Racer 75

Last updated
Racer 75
PKD-Rebel Yell.jpg
Racer 75 lift hill when it was Rebel Yell in 2005
Previously known as Rebel Yell (1975-2017)
Kings Dominion
Park section Candy Apple Grove
Coordinates 37°50′13.5″N77°26′41.8″W / 37.837083°N 77.444944°W / 37.837083; -77.444944
Status Operating
Opening date May 3, 1975 (1975-05-03) [1]
General Statistics
Type Wood  – Racing
Manufacturer Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters
Designer John C. Allen
Track layout Out and back
Lift/launch system Chain
 NorthSouth
Height 85 ft (25.9 m) 85 ft (25.9 m)
Drop 81 ft (24.7 m) 81 ft (24.7 m)
Length 3,368.5 ft (1,026.7 m) 3,368.5 ft (1,026.7 m)
Speed 56 mph (90.1 km/h) 56 mph (90.1 km/h)
Inversions 0 0
Duration 2:15 2:15
Max vertical angle 50° 50°
G-force 4.2 4.2
Capacity 1200 riders per hour
Height restriction 48 in (122 cm)
Trains 4 trains with 5 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows for a total of 30 riders per train.
Racer 75 at RCDB
Pictures of Racer 75 at RCDB

Racer 75 is a wooden racing roller coaster at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia. Designed by John C. Allen, the ride opened with the park in 1975 as Rebel Yell. [1] [2] It features a similar track layout to The Racer (1972) at Kings Island and the now-defunct Thunder Road at Carowinds (1976). In 2018, Rebel Yell was renamed Racer 75, dropping its former name’s connection to the Confederacy to represent its racing layout and opening year, as well as a subtle nod to the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) organization that was founded in 1978. [3] [4]

Contents

History

Racer 75 opened as Rebel Yell with Kings Dominion's grand opening in 1975. [5] Jim Copp, Kings Dominion’s first vice president of finance and administration, chose the name “Rebel Yell”after being inspired by a brand of bourbon called Rebel Yell. [6] In 1992, the trains on one side were changed to face and run backwards, which was a similar change made on Kings Island's The Racer a decade earlier in 1982. Locals would call this reversed version of the ride the “Yell Rebel”. [7] Both were restored to their original configurations in 2008, not long after Cedar Fair purchased the chain of parks from Paramount. [7] [8] For the park's 40th anniversary in 2014, the trains were repainted red or blue to represent their original color scheme and chasing lights were added back to the water park side of the track. [9] [10]

The Rebel Yell name was dropped in 2018 when the coaster was renamed Racer 75. [3] [11] The new name was labeled an amalgam that mixes references to the coaster's racing configuration, the year it opened and the ACE acronym for American Coaster Enthusiasts – a club organization that traces its founding back to a 1977 riding event at the park involving Rebel Yell. [3] While the park didn't acknowledge the reason, the name change coincided with discussions within the state legislature surrounding the removal of Confederate statuary icons throughout Virginia; “Rebel Yell” was also the name of a Confederate battle cry. [3]

Design

Racer 75 features a racing roller coaster layout with two individual tracks that are mirror images of one another. Its design was inspired by the Racer at sister park Kings Island, which opened three years earlier in 1972. The primary difference between the two, is that the tracks on the original Racer split at the fourth hill on the outbound journey, whereas the tracks on Racer 75 do not split until the trains begin the turnaround. Racer 75's design was also utilized in the construction of defunct Thunder Road at Carowinds in 1976, which featured the greatest height and speed of the three until its permanent closure in 2015. The tracks ran parallel to Lake Charles, a large man-made lake on the northwest corner of Kings Dominion. Two-thirds of the lake was drained in the early 1990s during construction of Anaconda.[ citation needed ]

There is one red and one blue train on each side for a total of two trains on each side. When only running one train on each side, an effort is made to run a train of each color.[ citation needed ] Racer 75 received the Coaster Landmark award from ACE on June 20, 2003. [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kings Dominion</span> Amusement park in Virginia

Kings Dominion is an amusement park in the eastern United States, located in Doswell, Virginia, twenty miles (30 km) north of Richmond and 75 miles (120 km) south of Washington, D.C. Owned and operated by Six Flags, the 280-acre (1.1 km2) park opened to the public on May 3, 1975, and features more than 60 rides, shows and attractions including 13 roller coasters and a 20-acre (8.1 ha) water park. Its name is derived from the name of its sister park, Kings Island near Cincinnati, and the nickname for the state of Virginia, "Old Dominion."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wooden roller coaster</span> Type of roller coaster

