Lightning Racer (Lightning) • Hersheypark

First Drop Intensity Duration Rattle

The Lightning Side of Lightning Racer (didn’t get to the Thunder side) is a fun but tad painful wooden coaster. The first drop is excellent and the rest of the layout is both long and unique with tons of elements and near-misses. However, with it being a wooden coaster with lots of elements beyond just airtime (which honestly could’ve been a bit better after the first drop), the ride can get very rattly and painful, as both me and my partner walked off needing Advil.

Capacity Fun Rattle

Slightly worse than thunder but still plenty fun ride

Fun Smoothness Duration

I had a great time riding this woodie. I was surprised at how long it was, and it was smoother than I expected, especially when comparing it to its counterpart Wildcat just across the way

Fun Duration Intensity

It's definitely no where near as good as thunder but still a fun coaster with a fun racing element and ok airtime.

Nice surprise! Fun Layout

I was rather surprised by this one! I was actually going to skip it but got convinced to ride it right before park close. I think I might just be a sucker for dueling coasters because this was just so much fun. Taunting the other train on the pre-lift and fly-bys is half of the ride experience itself. I'm really looking forward to riding more twister woodies because this was just a joy. 8/10 - we lost and I got bullied on the brake run

Fun Rattle Dead spots

Lightning Racer's middle section is fun, as you quickly traverse multiple low-to-the ground turns and hills, but the first third of the ride is dreadfully rough and the last third is slow and dull. Lightning Racer seriously needs some Titan Track.

Nice surprise! Pace Fun Rattle

I don't give a crap about what others say. This and Comet were what saved wooden coasters for me. Before this, I rode Blue Streak at Cedar Point, which is currently the worst coaster I've ever ridden due to its roughness and lack of excitement and airtime. Riding this, I was expecting it to be the same thing. However, I was blown away with how enjoyable it was, same for Comet. This ride isn't extreme on airtime, but it makes up for it with its fast-paced nature and fun factor. Unfortunately, this ride does have a bit of bumpiness to it, but it's nothing awful. Overall, Lightning Racer was a very nice surprise, and I would definitely recommend it if you're going to Hersheypark.

First Drop Fun

It is Fun But the Hills dont hit.

Fun Rattle

When I rode the lightning side it was actually smoother then the thunder side, so I rate this one star higher

Pace

I remember liking this ride, but I also went on the Lightning side so I could make Black Lightning jokes.

Airtimes Fun Layout

Very very fun dueling woodie. Operations were very good, and the layout sure didn't disappoint. Be sure to ride both sides!

Capacity Fun Duration

This was my first dueling coaster. I really enjoyed racing the other train and I thought this ride had a pretty good duration as well. Highly recommend giving it a try.

Fun Dead spots

Same as the other side, fun but it feels slow and pulls almost no force

Airtimes Fun Dead spots Lap Bar

Pretty fun dueling GCI woodie with decent airtime but an all around pretty weak layout

Airtimes Fun Smoothness

Lightning Racer is a very fun ride and smooth ride that provides some great airtime and laterals. It's a great fit alongside this park's steel coasters

Airtimes Nice surprise! Intensity Dead spots

Lightning Racer really surprised me. This ride was running smooth and fast on my visit. The dueling turnaround moments were sometimes a bit slow, but otherwise it ran fast, it had great airtime, and it was just a fantastic woodie. Both sides were roughly the same too. Great ride.

Fun Smoothness Duration

This ride is just pure fun. I love GCI and this is definitely in the lower tier as far as intensity and airtime, but the racing makes up for that. The ride is super smooth and has some decent floater but the interaction with the other train is just awesome. I prefer Lightning more than Thunder but both are solid.

Lap Bar Comfort Fun Intensity

A great racing, dueling wooden coaster. Although I do prefer the Thunder side because it is smoother but the Lightning side is great too. After the lift hill, the ride goes through really steep curving drops, then after a fun turn-around, the ride heads into a tunnel. My favorite part though is the end when the transitions get snappy but the entire ride is rather forceless. You may get a pop of decent airtime or two. It's really fun and marathonable.

Fun Smoothness Layout

Lightning Racer is the penultimate modern racing woodie. My childhood self always wished Gwazi was a better ride, and this coaster seems to be just that. There are a couple moments of airtime, but the real highlight is the fast paced dueling that ups the ante and raises the stakes. First place switches back and forth, fly-bys are fast, helices are tight, racing is neck and neck, and my god is it twisty! I barely remember the layout because of how much was going on, and I rode twice! One of my favorite GCIs.

Fun Rattle

Fun

Theming Fun Airtimes Dead spots

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Airtimes Fun Duration

Fun Layout

Fun

Airtimes Fun Rattle

Fun Layout Rattle Disappointing!

Airtimes Rattle

Fun Rattle Dead spots

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Airtimes Capacity Layout

Capacity Fun

Lap Bar Fun Duration Rattle Airtimes

Airtimes Fun

Fun Layout Rattle