Full Throttle Ride Report

Full Throttle is Six Flags Magic Mountain's newest roller coaster. It replaced the Log Jammer flume ride that opened with the park in 1971. This is sad because Log Jammer was a great hillside log ride. However, Magic Mountain is trying to be the thrill capital of the world and coasters are more thrilling than log flumes.

The ride, from Premier, has two trains accommodating 18 people each. There's a linear synchronous motor (electro-magnetic) launch system that accelerates the train quickly (it seemed like a couple of seconds) and directly into a vertical loop. This is no ordinary loop. At 160 feet, it's the tallest in the world. At the top, there is incredible hang time. The centrifugal force pushing your body toward the track and gravity pulling you downward are about equal so there is a sensation of floating through the top of the loop.

Following the loop, there is a sweeping right turn that travels up and over the top of the mountain (the magic mountain). On the back side of the mountain comes a direction changing diving loop that takes riders into a tunnel.

The tunnel was formerly used by the monorail back when it was in operation (1971 - 2001). In the tunnel, the train comes to a surprising but smooth stop. Riders are then launched backwards partially up the diving loop. Sit in the back row for the best effect here. The train then naturally reverses direction and travels forward through the tunnel with a boost. Exiting the tunnel, riders are taken through a turn and over the top of the loop.

Brakes (magnetic and smooth) kick in about half way down the following drop as the train approaches the nearby station.

Pros: Comfortable seats (if you watch the shin guards), top of loop hang time, reverse launch.

Cons: No more Log Jammer, short ride (a little over a minute).

I rode Full Throttle three times (because wait times were up to about an hour). It is not one of my favorite coasters. But it is unique and worth riding a few times. There are 17 other roller coasters at this park so a junkie can easily spend a couple of days here.