The Racer (Kings Island) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Racer |
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The Racer's first drop
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| Kings Island | |||
| Park section | Coney Mall | ||
| Coordinates | 39°20′37″N 84°15′53″W / 39.343728°N 84.264692°W | ||
| Status | {{{status}}} | ||
| Opening date | April 29, 1972 | ||
| Cost | $1,200,000 | ||
| General Statistics | |||
| Type | Wood – Racing | ||
| Manufacturer | Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters | ||
| Designer | John C. Allen | ||
| Track layout | Out and back | ||
| Lift/launch system | Chain | ||
| Blue | Red | ||
| Height | 88 ft (26.8 m) | 88 ft (26.8 m) | |
| Drop | 82.17 ft (25.0 m) | 82.17 ft (25.0 m) | |
| Length | 3,415 ft (1,040.9 m) | 3,415 ft (1,040.9 m) | |
| Speed | 53 mph (85.3 km/h) | 53 mph (85.3 km/h) | |
| Inversions | 0 | 0 | |
| Duration | 2:00 | 2:00 | |
| Max vertical angle | 45° | 45° | |
| Capacity | 2640 riders per hour | ||
| Height restriction | 48 in (122 cm) | ||
| Trains | 4 trains with 5 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows for a total of 30 riders per train. | ||
 Fast Lane available |
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| The Racer at RCDB Pictures of The Racer at RCDB |
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The Racer is a wooden racing roller coaster at Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio. A famous designer named John C. Allen created it. The ride opened in 1972 when the park first welcomed visitors.
The Racer became very well-known after appearing on The Brady Bunch TV show in 1973. It helped bring back interest in roller coasters in the 1970s. This period is often called the "roller coaster renaissance." The Racer also inspired other similar rides, like Racer 75 at Kings Dominion. It is one of the first attractions at Kings Island that is still running today.
Contents
History of The Racer
Roller Coasters in the Past
The first big era for roller coasters in the United States ended in the 1930s. This was because of the Great Depression, which made the economy very tough. Even though some new roller coasters were built, they were not as popular for many decades.
By the 1960s, the roller coaster industry was at its lowest point. Older rides like carousels and wooden roller coasters were not as exciting to new generations. Because of this, John C. Allen, a well-known coaster designer, decided to retire in 1968. He was one of the last designers who remembered the first "golden age" of roller coasters.
Bringing Back the Thrill
The Wachs family used to own Coney Island in Cincinnati. They sold it in 1969 but still helped manage Kings Island's building. They wanted the new park to have some of Coney Island's classic feel.
In 1970, Gary Wachs and his father met John C. Allen at a convention. They convinced Allen to come out of retirement. They asked him to design a new roller coaster for Kings Island. They wanted it to be as popular as Coney Island's Shooting Star, but also special.
Opening Day and Fame
The Racer officially opened on May 27, 1972, at Kings Island's grand opening. It is in the Coney Mall section of the park. This area was originally called Coney Island.
In 1973, The Racer was shown on national TV. It was in an episode of The Brady Bunch called "The Cincinnati Kids." This TV appearance made many people interested in roller coasters again. This led to a worldwide comeback for the industry, known as its second golden age.
Riding Backwards and Forwards
When it first opened, both sides of The Racer went forward. But on May 28, 1982, one side of the ride was changed. Its trains were reversed to ride backwards! The Racer was the first racing roller coaster in the world to do this.
This change was meant to be temporary. It was done to help guests who were upset that another ride, The Bat, was often closed. However, riding backwards became very popular. So, it lasted for 26 years!
In 2008, Cedar Fair changed The Racer back to its original form. Now, both tracks go forward again. Each side was also given a color: red for the right track and blue for the left.
Awards and Upgrades
On June 18, 2007, The Racer received the Coaster Landmark Award. This award came from the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE). A special plaque for this award is near the ride's entrance.
Like all wooden roller coasters, parts of The Racer are fixed and replaced regularly. This keeps the ride smooth and safe. For example, in 2019, parts of the back turns were replaced. In 2021, over 500 feet (150 m) of track was replaced. This made the ride even smoother.
How The Racer is Designed
The Racer is an out and back roller coaster. This means it goes out from the station and then comes back. It has two identical tracks that run next to each other. This design lets two trains race from start to finish.
In 1972, it was special because the two tracks split apart. They would then join back together near the end. Before The Racer, most racing coasters kept both tracks side-by-side the whole time.
The Ride Experience
After leaving the station, the trains go through turns. They then meet at the bottom of the lift hill. They climb an 88-foot tall (27 m) lift hill. Then, they drop 88-foot (27 m) feet down. After that, they go over two small hills that give you a feeling of weightlessness, called airtime hills.
Next, the trains reach a large hill. After this, the tracks split into separate structures. Each train then goes over another small airtime hill. They then rise into a turnaround to start the trip back. After coming down from the turnaround hill, the trains reach a medium hill. Here, the tracks join back together. They race over several smaller hills until they reach the final brakes at the station.
Fun Facts About The Racer
- The Racer is one of four wooden roller coasters at Kings Island. The others are The Beast, Woodstock Express, and Mystic Timbers.
- Don Helbig holds many park records. One record is for riding The Racer almost 12,000 times by 2008!
Images for kids
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ACE plaque located near entrance
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The Racer in 1975 with the now defunct Zodiac to the right.
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