Racer 2019?

[SonofBaconator 11214]

Possibly being discussed somewhere else but I saw this on Screamscape and thought it was worth the share.

http://www.screamscape.com/html/kings_island.htm

I believe it could possibly be topper track, if RMC is in fact at the park. Like the page says, and I concer, there is no way they'd hybrid The Racer.

[BlondyRidesOn 1799]

The park has been posting quite a lot about The Racer on social media, celebrating its history for starting the coaster building boom. Taking looking at its ridership counts, it's a very popular ride and it would make sense to restore it rather than a hybrid treatment. Would Topper Track hurt the coaster's Landmark status?

[sixohdieselrage 5909]

I hope if they do all of that, they time all 4 lift chains so that the trains are in sync. Feels very unfair how the other train goes down the first drop first.

[Magenta Lizard 18762]

I had a fun unique experience last week where the trains were so evenly matched in release time and speed/weight that we were still lined up on the last hill before the tracks split into the turnaround. I never realized quite how close the tracks run there until I was gazing across at my counterpart in the same row of the other train. 

Only thing that could have made it better was if I were racing someone I knew that time

If there was a way to make this a more common occurrence (it's literally the only time it has ever happened to me in all the times I have rode) I'd be all for it!

[VortexBFForever 11653]

^I saw the same thing on Monday! I was on Vortex waiting to go back into the station when I happened to see Racer going by. I thought only the red train was going until I saw the blue train right behind it. I had never seen the trains so perfectly in sync — they sounded (and apparently looked) like just one train was roaring by!

[Oldschool75 6952]

You might spot some red and blue while riding another PTC inspired ride in the park. Is it related? Maybe, maybe not?


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[BlondyRidesOn 1799]

I noticed while riding The Beast this season that there are some red and blue boards on a sawhorse near the first drop. It's probably just something to get enthusiasts speculating. It has also been mentioned before that the park has been posting a lot about The Racer on social media, which is something that they did back in 2015 with the "Two things from 1972 that everyone has experienced will be removed for 2016" tease which led everyone into thinking The Racer was closing back then. Could the PR department be leading the enthusiast community down that road again? With the return of the ACE Landmark plaque near the entrance, I would certainly think that's what it is.

[SonofBaconator 11214]

I think The Racer has been, for lack of a better word, "neglected" considering its rich history, not only in the park but in the industry as a hole. It's still maintained well in comparison to other wooden coasters from other chains but I think we can all agree that it would benefit from an overhaul.

[Shawn Meyer 1085]

If Racer is indeed converted to topper track, please God don't let them do anything to ruin the ride experience. What I mean is they don't need to put in corkscrews like they did with Colossus at Six Flags magic mountain.  it's a classic so it needs to keep that classic feel to it so keep the layout the same, but if they want to go ahead and add the topper track to it so be it.

[KI Guy 1736]

If they replace the track with topper track it won't have the classic feel. I've ridden a coaster that is made of topper track, Lightning Rod at Dollywood. It is a fantastic coaster and the second best coaster I've been on,  but it definitely does not have a classic wooden coaster feel.

Topper track feels like a steel coaster because it is essentially steel coaster track bolted to a wooden frame.

[BlondyRidesOn 1799]

27 minutes ago, Shawn Meyer said:

If Racer is indeed converted to topper track, please God don't let them do anything to ruin the ride experience. What I mean is they don't need to put in corkscrews like they did with Colossus at Six Flags magic mountain.  it's a classic so it needs to keep that classic feel to it so keep the layout the same, but if they want to go ahead and add the topper track to it so be it.

If they put Topper Track on the ride, it will be in some sections but not all. I would hope that it's a traditional retrack instead.

[FoF96" 1878]

I thought they had said that they are only offering topper track from the ground up from a certain point in the past.  Meaning any conversion must be ibox 

[SonofBaconator 11214]

The Racer was recently featured on National Geographic's Instagram page 

 

[BlondyRidesOn 1799]

The posts on social media about The Racer all seem to revolve around the coaster building boom it sparked. If these are teasers for whatever will happen, it's pretty interesting. With the ACE Landmark plaque returning, it would be odd to disqualify it from its status. Maybe they're pulling a Kings Dominion and will relaunch it as "rACEr 72," playing homage to its Landmark status. 

