| Road Runner Express | |
|---|---|
| Previously known as Rex's Rail Runner (2000-2002) | |
 | |
 Road Runner Express | |
| Six Flags Magic Mountain | |
| Park section | Bugs Bunny World |
| Coordinates | 34°25′32″N118°35′45″W / 34.425656°N 118.595842°W /34.425656; -118.595842 |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | May 28, 2011 (2011-05-28)[1] |
| Road Runner Express at Six Flags Magic Mountain at RCDB | |
| Six Flags New Orleans | |
| Park section | Looney Tunes Adventures |
| Coordinates | 30°03′15″N89°56′10″W / 30.054167°N 89.936128°W /30.054167; -89.936128 |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | May 20, 2000 (2000-05-20) |
| Closing date | August 21, 2005 (2005-08-21) |
| Road Runner Express at Six Flags New Orleans at RCDB | |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel –Junior |
| Manufacturer | Vekoma |
| Model | Junior Coaster (207m) |
| Lift/launch system | Chainlift hill |
| Height | 27.9 ft (8.5 m) |
| Length | 679.2 ft (207.0 m) |
| Speed | 21.7 mph (34.9 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 0:44 |
| Capacity | 780 riders per hour |
| Height restriction | 36 in (91 cm) |
| Trains | Single train with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 16 riders per train. |
 Must transfer from wheelchair | |
Road Runner Express is asteeljuniorroller coaster atSix Flags Magic Mountain inValencia,California. On November 4, 2010,Six Flags had an investor meeting webcast where they released the new name for the kid's coaster[1] and location inBugs Bunny World.[2] By April 2011, the entire coaster has finished construction on site.[3] The ride opened on May 28, 2011, forMemorial Day Weekend.[2]
Road Runner Express originally opened at Jazzland inNew Orleans on May 20, 2000. It operated under the name Rex's Rail Runner[4] in the Kid's Carnival section of the park.
Six Flags took over the lease of Jazzland in 2002 and changed the park's name toSix Flags New Orleans the following year.[5] The ride was renamed to Road Runner Express in the "Looney Tunes Adventures" section of the park.
WhenHurricane Katrina hit the park on August 29, 2005, severe flooding caused the park and its rides to shut down.[4][6] In 2007,Six Flags began the process of moving rides from the park to their other properties. For example,Batman: The Ride was taken toSix Flags Fiesta Texas where it was refurbished and renamedGoliath in 2008. In 2008,Bayou Blaster andSonic Slam were removed and taken toGreat Escape where it was refurbished and renamedSasquatch in 2009. In 2009, Road Runner Express was removed and relocated toLarson International for refurbishment.[7]
After refurbishment, Road Runner Express was moved in 2010 to its current location atSix Flags Magic Mountain. The ride was due to open for the 2010 season under the nameMr. Six's Dance Coaster in the Cyclone Bay section of the park, however, the opening was delayed for a year.[8][9][10]
On August 3, 2010, theLos Angeles Times reported "the junior coaster will keep the current red and black color scheme and stay in the same planned location in the northwest corner of the park but will likely receive a new name and theme."[11] On November 4, 2010, Six Flags announced that the ride will not use the originally plannedMr. Six's Dance Coaster name and theme, but will operate from early May 2011 asLittle Flash which is, themed to theDC Comics superhero sidekicks inBugs Bunny World.[1][8]
On January 18, 2011, theLA Times reported after considering a new theme based onDC Comics superhero sidekicks, the park opted for simplicity and would name the coasterRoad Runner Express.[12] Two days later, Six Flags Magic Mountain confirmed that the kid's coaster would be called Road Runner Express and that it would open on March 19, along with the revampedSuperman: Escape from Krypton.[13] However, the construction of the ride was delayed forcing the opening day to be bumped back. On April 25, 2011, the construction of Road Runner Express was complete and was expected to open forMemorial Day Weekend.[3] The coaster officially opened on May 28, 2011.[2][14] This resulted with the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote theme, rockets on the roller blade-style train, and Arizona desert background.
Guests board a train which seat 16 riders. The train is taken up using adrive tire system to a height of 9.1 metres (30 ft). 207 metres (679 ft) of twists, turns and elevation changes follow, before the ride comes to a halt in thebrake run. Riders will reach a top speed of 40.2 kilometres per hour (25.0 mph) on the one-minute ride.[8]The background blends in with the ride'sRoad Runner theming. The station is surrounded by rocks andAcme crates to decorate the area and Wile E. Coyote can be seen standing on top of some Acme crates.
