Racer at Kennywood

Can someone explain how this coaster works. I've ridden it and though it was 2 different tracks. RCDB and a book I read said its 1 continuous track. So how does it work?

Basically, it is one track that goes throught the station twice. Next time you ride, notice that if, say, you get in the train on the right track, you will exit the train on the left track. One of the locals may be able to explain the actual layout and how the track switches over without actually crossing over itself.

I noticed that. I think I get it now the starting point for the 1 train is midway threw the track lay out. Clever!!!

I think the switch happens the as soon as you leave the station. Both trains exit the station away from each other and do a 180 to meet at the lift. At this point you're already on the other side of the opposing train.

To explain it differently: if you board the blue train and choose to sit on the side closest to the green train, when you meet at the lift you'll now be on the side of your seat that is farest away from the green train.

To explain it a third way: You sit in the blue train and the green train is to your left. Your train leaves the station and makes a right turnaround to the lift. The green train leaves making a left turnaround to the lift. When the trains meet at the lift the green train will already be on your right side (instead of the left as it was in the station)

The switch without crossing over happens before you even hit the lift chain.

(did I make that confusing enough?)

*** Edited 12/5/2003 5:23:45 AM UTC by Lord Gonchar***

There are only two other coasters in existance that do this.

Serpent of Fire at SF Mexico and Grand National at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Blackpool also has the only other Noahs Ark remaining in the world.

Chuck, who says Kennywood is a true gem indeed

Or you can explain it like this, it just seems easier. You switch above the station on the turnaround. If you are on the inside of the turn after the first drop you will end up on the outside of the turn above the station. And when you come back to the station you will be on the opposite side of where you started. Does that make sense?

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Lord Gonchar said:
I think the switch happens the as soon as you leave the station. Both trains exit the station away from each other and do a 180 to meet at the lift. At this point you're already on the other side of the opposing train.

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Ding! Give that man a prize. Now there are other racers out there that do a similar 180 to start (PKI's Racer, for instance), but they then proceed to do the another 180 somewhere else out on the course (the turnaround), whereas the "Mobius" coasters then remain side-by-side all the way back to the station.
*** Edited 12/5/2003 5:04:16 AM UTC by GregLeg***

Racer is the only *foolio* that took me a year the go from 1/2 a credit to a whole credit.

It was so funny watching my cousins try to figure out where the tracks cross, they just think a little too linear.

similar to windjammer? or was that two coasters?

anyone know why they only run the two trains? the line gets a little on the long side during weekends, extending out of the ques. seems like they could easily run all 4 if the crew would hustle a bit more.

Running 4 trains would be very bad with the current braking system. That's all i'm saying. If the park changed over to the clamp brakes as seen on The Beast then this might be possible but doubtful.

Coasterman Mike

Seems to get good enough capactiy from what I have seen. Sure the line gets a tad long, but nothing compared to most parks. I've only ever seen 3 trains on the track, (one on the transfer) and I believe there is not a fourth. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I could be werong, but I remember Kennywood running all four trains on the Racer when I was at the ACE Coaster Con in 1991, but when I returned for the next ACE Coaster Con there several years later, they were only running two trains and had a third on the transfer track. I remember finding it odd that they weren't running all trains "like last time."

Back to the Mobius racer discussion....
By the way, is that the correct spelling, "Mobius"?
Colossus (SFMM) and American Eagle are almost Mobius racers except they both have a crossover (instead of a second pair of split turnaround ala PKI's Racer) to get the trains back on the right side of each other. American Eagle swicthes back after dropping out of the huge helix and Colossus does it right before hitting the final brake run.

My recollecation is that Racer has had only three trains it's entire life. Probably kpjb can verify this, but I think that the only brakes are in the station. *** Edited 12/6/2003 2:31:56 AM UTC by Dutchman***

Even when the line is out the established queue, Racer is typically a people eater. I can't remember the last time I waited more than 20-30 minutes for it.

I can't remember ever seeing more than 3 trains on Racer, either -- two in use and a spare.

The switch takes place as soon as you leave the station. Both trains turn away from each other and as they head toward the lift hill one train crosses under the tracks, and the other does not.

I don't know how many trains were on The Racer in the past, but currently Kennywood only owns three.

Being as we're all having such a hard time getting this into words, here's a visual aid. (RCT even!)

Imagine you board the train on the black track - the white track is to your right in the station. Now look at the lift - the white track is on your left at this point. David Copperfield look out! Same thing white the other side. Board the train on the white track and the black track is on your left in the station, but once you hit the lift it's on your right side.

Then, like Greg said earlier, as long as the two layouts follow the same course from here, you'll end up returning on the opposite side of the station from which you left.

Another interesting side note is that if you wish to engage in any hand slapping, you actually have to sit on the side of your train farthest away from the other train.

As you can see in that little pic I did, it's decpetively simple.

*** Edited 12/5/2003 6:20:21 PM UTC by Lord Gonchar***

Actually, Gonchar, I thought one side crossed under the other... because, using your visual aid, unless they didn't cross, they would still return on the same side.

Yes, there IS a crossover, so that they don't have to undo the 180 at the start. That crossover happens right at the end (at least, that's where I think it is in that twisted layout ;) ), where the return brake run goes under the lift hill. But the actual "Hey, you were on my right and now you're on my left!" switch happens right at the start, as Gonchar's little visual aid shows.

My brother actually made a reasonably accurate Racer for RCT that made it pretty easy to follow what's going on. I'll have to see if he's willing to share it for the Games section.
*** Edited 12/5/2003 7:17:09 PM UTC by GregLeg***

Yeah, now I think we're getting stuck on terminology/words.

The layout crosses over or under itself a couple times (I think. Over the station & under the lift. Correct?)

But the point I was getting across is that you leave the station with the other train on your left, and once you hit the lift, it's on your right. It will be on your right for the remainder of the ride. There are no crossovers between the trains thoughout the layout. The switch happens by the time you hit the lift.

*** Edited 12/5/2003 7:30:32 PM UTC by Lord Gonchar***