A wooden roller coaster is a type of roller coaster classified by its wooden track, which consists of running rails made of flat steel strips mounted on laminated wood. The support structure is also typically made of wood, but may also be made of steel lattice or truss, which has no bearing on a wooden coaster's classification. The type of wood often selected in the construction of wooden coasters worldwide is southern yellow pine, which grows abundantly in the southern United States, due to its density and adherence to different forms of pressure treatment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inverted roller coaster</span> Type of roller coaster

An inverted roller coaster is a type of steel roller coaster in which the train runs under the track with the seats directly attached to the wheel carriage. Riders are seated in open cars, letting their feet swing freely. The inverted coaster was pioneered by Swiss roller coaster manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard in the early 1990s with the development of Batman: The Ride, which opened at Six Flags Great America on May 9, 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Launched roller coaster</span> Modern form of roller coaster

The launched roller coaster is a modern form of roller coaster. A launched coaster initiates a ride with high amounts of acceleration via one or a series of linear induction motors (LIM), linear synchronous motors (LSM), catapults, tires, chains, or other mechanisms employing hydraulic or pneumatic power, along a launch track. This mode of acceleration powers many of the fastest roller coasters in the world.

Carowinds is a 407-acre (165 ha) amusement park primarily located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Owned and operated by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, the park first opened to the public on March 31, 1973. Carowinds straddles the state line between North and South Carolina, adjacent to Interstate 77, with a portion of the park located in Fort Mill, South Carolina. The park has a sign telling guests where the state line lies. It was constructed at a cost of $70 million following a four-year planning period led by Charlotte businessman Earl Patterson Hall. Carowinds also features Carolina Harbor, a 27-acre (11 ha) water park that is included with park admission. Annual events include the Halloween-themed S-Carowinds and the Christmas-themed WinterFest.

The rebel yell was a battle cry used by Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Racer (Kennywood)</span> Wooden racing roller coaster

Racer is a wooden racing roller coaster located at Kennywood amusement park in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. Built by Charlie Mach and designed by John A. Miller, Racer opened to the public in 1927 and is one of the oldest operating roller coasters in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Coaster Enthusiasts</span> Non-profit roller coaster organization

American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) is a non-profit organization focusing on the enjoyment, knowledge, and preservation of roller coasters as well as recognition of some as architectural and engineering landmarks. Dues-paying members receive the quarterly magazine RollerCoaster! and bi-monthly newsletter ACE News. Amusement parks have also invited members to exclusive ride events at amusement parks as well as sneak peek events at new roller coasters under construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thunder Road (roller coaster)</span> Defunct wooden roller coaster at Carowinds

Thunder Road was a wooden roller coaster located at Carowinds amusement park on the border between Fort Mill, South Carolina, and Charlotte, North Carolina. Opened in 1976 and built by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, the racing roller coaster cost $1.6 million to construct and featured two identical tracks that paralleled each other. The design of the ride was based on Rebel Yell, a wooden racing coaster at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia. Thunder Road was closed on July 26, 2015, to make room for expansion at the park. On August 27, 2015, Carowinds announced that the Boomerang Bay waterpark would be expanded and renamed Carolina Harbor. The expansion resulted in the removal of Thunder Road.

Thunder Run (Kentucky Kingdom) Wooden roller coaster

Thunder Run is a wooden roller coaster at the Kentucky Kingdom amusement park in Louisville, Kentucky. The ride originally operated from August 1990 through to October 2009, when then-operators Six Flags abandoned the park. After remaining closed since 2009, Thunder Run reopened in May 2014 when Kentucky Kingdom reopened under new operators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Racer (Kings Island)</span> Amusement ride

The Racer is a wooden, racing roller coaster located at Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio. It was designed by John C. Allen, well-known for his contributions to roller coasters during the mid-twentieth century, and debuted at the park's grand opening in 1972. It was thrust into the national spotlight after being featured in an episode of the popular TV sitcom The Brady Bunch in 1973 and is often recognized for playing a vital role in the roller coaster renaissance of the 1970s. The Racer inspired similar designs in other roller coasters, such as Racer 75 at Kings Dominion and the now-defunct Thunder Road at Carowinds. The Racer is also one of the few original Kings Island attractions still in operation today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurler (roller coaster)</span> Wooden coasters at Cedar Fair parks

Hurler is a wooden roller coaster located at Carowinds amusement park in Charlotte, North Carolina. A second identical installation of the ride was also built at Kings Dominion, and both locations opened to the public in 1994. The Hurler at Kings Dominion was closed following the 2015 season and was renovated by Rocky Mountain Construction, re-emerging as a hybrid coaster in 2018 named Twisted Timbers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodstock Express (Kings Island)</span> Wooden roller coaster

Woodstock Express is a wooden roller coaster located at Kings Island and designed by John C. Allen. It is located in the children's rides area of the park known as Planet Snoopy. The coaster has undergone four different name changes as the children's area in which it resides has been renamed and rethemed multiple times since the park opened. It has also been painted a number of different color schemes since its debut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodstock Express (Carowinds)</span> Roller coaster at Carowinds

