!!!

The 1000 lap from last year. With Eddie, John, Ruth and Carlene

2000 lap last year. With Ruth, Carlene, Catalina and Katie.

2400 lap from last year. With Ken and Sandra White.

3000 all time lap with Carlene.

3000

Today will be the day I hit 3000 times on Radiator Springs Racers, since the ride opened in June 2012. So let's get started.

I arrived at the admission gate at 7:50am. The gates opened at 8:32am. Got to rope drop at 8:33am.

Walked down to Racers at 9am. Got to ride at 9:04am. Walked in with standby line. Got on first car with guests out of the station. Dropped off cookies to Pit Crew and photo people.

Lap 2995 at 9:07am.

Lap 2996 at 9:25am.

Lap 2997 at 9:39am. 

I'm wearing the hat that all the Pit Crew members signed.

Lap 2998 at 10am. 

Carlene B. showed up on her day off. We went on lap 2999 at 10:15am in separate cars.

At 11am, Heather H. And her mom Dorise showed up at the ride. We went into the single rider line. At 11:23am. Carlene was in the front seat and me in the backseat. We were in Purple 2. And we won lap 3000. 

I was very happy that Carlene, Heather and Dorise were here for my 3000. It really meant a lot to me. Now I need to get photos with all my Pit Crew friends.

Carlene B. in front seat left side. 

Heather H. And Carlene B.

What Can Cause Racers to Breakdown

All rides at the Disney Resort can break down once and again. The more complicated the ride system is the better chance that something could go wrong.

At Racers, there is 1 Main computer that controls all the moving parts. There are 20 regions for the attraction, 16 of them have numbers. And 2 areas and 480 zones. Any one of these could go wrong.

Today, a single car stopped in the middle of the race. They first took the guests out of that car. Maintenance then tried to get the car moving again. They could not. So they had to power down the whole attraction. They did a full evact, where they take all the guests out of every car. They then had to get the push cart to push the bad car off the track. But before they can can get the car off the track, they have to power the ride up, region by region and move the good cars out of the way, so the bad car can be taken off to be serviced. The ride went down at about 11:37am. They got the ride moving again at 1:38pm.

I want to make clear that they never want the attraction to go down. If it was up to the ride operators, the ride would never go down. But with anything, the more something is used the more little things can happen. I've been to the ride 9 times this year and the ride has only been down 4 times. The first 3 times for only 10 minutes a piece. 

This down time gave me time to write this blog. I turned 2400 laps last year and I think the ride was only down less that 15 times, when I was at the attraction.

The bad car today 

The push cart getting ready to move the car