Lightning Racer
Hersheypark
Park section Midway America
Coordinates 40°17′34″N 76°39′11″W / 40.292884°N 76.653171°W / 40.292884; -76.653171
Status Operating
Opening date May 13, 2000 (2000-05-13)
Cost $12.5 million[1]
General Statistics
Type Wood – Racing – Dueling
Manufacturer Great Coasters International
Model Racing roller coaster
Lift/launch system Chain
  Lightning (Red) Thunder (Green)
Height 92 ft (28.0 m) 92 ft (28.0 m)
Drop 90 ft (27.4 m) 90 ft (27.4 m)
Length 3,393 ft (1,034.2 m) 3,393 ft (1,034.2 m)
Speed 51 mph (82.1 km/h) 51 mph (82.1 km/h)
Inversions 0 0
Duration 2:20 2:20
Max vertical angle 45° 45°
G-force 3.6 3.6
Height restriction 48 in (122 cm)
Lightning Racer at RCDB
Pictures of Lightning Racer at RCDB

Lightning Racer is a wooden dueling roller coaster at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Built by Great Coasters International (GCI) and designed by Mike Boodley of GCI, the ride was completed in 2000 within the Midway America section of the park. Lightning Racer was GCI's second roller coaster at Hersheypark.

Planning for what became Lightning Racer commenced in May 1999, and the ride opened to the general public on May 13, 2000. Lightning Racer cost $12.5 million to construct, and it consists of two tracks, which are both 3,393 feet (1,034 m) long. The ride's station was designed by Ralph E. Kaylor of Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Lightning Racer operates with four Millennium Flyer trains manufactured by GCI. Since 2001, Lightning Racer has consistently been voted one of the world's 25 best wooden roller coasters at the Golden Ticket Awards, which are presented annually by Amusement Today magazine.

History

Planning for what became Lightning Racer commenced in May 1999, when employees of Great Coasters International (GCI) started creating sketches for a racing wooden roller coaster. A groundbreaking ceremony for the ride occurred in July 1999.[1] The next month, Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company announced that Hersheypark would be adding its eighth coaster, Lightning Racer.[2][3] It would be the park's second roller coaster built by GCI, after the now-defunct Wildcat.[3][4] After construction had started, GCI's engineers encountered some obstacles that had not been shown on the official topographic maps that Hersheypark had given them, including a fence and a Turkey Hill shop.[1]

Lightning Racer opened to the general public on May 13, 2000,[5] three days after a media event for the coaster was hosted.[1][4] When the ride opened, Hersheypark had the most roller coasters of any amusement park in Pennsylvania.[1] Through an agreement with Hersheypark, ice cream brand Green's (a subsidiary of Crowley Foods) promoted the ride by introducing an ice-cream flavor called Raspberry Blueberry Scream.[6]

Characteristics

Lightning Racer cost $12.5 million to construct[1][7][4] and was designed by Mike Boodley of GCI.[7][8] The roller coaster required about 341 miles (549 km) of southern yellow pine for its construction.[1][8] It consists of two tracks (Thunder/Green and Lightning/Red), which are both 3,393 feet (1,034 m) long.[5] A complete circuit on either track takes approximately two minutes and twenty seconds. The ride's lift hill is approximately 90 feet (27 m) tall.[1][4][5] After the first drop, the ride reaches a top speed of 51 miles per hour (82 km/h).[4][5] At several points in the layout, the tracks are as close as 5 feet (1.5 m) to each other. The trains pass by each other in opposite directions at a combined 70 miles per hour (110 km/h).[8]

The ride's station was designed by Ralph E. Kaylor of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and is made of heavy timber and wood frame. The station features architectural details such as shingle roofs, ventilation shafts, and cupolas. Unlike in other racing coasters, there is a single queue line for both tracks, allowing guests to select which track they want to ride. In addition to providing a shaded queue area for guests, the station contains a shop where on-ride photos from the coaster are sold.[7]

