On a day that I'd already decided to upload the West View Park Racing Whippet, a recreation of a defunct Pennsylvania coaster, we learn that Pennsylvania is about to lose another wooden coaster. Dorney Park announced the removal of Hercules. That state probably had more woodies than any other, and still may. But it has lost so many! The Racing Whippet was built across a small valley. Like the nearby Kennywood Racer, it was a continuous-track racing coaster. Unlike most such coasters, though, it left the station and approached the lift on immediately adjacent tracks. The "split" occurred on the 2nd hill, which featured the ride's first major turnarounds. The coaster was ingeniously designed in that these two turns were different from each other to allow the trains to "catch up". One was a true fan curve while the other was flatter. The ride ended with a series of racing curves across the valley, with each track independently banked. It appears that the ride had little in the way of catwalks or handrails (making the job of walking the track a literal one!). I tried not including the handrails and catwalks, but didn't like the visual look that No Limits provided. When I completed the ride, and an extensive brake shed, I realized from an aerial photo that the brake run was at the wrong angle, so I had to re-do the brake run and the roof. I think it's more accurate now. The turn into the brake brings up a red "g", but I think that's more because of speed than anything else. I didn't want to install a brake. The real ride tended to run a bit slower, but had strong forces, despite having only a loose seatbelt and a fixed grab bar.
I've seen pictures of this coaster but have never ridden it. You seem to have gotten the ride nailed down pretty good. I'm glad you made a replica of this ride because since it no longer exists, this is the only way we will be able to enjoy it. Sadly, that's the way the old traditional wooden coasters are going. They raced very well. One thing I couldn't understand was the little hump at the bottom of the lift hill. But that didn't take away from your score. Great job. I gave you a 10 on originality because you used the terraformer to get the real lay of the land on this coaster.
Though I never "rode" the Whippet, I did climb and photograph it extensively before it was torn down. This really was a beautiful coaster, especially in the fall.
Ok I did miss to riding this by one year, I wish I could have rode this one, everyone that rode it said it was one fun ride, The recration wasd really close since I can only see it in video and pictures. Thanks for such great recrations.
That was Great! I never got to ride it, but I've seen many videos and pictures. You did a wonderful re-creation. The track seems very much like what I expected and good work on the terraine. Thanks for the ride!
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