View source for Lightning Racer

{{Short description|Roller coaster at Hersheypark}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox dual roller coaster
| name                 = Lightning Racer <!--The name of the entire coaster.-->
| image                = Image-Lightning_Racer_at_Hersheypark_station.jpg <!--Use ONLY the filename, not a full [[File:]] link-->
| caption              =
| location             = Hersheypark <!--Must not be linked, will auto-categorize the coaster.-->
| section              = Midway America<!--Must not be linked.-->
| coordinates          = {{Coord|40.292884|-76.653171|display=it}} <!--Use {{coord}}-->
| type                 = Wood <!--Must be "Steel" or "Wood", nothing else. Must not be linked.-->
| type2                = Racing <!--Must not be linked, will auto-categorize the coaster.-->
| type3                = Dueling <!--Must not be linked, will auto-categorize the coaster.-->
| status               = Operating
| opened               = {{start date|2000|5|13}} <!--Use {{Start date}}-->
| closed               = <!--Use {{End date}}-->
| manufacturer         = Great Coasters International <!--Must not be linked, will auto-categorize the coaster.-->
| designer             =
| model                = [[Racing roller coaster]]
| track                =
| lift                 = [[Lift hill|Chain]]
| name1                = Lightning (Red) <!--Name of the left track.-->
| name2                = Thunder (Green) <!--Name of the right track.-->
| height1_ft           = 92 <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| height2_ft           = 92 <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| drop1_ft             = 90 <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| drop2_ft             = 90 <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| length1_ft           = 3393 <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| length2_ft           = 3393 <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| speed1_mph           = 51 <!--Must be expressed in miles per hour and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| speed2_mph           = 51 <!--Must be expressed in miles per hour and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| inversions1          = 0
| inversions2          = 0
| duration1            = 2:20
| duration2            = 2:20
| angle1               = 45 <!--Do not include "degrees", it is added automatically.-->
| angle2               = 45 <!--Do not include "degrees", it is added automatically.-->
| acceleration1        =
| acceleration2        =
| gforce1              = 3.6
| gforce2              = 3.6
| capacity             = <!--Total capacity of both sides-->
| cost                 = $12.5 million<ref name="n54463058"/>
| restriction_in       = 48 <!--Must be expressed in inches and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| trains               = <!--Must contain only numeric characters.-->
| carspertrain         = <!--Must contain only numeric characters.-->
| rowspercar           = <!--Must contain only numeric characters.-->
| ridersperrow         = <!--Must contain only numeric characters.-->
| virtual_queue_name   =
| virtual_queue_image  = <!--Use ONLY the filename, not a full [[File:]] link-->
| virtual_queue_status = <!--should be available if above fields are used-->
| single_rider         = <!--Must be "available" if available.-->
| custom_label_1       =
| custom_value_1       =
| custom_label_2       =
| custom_value_2       =
| custom_label_3       =
| custom_value_3       =
| custom_label_4       =
| custom_value_4       =
| accessible           = <!--Must be "available" if available.-->
| transfer_accessible  = <!--Must be "available" if available.-->
| rcdb_number          = 597 <!--The number in the URL of the coaster's RCDB page-->
}}
'''Lightning Racer''' is a [[wooden roller coaster|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 {{Convert|3393|ft}} 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 roller coaster|racing]] [[wooden roller coaster]]. A groundbreaking ceremony for the ride occurred in July 1999.<ref name="n54463058">{{Cite news |first=Jeff |last=Cronin |date=2000-05-11 |title=Hang on to your hats and may the best train win! |pages=60 |work=The Sentinel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54463058/hang-on-to-your-hats-and-may-the-best/ |access-date=2022-09-05 |archive-date=July 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716221926/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54463058/hang-on-to-your-hats-and-may-the-best/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The next month, [[Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company]] announced that [[Hersheypark]] would be adding its eighth coaster, Lightning Racer.<ref name="n108973896">{{Cite news |date=1999-08-19 |title=State Briefs-Hersheypark Getting Coaster |pages=2 |work=The Times-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108973896/state-briefs-hersheypark-getting-coaster/ |access-date=2022-09-05 |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905144345/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108973896/state-briefs-hersheypark-getting-coaster/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0" /> It would be the park's second roller coaster built by GCI, after the now-defunct [[Wildcat (Hersheypark)|Wildcat]].<ref name=":0">{{cite news|date=August 18, 1999|title='Lightning Racer' will become Hersheypark's newest coaster in May|work=Lancaster New Era|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87266218/lightning-racer-will-become/|access-date=November 16, 2021|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=November 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116153504/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87266218/lightning-racer-will-become/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="n108973603">{{Cite news |last=Griffith |first=David |date=2000-05-10 |title=Ride is a wild race to finish |pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108973633/coaster/ 4] |work=Intelligencer Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108973603/ride-is-a-wild-race-to-finishdavid/ |access-date=2022-09-05 |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905144346/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108973603/ride-is-a-wild-race-to-finishdavid/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 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 (company)|Turkey Hill]] shop.<ref name="n54463058" />

