What Is the Best Dueling/Racing Coaster?There are loads of woodies and a couple of steel dueling/racing coasters, but which one is the best?
From mark walker
There are loads of woodies and a couple of steel dueling/racing coasters but which one is the best? Gwazi, Lightning Racer, Dueling Dragons and Gemini are examples and I'am wondering what everyone else thinks!Posted March 8, 2004 at 2:00 PM
Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond. From Matt Rogers
I am judging this by looks. Dueling Dragons and Lightning Racer. Those look like the best!Posted March 8, 2004 at 2:02 PM
From Joe Lane
Out here in the Central Florida area, you've only got two choices: Gwazi at Busch Gardens and Dueling Dragons at IOA.Posted March 8, 2004 at 9:04 PM Gwazi is a modern woodie--lion versus tiger. There's little action in the dueling aspect--one or two quick passes, but you never really feel like you're in a race with the other side. Personally, I find the seats rather uncomfortable--but then again, Gawzi is one of the only wooden coasters in the central Florida area, so I haven't had much experience with them to compare it to others. Dueling Dragons, inverted steel at IOA, is an exciting ride. There are three really exciting near misses--at one point, both coasters run right towards each other! This one is always a blast. The themeing for this ride is also spectacular--the ruined castle, the spooky crypt. There are two problems with this attraction, however: the queue is long. VERY long. Reportedly 3,180 feet long--over half a mile. And the wait times between dragons entering the stations can be rather long. Even after walking for ten minutes, expect anywhere from fifteen to thirty minutes waiting right at load/unload.
From Joe Llorens
Wow, I have to ask you when you are going to try and ride the Dueling Dragons, because I certainly don't want to be around when you're there. I've actually never experienced a wait longer than 15 minutes for the Dueling Dragons at IOA, seeing as how it's way in the back of the park and all. The queue is awesome, it really gets you into the story of the ride. And the two coasters are great; I love the fact that each one is a completely different coaster from the other; one is smooth and fast, the other has many turns and inversions. Truly, in my humble opinion, a masterpiece. Posted March 8, 2004 at 11:13 PM
From Jason Rasmussen
Though I found the Wacky Soap Box Racers at Knotts Berry Farm very fun, they almost never ran more than two at a time, and it was extremely rare that they were released from the station at the same time.Posted March 9, 2004 at 12:50 AM That aside, Dueling Dragons is the BEST dueling coaster. The que is a sight to behold as it is up to Disney standards and then some. It gives onlookers something great to watch and when you are on the ride, it freaks you out every time! Only complaints are they need to run more trains at once to keep down on wait, and I wish the outside where the trains ran were at least half as themed as the queue. You know, kind of like Thunder Mountain or The Matterhorn does? Though I have heard rumors that the concept for Dueling Dragons was originally planned for Disney's Animal Kingdom, but in Disney's cutbacks the Imagineer defected to Universal and just happened to have some great plans...
From Jeff Arons
I'd say Cyclops and Zeus at Big Chief's. Cyclops has almost more airtime than any coaster, and it duels quite nicely with Zeus.Posted March 9, 2004 at 4:31 AM
From Jason Moore
Also being a Florida resident, I have only had the opportunity to try Gwazi & Dueling Dragons. I like them both, but doubt I can really proclaim either of them "best" since i have nothing to compare them to. My one problem worth noting is that even though I've ridden both a number of times, I don't believe I ever ridden either one with the simultaneneous release (dueling). (I could be wrong about Dragons. It's been a while since I've been over there and I can't remember, but BGT almost never runs Gwazi in dueling mode.) My only other comment on Gwai is that I find I can usually only ride it once or twice per visit, because it sometimes gives me a headache. It's very cool to ride at night though!Posted March 9, 2004 at 8:05 AM
From Coaster Enthusiast
Thunder and Lighting. Hands down!Posted March 9, 2004 at 9:06 AM This masterpiece is a classic woodie with extremely exciting elements. The racing and dueling aspect remains unflawed ... comfortable seating; minimal theme; awesome to behold. While others' have found slight flaws in their 'favorites', I find nothing to flaw in Lightning Races. Rebel Yell was one of the first racing coasters in the country ... Lighting Racers takes that original concept one step further by adding twists and turns, exciting head-on action and near misses every time! One other good thing about Lighting Racers, is the fact HersheyPark has MANY other coasters to choose from in a pristine atmosphere.
From steve lee
Jason (Moore) - it'd be pretty obvious if Dragons was dueling. The two trains are nearly parallel to each other as they go up their respective lift hills. Posted March 9, 2004 at 10:43 AM It is pretty difficult to see the actual near-misses if you're sitting towards the rear of the train, so that may be a factor if you've never seen the misses. I've never been on DD without the sync-up, and very rarely have I seen one side running without the other (though these things do happen, especially if someone gets sick). when I went to BGT, Gwazi wasn't dueling, so I can't comment on that one apart from saying that wooden coasters generally beat the crap outta me, so I only rode one side.
From Jason Moore
I didn't say Dragons wasn't Dueling or that I didn't know wether it was or wasn't. I just said I don't remember it all that well. Gwazi i remember, I've been on it like 10 times in the last year alone. dragons I haven't ridden in at least 3 years or more. Posted March 9, 2004 at 1:00 PM
From Robert Niles
FWIW, I didn't remember my first trip on D.D., 'cause my brain just refused to process any additional information after about 20 seconds on the ride. Sensory overload. Posted March 9, 2004 at 1:17 PM After staggering out the exit gate, I realized that one should not be too passive when riding a serious coaster. Yeah, D.D. wins.
From Adrian Walker
Duelling dragons has definetely won on scenary, but as I have never been on a coaster I could only rate it for it's themingPosted March 10, 2004 at 9:58 AM
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