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I first met Dave in 1999 after a chat on AOL. During that chat, we learned that we both had something in common, the love of roller coasters. As we talked about the coasters we had ridden and planned to ride, Dave said, "Hey, I have an idea. This is the first Season of Six Flags taking over Adventure World. I hear its going to be a great on opening day, so why don't we go there together?" At first I was a little hesitant, but I agreed to go. I thought it would be nice to ride coasters with someone else, since I was fairly new to the hobby. Before I met Dave, I only knew a few other coaster enthusiast club members from the Mid-Atlantic Coaster Club. (Dave was a member of MACC also.) We decided to meet at the Harundale Mall in Glen Burnie and ride down to the park together. I arrived at Harundale Mall not knowing what or who to expect when this burly fellow came up to my car. "Carl", asked Dave? I said, "Yes I am. Are you Dave?" The burly fellow said, "Yep, that's me" in a very gleeful voice. I got out of the car to shake his hand and right there on that parking lot, developed what would later become one of the best friendships of my life. We attended opening day at Six Flags America together and had a wonderful time. I knew then and there the love Dave had for roller coasters.
As the weeks and months passed, Dave and I got a lot closer; going to a park every chance we got. In 2000 on a visit to Six Flags America, we were sitting in The Hollywood Cafe talking when I mentioned to Dave how I had been interested in starting a gay roller coaster club. Dave's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. "What a fantastic idea", he said. Soon, every time we got together, the first thing Dave would say was, "any more ideas about the club?" A few months later, as we were visiting Six Flags America again, I asked Dave if he liked the new name I had chosen for the club, Alternative Thrill Riders. His response was a very loud, "I LOVE IT!" That was the beginning of our club.
Dave was a very enthusiastic member of ATR and also my backbone in keeping the club going. On more then one occasion I would say to Dave, I think the Club is going nowhere and he would scold me. "Carl", he would say, "I have never known you to be a quitter. Hang in there. Things will get better. Rome wasn't built in a day." If there was an event or occasion that I could not attend with the club, Dave would gladly take my place. He contributed many trip reports to our Website. Dave would always have a smile on his face no matter what. I remember the first time he rode Apollo's Chariot at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and all he could say was, "I want to ride it again!" There was also the day he lost his car keys on The Mind Eraser at Six Flags America. After he called his room mate to bring his extra set of keys to the park, and we reported them lost to the park office, Dave was not at all discouraged at going back to ride all of the coasters some more. "Hell, we have 25 minutes left before my roommate gets here with my spare keys, we may as well have fun." That was Dave. He never let his problems get in the way of having a good time. Little did I know, the last visit of the year in 2003 to Six Flags America would be the last time I ever got to ride a coaster with my best coaster buddy. On that day, November 3rd, 2003, the day before Dave's 50th Birthday, I took up a collection from everyone, and went on a shopping spree for him while the others kept him busy. When I gave him the bag full of birthday goodies, he looked like he was going to cry, he was so surprised.
Dave, I and many other members of ATR are going to miss you a lot. Thanks for the great time and the great friendship I had the honor of having with you. I hope you are riding a coaster right now in heaven and please save a front seat ride for me.
Goodbye my Friend.
-Carl
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