Six Flags Magic Mountain tops off Full Throttle

April 11, 2013, 3:02 PM · Six Flags Magic Mountain this morning placed the final segment of track topping out the world-record loop on its newest roller coaster, Full Throttle, which will open this summer.

Full Throttle track

Workers installed the final piece of Premier Rides track atop the 160-foot loop, which will be the world's largest.

Close-up of final track installation

But this wasn't an ordinary section of track, as it has rails on both the top and bottom, enabling the loop to do double-duty as both a traditional loop and a ride-ending top hat element.

The Full Throttle track is complete

Six Flags' Vice President of Maintenance and Construction, Tim Burkhart, explains at the end of the video:

When I got home and started editing my photos, I noticed this, on the descent side of the top hat:

Track brake?

That sure looks like some brakes, to me. Given how close the top hat will be to the end of the ride, perhaps that shouldn't be surprising. (Again, I noticed this after I left and couldn't ask Tim for clarification.)

Track at the end of the ride
The Full Throttle station will be located at the right, showing you how much (or little) track length there will be between the top hat descent (on the left) and the station.

I expect substantial airtime as you come flying over the loop after the third launch on the ride. But with the station so close to the top hat, it's clear that Full Throttle won't have a bunch of do-nothing seat time at the end of its ride. This is one ride that promises to live up to its name from load to unload.

Full Throttle will debut this summer. No specific date yet.

Replies (3)

April 11, 2013 at 3:38 PM · Thanks for the first hand update, Robert. I am excited about this coaster and excited that I might actually get to ride it later this year.

Question: is SFMM really only open on weekends in September? Really?

April 11, 2013 at 5:33 PM · I'm currently filming at a closed restaurant at The Old Road and Magic Mountain Pkwy. Looked over today and saw that the loop was finished. It's a nice addition to the skyline, but sits pretty low on the mountain.

And that is going to be a very quick stop.

April 12, 2013 at 8:59 AM · I sure looks exciting, but it'll be over in a second. I'm too chicken to ride it anyways.

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