The Racer

The Racer is a racing roller coaster at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio. Designed by the legendary John C. Allen, The Racer is often recognized with being a vital part of the roller coaster renaissance of the 1970s, generally referred to as the industry's second golden age. It was featured at the grand opening of the amusement park in 1972 and inspired similar designs in other roller coasters around the world, such as Rebel Yell at Kings Dominion and Thunder Road at Carowinds. The Racer is also one of the few original Kings Island attractions still in operation today.HistoryFollowing a very successful decade, the first major era of roller coasters in the United States would come to an end in the 1930s as the economy struggled during the Great Depression. Although new roller coasters were still being built, the demand wouldn't be the same for decades to come. By the 1960s, the industry was at an all-time low. Traditional amusement park rides, such as carousels, mill chutes, and even wooden roller coasters were losing popularity with newer generations. This led president of Philadelphia Toboggan Company and well-known coaster designer, John C. Allen, to decide in 1968 that it was time to retire. Allen was one of the last remaining designers with experience from the first golden age of roller coasters having studied under legendary designer Herbert Schmeck.