Kings Island (KI) Discussion Thread

[Johnny UpsidedownDonkey eat mullet pump.]

Here is a bit on it.
http://www.wlwt.com/entertainment/15788326/detail.html

MASON, Ohio -- Something old is new again at Kings Island, as the backward traveling trains on the Racer roller coaster will run forward again when the park opens for the 2008 season on Sunday, April 20 at 10:00 a.m.

The decision to run both sides of the Racer forward again after 26 years with one side facing backward was made in an effort to be consistent with other Cedar Fair parks. The Red Racer trains will be on the former backward side, with the Blue Racer trains on the other side.

The Racer has been a mainstay at Kings Island, and with good reason. A lot of facts and figures have been bandied about concerning the coaster -- top height is 88 feet, the course is three-fifths of a mile long, speed is 53.3 miles an hour and the angle of the first drop is 50 degrees.

The Racer is credited for re-igniting the coaster building boom in the early 1970's, thus beginning the second golden age of the roller coaster. More than 91,000,000 guests have taken a ride on the Racer since it opened in 1972 with the park.

In addition to being considered an important part of the coaster renaissance of the 1970's, the Racer was the site of several world record riding attempts and is notable for its appearance in the Cincinnati Kids episode of the Brady Bunch, filmed at the park in 1973. On May 28, 1982, it became the first racing coaster to ever run trains backwards on one side of its tracks. In 2007, the American Coaster Enthusiasts named the ride an "ACE Roller Coaster Landmark," making it one of only 14 roller coasters in the world with landmark status.

[jamesdillamanFlight of James: Ride of Steel the Revenge]

Yeah, I mentioned to the people I met up with who were here on the TPR trip that I heard this was happening. Sad to see it go. My gut tells me on slower days only one side will be running.....

-James "loved the backwards racer" Dillaman

[bgeguyIndiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Donkey.]

WTF is Cedar Fair doing? First they make both sides of Rebel Yell foward, now Racer?

[alpengeist04Why do I still have a donkey title???]

Lame. ...even Paramount didn't do this.

[DBruI will provide you with maximum pleasure.]

I personally thought the backwards side was pretty bad anyway. But I just don't see how this is benefiting the park in ANY way.

[PKIVortexCan I park my donkey here?]

I must say I much preferred the backwards side to the forwards. But what we can we do?

[ghost007jasFluffy, Fluffy, Donkeys Filled With Medicine and Goo!]

Boycott the park of course.

It's a silly move, but not the end of the world, right?

[gnewton34I own the website www.donkey.com]

There's already a thread about this.

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/vi ... hp?t=42309

[robbalveySite Admin]

The decision to run both sides of the Racer forward again after 26 years with one side facing backward was made in an effort to be consistent with other Cedar Fair parks.

That's not a valid reason! That makes absolutely NO SENSE at all. I'd like to know what the real reason is for doing this.

And how many racing coasters does Cedar Fair own outside of the ex-Paramount Parks? Gemini?

The only benefit I can see to them doing this is an opprotunity to only have to run one side at a time on slower days. Since there is no longer an "attraction" to running the other side (the backwards one) it doesn't really matter if they just run one side now.

--Robb

[Coasterlvr_ncI'd kill to bang an Ewok]

^ while chances are that this is VERY true. I have talked to the area supervisor for my area at carowinds. Afterburn, Southern Star, Thunder road, ect. and he was saying he wants both of them run at all times, racing no matter what, so... we will just have to wait and see.

He had also said the reason for facing them forwards was because they were putting excessive stress on the track.