Jack Rabbit (Kennywood)

Infobox roller coaster
name=Jack Rabbit


caption=
location=Kennywood
type=Wood
status=Open
opened=1921
manufacturer=John A. Miller
designer=John A. Miller
model=Out and Back roller coaster
track=Terrain
lift=Chain lift
height=40
drop=70
length=2132
speed=45
inversions=0
duration=1:36
angle=45
capacity=
cost=$50,000
gforce=
restriction=36
rcdb_number=120

Jack Rabbit is a wooden roller coaster located at Kennywood Park in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh.

Designed and built by John Miller in 1921, it is one of the oldest still-running roller coasters in the world. The ride's three trains were manufactured by Andy Vettel in 1947 and contain three cars of six seats each. The aging cars are considered an essential part of the ride's nostalgic experience but also lead to some young children being disallowed to enter the ride, due to the use of only a small lapbar to hold in riders. A popular early feature of the ride was a tunnel which covered the turnaround section after the first drop, but this was removed in 1947 when the new cars were ordered. In 1991, the tunnel was restored, even though it's a bit shorter than it had been.

The Jack Rabbit features the use of wheels both under and over the track, which allowed designers to create the then enormous 70 foot drop that is the attraction's largest. It is most well known for its double dip about halfway through the ride. The double dip gives you the feeling that the car is actually being lifted off the track and that riders are sailing from the cars.

According to Rick Sebak, producer of Pittsburgh history programs for WQED, the attraction was designed so that the train's fourth seat would provide the roughest (and therefore most desired) ride.

It is an ACE Coaster Classic. [ [http://www.aceonline.org/CoasterAwards/?type=1 ACE Coaster Classic Awards] ]

References