West Coast Racers at Six Flags Magic Mountain

Reviewing roller coasters is a rare treat. They’re big and expensive, and theme parks are expanding into other types of entertainment. It’s just as likely that a park’s big new attraction will be a dark ride or immersive land. So I cherish each new bona fide roller coaster that comes along. West Coast Racers is the latest at Six Flags Magic Mountain, which has more coasters than any park in the country.

The Underground

Situated in a back section of the park that wasn’t getting much traffic, West Coast Racers is the anchor of the newly-named The Underground. Themed to car culture and the urban streets of LA, The Underground is also home to classic wooden coaster Apocalypse and the Pacific Speedway go-karts. There are new dining options, and the ground is painted to look like asphalt, down to lane lines and parking spaces. Overhead and on all sides of the concourse runs West Coast Racers. The graceful curves entice you no matter where you are in The Underground.

Both the ride and station have design and thematic touches from West Coast Customs. This no-limits bodyshop is a celebrity favorite and media darling for all things related to car customization. At West Coast Racers, the logo and personality of West Coast Customs are evident throughout the queue. Plus, they designed the unique coaster cars, as well as a real-time “Pit Stop” halfway through the ride. Along with the “tagged” art on the walls, the whole area feels cohesive and purposeful.

Ready, Set, Go!

I love the layout of West Coast Racers. It begins on the rightmost of two side by side tracks, starting with a straight ahead launch. The first element is a small hill that tips both cars sideways towards the center, for a virtual “high five” between the riders who have their hands in the air. Next is a long banked right turn over the walkway below, dipping into a second launch. This launch pushes you into a spaghetti bowl of tight twists and spirals, until it unravels and you glide into the station.

But it’s not over! Your car has changed sides and is now on the left track. Pulling into the Pit Stop, a video from West Coast Customs greets you, shows off some of their work, and explains that the crew is working on your car. Appropriate mechanical noises fill the air until you creep forward into the open air–to race against the next group of riders. Although the tracks are mostly parallel, there are significantly different elements on each side. The result feels like two full rides, with four individual launches. It’s downright luxurious.

Real Racing

Other racing coasters are usually 2 separate tracks next to each other, which may or may not sync up. If only one car is ready to go, the staff will usually just send it. Once the cars aren’t running together, it’s unlikely they will ever race without a specific effort from the attendants to line them up again. That will never happen on West Coast Racers. Because it’s technically one track, you can’t launch one car without the other because the space between them will be thrown off. The mechanism to launch out of the station does both together, every time.

So you get a real race. Despite slight differences in track layout, the cars run close to each other the entire time. The tracks swoop and dive around each other, with some fun near-miss moments. With a friend on the other car, you are close enough to see their expression for most of the ride. I saw someone on the other track point at his friend (in my car) for the entire length of the track, and he was always just out of reach.

Smooth Jazz

The overriding sensation after 2 trips on West Coast Racers is smoothness. Despite being engineered to exacting specifications, it all feels like carefree gliding and soaring. Is that ironic for a roller coaster themed around street racing? Maybe, but if you consider the circular helixes in the second half to simulate drifting around street corners, that could work. Regardless, it was a joy to ride. It works visually as well as physically, with a good amount of airtime and G-Forces that are not too strong. It is instantly in Magic Mountain’s top tier of attractions.

People will compare it to Twisted Colossus and there are certainly similarities. However, West Coast Racers is not as extreme as that ride. While thrilling, no doubt, West Coast Racers should have broader appeal and will be great for people to go on with their kids or parents. This is not just a ride for hardcore enthusiasts, but it’s not mild either. It’s exciting without being alienating, smooth but not mellow, and is a good fit for Six Flags and Southern California in particular.

I will always appreciate Magic Mountain for continuing their tradition of roller coasters and not trying to take shortcuts with motion simulators. West Coast Racers continues their legacy and is another gem in their trove of rides. Six Flags Magic Mountain is open every day of the year. For hours, tickets, and other information, please visit their website here.