GERMANY: RICHARD RODRIGUEZ BREAKS HIS 15TH WORLD RECORD BY RIDING ROLLER COASTER FOR 104 DAYS
Record ID:
647250
GERMANY: RICHARD RODRIGUEZ BREAKS HIS 15TH WORLD RECORD BY RIDING ROLLER COASTER FOR 104 DAYS
- Title: GERMANY: RICHARD RODRIGUEZ BREAKS HIS 15TH WORLD RECORD BY RIDING ROLLER COASTER FOR 104 DAYS
- Date: 3rd September 2002
- Summary: (EU) HASSLOCH, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 3, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. PAN DOWN FROM MARATHON ROLLERSCOASTER BANNER TO RICHARD RODRIGUEZ ON ROLLERCOASTER RIDE WITH CROWD WATCHING 0.13 2. VARIOUS, RODRIGUEZ THANKING FANS FOR CAKE WITH 104 ON IT/ CAKE 0.37 3. CLOSE OF DRIVER OPERATING CONTROL PANEL OF ROLLER COASTER RIDE 0.41 4. SMV ROLLERCOASTER TAKING OFF 0.48 5. VARIOUS VIEWS OF ROLLERCOASTER RIDE (4 SHOTS) 1.04 6. CLOSE UP OF TRACKS 1.15 7. CLOSE OF RICHARD RODERIGUEZ ON ROLLER COASTER RIDE 1.28 8. VARIOUS OF ROLLER COASTER RIDE (2 SHOTS) 1.37 9. VARIOUS OF ROLLERCOASTER WITH FIREWORKS GOING OFF (2 SHOTS) 1.44 10. VARIOUS, ROLLERCOASTER CAR BREAKING THROUGH WHITE BANNER, RODRIGUEZ CHEERING 1.53 11. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) RODRIGUEZ, SAYING: "I am very, very, very happy about the 104 days and that they are finally done. I haven't planned my next marathon yet, no." 2.14 12. CUTAWAY CAMERAS 2.17 13. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) RODRIGUEZ, SAYING: "I feel very, very good. I'm on top of the world literally and figuratively. I feel like I am on cloud nine. I hope you will all come and take a ride. You have to ride the G-Force to understand." 2.39 14. SMV PHOTOGRAPHERS 2.41 15. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) RODRIGUEZ, SAYING: "I thought about the record, and last week I was thinking about how I will have to go home, and I will miss all the people I met... I wanted the record but I am a little sad about it. It is a bittersweet moment for me." 2.58 16. WIDE OF PEOPLE AT ROLLER COASTER RIDE 3.02 17. VARIOUS, RODERIGUEZ HOLDING CHAMPAGNE BOTTLE IN HIS HAND, POPPING THE CORK AND SHOWERING ONLOOKERS AND THEN DRINKING FROM BOTTLE 3.26 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 18th September 2002 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: HASSLOCH, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Reuters ID: LVA5N6OVH6CXB6XMB4W6YA6BJ9ZR
- Story Text: Dedicated roller coaster fan Richard Rodriguez has
broken his fifteenth world record when he succeeded in
spending 104 days taking the curves of one of the world's
largest big dippers.
Rodriguez, a lecturer at the Loyola University of
Chicago, told journalists on Tuesday (September 3) he was
"very, very, very happy" to have completed the record,
stepping down from the ride he has spent 10 hours a day on
since mid-May.
"I feel very, very, good. I'm on top of the world
literally and figuratively. I feel like I am on cloud nine,"
he said, adding he had not yet planned his next marathon ride.
Although the 42-year-old admitted feeling queasy on the
first days of his record-breaking attempt, he said he soon got
over the problem.
Rodriguez was fortunate that his powers of adaptation were
so well-developed as the "Expedition G-Force" is one of the
world's biggest roller coasters.
Measuring 62 metres at its highest peak, the dipper drops
down at an angle of 82 degrees while twisting swideways on
itself. Rodriguez estimated that he completed the 1.3
kilometre course roughly 16,000 times since May 23.
A doctor monitored Rodriguez throughout his marathon.
Now he has succeeded in breaking the record, Rodriguez
intended to celebrate with members of the leisure park staff
and his supporters, who had sent him postcards and e-mails
encouraging him not to give up his record-breaking attempt.
"Some people have said I should go home and have a good
sleep, but that's the last thing I'll do," he said.
PW/cah
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