Best Racer

[osm]

The only one that I've been on is Rolling Thunder, and it's my least favorite coaster, so I don't have a favorite.

[okinawaboy11]

Gemini, Lightning Racer, then American Eagle.

[Thunderhead]

Top Thrill Dragster is my favorite "Racer"

[montezooma]

I am giving Carowinds’ Thunder Road some love because I like the name and it is in two States!

[MayTheGForceBeWithYou]

Gemini, by far.

[beatle11]

Lightning Racer is great, but I love the hand slapping on Kennywood's racer.

[dragonskeep]

I am giving Carowinds’ Thunder Road some love because I like the name and it is in two States!

 

Grit your teeth, bake the load , enjoy your ride on...Thunder Road. Burma Shave. When I was a kid , this thing was a total blast. I think the hand slapping on racers is something we will probably litigate ourselves out of so get it while it's good. I love Gemini for that reason and the first drop.

[coasterfansince1999]

I like American Eagle. Especially the time when it went backwards

[golfburner1]

Lightning Racer of course!

[scbt]

Lightning racer... cause its the only one i've ever been on.

[Commando]

I like American Eagle. Especially the time when it went backwards

 

And isn't trimmed to death. I haven't been on it this year but last season it hardly made it through the 2nd half of the course. You nearly came to a complete stop at the bottom of the helix.

[MrSum1_55]

Hmm...This is a tough one to decide. For the Racing factor along, I would actually choose Racer at KW. However, the best ride experience given by a racer wold probably be Lightning Racer. For the best overall experience, I would probably choose Gemini at CP, as it fares well both in the racing factor and the ride experience.

 

My only problem with racers is that usually the same side almost always wins. The only racers I would say actually has a true 50/50 shot are the '70's PTC John Allen racers, like Racer at KI. However, since the track lengths are the exactly the same for both sides, you pretty much know that the first train off the lift is the one that wins.

[Werner]

1. George and the Dragon!

2. Kennywood Racer

3. Stampida(Rough but still a good racer)

4. Lightning Racer

5. Gemini

[A.J.]

My only problem with racers is that usually the same side almost always wins. The only racers I would say actually has a true 50/50 shot are the '70's PTC John Allen racers, like Racer at KI. However, since the track lengths are the exactly the same for both sides, you pretty much know that the first train off the lift is the one that wins.

In Lightning Racer's case, everyone who boards the ride seems to think Lightning is the "better" side and that it "always wins". Lightning always gets sent out with a decently-loaded train while Thunder only ever has a small amount of people, so it's usually the winner.

 

(Not being partial to Thunder side in this post even though it's my favorite of the two)

[christianscoasters]

I'm a little biased since I work on this ride, but I've only been on 3 racers anyway: Gemini

[ansley]

For wood, Lightning Racer and for steel Gemini. I think they are both very good, I like Gemini for a couple of the great airtime drops but overall experience goes to Lightning Racer!

[CoasterRollin]

^ Agreed, Lightning Racer definitely takes the cake for me. I have been on Lightning Racer, Rebel Yell, Rolling Thunder (Great Adventure) , and Gwazi.

 

Rebell Yell and Rolling Thunder "race" and Gwazi "duels", but Lightning Racer takes both of those elements and throws them into a beautiful mess of twisted track. It also helps that Lightning Racer still races...

[cal1br3tto]

In Lightning Racer's case, everyone who boards the ride seems to think Lightning is the "better" side and that it "always wins". Lightning always gets sent out with a decently-loaded train while Thunder only ever has a small amount of people, so it's usually the winner.

That reminds me, I love riding Lightning Racer during ERT because people purposely divide up unevenly so one train will win by a wide margin. But I've definitely heard that Lightning ends up winning more often.

[CoasterRollin]

^ I love Lightning Racer during ERT when the trains fill up, lol. The nighttime ERT at last year's ECB was incredible! It was surprising how much wilder the ride felt with a train full of people trying to make it as aerodynamic as possible. And I've heard that Lightning wins more often too, but yeah, its highly due to the weight of the trains.

[disneyfan1313]

So with all the excitement around the High Five coaster - is that considered a racer?

[PhantomNick]

Of the Racing coasters I've ridden, I definitely like Lightning Racer the best. That ride is just pure FUN!!

 

^ I would think so, and it looks like a pretty darn good one!

[TPDave]

^^ I'm not sure I care, I just want to ride it!!

 

I really like George & the Dragon at Efteling, is that too much of a dueler to count? They time the trains and have banners in the station for the one that gets back first so I think we can call it a racer, good fun!

[texcoaster]

Been on lots of racers and Grand National is by far my favorite. The new trains knocked it pretty far down my list of favorite coasters, but it still remains my favorite racer.

 

Have y'all noticed that most of the racers are wood? How awesome would a Bizarro-style Intamin racer be? I'm betting that the big reason we haven't seen such a thing is the price tag of not one, but TWO big steel coasters.

 

That said, it could be done... the park could build a good steel coaster and then a few years later add the second side and make it a racer.

[ernierocker]

Lightning Racer thanks to ERT back on the 2008 East Coast Trip. Amazing time!

 

Close 2nd would be American Eagle.

[mightypotato]

I haven't been on many racing coasters, but out of the ones I've been on, Lightning Racers is far and away my favourite. Not only do they race all the time, but the ride itself is actually really good. The racing enhances an already good ride.