Rookie Racer is a Vekoma-built family coaster at Mid America Adventure in Eureka, Missouri, the park long known as Six Flags St. Louis. It opened on September 30, 2023, giving the park its first original roller coaster in 15 years, since American Thunder debuted in 2008. The ride went in near The Boss wooden coaster, on the site of the old Speed O’Drome go-karts and a swing ride.
Dressed up with Formula 1 racecar-style trains, Rookie Racer was built to bridge the gap between kiddie rides and full-size thrill coasters. A tire-driven booster-wheel lift carries the train to the top of its 41-foot climb, and from there gravity takes over for a banked first drop, giving the small coaster some punch while keeping speeds and height modest enough for young riders.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Mid America Adventure, Eureka, Missouri
- Manufacturer: Vekoma
- Opened: September 30, 2023
- Height: 41 feet
- Top speed: 27 mph
- Length: 843 feet
- Inversions: 0
- Train: 8 cars, 2 across, 16 riders per cycle
The Ride Experience
A tire-driven booster-wheel lift pulls Rookie Racer’s train up to its full 41-foot height, then gravity sends it down a banked first drop rather than a straight vertical plunge, a touch that makes the modest height feel livelier than the numbers suggest. From there the layout winds through a series of S-curves before climbing into a 540-degree helix, with part of the track spiraling directly above the earlier section of the ride. Sound effects piped through speakers along the course add to the racing theme as the eight-car, F1-styled train weaves through the circuit.
At 843 feet long with a top speed of 27 mph, Rookie Racer is sized for families rather than thrill-seekers, but its layout packs in more variety than most junior coasters, making it a natural step up for kids who’ve outgrown the park’s kiddie rides.
Replacing the Go-Karts
Rookie Racer rose on the footprint of the old Speed O’Drome go-kart track and an adjacent swing ride, land the park cleared out after announcing the new coaster in March 2023. Its spot next to The Boss put a brand-new attraction in one of the park’s most visited corners.
The coaster’s debut also came not long before a changing of the guard for the property itself: in 2026, Six Flags St. Louis was sold and rebranded as Mid America Adventure, making Rookie Racer one of the newest rides to carry over into the park’s new era.
Explore more: Explore more roller coasters.
Rub-on sunscreen that fits in a pocket — reapply in the queue without greasy hands on the lap bar.
Folds into its own pocket. Pop it on when the storm rolls in and the rides reopen to short lines.
Keeps your phone strapped to you, not in a loose-article bin. Zip it before the lift hill and walk straight off the exit ramp.
Rookie Racer FAQs
How tall do you need to be to ride Rookie Racer?
Riders need to be at least 36 inches tall with a supervising companion, or 48 inches tall to ride alone.
Who manufactured Rookie Racer?
Rookie Racer was built by Vekoma, the Dutch manufacturer known for family and junior coaster models.
What was on Rookie Racer’s site before it was built?
The coaster replaced the park’s Speed O’Drome go-kart track and a nearby swing ride, just in front of The Boss wooden coaster.
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Photo: Wacky Windjammer / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.