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BUENA PARK – From the first time Richard Krieger got into the seat of Knott's Berry Farm's new roller coaster, he knew it was unlike others.

Xcelerator took him to speeds of up to 80 mph almost instantly.
He was shot 205 feet into the air and went sailing sideways, momentarily feeling a sense of weightlessness.
It was 62 seconds of bliss for the Whittier man.
On Saturday, Krieger got to enjoy Xcelerator for the 20,000th time, by far a record for the attraction that was introduced almost four years ago, said Jennifer Blazey, spokeswoman for the amusement park.
A small crowd of friends and park employees gathered in front of the thrill ride that morning to witness Krieger's feat.
Krieger climbed into the front seat of the hotrod car, with friend Nancy Davidson by his side exclaiming, "LET'S GO!"
And go they did.
"It had that thrill, that speed. I got attached, I kept coming back," said Krieger, 61, a day before his big ride.
Krieger's first trip on Xcelerator took place on a Tuesday in July 2002, he said.
When Krieger's not working at part-time jobs such as passing out fliers for a real estate company, he makes a 30-mile round-trip bicycle trek from his home in Whittier three or four days a week and often stays until closing, minus rainy days and the busy vacation season.
To get to his milestone, he rode some 60 times a day, once reaching his personal one-day record of 124.
"Most of the crew knows Richard, especially at Xcelerator," said ride operator Josie Hernandez, 35, who usually lets him stay seated for repeat trips if the crowds are light.
At the end of each day, he'd walk to the information hut and tell park employees how many times he'd ridden.
When he'd get home, he would tally up his total on a calendar.
Tim Keeler, 45, of Whittier took his first trip on Xcelerator on Saturday, Krieger's second of the day.
"We could see the excitement on his face, on his quest to ride it," said Keeler after the experience.
Keeler, executive producer for KCAT, a Hacienda Heights cable channel, lugged a large camera to the park so he could document the occasion.
He plans to post the 20K ride on YouTube and KCAT.
Plazey said in her years working at the park, she hasn't seen such enthusiasm for one ride, although she pointed out there is a growing community of dedicated coaster lovers.
In March, Knott's will host a roller coaster enthusiast appreciation day, in which hundreds of members of ACE – American Coasters Enthusiasts – will attend.
Krieger will be there.
"We look to them as a gauge to see if (the rides) are something they'd enjoy," said Blazey, who presented Krieger with a plaque and letterman-style jacket with the ride's logo on it.

"I'm hoping to get 30,000 rides by Thanksgiving of 2008," Krieger said as he got off the coaster.

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