Thunder Striker

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Thunder Striker

Carowinds Location Charlotte, North Carolina, USA Coordinates 35.103111°N 80.939566°W / 35.103111; -80.939566 Status Operating since March 27, 2010 Cost $23,000,000 USD Rider height 54 inch minimum Replaced Wild Thornberry's River Adventure
Statistics
Manufacturer	Bolliger & Mabillard
Product	Hyper Coaster
Type	Steel - Hyper
Track layout	Out and Back
Riders per train	32
Hourly capacity	1,600
Propulsion	Chain lift hill
Height	232 feet
Drop	211 feet
Top speed	75 mph
Length	5316 feet
Inversions	0
Drop angle	74°
Duration	3:33

Thunder Striker, originally known as Intimidator, is a steel hyper roller coaster located at Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. Built by Bolliger & Mabillard, it was the park's thirteenth roller coaster when it opened on March 27, 2010. It was the tallest roller coaster at the park until the opening of Fury 325 in 2015.

The attraction was built on the former site of the Wild Thornberry's River Adventure log flume, which was closed in 2008.

History

At the end of the 2008 season, Carowinds took down Wild Thornberry's River Adventure. At that point, it was decided that the ride had reached the end of its service life and it was time for something new.

Carowinds announced the addition of Intimidator on August 26, 2009. At a cost of $23 million, it was the most costly project in the park's history. Earlier that month, track pieces had arrived at the park.

On October 13, 2009, the lift hill was topped off. The final piece of track was installed in December 2009. Testing began on February 4, 2010.

Intimidator opened on March 27, 2010.

Seat belts were added to supplement the lap-bar restraints in 2014.

The coaster was given a new paint job in 2020.

On February 28, 2024, it was announced that Intimidator would be renamed Thunder Striker. This coincided with the announcement of a retheme of Intimidator 305.

Design

Elements
232 foot tall chain lift hill with a 211 foot drop at 74° 178 foot tall hill 151 foot tall hill 121 foot tall horseshoe 105 foot tall hill 90 foot tall hill Block brake 62 foot tall hill Helix 52 foot tall hill 48 foot tall hill

Ride experience

As the train is dispatched, "Gentlemen, start your engines!" is played on the speakers. Riders begin to climb up the 232 foot tall chain lift hill before dropping 211 feet. The train then heads through a 178 foot tall banked hill. This is followed by a 151 foot tall hill and a 121 foot tall horseshoe. Riders go pass a hill, which is 105 feet tall. A 90 foot tall hill leads into the block brake. After this, the train goes through a 62 foot tall hill and a helix. The last two hills lead into the final brake run. Riders turn left and return to the station.

Theme

When known as Intimidator, the ride was named after NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt and the trains were designed to look like his 1998 No.3 car. Another roller coaster with the same theme, Intimidator 305, opened in the same year at Kings Dominion.

Trains

3 trains with 8 cars per train. In each car, riders are arranged 4 across in a single row, for a total of 32 riders per train. The trains employ staggered seating and riders are held in by lap-bars and seat belts.

Images

• 
  Intimidator under construction
• 
• 
  The queue line
• 
• 
  The train's staggered seating

External links

• 

  Thunder Striker on the Roller Coaster DataBase.

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