CoasterXtreme Posted June 7, 2003 Share Posted June 7, 2003 I have been three times to pki this year so far and what is the deal with them not racing The Racer. I am kinda of upset with this since that is the whole point of the ride. Are they going to race anymore? Has anyone else notice this or have I just went on day they have not been racing Please let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pki_guy Posted June 7, 2003 Share Posted June 7, 2003 Just about every time I go, they dont race. I think it is a driver issue. Sometimes they probably dont even care if they race or not, but I think they should. Thats why its name is "The Racer". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanner Posted June 7, 2003 Share Posted June 7, 2003 The one time I've gone this year so far, they were racing, but then again it was only once. I'd say theres a bigger chance of them racing on weekdays when crowds are down. On weekends there is too big of a capacity issue with the racing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt3224 Posted June 7, 2003 Share Posted June 7, 2003 There is always the capacity issue....if one side is taking to long to load or they have to do something then the other side will not wait, too long at least. And if the trains aren't in the station, loading, at the same time then they won't wait. I do not know if this is the case or not, I am just guessing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crispy1979 Posted June 7, 2003 Share Posted June 7, 2003 (edited) Back when I was growing up in the mid-late 80's, they always raced The Racers..... it was operating policy and considered part of the "show" and was not optional. It's one of those things that changed when Paramount took over, like the elimination of costuming. Then again, this was before lap bars were used on wodden coasters and they always had two trains on the track, so I don't think they had to worry about capacity issues or slow loading.... there was always a train waiting to be loaded when one was leaving the station. Cris Edited January 1, 1970 by Crispy1979 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterrz Posted June 7, 2003 Share Posted June 7, 2003 I think that they try to race as often as possible. I also think that who`s driving each side has a lot to do with it. On days that they are racing, some times they won`t race at certain times. For example, if they are checking someone`s hieght on one of the sides, usually the other side`s train will be sent out without racing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magic41445 Posted June 7, 2003 Share Posted June 7, 2003 Crispy plaese refresh my memory as to what type of restraint was used in place of the lap bars back then. There had to have been some type of restraint on The Racer because it would almost be suicidal to run the trains that way given all of the excellent air time especially on the top of the switch back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DegenRider Posted June 7, 2003 Share Posted June 7, 2003 The trains were the standard PTC single lapbar more commonly refered to as a Buzz bar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dane Posted June 7, 2003 Share Posted June 7, 2003 They raced when I went on the trip report called, "Stranded at PKI." Backwards won. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIDelirium Posted June 7, 2003 Share Posted June 7, 2003 It raced one time I rode it on 6/4, but not the other time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOF Posted June 8, 2003 Share Posted June 8, 2003 Crispy plaese refresh my memory as to what type of restraint was used in place of the lap bars back then. There had to have been some type of restraint on The Racer because it would almost be suicidal to run the trains that way given all of the excellent air time especially on the top of the switch back. I remember riding it when it still had Buzz bars (single restraint for the whole row) which were the standard restraints on wood Coasters at the time. Beast also had the same restraints. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonLord Posted June 8, 2003 Share Posted June 8, 2003 Actually the big reason they don't race The Racer is b/c of staff... during the operating hours so far we still have a lot of staff in school and don't have enough to run both sides. Hopefully you will see alot more "racing" from The Racer starting now. We do our best to keep them Racing. Of course, if you have read the other posts in the forum, you can find many reason why they don't race if both sides are opened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterXtreme Posted June 8, 2003 Author Share Posted June 8, 2003 Well I think there is no reason that anyone has giving not to race, That is half the fun. This goes out to any PKI employee that may read this board RACE The Racer. I think it is just plain lazy that they are not racing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crispy1979 Posted June 8, 2003 Share Posted June 8, 2003 Hey Magic. I had never heard the term "Buzz Bar" before. you learn something new everyday. But yes, it was just a bar that would flip down and give you something to hold on to, but other than that, there were no restraints.... this was the same for all wooden coasters in the country before they started installing those orange lap bars around 1990. So if you're wondering why they have those "Do not stand up" signs at the top of lift hills, it is because you used to actually be able to stand up in you car since there was no restraint. And coster riding has changed since the advent of the lap bar.... your butt no longer leaves your seat when you go down the drops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonLord Posted June 8, 2003 Share Posted June 8, 2003 CoasterXtreme, it's not "lazy" of the park when they don't race The Racer when there just isn't enough people to work both sides... it's just a case of numbers; who is trained to run the ride, how many people are there to run it, what ride should they shut down to race The Racer (if the employees running those other rides are trained in The Racer) and many other things... Like I said before, it's written down and posted in a lot of places that certain rides may not be