Wayne Neyens heard I brought my EM Mata Hari to Chicago Expo. I asked him if he wanted to play a few games hence my profile pic. Wayne was great, showing me some design ideas he had a hand in, giving a few pointers on tweaking things - really cool time. He signed two Gottlieb old time toppers, for Buckaroo and Slick Chick, two of his favorite designs. I had lunch with Steve Kordek that year (2010) too. This was the day before he broke his hip in the parking lot - and was his last day at Expo. So fortunate to hear him explain his design on Grand Prix for the spinner (the famous Williams spinner design he patented - and tips to max the revolutions!). Two of the nicest guys, humble, smart and full of stories. Pinball is one of the few hobbies where the designers are still kids at heart and are accessible at events like Expo.
I've been a collector since 2005 and have 25 pins now, and owned 85 since I started. I play in the Chicago Pinball League and am a member of a collectors club with monthly meetings in basements full of personal pins.
I have been to the Chicago Expo show and fortunate to live in the area. I play in a league with some of the best players and insider guys who are currently designing the latest games (and know the rules of all games better than anyone!). I've met many pinsiders at shows, buying or selling machines, playing for fun or tourneys, buying cool mods (Laseriffic toppers, TitanPinball, Cliffy), parts (Terry@Pinball LIfe), or via online forums.
