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Recar to Become Racer [Again]
By Jonathan | April 7, 2008 at 10:46 am
I love roller coasters. Even before I was able to walk my parents took me to Cedar Point once a year with some friends of theirs. As I got older I was able to ride more rides, do more things, and I began to love Cedar Point. It became one thing that I always looked forward to every summer, almost an infatuation. It got to the point that I had a hard time sleeping the night before because of the excitement involved with this day. We didn’t screw around either: CP used to be open from 10am to 12am in the middle of the summer, and you can bet money that we were there from 10am to after 12am.
20-some years later I still love Cedar Point. Unfortunately for me I don’t live as close as I used to, so I’ve had to substitute Kings Island for Cedar Point. Not a fair trade by any means, but KI is only about 30 minutes away from where I live, whereas CP is more like four hours. Last year Abi and I acquired two season passes to KI, so we became quite familiar with everything it had to offer. We still both agree that Cedar Point is hands up, the best park ever (get it, hands up?), but for temporary enjoyment between CP visits, Kings Island will suffice. We both have our favorite rides at KI, and some may be better than comparable others at CP. I like the Beast and Flight of Fear. Abi likes Scooby-Doo and the Racer, but only backwards (Racer backwards is Recar, for those that didn’t catch on).
Well, she used to like the Racer. Kevin informed me Saturday night that Cedar Fair would be flipping the backwards train forward when Kings Island opens this season. The press release can be found here.
Up until this point I have been the first to defend Cedar Fair in the changes that they made to the Paramount Parks. I defended Cedar Fair in how the currently run all of their parks, Cedar Point included. This announcement, however, I do not support. When the ride first opened in 1972 both trains moved in the same direction. In 1982 the decision was made to turn one of them around so that it would be moving backwards on the track. I have no idea how people enjoyed the change from 1982 to 2006, but in 2007 each time I rode this ride there was always a longer line for the backwards train.
The American Coaster Enthusiasts even branded the Racer as an “ACE Roller Coaster Landmark,” an award that only 13 other coasters share.
My question to Cedar Fair: Why mess with a classic? Cedar Fair says they want all of their rides “to be consistent with other Cedar Fair parks.” I say that if you have something fun and unique that people like, leave it alone. People can ride a forward facing coaster anywhere, the Racer used to have an appeal because it was different. Sure the lines were never that long to begin with, but it’s an older, classic coaster.
Please Cedar Fair, reconsider this decision and let the Racer maintain this distinctive quality.
Topics: complain, roller coasters | 6 Comments »
April 7th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Maybe they should flip one of the trains backwards on the Gemini at CP, and other similar coasters at Cedar Fair parks across the country…just to be consistent
April 7th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I like it sis. Maybe if you were to…. get a job marketing for Cedar Fair….. you’d be able to tell of such amazing ideas as of these. Question for you. What can the Sharks do to increase ticket sales?
April 7th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
That’s a sweet idea, but I’m sure it won’t happen. I’m still trying to figure out why you’d take a perfectly good backwards ride and break it. Saying that they want to be more consistent is a crock of bull. My guess is that they’re doing it in an attempt to cut costs…now since both sides are identical they’ll be able to run one train at a time when the lines are short. Still, it makes me wonder how much money they could actually be saving…
April 8th, 2008 at 1:03 am
There’s always a damn finance or accounting nerd one step ahead of the marketing people
April 9th, 2008 at 7:36 am
Could it possible be a safety concern? You know, people’s necks breaking or something…haha or is it not that fast?
Jon, to answer your question, feel free to extol the virtues of Cincy and I’ll consider it
April 9th, 2008 at 7:37 am
woah!, the smileys!