Kings Island Central - Attractions

Adventure Express
Backlot Stunt Coaster
DiamondBack
Fairly Odd Coaster
FireHawk
Flight Deck
Flight of Fear
Invertigo
Little Bills Giggle Coaster
Rugrat's Runaway Reptar
Son of Beast
The Racer
The Beast
Vortex

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.:.The Racer

In 1972, Kings Island opened with great accolades being heaped on a very special ride, The Racer.

Now, 30 years later, this classic wooden coaster is still flying through the tracks, giving riders a chance to experience the coaster two different ways - backwards or forwards. The Racer charges through its 3400 ft. course at speeds up to 55 mph, topping the speeds of many of the newer steel coasters in the park. A basic out-and-back woodie, you'll experience plenty of airtime - or the feeling of weightlessness - throughout the circuit of this Coney-style classic.

Central Tip: For the best "airtime," ride in the very last car of the rear-facing train.

oaster Type: Wooden, twin, out and back
Seating Arrangement: 2-abreast, 28-passenger
Designer: John Allen
Manufacturer: Philadelphia Toboggan
Opened to Public: April 29, 1972
.:.Statistics
Length: 3415 feet
Height: 88 feet
Drop: 80 feet
Inversions: 0
Max Speed: 53.3 mph
Duration: 2:30
Angle of Descent: 45 degrees
Capacity: 1320 pph
.:.Additional Info
Average Wait: 5-10 minutes
Cost: $1.2 Million

.:.Statistics

Coaster Type	Wooden, twin, out and back
Seating Arrangement	2-abreast, 28-passengers
Designer	John Allen
Manufacturer	Philadelphia Toboggan
Opened to Public	April 29, 1972

Length	3415 feet
Height	88 feet
Drop	80 feet
Inversions	0
Speed	53.3 mph
Duration	2 minutes, 30 seconds
Capacity	1320 pph

Average Wait	5-10 Minutes
Cost	1.2 million

Comments

Tubaman :

Posted 585 days ago

The Racer is one of my favorite woodies ever. I make several trips to it everytime I visit. Ain't nothing like a John Allen coaster.

Randall Cook :

Posted 528 days ago

A classic! The Racer is Awesome!

daniel :

Posted 501 days ago

this ride is awsome

Kristen :

Posted 497 days ago

This ride is the worst wooden coaster i've ever rode... was sooo rough... gave and my boy friend the biggest headache ever! Was the worst ride kings island has... even rougher then son of the beast was.

odettekitrigiselle :

Posted 495 days ago

John Allen ruled! The Racer is and always will be a classic! It's one of the most photogenic coasters around.

derrike :

Posted 492 days ago

Kristen you are a wimp and your boyfriend is to

c.m. :

Posted 466 days ago

The RACER! I rode it back in the day, and I've been riding it ever since. And when I say back in the day, I mean when it first came out! This ride is more than just a classic. IT IS THE HISTORY OF KINGS ISLAND!! Happy 35th Birthday Racer. Hope you make it another 35!!

angryemobeaver :

Posted 463 days ago

The Racer is an ACE coaster.
Better yet, a landmark.
It's awsome.
=]

lol :

Posted 458 days ago

every time i go there i ride it about 10 times 1 of the best wood rides

dustin :

Posted 453 days ago

a great woodie never a long wait but dont waste your time in the forward line head to the beackwards its a lot better and a different experience

trace :

Posted 446 days ago

An oldie but goodie! The Racer rocks

Mike :

Posted 420 days ago

I think the racer is a great Roller Coaster! I road it Both Forwards and Backwards, and I had an Awesome time!

abbey :

Posted 419 days ago

Okay forwards, HORRIBLE backwards! While the feeling of not knowing when the next hill is is pretty awesome, the headache afterwards is NOT worth it. Me and my boyfriend got beaten up pretty badly. It made me not want to ride other wooden coasters, but ride the Beast, its not rough until the helixes!

John :

Posted 253 days ago

Great coaster. Backwards in the very back seat is, by far, the best. The smoothest wooden coaster I've experienced as well. I don't understand when people complain about it being "too rough". It's nothing compared to the Beast duo.

