Whizzer POV at Six Flags Great America

An Anton Schwarzkopf Jet Star/Speedracer Coaster. Opened in 1976 was one of 2 identical coasters built for Marriot owners of the 2 Great America parks. The rides were troubled from the begining with brake problems the coaster in CA was dismantaled in 1988 after several accidents and 1 death. The problem with the 2 coasters was they used to blow the brake run and collide with the loading train in the station. The coaster was forced to run 3 trains instead of 5. When Marriot sold the parks in 1984 and Six Flags bought the Illinos park and changed the Whizzer from Willard's Whizzer to just Whizzer. The Coaster operates on a unique spiral electric lift engadging motors under each car of the train to get up the lift. In August of 2002 the Whizzer was slated to be closed and torn down but due to public out cry the coaster was saved and the Shockwave was dimantaled and Superman Ultimate Flight was built on that site. ENJOY!!!!!!

Height 70 ft.
Length 3,100 ft.
Speed 42 mph.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Whizzer
• POV
• @
• SFGA

[xoTuttiFruttixo]

oooh i went on this one it's fun as hell!

[ATLCoasterMan]

Yeah this is a good ride. It is also the prime example that if a community gets together you can save a coaster from the scrap pile...

[Kumba117]

No its not the ride... Tree's grow ya know :-p

In fact getting so close to the ground and the trees is so fun... It's the opposite of bad design!

[davidw624624]

so from what I am reading this ride is still in operation? I rode it in 1982 and it was a great ride as all of the jet star rides were. Also there was and extended model at Worlds of Fun too in Kansas City and I rode that one too

[videogamerforlife1]

that ride is relaxing for me cu after you go on the good and fast one you have this one

[Snazzyj1977]

THAT RIDE WAS BEAST DUDE JUST BEAST

[chimayai]

@Goldninjarox224 lol sorry about that. I cant remember where I heard it, but there were supposed to be identical "Whizzers" at Marriott's and at the park in Gurnee, IL. Whether this it true or not, I dunno: never been to the park in Gurnee. WW was a great ride. Sorry if I got my facts confuckticated ;)

[Goldninjarox224]

@chimayai what do you mean by this ones twin? six flags great america used to be marriots great america. they are the same place, but then six flags bought it from marriots and the whizzer, formerly known as "willards whizzer" has stayed in the park ever since!

[isabellavideogirl]

This was my first Roller coster.

[woodencoasterfan]

@xtremespeed128 Think about what you said when you posted this comment. This coaster was built in 1976 and those trees were much smaller then. There also is a minimum clearance the must have in order to opperate so the chances of anny coaster hitting anything are pretty much not existant.

[Mariocake111]

Was my 1st roller coaster :D