Rebel Yell is now Racer 75 at Kings Dominion

Yeah, I have no issue with the new name, it's certainly benign enough. It's just kind of lame for those of us who grew up riding the coaster every year. But again, not a big deal, really.

I do like that they're incorporating the former Wayne's World section into Candy Apple Grove (the park's main midway). The original theme was dumb, it was essentially outdated when it was built, and once the theme was removed the area just seemed stark and bland. It's been improved little by little over the years, but still never felt right. The Hurler upgrade will already breathe new life into that section, and the apple theme tie-in should enhance it further (even with the goofy Apple Zapple name).

Lord Gonchar said:

I tend to agree with the side that cries oversensitivity.

However, I'm not unreasonable. I get it. And in this case especially, "Meh. No biggie."

(SNIP)

...and then I'm suddenly pushed back onto the "Oh, Jesus Christ!" side again.

Indefensible? Really? The name "Rebel Yell" for a roller coaster is an indefensible action?

If the name "Rebel Yell" is truly offensive and hurtful to anyone - not just feigned outrage, not just "doing the right thing" - but honest-to-goodness hurtful, affective on a real every day level sort of pain and hate and anger, then, well...I guess my white privilege is showing because I just don't see it on this one.

With all of that said, my indifference to the change would also be the same indifference if they left it. I think in talking this out, I've become aware that it's the actions and words that lead up to little changes like this that feel more misguided than the changes themselves.

ldiesman said:

Life is way to short to be bothered by trivial things.

Indeed. And I think that goes both ways on this one...and in this case they changed it. *shrug*

I'm gonna go listen to Billy Idol, drink some bourbon and play the first campaign in Starcraft now. (I also looked at Wikipedia)

Also, I'm sure everyone googling Rebel Yell came across it, but go watch this video - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/history/what-did-the...ound-like/

Oh my God. I'm dying. A bunch of old men squealing at each other and cheering. It's sad and funny and completely irrelevant even back then. Don't give it any power. Don't legitimize the stupidity.

Rebel Yell - it's a ridiculous relic of losers that holds no power in 21st century America...unless we let it.

I get the 'meh' or indifference reaction. I even get the 'I didnt think it was bad' reaction (I too only think of Billy Idol when I hear the name). But what puzzles me is why people are so attached to a name. There was no 'outrage' when Scooby Doo's name was changed was it? I was still in full coaster-nerddom then and dont remember a peep. And that coaster is even older! There are a bunch of things getting name changes. No one said this was in response to any type of public pressure/outrage. The cynic in me just thinks it's a way to sell new t-shirts.

It seems to me that the so-called 'anti-PC crowd' are the real melting snowflakes, getting worked up about a big nothing burger. I will say, my wife was the one who brought this news to me and she too kinda shrugged. If this was the only name change, it *might* look a little...convenient. But it's a part of a package.

Apple Zapple is much more offensive to my sensibilities. ;)

As far as the name goes, Mac pretty much got it. The iconic "Yee-haw" that people associate with southerners is derived from the Confederate battle cry. But a derivative is all it is. It's not done with a nod and a wink. One can attempt to draw the line between the exclamation and the Confederacy if they wish but it's one hell of a stretch.

I wouldn't have such a problem with the name change if the new name wasnt just completely devoid of any creative process. It sounds like it took three executives a ten minute planning session to come up with.

I'm disappointed, and it will always be Rebel Yell in my heart.

That being said, I'm in love with the other improvements being made to the area. I figured there would be some made but not to that extent. Bravo!

Bobbie1951 said:
what on earth does Montu mean?

Montu is/was(?) the Egyptian god of war, depicted as a man with the head of a Falcon. We should probably change the name of Montu as well, since, you know, war is bad. Danglefeet 96 has a nice ring to it.

I don’t care that they changed the name. But Racer 75 is kinda lame. Apple Zapple is a lot lame.

When I first heard about the name changes I thought they were a joke. The new names are actually awful.

TheAcrophobicEnthusiast said:

I wouldn't have such a problem with the name change if the new name wasnt just completely devoid of any creative process. It sounds like it took three executives a ten minute planning session to come up with.

To be fair, that's about as long as it should take three adults to name an old roller coaster with no real theme.

Given the horrible white supremacist attack in nearby Charlottesville last year, that Rebel Yell is a specific confederate term , and the coaster is in a midway themed section, this was a wise decision.

Although I wish the creative team would have more creative than reusing the KI name.

Nobody should be too upset about this, given what CF did with Thunder Road....

super7* said:
Nobody should be too upset about this, given what CF did with Thunder Road....

Was Thunder Road torn down because it was named after some little known Confederate war path?

Luxco needs to change the name of its bourbon. And Billy Idol should recall all recordings of his song and eponymous album, and call for a lynching of all other artists that covered it.

That slope is slippery.

They should've renamed the coaster Insurgent Shriek.

(hat tip to thesaurus.com)

I have to say if I were black I’d probably get tired of soooo many little things that were named after or because of a group of people that wanted to keep me as property. I imagine that all of the “little things that don’t matter” add up to someone of color who is constantly reminded that, HEY! There are people out there that still eat this stuff up and silently are afraid I may gain some type of comfort by not being surrounded by soooo many little things. But that’s just me. And I’m not black.

And yet, thousands of people who have no idea what it feels like to be discriminated against will get butt-hurt over the name of a roller coaster, which is near the top of the list of things that don't matter. And I'm not a roller coaster.

Vater said:
I do like that they're incorporating the former Wayne's World section into Candy Apple Grove (the park's main midway). The original theme was dumb, it was essentially outdated when it was built, and once the theme was removed the area just seemed stark and bland.

That there. I could never quite wrap my mind around theme areas themed to a couple of, well, mediocre 1980s (?) movies. Star Wars Land? I get that. Batman rides? I get that. But Wayne's World? Never got that.

Vader said:

They should've renamed the coaster Insurgent Shriek.

(hat tip to thesaurus.com)

Then you'd have people complain that they were turning the country over to 'The Muslims' (TM) - or at least they would have said that about 18 months ago.

Tekwardo said:

I have to say if I were black I’d probably get tired of soooo many little things that were named after or because of a group of people that wanted to keep me as property.

{SNIP}

But that’s just me. And I’m not black.

Some of my best friends are black and it's, I think, less so much that the things exist per se, but rather the people, who like with the Golden Calf worship them and consciously or unconsciously co-sign to all the baggage they represent. Then those people become politician, doctors, hiring mangers, loan officers, police officers....

BRING BACK REBEL YELL OR EAT MY BUTT!

The EAT MY BUTT posts (and origin) keep me laughing!

What has happened to CoasterBuzz or whatever.

Yawn - I get what they are trying to do, typical of corporations who are sensitive to their image. My question is, are there butt hurt people walking around after riding Rebel Yell because of the name or because the track has gotten rough and their butts really hurt? Typing this while wearing a Chief Wahoo sweatshirt.

Maybe not. But there are several coaster enthusiasts who keep giving it an eye roll and that’s more than it deserves.