Volume 1, No. 9. June 1, 2001
It's a roller coaster!
Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, announces
the arrival of Vertical Velocity (V2), May 24,
2001. Measurements: 630 feet of track (191 meters) on two towers 185 feet high
(56 meters), 28-seat train, 70 mph (112 kph) in four seconds. Delivered by Intamin.
To emphasize the installation of Six Flags Great America's first Linear Induction
Motor thrill ride, the park looked for test riders who could best appreciate
launching from 0 to 70 in four seconds: drag racers. Drivers from Route 66 in
Joliet brought their dragsters with them to the Thursday morning media unveiling
and public debut of the U-shaped V2 and
were among the first to try out the track.
"They said it was an awesome ride," said Michelle Hoffman, the park's public
relations specialist. "It really does compare to the acceleration of their cars.
Except we've added a unique element to that." Like shooting forward and straight
up a spiraling track, then speeding backwards up the opposite tower, where the
train hangs up for a second before accelerating back through the station. No
dragster ever drove that way, at least not intentionally.
But coaster enthusiasts perhaps do: one fan rode V2
61 times on opening day, Hoffman said.
©2001, Minton Enterprises LLC
All rights reserved