Status Operating Lift/launch system Chain Max speed 82 km/h Park Hersheypark | Model Racing roller coaster Height 27 m Height restriction 1.22 m | |
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Opening date May 13, 2000 (2000-05-13) Type Wood – Racing – Dueling Manufacturer Great Coasters International Address 100 Hersheypark Dr, Hershey, PA 17033, USA Similar Great Bear, Wildcat, Storm Runner, SooperDooperLooper, Skyrush | ||
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Lighting Racer is a wooden dueling roller coaster located at Hersheypark. It is located in the Midway America section of the park. Built by Great Coasters International in 2000, it was the first wooden racing and dueling roller coaster.
Contents
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The ride
The ride makes use of GCI's Millennium Flyer articulated trains for a smooth and comfortable ride. During the ride's first two years in operation, the park played recordings for the winning train, which sometimes included local celebrity voices. While fans of the ride may have a particular side (Thunder/Green, or Lightning/Red) they enjoy more, both sides travel through the same elements, although at different times. Speed is affected not only by weight on the train, but also by weather conditions (rain, temperature, etc.), maintenance, the lifts' speeds, and placement of riders on train. Both sides contain an on-ride camera, located in the tunnel midway through the ride.
In October, when Hersheypark is decorated in a Halloween theme (Hersheypark in the Dark), Thunder and Lightning are renamed Mischief and Mayhem, respectively. The ride is also dubbed "Wicked Racer" for the occasion.
Additional information
Lightning Racer is in the Midway America section of the park. It is the most popular attraction in that section, often dispatching full trains on the average day. Despite this, wait times for the ride often do not exceed fifteen to twenty minutes when both trains are running on each track due to high capacity and ease of dispatch. If only one train is operating on each track wait times can reach up to one hour.
When Lightning Racer opened, it was the second GCI coaster to open at Hersheypark after Wildcat, making it the only park in the world to have two GCI coasters.
During its initial season and several seasons thereafter, the ride featured Creed's hit "Higher" as its theme song.
Awards
Lightning Racer is consistently voted a top 25 wooden roller coaster by Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Awards.
Note: Mitch Hawker's poll lists Lightning Racer as two separate coasters (for the Lightning and Thunder sides). Every year the poll has been run, Lightning has received a higher ranking. The results above are for Lightning.