The Joker's Jinx
Encyclopedia
The Joker
's Jinx is a steel roller coaster
at Six Flags America
in Prince George's County, Maryland
. The ride utilises linear induction motor
technology to launch the train from 0 to 60 mi/h in just over three seconds. Premier Rides
, the manufacturer gave the trains an overhaul in 2002 and replaced the restraints with lap bars.
section of the park near Superman: Ride of Steel roller coaster and Whistlestop Park
.
After boarding Joker's Jink, riders are launched through a narrow launch tunnel into a "spaghetti bowl" of track which contains a cobra roll, a sidewinder, and many twists and turns. The coaster doesn't have a mid-course brake run
like at Kings Island
and Kings Dominion, Flight of Fear has, instead the coaster has multiple rings that the train goes through. After the rings riders spiral downward and to the left, and after more twists and turns they pass through a corkscrew
before arriving at the ride's final brake run.
Premier Rides built several of these LIM Catapult roller coasters from 1996 to 1999, although, of those, only the two Flight of Fear rides are indoors. The other outdoor LIM Catapult coaster in the United States are Poltergeist
at Six Flags Fiesta Texas
; that opened in 1999. In addition, a LIM Catapult coaster called Mad Cobra
operated at Suzuka Circuit
in Japan from 1998–2003; Mad Cobra was moved to China and reopened at Kingdoms of Discovery in 2006. The five Premier LIM catapult coasters share a similar layout and have the same technical specifications.
Joker (comics)
The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
's Jinx is a steel roller coaster
Steel roller coaster
A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world...
at Six Flags America
Six Flags America
Six Flags America is a family theme park and water park located in Mitchellville, Prince George's County, Maryland. It is situated east of Washington D.C. and southwest of Baltimore. The park covers , 131 of which is currently used for park operations...
in Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
. The ride utilises linear induction motor
Linear induction motor
A linear induction motor is an AC asynchronous linear motor that works by the same general principles as other induction motors but which has been designed to directly produce motion in a straight line....
technology to launch the train from 0 to 60 mi/h in just over three seconds. Premier Rides
Premier Rides
Premier Rides is an amusement ride manufacturer based in the United States. The company was the first to use Linear Induction Motors on their roller coasters. Jim Seay has been the sole owner and company president since 1996....
, the manufacturer gave the trains an overhaul in 2002 and replaced the restraints with lap bars.
Ride Layout
Joker's Jinx is located in the Gotham CityGotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
section of the park near Superman: Ride of Steel roller coaster and Whistlestop Park
Whistlestop Park
Whistlestop Park is a themed kid's area with various rides at several Six Flags amusement parks.-History:Before being named Whistlestop Park, these themed areas were named Thomas Town from 2007 to 2010....
.
After boarding Joker's Jink, riders are launched through a narrow launch tunnel into a "spaghetti bowl" of track which contains a cobra roll, a sidewinder, and many twists and turns. The coaster doesn't have a mid-course brake run
Brake run
A brake run on a roller coaster is any section of track meant to slow or stop a roller coaster train. Brake runs may be located anywhere along the circuit of a coaster and may be designed to bring the train to a complete halt or to simply adjust the train's speed...
like at Kings Island
Kings Island
Kings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
and Kings Dominion, Flight of Fear has, instead the coaster has multiple rings that the train goes through. After the rings riders spiral downward and to the left, and after more twists and turns they pass through a corkscrew
Corkscrew
A corkscrew is a kitchen tool for drawing stopping corks from wine bottles. Generally, a corkscrew consists of a pointed metallic helix attached to a handle. The user grips the handle and screws the metal point into the cork, until the helix is firmly embedded, then a vertical pull on the...
before arriving at the ride's final brake run.
Premier Rides built several of these LIM Catapult roller coasters from 1996 to 1999, although, of those, only the two Flight of Fear rides are indoors. The other outdoor LIM Catapult coaster in the United States are Poltergeist
Poltergeist (roller coaster)
Poltergeist is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Texas. It has been open since 1999 and received a fresh coat of paint in 2009.-Ride Layout:Poltergeist is located in the Rockville section of the park....
at Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Six Flags Fiesta Texas is a seasonally operated theme park located on approximately of land in San Antonio, Texas.Six Flags Fiesta Texas is the major entertainment component of USAA's La Cantera, a 1,600 acre master-planned development in northwest San Antonio...
; that opened in 1999. In addition, a LIM Catapult coaster called Mad Cobra
Mad Cobra
Ewart Everton Brown , better known by his stage name of Mad Cobra or simply Cobra is a Jamaican reggae musician.-Biography:...
operated at Suzuka Circuit
Suzuka Circuit
, Suzuka Circuit for short, is a motorsport race track located in Ino, Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan and operated by Mobilityland Corporation, the subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd..-Introduction:...
in Japan from 1998–2003; Mad Cobra was moved to China and reopened at Kingdoms of Discovery in 2006. The five Premier LIM catapult coasters share a similar layout and have the same technical specifications.
Ride Elements
- Cobra Roll
- SidewinderSidewinder (Six Flags Elitch Gardens)Sidewinder is a steel roller coaster located at Elitch Gardens in Denver, Colorado.This is a fairly simple coaster that takes rides through one loop. Instead of starting from the ground, riders have to ascend stairs fifty feet up to the loading station. The train is launched down a hill, goes into...
- CorkscrewCorkscrewA corkscrew is a kitchen tool for drawing stopping corks from wine bottles. Generally, a corkscrew consists of a pointed metallic helix attached to a handle. The user grips the handle and screws the metal point into the cork, until the helix is firmly embedded, then a vertical pull on the...
Awards
| Mitch Hawker's Best Roller Coaster Poll: Best Steel-Tracked Roller Coaster | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
| Ranking |
See also
- PoltergeistPoltergeist (roller coaster)Poltergeist is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Texas. It has been open since 1999 and received a fresh coat of paint in 2009.-Ride Layout:Poltergeist is located in the Rockville section of the park....
, a similar ride at Six Flags Fiesta TexasSix Flags Fiesta TexasSix Flags Fiesta Texas is a seasonally operated theme park located on approximately of land in San Antonio, Texas.Six Flags Fiesta Texas is the major entertainment component of USAA's La Cantera, a 1,600 acre master-planned development in northwest San Antonio...
, - Flight of Fear (Kings Island) and Flight of Fear (Kings Dominion), similar, but enclosed, rides at Kings IslandKings IslandKings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
and Kings Dominion.