Woodstock Express is a wooden roller coaster located at Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina that was formerly named after the Nickelodeon cartoon The Fairly OddParents. Though containing all of the elements of a "full-size" or standard wooden roller coaster, its short drop heights, slower speed, gently curving layout and short track length lead to its mistaken identity as a 'junior roller coaster'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apple Zapple (Kings Dominion)</span> Roller coaster in the United States

Apple Zapple is a Wild Mouse roller coaster located at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zach's Zoomer</span> Wooden roller coaster in Michigan

Zach's Zoomer is a wooden roller coaster at Michigan's Adventure in Muskegon, Michigan. Zach's Zoomer was manufactured by Custom Coasters International. It opened in 1994 and is targeted toward younger audiences. Zach's Zoomer was named after Roger Jourden's grandson and current General Manager Camille Jourden-Mark's son, Zach Mark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Project 305</span> Steel roller coaster at Kings Dominion

Project 305 is a steel roller coaster located at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia, United States. Manufactured by Intamin, the ride opened to the public as Intimidator 305 on April 2, 2010. Themed to racing, the coaster was originally named after the late NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, who was commonly known as "The Intimidator". It is located in the Jungle X-Pedition section of the park near Anaconda on the former site of the Safari Monorail ride. Standing at 305 feet (93 m) tall and reaching speeds up to 90 mph (145 km/h), it is the second giga coaster to be built in North America, following Millennium Force at Cedar Point. The $25-million investment was the most expensive of any ride in park history and the 14th coaster to debut at the park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thunder Striker</span> Steel roller coaster at Carowinds

Thunder Striker, formerly known as Intimidator, is a steel roller coaster located at Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Built by Bolliger & Mabillard and located in the Thunder Road section of the park, the ride opened to public on March 27, 2010. It features a 232-foot (71 m) lift hill, a top speed of 75 mph (121 km/h), and a track length of 5,316 feet (1,620 m).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodstock's Air Rail</span> Roller coaster designed by Vekoma

Woodstock’s Air Rail is an inverted roller coaster located at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, and at Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina. Manufactured by Vekoma, the Suspended Family Coaster model debuted at Kings Island in 2001 and was followed by another identical installation at Carowinds in 2003. Both rides originally opened as Rugrats Runaway Reptar, themed to the Nickelodeon animated television series Rugrats and its two-part episode "Runaway Reptar". Following Cedar Fair's acquisition of both parks in 2006, the roller coasters were eventually renamed Flying Ace Aerial Chase for the 2010 season, themed after the 1960s comic strip series Snoopy vs. the Red Baron by Peanuts creator Charles Schulz. The Carowinds installation was renamed again to Kiddy Hawk for the 2018 season. The Kings Island installation was renamed again to Woodstock’s Air Rail for the 2024 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twisted Timbers</span> Steel roller coaster at Kings Dominion

Twisted Timbers is a hybrid roller coaster located at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia. It originally opened as a wooden coaster named Hurler in 1994, designed and manufactured by International Coasters, Inc. It is an exact clone of Hurler at Carowinds. The ride closed for "extensive maintenance" in 2015 according to the park, which later teased in 2016 that Hurler was being replaced.

References

  1. 1 2 "Big day arrives for Kings Dominion". Free Lance-Star. Fredericksburg, Virginia. May 3, 1975. p. 2.
  2. ↑ "$90 million parks built in Virginia". Kentucky New Era. Hopkinsville. June 30, 1975. p. 9.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Shapiro, Jeff E. (February 3, 2018). "Kings Dominion renaming iconic Rebel Yell roller coaster". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Kings Dominion changes name of historic 'Rebel Yell' to 'Racer 75'". WTVR.com. 2018-02-03. Retrieved 2018-02-03.
  5. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Racer 75  (Kings Dominion)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Kings Dominion 40th Celebration Keepsake Section by Richmond magazine - Issuu". issuu.com. 2014-05-05. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  7. 1 2 "Former Paramount Racing Coasters to run Forward". American Coaster Enthusiasts, Inc. April 9, 2008. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  8. ↑ Bullock, Joel (July 10, 2012). "Do You Like Riding Roller Coasters Backwards?". The Coaster Critic. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  9. ↑ Riggan, Phil (April 3, 2014). "Kings Dominion Celebrating 40 Years in 2014". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  10. ↑ Brumfield, Dale (October 26, 2015). "Part 19: Kings Dominion's Rebel Yell - 40 Years of Thrilling Riders and Dodging Political Correctness". dalebrumfield.net. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  11. ↑ Woo, Megan. "Kings Dominion changes name to beloved roller coaster" . Retrieved 2018-02-03.
  12. ↑ ACE Coaster Landmark Awards
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.