[Jonathan]

I am very sad to have to announce that our friend Max Cannon (montumax) passed away this afternoon following complications from a surgery that he had last week. Many of you came to know Max over the years as he was a founding member and administrator of this website and a regional rep for ACE Southeast. He helped forge a new relationship between ACE and Carowinds, founding the Carolina Coaster Classic (C3) event which has been ongoing since 2002. I know we all looked forward to what madness the next iteration of the C3 scavenger hunt and game show would hold each year. He was a wonderful person and a blast to be around, and there will be a haze of sadness over Fury 325's opening knowing that Max will not be around to ride it. Please keep Max and his family and friends in your thoughts.

[coasterbruh]

It still feels like a very bad dream right now...this is gonna be tough.

[pproteinc]

Wow I'm honestly lost for words. I'll be keeping the family in my thoughts.

[chargercrazy]

Maybe we should start calling it C4, the Cannon Carolina Coaster Classic.

[tarheel1231]

Terrible news, and just a year before Fury 325. Hopefully the good lord has a version of it up in heaven that he can ride as many times as he wants.

[swampfox43]

I am so very sad over having heard this news. Max and I go way back, where we became friends through CC in 1998 during the construction of Top Gun. We would meet at the park during the winter and take photos of the progress. I knew Max was one of the good guys and although we didn't constantly keep in touch, I was happy to know him and see him at the Fury media event. I'll never forget that first C3 event he worked so tirelessly to put together. I think 10 people showed up. But look at it now! I also called him the day before he went in to surgery and was just thinking this weekend about paying him a visit. What a sad, sad loss. One of the best guys you could know.

[shane235]

Although I personally did not know Max, I am very sad he passed away. He seemed like a very nice person, and I wish the best for his friends and family.

[Mountain3307]

I hate to hear this news, having met Max only a couple times he was a genuine, fun person to be around. He seemed like he was having a ball at C3. Glad I got to partake in what would be his last rides on Intimidator. Rest in Peace Max.

[chargercrazy]

I hate to hear this news, having met Max only a couple times he seemed like a genuine, fun person to be around. He seemed like he was having a ball at C3. Glad I got to partake in what would be his last rides on Intimidator. Rest in Peace Max.

I didn't know Max very well, but when I saw him at the events at Carowinds, he always kept us laughing with his quick wit and sense of humor. He did have a blast at C3 this year, and I know he was happy to be able to queue up and ride again. RIP Max. You will be missed.

[FamousAmos]

I did not know max, however I followed his posts. This is very upsetting, Whenever I hear of someone passing, I have sympathy and respect for them. Max, we'll see you soon.

[Edwardo]

Wow. This one really hurts. I met Max in person for the first time at Cobra's media day in 2009. He'd reached out to me after we had talked back and forth on here in public and private for quite a while, and invited me to media day. We also took what will probably be my last ride ever on Night Hawk because it made me rather sick.

Max was a class act. Funny, smart, and quick witted. I've spent the last 2 or 3 New Years Eve's with him, and this was the first year that I didn't get to go to SCarowinds with him (He'd already left when I made my brief appearance at C3).

He did a lot for us and having a relationship with the park, and I know he looked forward to Fury. I really thought he'd pull thru all of his recent complications like he always did. I only new Max in person for the past 5 years, and although I'm sad that time wasn't longer, I'm glad I had that time. I'll miss the random texts, making fun of all of the drama on here and elsewhere, talking about trips, and planning other trips.

Max was certainly lost to us way too soon.

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened"

[RollerBee]

I met Max during SCarowinds in 2005, he will be missed.

[LocoDriver]

Wow.....don't know what to say. When I saw his name in the topic list, I had a bad feeling. I knew he was experiencing some health issues recently but I had no idea this was looming.

I first met Max during the Top Gun build. My wife and I rode Borg with him during the commercial shoot in it's first year. When traveling through Shelby I use to stop by the convenience store he managed just to chat about coasters and Carowinds. Since my move to Florida I had lost touch with him over the last several years. It was just prior to the Fury announcement when I reconnected with him and learned of his health struggles.

Will miss you man! R.I.P. MONTU MAX.

[Jarsh]

I'm in shock and at a loss for words. I will forever be grateful to Max for what he did with our Carowinds event.

I was so happy to see him at this year's event and was glad he was able to start back riding coasters again. Man... just when he was starting to get better...

[Jay]

I'm in shock more than anything, it seems so sudden. Feels like we were just at C3 with him yesterday.

Max and I were never the closest of friends. But we've known each other for at least the 11 years this site has been around if not longer. The contributions he made to this site were immeasurable. The countless hours he spent working with Carowinds on various events for all the local enthusiasts can't go unnoticed. He formed a park-enthusiast relationship when there wasn't one. If you've ever been to a Coaster Stock, ACE C3, or any kind of photo walkback, construction tour or media day at Carowinds, you HAVE to thank Max Cannon for forging those relationships all those years ago. In person he was always a great guy to just hang out at the park with, and kept anyone around him laughing, especially when it came to the absurdity of our hobby.

On a personal note, he and I shared a birthday. Every year we would exchange "Happy Birthday's" through Facebook or this site, and it was just one of the little things I looked forward to every August 1st. It was like it wasn't officially 'my' birthday until I heard from him, and I'm so deeply saddened that we'll never hear from him again. It's such a tremendous loss not only to the enthusiast community, but to anyone who knew him.

R.I.P. Max. You'll be missed.