Nick :

Posted 223 days ago

I have never been a coaster that runs backwards before. That makes me want to go on this ride a lot + It will be my sixth ACE Landmark coaster.

HAYDEN SCHUNK :

Posted 214 days ago

I LIKE THE RACER THEY ARE FUN TOO RIDE AT KINGS ISLAND

Ash :

Posted 211 days ago

Is it true that they are making both of them forwards ?

Jackson :

Posted 192 days ago

Ash:
According to John Pagel of Kings Dominion, both sides of Rebel Yell at Kings Dominion, Thunder Road at Carowinds, and RACER AT KINGS ISLAND, will OPERATE FORWARDS.
So yes, The Backwards Racer is By Bye!

sammy :

Posted 190 days ago

they should make them both go backwards.
nobody ever gets on the forwards version.
and they are renaming them racer north and racer south
why not just rename it waist of time so nobody rides it.

Jackson :

Posted 182 days ago

sammy:
Over the past 5 years or so the Forwards Racer has had increaseingly more ridership. Making them both go backwards would greatly take away from the ride.

M. :

Posted 156 days ago

When I went they we're both forwards and they were just Red and Blue Racer. Oh and Blue Racer middle seats hurt but it rules! I rode on the very front on red! It rocked!

austin stump kentucky :

Posted 152 days ago

i love the racer. i wash one of them went backwards agen. it was one of my frist rides i rode

emily :

Posted 147 days ago

ha really like this ride!
i really like talking to the people going backwards up the hill
last time some one told me going backwards was a great idea

Drake :

Posted 140 days ago

I benn on the racer(forewards) I kinda Liked it

Josh :

Posted 136 days ago

i wish that they were still opposite facing.
:| ill miss the great airtime in the last car of the backwards train.
but back to the past!

Graham :

Posted 126 days ago

It's a great coaster no matter what. It kinda stinks that they're both going forwards now, but that doesn't make it a bad ride. I don't see how the people get beaten up on it considering the Beast and Son of Beast are way worse, but still fun.

Mark :

Posted 124 days ago

it was pretty cool but i did have a problem with the fact that my seatbelt unbuckeled and my lapbar was very loose. it was kinda unnerving

DRake :

Posted 123 days ago

I loved the racer I want to go on it again

epsteinfan :

Posted 119 days ago

One of my favorite coasters in the park! I do wish it still rode backwards though.

coasterjunkie :

Posted 117 days ago

In 1974 when I was five I rode the front seat with my 14 year old brother. I cried in the line and giggled the whole way down the first hill and have been hooked ever since. To get me in the front seat he promised he would buy me a frozen chocolate and nut covered banana, I wish they still had those.

candy :

Posted 97 days ago

"classic..-
must ride coaster!!"

Whale Person :

Posted 89 days ago

Really scary for me. You like lift out of your seat

coaster freak :

Posted 77 days ago

The Racer may be old but its really good. Ilove the small dips because u lift out of your seat. I love the first drop to.

mr. weird :

Posted 77 days ago

why did they switch back to front

Elissa Marie :

Posted 69 days ago

this ride was the first roller coaster i ever rode and i was so afraid of it i cried the whole way through the line after i got buckled in i was fine and i screamed like an idiot and i hopped the rail and got back in line!!!! this ride is a classsic no matter if you get on pissed you'll get off happy!

Sara :

Posted 62 days ago

i miss the backwards one so much!!!!!!!

nick berry :

Posted 55 days ago

i sooo want to ride it im going to ride it the next time i go

MForceRider4life :

Posted 50 days ago

The backward Racer was a unique experience, and it was that way for 11 out of the 12 years I've been visiting the park. Then they turned it forward, like they're trying to mimic the Gemini at CP.. well, they failed miserably. They ruined a classic when they turned the backward Racer forward.

chimpy2000 :

Posted 49 days ago

Whoever thought this ride hurt... WIMP!!!!
(pardon me.)

Justin :

Posted 44 days ago

love this ride! the drops are great...classic. i rode it for the first time like two weeks ago...i rode it twice and won twice! GO BLUE!

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