Lightning Racer operates with four trains,[5] which seat 24 riders per train.[1][5] Trains were originally painted blue and white[7] but have since been repainted red and green.[5] The ride makes use of GCI's Millennium Flyer articulated trains.[2][7] Both tracks travel through the same elements, although at different times. Speed is affected by factors such as riders' weight, temperature, and lubrication;[1][4][8] even riders' clothing has been known to affect the ride's speed.[4] There is a 128-foot-long (39 m) tunnel about halfway through the course on both tracks.[1] Both sides contain an on-ride camera, located in the tunnel. In addition, when the ride opened, it passed next to a waterfall with a mist.[4]

A view of the Thunder train from the Lightning train during a pass.

Critical reception

Steve Hendrix of The Washington Post wrote that Lightning Racer "looks like something left behind by a flood, but the twin coasters race each other through the tangle with thrilling zippiness".[9] Conversely, Jane Holahan of the Lancaster New Era wrote: "I liked to be terrified when I ride a roller coaster. The Lightning Racer simply didn't terrify me."[10]

Awards

Lightning Racer is consistently voted among the top 25 wooden roller coasters by Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Awards. The first such award was given in August 2001, when the ride was ranked as the 13th best wooden roller coaster in the world.[11][12]

Golden Ticket Awards: Top wood Roller Coasters
Year2001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202120222023
Ranking 13[12]11[13]7[14]10[15]9[16]10[17]10[18]9[19]12[20]10[21]11[22]11[23]9[24]11[25]10[26]10[27]12[28]12[29]14[30]11[31]14[32]22[33]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Cronin, Jeff (May 11, 2000). "Hang on to your hats and may the best train win!". The Sentinel. p. 60. Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "State Briefs-Hersheypark Getting Coaster". The Times-Tribune. August 19, 1999. p. 2. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "'Lightning Racer' will become Hersheypark's newest coaster in May". Lancaster New Era. August 18, 1999. Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Griffith, David (May 10, 2000). "Ride is a wild race to finish". Intelligencer Journal. pp. 1, 4. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Marden, Duane. "Lightning Racer  (Hersheypark)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  6. ↑ Lindt, Susan (June 12, 2000). "Ice cream war: Trying to scoop each other". Intelligencer Journal. pp. 35, 44, 45, 54. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Young, B. K. (May 7, 2000). "Coasting toward lightning-fast thrills". The Daily News. pp. 21, 25, 26. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Andrews, Buffy (May 5, 2000). "New coaster will make hearts race". York Daily Record. p. 52. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  9. ↑ Hendrix, Steve (July 6, 2005). "Raising the Bar: Pennsylvania's Hersheypark Has a Flavor All Its Own". The Washington Post. p. C2. ISSN 0190-8286. ProQuest 2605756847.
  10. ↑ Holahan, Jane (May 11, 2000). "Lightning Racer: another excuse to go Hersheypark". Lancaster New Era. pp. 70. 72. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  11. ↑ Clayton, Corey (August 5, 2001). "Hersheypark, Knoebels' win awards Golden Tickets awarded for new coasters, food". Sunday News. p. 118. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  12. 1 2 "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. August 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. September 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 10–11B. September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 14–15B. September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2007. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 22–23B. September 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 30–31B. September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 11 (6.2): 42–43. September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 12 (6.2): 42–43. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 13 (6.2): 38–39. September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 14 (6.2): 38–39. September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 15 (6.2): 46–47. September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 16 (6.2): 46–47. September 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  24. ↑ "2013 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 17 (6.2): 40–41. September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  25. ↑ "2014 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 18 (6.2): 38–39. September 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  26. ↑ "2015 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 19 (6.2): 45–46. September 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  27. ↑ "2016 Top 50 Wooden Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  28. ↑ "2017 Top 50 Wooden Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  29. ↑ "2018 Top 50 Wooden Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  30. ↑ "2019 Top 50 Wood Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  31. ↑ "2021 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2021. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  32. ↑ "2022 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2022. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  33. ↑ "2023 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Amusement Today. 27 (6.2): 71–72. September 2023. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
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