West Coast Racers is a steel launched dueling coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain, located in The Underground. The ride is based on the world-famous Los Angeles-based automobile repair shop West Coast Customs and opened on January 9, 2020,[1] after limited previews and technical rehearsals that began on December 21, 2019.[2]
History[]
As early as 2010, Six Flags began discussions with West Coast Customs on a potential collaboration. Around 2016, conceptual planning began on the project that would later become West Coast Racers.[3] On June 26, 2018, Six Flags filed the trademarks "West Coast Racers" and "Maxx Force", leading to much speculation among the theme park community as to what they could be used for.[4]
In the summer of 2018, a construction wall came up in the Cyclone Bay section of the park, with multiple teaser signs placed on various parts of the wall.[2]
Park president Neal Thurman fist bumps West Coast Customs CEO Ryan Friedlinghaus
Six Flags announced West Coast Racers during a special media event on August 29, 2018. In the event, Six Flags Magic Mountain park president Neal Thurman and West Coast Customs CEO Ryan Friedlinghaus arrived in a 1967 Lincoln Continental driven by West Coast Customs employee Jay Murphy. After exiting, they went up on stage and formally announced the new roller coaster to the public.[2]
In January 2019, a redesign of the trains were revealed, with lap bars replacing the previously designed over the shoulder restraints.
On February 15, 2019, pieces for West Coast Racers finally started to arrive after a delay in construction reportedly caused by a zoning issue.[5]
In August 2019, a preview center was opened in front of the construction area selling early merchandise for West Coast Racers, which was originally planned to be opened that year. On display was the facade of the front car, which was based on the design of Will.i.am's "The Rocket" car.[6]
Technical rehearsals began on December 21, 2019, for which Platinum or higher tier members were allowed to ride.[7]
A media day for West Coast Racers was held on January 7, 2020.[8] The ride opened to the public on the following January 9th.[1]
Experience[]
Queue[]
Guests enter from the streets of The Underground, and go inside a reproduction of the West Coast Customs shop in Burbank. Inside, they see several vehicles, one of which is a replica of "The Rocket" car that WCC custom-built for rapper Will.i.am.[9] Guests with Flash Pass reservations can skip the outdoor queue and the 1st floor of the indoor queue by entering at the stairs to the 2nd floor queue, though even this line can get long during the holidays.[10]
Ride[]
The coaster's layout is arranged in a Möbius loop, in a similar fashion as Twisted Colossus. Both trains line up beside one another other, while the train loaded at the station starts on the gray tracks. They then launch off into a high-five element followed by a corkscrew section. This leads into a straightaway with a LSM boost into a helix that leads into more corkscrews before returning back to the pit stop station. In the pit stop station, the riders wait and watch a pre-recorded video of West Coast Customs CEO Ryan Friedlinghaus in the "Control Room" while the riders are being exchanged in the other train, which is out of view. This waiting period allows both trains to reliably race one another regardless of how slowly the other is being loaded. The ride then launches again, but onto the yellow tracks, which inversely follow the gray tracks. After the second ride, the trains stop and guests exit through the Speed Shop. Due to the dual LSM launches and dual LSM boosts during the ride, West Coast Racers was advertised as the "world's first quadruple launch twin lap racing coaster".[11]
Reception[]
Reception for West Coast Racers was generally positive, with some looking at its max speed of 55 mph and criticizing its "lack of thrill" when compared to other rides in the park.[12]
Gallery[]
Videos[]
Promotional images[]
Construction photos[]
Exterior photos[]
Queue photos[]
Ride photos[]
Trivia[]
- West Coast Racers is the second Premier Rides roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain, the first being Full Throttle, which opened on June 22, 2013.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Tuttle, Brittani (2020-01-09). West Coast Racers now open at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Attractions Magazine.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Barrera, Sandra (August 29, 2018). Six Flags Magic Mountain unveils West Coast Racers, its new roller coaster for 2019. Los Angeles Daily News.
- ↑ Smith, Wyatt (January 7, 2020). Six Flags Magic Mountain Launches New ‘West Coast Racers’ Ride. KHTS.
- ↑ WEST COAST RACER - Trademark Details, Justia Trademarks. 2021-12-13.
- ↑ SPECIAL DELIVERY! Pieces of #WestCoastRacers are starting to arrive. by Six Flags Magic Mountain, Twitter. 2019-02-15.
- ↑ File:West Coast Racers preview car SFMM 2019-08-11.jpg by Pippinitis, Six Flags Wiki. 2019-08-11.
- ↑ Niles, Robert (2019-12-11). Six Flags' West Coast Racers is finally ready to race. Theme Park Insider.
- ↑ Condon, Gregg (2020-01-07). West Coast Racers Media Day at Six Flags Magic Mountain - January 7, 2020. ParkJourney.
- ↑ The Rocket is probably the craziest Tesla you will find. by West Coast Customs, Facebook. 2018-08-18.
- ↑ File:West Coast Racers Flash Pass queue SFMM 2024-12-29.jpg by Pippinitis, Six Flags Wiki. 2024-12-29.
- ↑ West Coast Racers Video by Six Flags Magic Mountain, YouTube. 2018-08-29.
- ↑ Niles, Robert (January 7, 2020). Six Flags steps on the gas with West Coast Racers. Theme Park Insider.
See also[]
External links[]
- West Coast Racers - Six Flags Magic Mountain at Six Flags
- West Coast Racers - Six Flags Magic Mountain teaser webpage (archived 2018-08-30)
West Coast Racers at Coasterpedia- West Coast Racers at the Roller Coaster DataBase
- West Coast Racers at the Roller Coaster Wiki
- West Coast Racers at Wikipedia
