Whizzer (roller coaster) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whizzer |
|
|---|---|
| Previously known as Willard's Whizzer | |
 |
|
The Whizzer as it appeared in 2005, showing its unique lift hill.
|
|
| Six Flags Great America | |
| Park section | Hometown Square |
| Coordinates | 42°22′06″N 87°56′08″W / 42.368199°N 87.935659°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | May 29, 1976 |
| California's Great America | |
| Coordinates | 37°23′46″N 121°58′29″W / 37.396057°N 121.974689°W |
| Status | Closed |
| Opening date | 1976 |
| Closing date | 1988 |
| Replaced by | Gold Striker |
| General statistics | |
| Manufacturer | Anton Schwarzkopf |
| Designer | Werner Stengel |
| Model | Speed Racer / Extended Jumbo Jet |
| Track layout | Terrain |
| Lift/launch system | Trains are powered by a hotrail |
| Height | 70 ft (21 m) |
| Drop | 64 ft (20 m) |
| Length | 3,100 ft (940 m) |
| Speed | 42 mph (68 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 2:00 |
| Max vertical angle | 35° |
| Capacity | 810 riders per hour |
| G-force | 3.0 |
| Height restriction | 36 in (91 cm) |
| Trains | 3 trains with 4 cars. Riders are arranged 1 across in 6 rows for a total of 24 riders per train. |
 Flash Pass Available |
|
| Whizzer at RCDB | |
The Whizzer, originally known as Willard's Whizzer, is a fun roller coaster at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois. It was built by a German company called Anton Schwarzkopf. When it opened in 1976, there were actually two identical Whizzer rides! The other one was at California's Great America.
Both parks were owned by the Marriott Corporation back then. The Whizzer rides were the very last "Speedracer" models ever made. The California Whizzer was taken down in 1988. But the Illinois Whizzer is still running today! It's one of only two Speedracer coasters left in the world. The other one is called Broca in Colombia.
Whizzer's Early Days
When the Whizzer first opened, both versions of the ride had some issues with their braking systems. Sometimes, this caused the trains to bump into each other in the station. This was a safety concern for riders.
The California Whizzer had several of these bumps between 1976 and 1979. The Whizzer in Illinois also had two similar incidents in 1976. These events led to a focus on improving safety for everyone riding the coasters.
The Gurnee Whizzer
The Whizzer at Six Flags Great America celebrated its 40th birthday on May 29, 2016. This ride almost closed down in 2002. The park was thinking about removing it to build a new coaster called Superman: Ultimate Flight.
However, many people loved the Whizzer and spoke up to keep it. Because of this, the park changed its mind! Instead, they decided to remove another ride called Shockwave. Superman: Ultimate Flight was then built in that spot.
The Santa Clara Whizzer
After Marriott sold California's Great America, the Whizzer there kept running for a while. But in 1988, it was taken down. Today, you can still see some of the old concrete foundations. These show where the Santa Clara Whizzer once stood.
Special Recognition
The Whizzer is a very special roller coaster. It has been recognized as an ACE Coaster Landmark. This means it's an important part of roller coaster history. It received a special plaque on August 10, 2012.
