Lightning Racer (Thunder) • Hersheypark

Lap Bar Duration Dead spots

This is like modern Gwazi

Lap Bar Duration

This was a "meh" for me. It certainly suffered from being the first ride we went on after multiple Wildcat's Revenge rides, but so it will go for its placement in the park. It's a passable, dueling woody; albeit, Lightning was closed due to rain/demand/capacity so the dueling aspect was not in play on our visit. Not sure that would've changed much. We went on it twice and was glad I did, but wouldn't go out of my way to get to it again. The lap bars were actually worth noting as particularly impressive - automatic and lot's of leg room! Daughter's POV: it had more than I expected from it. I liked the tunnel part. I like when first hills bank on a wooden coaster and so I enjoyed that component especially.

Capacity Duration

Great woodie! Unfortunately the park did not expect enough guests to run both trains so I only got a ride on Thunder. The first drop was pretty good and had a nice turn giving some great lateral effects. The duration on this one seemed pretty long and it was a decent enough layout. I wouldn't put this one up near the top of my favorite wooden roller coasters because it wasn't very intense and also wasn't the smoothest. I would still ride it again and I expect it would be a lot more fun if it had the racing aspect. 3.5/5 stars

Capacity Ejectors

The better of the two racers

Airtimes Capacity Fun Dead spots Intensity

It has good airtime and a really fun racing element. Not the most intense ride but just pure fun and definitely better than lightning.

Layout Headbanging Discomfort Tear it down!

The roughest coaster I've ever been on, jackhammering in every valley. It was very painful.

Fun Rattle Discomfort 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.

Fun

Solid wood coaster. I somehow manage to lose every time I ride lightning racer though.

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. Not to mention, this is the winning side. 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.

Theming Fun Intensity Rattle

My favorite wooden coaster of all time. Highly recommend Thunder side as it hauls first off and you typically beat lightning lol. Can't go wrong with a competitive ride too, love dueling my friends and family. I just wanted to say I typically do not enjoy wooden coasters due to the rattle but this thing is not that bad. Highly recommend!

Fun Rattle

It is Good.

Fun Rattle

When I rode the thunder side, it was a decent bit rougher then the lightning side, so I rate this a half star less

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! (this side seemed to win every time when I visited ;-) )

Fun

After getting around to a few more GCIs I get why some people talk down on this one. But I still have fun every time, and the first half of the layout does provide some decent forces. By the second half, there are no more forces, but the thrill of the race/duel is pretty fun. The more of your friends and family you have riding this thing, the more fun you have.

Theming Intensity Ejectors Rattle Discomfort

Not sure why the Wildcat gets all the hate because this thing is just as uncomfortable.

Pace Fun

This is my favorite of any racer style coaster that I’ve ridden. Great pace, not a bad rattle, and there is a finish line!

Fun Dead spots

Lots of fun moments but it feels pretty slow and forceless.

Rattle Disappointing! Pointless

People tend so say this ride is either really fun or really boring, but almost everyone says it's smooth. I thought it was rough and boring. No where near as rough as Wildcat, but paired with a boring layout, a rattle isn't a good thing.

Lap Bar Fun Duration Rattle

This really only applied to thunder to me but it's rough on thunder.

Fun Intensity Smoothness Airtimes Dead spots

I got zero airtime nor laterals. But this ride had some really good positive Gs and it was overall a fun experience. Also it was very smooth for a wooden coaster. Lightning was closed when I visited, oh well, maybe next year!

Airtimes Fun Dead spots Lap Bar

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

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!

Capacity Fun

Fun wooden coaster. I like the whole dueling coasters concept. The ride is sort of out of the way compared to the other attractions. I feel like it has a solid capacity since it runs two coasters at the same time.

Lap Bar Comfort Fun Intensity

A great dueling, racing wooden roller coaster. I prefer the Thunder side because it is somewhat smoother but both start out with a drawn-out first half which is fun, then into a tunnel where you get decent airtime. The ending though is when things really start to crank up with snappy transitions but the ride is still rather forceless. Although it is not very intense, it is marathonable and it's overall enjoyable.

Fun Dead spots

6.8 out of 10!

Fun Rattle

Theming Fun Airtimes Dead spots

Lap Bar Layout

Fun Rattle

Airtimes Fun Duration

Fun Layout

Fun Rattle Dead spots

Intensity Smoothness Discomfort

Fun Layout Rattle Headbanging

Fun Rattle

Airtimes Fun Smoothness

Airtimes Capacity Layout

Capacity Fun Layout

Lap Bar Fun Duration Rattle Airtimes Intensity

Airtimes Fun

Fun Layout Rattle