Lightning Racer opened to the general public on May 13, 2000,<ref name="RCDB">{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Lightning Racer|location=Hersheypark|url=https://rcdb.com/597.htm|accessdate=November 16, 2021}}</ref> three days after a media event for the coaster was hosted.<ref name="n54463058" /><ref name="n108973603" /> When the ride opened, Hersheypark had the most roller coasters of any amusement park in Pennsylvania.<ref name="n54463058" /> 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.<ref name="n108970461">{{Cite news |last=Lindt |first=Susan |date=2000-06-12 |title=Ice cream war: Trying to scoop each other |pages=35, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108970507/ 44], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108970538/ 45], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108970553/ 54] |work=Intelligencer Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108970461/ice-cream-war-trying-to-scoop-each/ |access-date=2022-09-05 |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905134708/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108970461/ice-cream-war-trying-to-scoop-each/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Characteristics==
Lightning Racer cost $12.5 million to construct<ref name="n54463058" /><ref name="n108971161">{{Cite news |last=Young |first=B. K. |date=2000-05-07 |title=Coasting toward lightning-fast thrills |pages=21, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108971208/ 25], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108971409/ 26] |work=The Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108971161/coasting-toward-lightning-fast/ |access-date=2022-09-05 |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905134710/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108971161/coasting-toward-lightning-fast/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="n108973603" /> and was designed by Mike Boodley of GCI.<ref name="n108971161" /><ref name="n108974296">{{Cite news |last=Andrews |first=Buffy |date=2000-05-05 |title=New coaster will make hearts race |pages=52 |work=York Daily Record |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108974296/new-coaster-will-make-hearts-racebuffy/ |access-date=2022-09-05 |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905144323/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108974296/new-coaster-will-make-hearts-racebuffy/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The roller coaster required about {{Convert|341|mi}} of [[southern yellow pine]] for its construction.<ref name="n54463058" /><ref name="n108974296" /> It consists of two tracks (Thunder/Green and Lightning/Red), which are both {{Convert|3393|ft}} long.<ref name="RCDB" /> A complete circuit on either track takes approximately two minutes and twenty seconds. The ride's [[lift hill]] is approximately {{Convert|90|ft}} tall.<ref name="n54463058" /><ref name="n108973603" /><ref name="RCDB" /> After the first drop, the ride reaches a top speed of {{Convert|51|mph}}.<ref name="n108973603" /><ref name="RCDB" /> At several points in the layout, the tracks are as close as {{Convert|5|ft}} to each other. The trains pass by each other in opposite directions at a combined {{Convert|70|mph}}.<ref name="n108974296" />

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 roof|shingle roofs]], ventilation shafts, and [[Cupola|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.<ref name="n108971161" />

Lightning Racer operates with four trains,<ref name="RCDB" /> which seat 24 riders per train.<ref name="n54463058" /><ref name="RCDB" /> Trains were originally painted blue and white<ref name="n108971161" /> but have since been repainted red and green.<ref name="RCDB" /> The ride makes use of GCI's [[Millennium Flyer]] articulated trains.<ref name="n108973896" /><ref name="n108971161" /> Both tracks travel through the same elements, although at different times. Speed is affected by factors such as riders' weight, temperature, and lubrication;<ref name="n54463058" /><ref name="n108973603" /><ref name="n108974296" /> even riders' clothing has been known to affect the ride's speed.<ref name="n108973603" /> There is a {{Convert|128|ft|4=-long|adj=mid}} tunnel about halfway through the course on both tracks.<ref name="n54463058" /> 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.<ref name="n108973603" />

[[File:Lightning Racer Picture.png|thumb|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".<ref name="p2605756847">{{cite news |last=Hendrix |first=Steve |date=6 Jul 2005 |title=Raising the Bar: Pennsylvania's Hersheypark Has a Flavor All Its Own |page=C2 |work=The Washington Post |issn=0190-8286 |id={{ProQuest|2605756847}}}}</ref> 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."<ref name="n108973532">{{Cite news |last=Holahan |first=Jane |date=2000-05-11 |title=Lightning Racer: another excuse to go Hersheypark |pages=70. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108973532/ 72] |work=Lancaster New Era |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108973507/lightning-racer-another-excuse-to-go/ |access-date=2022-09-05 |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905144341/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108973507/lightning-racer-another-excuse-to-go/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 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.<ref name="n108974051">{{Cite news |last=Clayton |first=Corey |date=2001-08-05 |title=Hersheypark, Knoebels' win awards Golden Tickets awarded for new coasters, food |pages=118 |work=Sunday News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108974051/hersheypark-knoebels-win-awards/ |access-date=2022-09-05 |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905144341/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108974051/hersheypark-knoebels-win-awards/ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{r|GTA2001}}

{{GTA table
| type       = wood
| accessdate = September 13, 2016
| 2001       = 13
| 2002       = 11
| 2003       = 7
| 2004       = 10
| 2005       = 9
| 2006       = 10
| 2007       = 10
| 2008       = 9
| 2009       = 12
| 2010       = 10
| 2011       = 11
| 2012       = 11
| 2013       = 9
| 2014       = 11
| 2015       = 10
| 2016       = 10
| 2017       = 12
| 2018       = 12
| 2019       = 14
| 2021       = 11
| 2022       = 14
| 2023       = 22
|2024=20}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Hersheypark}}

[[Category:Hersheypark]]
[[Category:Roller coasters introduced in 2000]]
[[Category:2000 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Roller coasters in Pennsylvania]]