operating or will open late... The Racer is actually two rides, not one, remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crispy1979 Posted June 8, 2003 Share Posted June 8, 2003 I think CoasterXtreme may have been talking about his frustration when BOTH sides of The Racer are running, but the employees don't race them (release both trains at the same time.) Cris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonLord Posted June 9, 2003 Share Posted June 9, 2003 When both sides are opened and they aren't racing, it's b/c of reasons already posted... would guests rather have it racing or just get on the ride and go? Sounds like they would prefer to wait until the other side is ready. Oh well, the ride is great, IMO, racing or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterfans Posted June 9, 2003 Share Posted June 9, 2003 Well I dont think it has to do with staff issues.Go up north to cedarpoint and they always race theres,I was there this past week and they were racing theres.Um I think that they have employees still in school to.Its just plain and simple they dont want to race them cuz either lazy or impatient.Racer usually doesnt have that long of a wait so if one side is holding up thn wait.I have to say cedarpoint to me thee lines move way faster than pki. coasterfans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterXtreme Posted June 9, 2003 Author Share Posted June 9, 2003 It does not take any extra people to race them. All the have to do is release them at the same time. They have had the staff every time I have went to race them, So I do not think that is a issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOB_TOM Posted June 9, 2003 Share Posted June 9, 2003 I was told that the reason they do not race The Racers is because of capasity. Whenever there are big crowds at PKI and long lines, the park wants to have the lines as short as possible. This means not waiting for the other side. Dragonlord, the numbers thing shouldnt be a problem anymore. Most schools let out before or on Friday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crispy1979 Posted June 9, 2003 Share Posted June 9, 2003 >>>I was told that the reason they do not race The Racers is because of capasity. Whenever there are big crowds at PKI and long lines, the park wants to have the lines as short as possible. This means not waiting for the other side. <<< So I guess if this is true, then we could say that The Racer doesn't race do to a change in Park policy sometime in the last 10 years. (when racing the trains was require operating policy and not optional) Cris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterXtreme Posted July 1, 2003 Author Share Posted July 1, 2003 (edited) I was told by a supervisor that they will not hold a train and wait for the other, Which I think to Crap. Who are we just the paying public. I have made a complaint, everytime I have went and they are not racing! I just feel that is the whole reason to ride The RacerS. I have been riding that coaster since I was 5 and I want them to race once again. So I encourage everone to complain to the park about it so we can get that policy changed! I will not rest until they race once again. P.S. Some things should just not be messed with! Edited January 1, 1970 by CoasterXtreme Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt3224 Posted July 1, 2003 Share Posted July 1, 2003 Capacity is the problem and it will have really long lines if they wait on the other. You stilll get a great ride. P.S. When I see Racer when working at DOT, I see them race often... Guess you pick the wrong time to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterXtreme Posted July 1, 2003 Author Share Posted July 1, 2003 I don't think so I go every week just about and it is the same story! I even go on Tuesday when the park is very slow and they still don't race them. So it has nothing to do with that. Besides they have plenty of Q to handle a short wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOB_TOM Posted July 1, 2003 Share Posted July 1, 2003 I have only seen a couple of times where The Racers didnt race after one or two trains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt3224 Posted July 1, 2003 Share Posted July 1, 2003 (edited) But if they wait for both trains, every time it will slow it down a lot. You will have long waits, the queue doesn't effect the wait. It will kill capacity because you will get no where near enough cycles and riders in the hour... they have to meet a certain amount of cycles. I see them race often...if not head to head then within one car of each other. Edited January 1, 1970 by matt3224 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterXtreme Posted July 1, 2003 Author Share Posted July 1, 2003 The whole point of the ride is racing! I could careless about capacity. It is a racing coaster there for they should race period if they are not going to race them then they should take them out. That is just stupid to have a racing coaster and not race them due to capacity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt3224 Posted July 1, 2003 Share Posted July 1, 2003 Ok that is your opinion but they need good capacity. That's that. And anyways I do see them race often like I have said... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted July 2, 2003 Share Posted July 2, 2003 Hey chill down dude, you can't expect a park to meet your every little expectation. If they did it your way and your way only PKI wouldn't get half the guests they normally get. Most of the time they do try to race, but for one reason or another they sometimes don't race. Besides, if I got my way all the time you'd be outta here so I don't have to listen to you complain about how the park doesn't meet your perfect expectations. In other word, just get over it. It's a great ride even w/ out the racing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
standbyme Posted July 2, 2003 Share Posted July 2, 2003 Not racing them DOES make the lines shorter...because no one in my family rides it if they're not racing! In my opinion, by today's standards The Racer is not really that thrilling...the racing aspect of it IS what sets it apart from the bigger coasters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.