[Shawn Meyer 1085]

15 hours ago, BlondyRidesOn said:

If they put Topper Track on the ride, it will be in some sections but not all. I would hope that it's a traditional retrack instead.

What I meant is, keep the layout the same all over. Don't do anything fancy to it, just add topper track if that's the route they're going. Blondyrideon, you might be onto something here. Maybe they'll just give it a little tlc in the off-season. I think they could just paint it up real good and it would look brand new again.

[silver2005 23837]

If they could also re-track it to the point where they can remove the trims on the turn around so the return run can have some potentially insane air, it'd be greatly appreciated.  

I just wish they kept the trains with the buzz bars...

[SonofBaconator 11214]

35 minutes ago, silver2005 said:

I just wish they kept the trains with the buzz bars...

I just wish they kept the trains that faced the other direction...

[FoF96" 1878]

If they were to do any work on The Racer, it would probably be standard retrack.  They performed a miracle on Thunder Run.  It was so very rough under the Six Flags ownership but it came back running really well.

[BlondyRidesOn 1799]

I've never been on Thunder Run, but I know RMC retracked it. If it's really good, then that may be the only "RMC treatment" I'd be alright with on The Racer. 

[FoF96" 1878]

I haven’t been there in two years, so not sure how it’s doing now.   when it first reopened, it was every bit as smooth as Mystic imo.

[flightoffear1996 3531]

One could only hope the Red White and Blue paint scheme makes a come back!

[BeeastFarmer 4360]

9 hours ago, FoF96" said:

I haven’t been there in two years, so not sure how it’s doing now.   when it first reopened, it was every bit as smooth as Mystic imo.

They have completely retracked sections of the ride over the last two off seasons--taken off all the layers and even replaced ledgers.  I don't know who did the work, though.  The new train, in  my opinion subtracts from the ride experience.  It's much too tight.  I can understand why though, because even with the smaller seat size, there are points on the ride where I am in a half way standing position.  It's still smooth.  On the lift hill, though, it shuffles quite a bit.  It feels like the train is lifting off the track a few inches.

 

All that to say...I hope The Racer gets some much needed attention.  It's a painful ride for me.  It looks terrible.  

And I want the Coney Mall sign back. 

 

[silver2005 23837]

Another thing on Racer I'd like to see is new LED chaser lights that go all the way down the track.  

[txdrummer 161]

Racer radio playing through out Coney Mall would be an excellent addition. The Racer is afterall the centerpiece of Coney Mall, is it not?

[silver2005 23837]

^Cedar Point is playing disco music on the midway near Gemini for its 40th anniversary, and that little addition really brightened up that part of the park.  Perhaps KI could do the same with Coney Mall.  

Another idea I'd like to throw out there is have Racer's queue and station completely rebuilt.  

[txdrummer 161]

^Death before disco. The classic rock on Racer radio is better suited for Coney Mall, in my opinion.

[BlondyRidesOn 1799]

I would love to hear some late 60s early 70s songs on Coney Mall. Harry Nilsson, Janis Joplin, Pink Floyd all tie in with the theme of Cincinnati's Coney Island in its final seasons.

Maybe re-landscape the area to look much like it once did. Japanese Yew shrubs and Ginkgo trees adorning the midway like at Coney Island.

[flightoffear1996 3531]

I dont understand the hate for Racer.  It is like one of my fav. rides in park.  If the park is crowded it generally has one of the shortest lines.  Its a must ride for me every time I go. 

[Fye Coasters 775]

1 hour ago, flightoffear1996 said:

I dont understand the hate for Racer.  It is like one of my fav. rides in park.  If the park is crowded it generally has one of the shortest lines.  Its a must ride for me every time I go. 

i dont think its the hate i think its them not maintaining it as much as they should or the up keep of it 

[BeeastFarmer 4360]

The Racer needs some attention and had for quite some time. After riding Rebel Yell at Kings Dominion, I can imagine how great the ride could be.

I dont understand the hate for Racer.  It is like one of my fav. rides in park.  If the park is crowded it generally has one of the shortest lines.  Its a must ride for me every time I go. 

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