The Racer is a classic wooden roller coaster at Kennywood amusement park in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, that has been racing riders around its dual track since 1927. Designed by legendary coaster engineer John A. Miller and built by Charlie Mach, it replaced an earlier 1910 racing coaster on the same site, using new underfriction wheel technology to allow sharper turns and higher speeds. Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters supplied the trains that still run on it today.
What makes the Racer especially notable among the world’s wooden coasters is its Möbius loop track configuration: rather than two separate side-by-side circuits, both trains actually travel on one continuous connected track, so each train returns to the platform on the opposite side from where it started. This layout makes the Racer one of only two operating wooden coasters in the world built this way, and it has earned lasting recognition as both an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark and a contributing structure within Kennywood’s National Register of Historic Places listing.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Kennywood
- Manufacturer/Builder: Charlie Mach
- Opened: 1927
- Height: 72.5 feet
- Top Speed: 40 mph
- Length: 4,500 feet
- Inversions: 0
- Track Layout: Möbius loop (racing)
The Ride Experience
Riders board one of two side-by-side trains for a head-to-head race that lasts about 1 minute and 32 seconds. After a pair of chain lift hills, the Racer’s 50-foot first drop launches both trains into a series of swooping turns and airtime-filled hills across its 4,500-foot circuit, with the two trains passing back and forth as the Möbius loop layout carries each one to the opposite loading platform from where it departed.
With a top speed of around 40 mph and zero inversions, the Racer relies on its age-old wooden-coaster rattle, close side-by-side racing, and clever track geometry rather than height or speed records to deliver its thrills, making it a favorite for riders who appreciate classic coaster craftsmanship.
History and Legacy
The current Racer opened in 1927 as a replacement for an earlier 1910 racing coaster at the same location, with designer John A. Miller applying his patented underfriction wheel system to allow for faster speeds and tighter curves than had previously been possible on wooden track. It was built by Charlie Mach, while Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters has supplied the trains that carry riders on the ride, and it has operated at Kennywood continuously ever since, making it one of the oldest operating roller coasters in the world.
The Racer’s significance has been formally recognized multiple times: it was named a Pittsburgh Landmark in 1995, is a contributing structure to Kennywood’s National Register of Historic Places district (listed in 1987), and was designated an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark by American Coaster Enthusiasts in June 2010.
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Racer FAQs
How old is the Racer at Kennywood?
The Racer opened in 1927, making it nearly a century old and one of the oldest continuously operating roller coasters in the world.
Why is the Racer’s track layout unusual?
The Racer uses a Möbius loop configuration, meaning its two trains actually run on one continuous connected track rather than two separate loops, so each train ends up back at the platform on the opposite side from where it started. It’s one of only two operating wooden coasters worldwide built this way.
Who built the Racer, and how fast does it go?
The Racer was designed by John A. Miller and built by Charlie Mach, with trains supplied by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters. It reaches a top speed of about 40 mph during its roughly 90-second ride across 4,500 feet of wooden track.
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Photo: Chris Hagerman / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.