Shockwave (Six Flags Great America)


Shockwave was a roller coaster manufactured by Arrow Dynamics at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois. Standing tall and reaching speeds of, it opened in 1988 as the world's tallest and fastest looping roller coaster with a record-breaking seven inversions: three vertical loops, a boomerang, and two regular corkscrews. Shockwave was closed in 2002 and has been dismantled.

History

Shockwave was designed by Ron Toomer at Arrow Dynamics, and its seven inversions set a new world record among roller coasters previously held by Vortex at Kings Island, which opened a year earlier. In 1989, Great American Scream Machine debuted at Six Flags Great Adventure, which featured an identical layout but with an additional in height and a faster top speed of. Then in 1990, Viper opened at Six Flags Magic Mountain, becoming the tallest and fastest looping coaster standing tall and reaching a maximum speed of. Shockwave, Great American Scream Machine, and Viper were all designed by Arrow Dynamics and featured the same inverting elements in the same order.

Operational issues

Shockwave was plagued with some operational issues throughout its lifetime. Due to the speed and stress from the train negotiating the first vertical loop, a track fracture developed and needed attention on a regular basis in order to remain safe for operation. The wheels for the ride were expensive and wore out quickly according to ride operators, which required a vigilant crew and frequent 10-15 minute closures for maintenance staff to be dispatched to change them out. Shockwave also gained a reputation for its roughness. A sharp turn located after the third vertical loop and before the mid-course brake run was most notable, often resulting in unprepared riders smashing their heads on the restraints.
Low ridership, reports of minor injuries, and high maintenance costs ultimately led to the coaster's demise. Shockwave was taken down in the fall of 2002 to make way for, which had originally been slated to replace the smaller Whizzer. Since Whizzer was more popular than Shockwave, the decision was made to keep Whizzer instead. Shockwave was dismantled and placed into storage behind the park and offered for sale. After attempts to sell failed and options to relocate to another Six Flags park didn't pan out, it was scrapped at the end of Great America's 2004 season.

Remnants

After the installation of Superman: Ultimate Flight, much of Shockwave was demolished and sold as scrap in 2004, although certain pieces can still be found throughout the park today:
On Shockwave, riders were seated and pulled down their over-the-shoulder restraints. They exited the station, rolling over the transfer track, and entered a short drop before making a tight un-banked U-turn toward the lift. Once at the top of the lift, the riders entered the roughly 150-degrees-to-the-left twisting drop, speeding down to the ground. They then climbed up to the first vertical loop, high above the queue line. A roughly 90-degree left turn followed, and then the two consecutive vertical loops. Next, the train rose up and negotiated a very tight left turn into the mid-course/block brake. After a braking, riders went through a zig-zag turn and drop and entered the boomerang, getting their pictures taken between the two inversions. Upon exiting the element, the train made a roughly 180-degree turn to the right and entered the two back-to-back "right-hand" or "clockwise" corkscrews. Finally, riders went over a small bunny hill and made a roughly 210-degree turn to the left, entering the long brake run leading to the station.
Inversion
1Vertical Loop
2Vertical Loop
3Vertical Loop
4Part 1 of Boomerang Element
5Part 2 of Boomerang Element
6Corkscrew
7Corkscrew