Lightning Racer

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Lightning Racer

Hersheypark
Location	Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
Coordinates	40°17′37″N 76°39′13″W / 40.293550°N 76.653576°W / 40.293550; -76.653576
Status	Operating since May 13, 2000
Cost	$12,500,000
Rider height	48 inch minimum

Statistics

Builder

Great Coasters International

Designer / calculations

Mike Boodley

Type

Wooden - Twin

Riders per train

24

Propulsion

Chain lift hill

Thunder

Lightning

Height

91.6 feet

Drop

90 feet

Speed

51.1 mph

Length

3393 feet

Inversions

0

Duration

2:20

G-force

3.6 g

Lightning Racer is a twin wooden roller coaster located in the Midway America section of Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA. It was manufactured by Great Coasters International and opened on May 13, 2000.

History

Lightning Racer was announced in August 1999.^[1] The ride debuted on May 13, 2000.

General information

Lightning Racer is located at the back edge of Hersheypark. The coaster is a racing coaster, and features a red train labeled "Lightning" and a green train labeled "Thunder". Both trains travel through the same elements, but at different times. The factors that affect the speed of the train include the weight of the passengers and the weather conditions present. Many of the coaster's drops are curved to reduce the chances of nausea, a feature common to GCI coasters. The coaster features an on-ride camera in a tunnel midway through the ride. Both trains come to a complete stop on the brake run under a finish line, with a voice announcing the winning train.

During the Halloween event "Hersheypark in the Dark", the ride is dubbed Wicked Racer, and its trains Thunder and Lightning are named Mischief and Mayhem, respectively.