Sidewinder (Hersheypark)

Infobox roller coaster
name=Sidewinder


caption=
location=Hersheypark
section=
type=Steel
type2=Shuttle
status=Open
opened=May 5, 1991
manufacturer=Vekoma
model=Boomerang
track=
lift=Chain lift hill
height=116.5
drop=
length=935
speed=47
inversions=3
duration=1:48
angle=
capacity=760
cost=
gforce=5.2
restriction=48
rcdb_number=109 "Sidewinder" is a steel roller coaster located at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania. While the coaster itself is a standard Vekoma Boomerang, this installation is notable because it was the first Vekoma Boomarang to use Vekoma trains (previous Boomarangs used Arrow trains). This ride was also the first coaster installed in the park in 14 years since the SooperDooperLooper in 1977.

History

"Sidewinder" was built on a former catering area. This moved to the area that at the time was occupied by Kaptain Kid's Kove, and became Trailblazer's catering pavilion. [http://www.hersheyarchives.org/Default.aspx?Page=Research Hershey Community Archives] ]

Ride Experience

The ride begins with riders being pulled backwards out of the station up a hill by a cable winch. At the top of the hill, the train is released, and speeds through the station and goes through the ride's three inversions, including a cobra roll and a vertical loop. The train goes up a second lift hill and, when it reaches the top, the lift disengages, and the train falls backwards through the inversions, pressing about 5 G's of force on riders (especially in the loop) before it returns to the station. It can be noted that due to the wear of the ride, riders will experience a very rough time as the train passes through the cobra roll forwards and backwards. The over-the-head restraints have been designed with special padding on the sides to prevent any injury to the neck, however it is inevitable that riders will slam their necks into the restraints during the ride.

References