Designated 1995 Opening date 1927 Type Wood – Racing Height 23 m | Status Operating Cost $75,000 Manufacturer Charlie Mach Max speed 56 km/h | |
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Address West Mifflin, PA 15122, USA Track layout Dual-tracked roller coaster Hours Closed today WednesdayClosedThursdayClosedFridayClosedSaturdayOpen 24 hoursSundayOpen 24 hoursMondayClosedTuesdayClosedSuggest an edit Similar Thunderbolt, Jack Rabbit, Phantom's Revenge, Exterminator, Sky Rocket | ||
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.
Contents
Beginnings
The first Kennywood Racer was first built in 1910 as a side friction roller coaster by Frederick Ingersoll. 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
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.
Awards
Racer was designated as an "ACE Roller Coaster Landmark" by American Coaster Enthusiasts in June, 2010