The Original Wooden Racing Coasters
A racing coaster is just that. Two tracks run alongside each other and travel the same distance. The trains race against each other to see who can make the finish line first. Most racing coasters use an Out and Back design to insure the riders of the separate trains remain in sight of each other. These coasters are exciting and superb fun, especially with a group of friends split between the two trains.
Examples:
Racer at Kings Island, USA
American Eagle at Six Flags Great America, USA
Monstre at La Ronde, Canada
Rebel Yell at Kings Dominion, USA
Dueling Variation
Some racing coasters have dueling elements where the track will dash close, cross over or under each other and speed away. Some also have “fly-by” elements where the trains speed towards each other on their separate tracks. These models are often referred to as dueling coasters.
Examples:
Joris en de Draak at Efteling, Netherlands
Stampida at PortAventura Park, Spain
Lightning Racer at Hersheypark, USA
Steel Variation
Like wooden Out and Back coasters that have steel counterparts, there are a few steel racing coasters out there. One is Gemini at Cedar Point in Ohio, USA, which is an Arrow Dynamics steel hybrid racing coaster. Another is Fiorano GT Challenge at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi in the U.A.E., which is a Maurer steel racing coaster.