I arrived at Six Flags Great America around 2 pm.  The park was scheduled to stay open until 8, but thunderstorms (I think the same storm has been following me since Minnesota) were in the forecast as 4:30 pm.  Perhaps, for that reason, the park didn’t seem to be too busy.  Raging Bull was listed as having a 5 minute wait so I went right to that.

Raging Bull, B&M Hyper, ranked 79 in North America

I rode this 3-4 times, each time in the back two rows.  B&M hypers/gigas are among my favorite ride models. I’ve ridden Diamondback, Mako, Goliath (at SFOG), Intimidator (now called Thunder Striker unfortunately), and Apollo’s Chariot.  Diamondback is my favorite as it delivers sustained floater airtime from beginning to finish (especially in the backrow).  Mako and Goliath don’t rank too far behind.  Unlike most B&M hypers this has more of a twister layout with less airtime hills.  I would prefer the airtime hills, but compared to Intimidator and Apollo’s Chariot, which didn’t deliver the airtime like my 3 favorite hypers, this did deliver when those hills came.  I tend to think this ride is better than it’s ranking.

Viper, Six Flags, ranked 163 in North America

This was a fun wooden coaster, with got pops of airtime and not too rough.  Comparing this to Zeus which I rode earlier in the day, I would say that it was smoother, but didn’t do as much.  An older wooden coaster that still rides well is a win in my book.

Maxx Force, S&S Sansei Technologies, ranked 73 in North America

This park has a reputation for being extremely crowded, but I was now in line for my 3^rd ride in less than 30 minutes of being at the park.  This was also only about a 15-20 minute wait for one-of-a-kind ride that’s right in the front of the park.  It launches you from 0-78 mph in 1.8 seconds.  The only comparable experience I have was Top Thrill Dragster’s launch.  It also only lasts about 20 seconds and has 4 inversions, all of which were fun and added to the ride.  This wasn’t a long ride, and although it’s short it does seem to accomplish everything it needs to.  I probably prefer Raging Bull and Goliath, but I will say, both Raging Bull and Goliath, have other similar coasters you can experience elsewhere, whereas Maxx Force is truly unique. 

Goliath, RMC, ranked 29 in North America

Goliath was on the opposite of the park from Maxx Force, but I wanted to prioritize getting a ride on this and X-Flight.  To be honest, while riding this I didn’t even realize it was a wooden coasters.  Both Lightning Rod and Outlaw Run (other RMC topper track rides) seemed to have the character (and some of the roughness) of a wood coaster.  This felt more similar to their I-Box track.  This ride runs on the shorter side, but like Maxx Force, every element hits.  Being a big boy (weighing somewhere in the 250s) I have also had a mixed relationship with RMCs.  The bunny hills on Steel Vengeance, Arieforce One, and Twisted Timbers absolutely destroyed my quads.  I had no such problem with Goliath.  I agree this is the best ride at Six Flags Great America and one of my favorite RMCs.

X-Flight, B&M wing coaster, ranked 151 in North America

This was the third B&M wing coaster I’ve ridden.  I only rode Gatekeeper at Cedar Point once and that wasn’t my favorite ride.  Wild Eagle at Dollywood was a different story, I really enjoyed that ride and rank it higher than most.  I really enjoyed the way it interacted with the Smoky Mountains.  X-Flight doesn’t have the same terrain to play with, but it does use it’s theming to good affect. It leaves the station which appears like an airport hangar.  It has many fun inversion, the best of which was the zero-g roll through an old traffic control tower they actually received from Chicago O’hare airport (if Wikipedia can be trusted).  The near miss elements really add to the ride.  B&M rattle is something I’ve always heard others complain about, but that’s never really bothered me.  I definitely noticed it quite a bit on this ride, especially on my back-row rides.  Possibly the 90 plus degree heat factored in to it, but I could see how being sensitive to it, may make some not enjoy the ride.  I still prefer Wild Eagle, but I will say wing coasters in general I tend to enjoy more than most enthusiasts.

American Eagle, Intamin wood coaster, ranked 232 in North America

This is an older racing coaster that was not racing on this day.  I honestly was not paying attention to which side I was riding.  It reminded me quite a bit of Racer at King’s Island, but wasn’t as graceful, nor did it provide as much airtime.  I agree that Viper was the superior wooden coaster at Great America.

