BoddaH1994 Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 Interpret as you will the following... As you can see Don edited it 3 times but on Facebook you can see what the original post was. Sounds like he was just changing his mind about the wording. I don't see anything necessarily revealing about this... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markr Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 This topic seems rather deja vu. At any rate I am from the old school who experienced the original Racer with both sides going forward and has welcomed with open arms the back to basics of running both sides forward again-it just seems that this brings the ride back to the original concept of both trains racing each other. While the backwards racer was a nice novelty, it was a novelty that wore off quickly for me. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryoj Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 The last time I rode The Racer, it was backwards. I avoid it now out of protest. lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XjoshhyX Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 Backwards or Forwards that ride will forever be one of my favorites in any park. I wish it had the BW experience, but having done it so many times when I was younger, I'm glad to have the memories of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Nemo Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 Interpret as you will the following... As you can see Don edited it 3 times but on Facebook you can see what the original post was. Sounds like he was just changing his mind about the wording. I don't see anything necessarily revealing about this... What intrigues me is, "We could have continued running one side backwards" 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarvestmanMan Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 What intrigues me is, "We could have continued running both sides backwards" No one has brought up those golden "lost years" where the coaster was upside-down and running backwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jr for Birdy Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 If The Racer ran backwards again next year it would be my first stop instead of Banshee followed by Banshee. It was fun going backwards as a kid and I think The Racer would draw a lot of attention 'back' again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrill_Biscuit Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Adventure Express would be interesting backwards, except maybe for the second lift hill, which wouldn't be as interesting without being able to see the "cauldron." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pagoda Gift Shop Posted September 26, 2016 Share Posted September 26, 2016 Bumping an old thread because I saw this reply to a tweet earlier this month... Â https://twitter.com/KingsIslandPR/status/777230309704294400 Â So I guess, we all had it wrong. Â It wasn't nostalgia after all. Â It was ridership! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calakapepe Posted September 26, 2016 Share Posted September 26, 2016 But do you remember what was said on wlwt back then? https://youtu.be/lhiWLxrPdvQ By the same guy, different apparent reasons. Also- while I could very likely be wrong. I know the majority of my friends always preferred to go to the backwards side. And as a less reliable comment.. i seem to remember lines for backwards to routinely be longer than the forward side whenever I was at the park pre 2008. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gforce1994 Posted September 26, 2016 Share Posted September 26, 2016 Adventure Express would be interesting backwards, except maybe for the second lift hill, which wouldn't be as interesting without being able to see the "cauldron." Or any of these: Flight of Fear, Vortex, Invertigo, or Back Lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calakapepe Posted September 26, 2016 Share Posted September 26, 2016 Invertigo would be pretty cool to do-- Oh. Uhm.. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pagoda Gift Shop Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 Sorry I should have added some winking emoticons to my post.  I never bought into the "nostalgia" reason, although I understand that they would never want to say it was because of any sort of legal advice that the change was made.   The 2013 Facebook post is interesting though.  It makes it sound like the 2008 decision was more of a step back to fully consider the safety issues.  It does not seem out of the realm of possibility that it could return someday.  Racer is bound to be around forever, so maybe in another 10 years... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themuska11 Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 I preferred the backwards Racer so much, that even today, I still will only ride the red side. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RollerColt Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016  Racer is bound to be around forever, so maybe in another 10 years... Nothing lasts forever, my friend. Not even the stars. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkroz Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 Bumping an old thread because I saw this reply to a tweet earlier this month...  https://twitter.com/KingsIslandPR/status/777230309704294400  So I guess, we all had it wrong.  It wasn't nostalgia after all.  It was ridership!  Would it kill the Twitter crew to use an exclamation point or address a poster by name? Dead horse, I know, but every tweet from @KingsIslandPR sounds like a scolding in my head.   Meanwhile, at Disney Parks...   In any case, while I'm certain the park has the actual data that we don't, I do find it hard to believe that ridership was declining specifically and notably on the backwards-running side. Defies common sense, doesn't it?  By the way, do they even race anymore? That, for sure, was one of my biggest stinks last few times I visited. Such an obvious, simple, natural thing being overlooked for what... capacity? As if Racer has a three hour queue and needs to forego its "selling point" to keep lines moving? Only thing stupider is when the lights are left on in the Backlot Stunt Coaster or Beast tunnels. C'mon... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calakapepe Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 I'm sure many have had the thoughts on the overtly objective twitter replies from KI haha 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magenta Lizard Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 The Racer has been racing the majority of the times I rode this summer (I've visited over 50 times this summer, and probably average two Racer rides per visit). Other than times when one side was closed to save on staffing, there were only two or three times they sent us out without the opposing train. I saw it happen on other trains while waiting in the station about as many times. This is almost always due to an unusual hold-up on one side, either a protein spill or someone needing extra time to load or unload. Also, even on these occasions, they'll usually ask the train that is ready if they want to go or wait to race, and attempt to go with the riders' wishes. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purdude86 Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 Think switching one side to running backwards again would be great for an off year when they don't add anything major. Be almost like having a new big ride again that year then. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Who Dey Posted September 30, 2016 Share Posted September 30, 2016 Wasn't the height limit 44" at one point? Â I know Adventure Express was 44" but wasn't Racer? Â I think that was a kick in the nuts when they raised that. Â It was before Flying Ace so when they raised it after riding Beastie you had to grow 8 inches to get another coaster. Â I just don't understand why some parks like Camden in WV has a low limit for Big Dipper that has a huge air time drop and Racer and Adventure Express are so restrictive. Â I know its insurance and manufacturer but the rides used to be lower. (at least Adventure Express was) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calakapepe Posted September 30, 2016 Share Posted September 30, 2016 Something changed. But you are right, the height limit definitely changed at some point. I rode Racer at 44" inches Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewDay420 Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 I will sign as someone that wants the backwards Racer back. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRTR Guy Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 Wasn't the height limit 44" at one point? Prior to the 2001 season Racer was less than 44". Beginning in 2001 it was 44". Now it is 48" IIRC 2000 and prior the height requirement was something less than 44", it was changed to 44" in 2001, and now is 48". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIVortex Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 Racer used to be 42'' along with Adventure Express. They both changed to 44'' then 48'' at the same time. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterOhio Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 Adventure Express was 46" not 44" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIVortex Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 I can assure u it was 44'' I worked on that ride in 1999. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIBeast Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 Rode Racer backwards and I loved it. I have a hard time believing ridership was the problem as well. But, I also do not know the numbers per side either. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivertown Rider Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 I would like to see it go backwards again. Â It was a great ride experience. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonofBaconator Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 With the way Kings Island and Cedar Fair are  taking it's guest feedback nowadays (bringing back Winterfest and adding another wooden coaster), I think it's a not too far off that The Racer could go backwards again. Perhaps when they have their next big coaster drought they might consider making it go backwards again. Maybe Cedar Fair will do the same with Rebel Yell and Gemini. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlondyRidesOn Posted October 29, 2016 Share Posted October 29, 2016 A lot of modifications would need to be done to achieve this. Most importantly, a green light from the Philadelphia Toboggan Company would be needed too. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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