Racer | roller coaster

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www.ridezone.com/parks/pa/kennywood/index-racer.htm
Mobius-style racing coaster.

A John A. Miller wooden roller coaster with a track that is looped over on itself to create the appearance of two separate, parallel tracks. Riders choose from one of two trains, one on each side of the loading platform, that then race against each other as they traverse the course. The winning side is alternated each time. A famous Kennywood tradition is to reach over and touch hands of the other car during the ride.

he 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.

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. Miller designed the track to discreetly cross shortly after the first turn, creating the moebius layout. The new Racer, which had wheels under the tracks, 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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