PKI's Racer (Revisited????)

I am told by eastcoaster attendees that PKI's Racer is being returned to it's original state. I know that the first hill was shallowed at some point and trims added to the turn around and the final hill on each side has been removed.

I am wondering how far they are going to go? Will it be totally ORIGINAL? Will the trains even be returned to buzzbars and no dividers? Removed highbacks? (Coaster Classic)

Chuck, who seen one other park return their coaster to a classic ride. Libertyland is removing the dividers on Zippin Pippin.

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Charles Nungester
167 coasters asn hopes to be over 200 by the end of 2002

If they do this would make a great ride even better. I think they may have fgured out buzzba's aren't all that dangerous, one ride on Cyclops with its insane fly out of your seat thank god i have a seatbelt, air showed me that.
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Does CCI know how to make a bad coaster?

That would be great if PKI returned the buzzbars and removed the trims. What about the final hill they removed for the underpass to Flight of Fear? What a waste that was. When I first rode the Racer in 1990, it was fast and packed full of airtime. The ride is rather tame these days. I sure hope they restore it to its glory days. Bring back the skid brakes too!
While they're at it, restore the Beast as well and brace it so they can run it brakeless all the time.

You can say that again MagnumForce. If a (really) slim guy can't fly out with a loose seat belt on a solo ride of Cyclops in the back seat, I think that should be enough proof that buzzbars are perfectly safe.
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I have no signature.

Matt Scott said:
That would be great if PKI returned the buzzbars and removed the trims. What about the final hill they removed for the underpass to Flight of Fear? What a waste that was. When I first rode the Racer in 1990, it was fast and packed full of airtime. The ride is rather tame these days. I sure hope they restore it to its glory days. Bring back the skid brakes too!
While they're at it, restore the Beast as well and brace it so they can run it brakeless all the time.

I would also love to see Beast returned to its almost classic status. It had dividers originally but otherwise buzzbars and lowbacks! It has always been braked somewhat and last season I had many rides as fast as beast has ever gone IMHO. To run the coaster without brakes consistantly would require different trains. Rideman would tell you all about articulation so the backwheels pivot to help it turn, As it is now all four wheels are fixed and basically slide across the track and shuffle to turn.
Chuck, who just wants a non divider, non overadjusted ratchet woodie in his homepark.
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Charles Nungester
167 coasters asn hopes to be over 200 by the end of 2002

I am glad to hear that Dells has good wood, Im on my way the third week of June.

Chuck who will be attending after Timbersfest!

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Charles Nungester
167 coasters asn hopes to be over 200 by the end of 2002

Original state, eh? The one thing that Racer needs right now more than anything is to be repainted. It is the Racer's 30th anniversary. Why not give it that brand new red, white, and blue look??
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Scott W. Short
mailto:scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com

TrBiggar said:
"You can say that again MagnumForce. If a (really) slim guy can't fly out with a loose seat belt on a solo ride of Cyclops in the back seat"

But Cyclops has a seat divider....

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"Nobody writes about the planes that land." Steve Salerno Washington Times 7-10-01

Never said it didn't. But it has buzzbars, not much in the way of laterals to really need dividers.
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Does CCI know how to make a bad coaster?

...reminds me of the poor little kid I nearly crushed on MOM...NO dividers there, and PLENTY of laterals..."whatever happened to the old days", LMAO. Good to hear about Racer - buzzbars are the KING of all restraints...WAY better IMO than Howard Stern...
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Florida needs an Intamin and/or CCI soon...PLEASE!
Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

Shivering Tim,

Probably because if they paint the track that color again, they will have to continue painting the track the same color if they want it to look the same after maintence. If they have to replace a section of track and repaint that section, chances are it won't match due to the 'weatherd' look of the track that has been originally painted.

Just a guess.

-Sean

The actual information that the park shared at the Eastcoaster event was that Racer was being re-tracked for this season and it will run just like it did back when it opened.

It is not getting new trains, they are not bringing back the "buzz" bars, they are not re-painting it red, white and blue and they are not putting the final bunny hops back in.

Sorry. It is getting a paint touch up though!

Shaggy

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Shaggy
A.K.A. John K.

Now that makes sense. They retracked parts of the backwards side not too long ago, so it sounds like they're finishing the job.

Don't you love it when we read waaaaaaaay too much into things?? :)

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Scott W. Short
mailto:scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com

hey, if you tell me "restored" and don't say what specifically is being restored, I might as well DREAM, no? I wasn't expecting anything, so any/all retracking or lengthening of drops is ALL good by me...paint and retracking are great (but I have to admit I still love the finishing bunny hops, too), LOL.
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Florida needs an Intamin and/or CCI soon...PLEASE!
Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

I think that the retracking on the Racer is great news. I know that for 2001, the park retracked the helix and the final bend before the second lift on The Beast.
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I`ve ridden Son of Beast 67 times!

I agree wholeheartedly with the request to repaint it in its former colors, and do whatever it takes to regain the ACE classic status. They could easily remove the dividers, and with a little effort they can bring back those last dips (which would give Racer a new place in the spotlight, and the incentive to re-dip and un-brake Beastie!). But to top things off, how about removing the ugly motion sim. ride between the turnaround? :) That grass was so nice..... OK I'm asking for too much, I know. But a paint job is a wonderful change.
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Don't.....look.....back! The Headless Horseman awaits you in 2002!
Model coasters and rides

Why would you want to get rid of the motion simulator ride, that is way more fun than that lame racer, if you want a woodie with a nice view of grass ride the beast

I'm just not a fan of coasters being sliced open for new pathways or rides. KI has plenty of room to put things.
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Don't.....look.....back! The Headless Horseman awaits you in 2002!
Model coasters and rides

ShiveringTim said:
Now that makes sense. They retracked parts of the backwards side not too long ago, so it sounds like they're finishing the job.
Don't you love it when we read waaaaaaaay too much into things??
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Scott W. Short
mailto:scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com

I can dream can't I? It was a hopefull question for a more comfortable ride. PKI's PTC's are far more restrictive than newer PTC's

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Charles Nungester
167 coasters and hopes to be over 200 by the end of 2002 :)