Demon, Arrow looper, ranked 328 in North America

This park used to be sister parks with California’s Great America when it opened under Marriot’s umbrella in 1976.  That’s why both parks have a Demon coaster.  The demonic theming definitely adds to an older Arrow looping coaster.  These days Arrow corkscrew coasters can run extremely rough as was my experience with Cokscrew at Cedar Point and Carolina Cyclone at Carrowinds.  The tunnels and rock structures added to the two demon rides definitely adds something to the experience.  I found these two rides to run smoother than their counterparts, but in my experience the Demon in California is the one that’s currently running better.  I even re-rode that one a couple times and got a night ride on it.  This Demon, was a one and done.  At this point, I’ve ridden all the unique rides at the park with the exception of Whizzer, I went over to ride Whizzer, but it was closed.  The forecast was now indicating that there was another hour or two of ride time without interference from rain or thunder, so I went to the DC area of the park to ride some of the coasters that were less unique.

Superman – Ultimate Flight, B&M flying coaster, ranked 162 in North America

My opinion on flying coasters is that most will enjoy them more than enthusiasts.  It’s a unique sensation and does a good job of imitating flying.  However, they don’t vary a lot from one ride to another.  I rode this same model at Six Flags over Georgia and I don’t have a preference for one over the other.  I will say, I do enjoy B&M flying coasters more than Vekomas.

Dark Knight, Mack Rides Wild mouse, ranked 366 in North America

I didn’t know this at the time, but this is a wild mouse in a dark building very loosely themed to the Dark Knight.  So loosely themed that if I didn’t know the name of the ride I’m not sure I would have been able to put two and two together. I did appreciate the air conditioning, even if I’m not the biggest fan of wild mouse rides. 

Batman the Ride, B&M invert, ranked 237 in North America

Batman is not my favorite invert out there.  In the past year I’ve ridden both Flight Deck and Afterburn and those two rides are among my favorite inverts along with Banshee.  I do enjoy inverts quite a bit more in the front sit as you get a good view of the layout instead of starting at the seat in front of you.  I didn’t want to wait for the front, so I hopped in the row with the shortest line.  I’ve ridden clones of this ride at Magic Mountain and SFOG.  The one at SFOG was running really quick and of the 3 I’ve ridden I prefer than one. 

Flash: Vertical Velocity, Intamin impulse coaster, ranked 237 in North America

Sam ride model as Steel Venom at Valleyfair.  I preferred the one at Valleyfair, but perhaps that was because it was the first coaster of my trip and I rode this after riding other superior coasters at the park.  At this point

Joker, S&S freespin, ranked 270 in the world

Freespins to me are just another credit.  I have yet to ride one that actually makes full revolutions.  If I did, maybe I’d enjoy them more, but as of right now the low capacity, combined with the lack of enjoyment I draw from them, results in a ride I’d gladly be willing to skip, but because I had ridden every other operating coaster, I hopped on this.

Whizzer, Schwarzkopf speed racer, ranked 268 in the world

This is one of the more unique rides been on, as there is currently only 2 left operating in the world.  You sit down legs extended, and you can have someone sitting with you (think of a blobsled).  It had a spiral lifthill and the lateral were unlike anything I’ve experienced in the world.  Whereas Joker I rode reluctantly for the credit, this I was glad to experience.  This would be a great ride to experience with a child as it’s not overwhelmingly forceful.

Having rode every coaster at the park I went and re-rode Raging Bull a couple times and finished the day with a ride on Maxx Force.  I was somewhat fortunate that the rain didn’t come before the parks close time of 8 pm.  I returned at opening the next day to get some re-rides on Goliath having already rode Raging Bull and Maxx Force multiple times.  However, being one of the first people there, I noticed no one was in ride for Maxx Force, I seized the opportunity to be first in line and grabbed a front seat ride.  Then I went to Goliath, which is in the very back of the park.  I went to the back seat and as there was no one waiting for my seat I was able to re-ride it 5 straight times.  In total, I think I rode it 7 times between the two days.  Despite that, it never bothered my thighs.  I grabbed a front row ride on X Flight as well as a back row ride.  That concluded my successful trip to Six Flags Great America.  Of all the parks I’ve been to I can confidently say this is a top 5 amusement park, with only Cedar Point and Kings Island being clearly better.