Intimidator Coaster First Ride Charity Auction At King’s Dominion and Carowinds Theme Parks To Benefit The Dale Earnhardt Foundation On NOW With The Actual Rides Happening March 27, 2010 (Carowinds) and April 2, 2010 (Kings Dominion)
Theme parks King’s Dominion (Doswell, Va.) and Carowinds (Charlotte, N.C.) have teamed up with the Dale Earnhardt Foundation for the Intimidator First Rider Charity Auction. The Cedar Fair Entertainment Company theme parks, which will open their brand new Dale Earnhardt-themed roller coasters on March 27th at Carowinds and April 2nd at Kings Dominion, are auctioning off the first rides on the record-breaking thrill rides, with proceeds going to the Dale Earnhardt Foundation and charities local to each park.
Both theme parks announced plans in August of 2009 to build roller coasters branded for the NASCAR legend, Dale Earnhardt. The 305-foot Intimidator 305™ debuting at King’s Dominion on April 2, 2010, is only the third Giga-coaster (coasters between 300 and 399 feet) ever built in North America, and will be the tallest and fastest roller coaster of its type on the East Coast. The 232-foot Intimidator™ at Carowinds will open to the public on March 27, 2010, becoming the tallest roller coaster in the park, as well as the tallest, fastest and longest coaster in the Southeast.
The coasters at both parks will feature racing themes and train cars modeled after the late Dale Earnhardt’s No. 3 Chevrolet. Earnhardt, who was known throughout his racing career as the Intimidator, won 76 races and seven championships in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. entered a licensing agreement with Cedar Fair Entertainment Company in 2009 to brand the coasters at each park.
Bidding is now open for rides on both coasters. Until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, March 25, 2010, King’s Dominion guests can bid on their chance to win a seat on one of the first four trains released on opening day. All proceeds will go directly to the Dale Earnhardt Foundation, Make-a-Wish Foundation®, Challenge Discovery Projects Inc. and the USO of Hampton Roads.
Carowinds guests may bid until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 23, 2010, for rides on the first three trains released on opening day. In addition to one seat during the opening day ceremony, winners will receive two Regular Single Day admission tickets for the day at Carowinds. Tickets are valued at $99.98 each. All proceeds will go to the Dale Earnhardt Foundation to benefit local charitable programs focused on children and education like JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Central & Western North Carolina and the American Red Cross.
Members of the Earnhardt family will be present at both grand openings, riding in the first trains with winners at both parks.
