Racer (Kennywood)

Racer
Location	Kennywood
Coordinates	40°23′13″N 79°51′43″W
Status	Operating
Opened	1927
Cost	$75,000
Type	Wood - Racing
Manufacturer	Charlie Mach
Designer	John A. Miller
Model	Racing
Track layout	Moebius Loop
Lift/launch system	Chain lift
Height	76 ft (23 m)
Drop	50 ft (15 m)
Length	2,250 ft (690 m)
Max speed	40 mph (64 km/h)
Inversions	0
Duration	1:32
Capacity	1400 riders per hour
Height restriction	3 ft 10 in (117 cm)
Racer at RCDB
Pictures of Racer at RCDB
Amusement Parks Portal

The Racer is a wooden roller coaster located at Kennywood Park, in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. It is a racing, moebius loop coaster; one of only three in the world.

Beginnings

The first Kennywood Racer was first built in 1910 as a side friction roller coaster by Ingersoll Brothers. It was a twin-track racing coaster designed by John Miller that cost nearly $50,000. When it was built, it was the largest racing coaster in the world. The original Racer had two trains racing side by side on two separate tracks, but it didn't have wheels under the track, so dips and curves were gentle. The trains consisted of three-seat cars with a seating capacity of 18. The Racer was torn down in 1926 and replaced by Kiddieland.

Rebirth

Racer's trains run close enough together such that riders may hand-slap with riders on the other train

The second Racer was designed by John Miller in 1927 and built by Charile Mach. Because they liked John Miller's previous work, Kennywood hired him to build a new twin or racing coaster. Brady McSwigan wanted a "snappy ride that wasn't too much for mothers and children to ride." It cost more than $75,000, because Miller didn't use the topography as effectively as he had with the Jack Rabbit and Pippin. The highest hill of the Racer was built in a ravine and much more lumber was required. The moebius layout is caused by the setup of the station, where the trains turn away from each other upon dispatch. When the trains meet again at the lift hill, they are already on opposite sides than they were in the station, and the tracks do not split for the remainder of the ride. The new Racer's trains were locked onto the tracks, which permitted banked curves as well as curves on the dips. Andy Vettel took the final hill out of the coaster in 1949. The loading platform's facade was redesigned in 1946 by Hindenach and in 1960 by architect Bernard Liff of Liff, Justh and Chetlin. The original front was restored in 1990.

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  Green train in station

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  Blue train in station

See also

• Grand National at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

External links

• Kennywood Official Website