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V2: Vertical Velocity

V2: Vertical Velocity
V2 At Discovery Kingdom.JPG
Vertical Velocity as seen at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Coordinates 38°08′17″N 122°13′56″W / 38.138170°N 122.232335°W / 38.138170; -122.232335Coordinates: 38°08′17″N 122°13′56″W / 38.138170°N 122.232335°W / 38.138170; -122.232335
Status Operating
Opening date 2001
General statistics
Type Steel – Launched – Inverted
Manufacturer Intamin
Designer Werner Stengel
Model Shuttle coaster
Track layout Twisted Impulse
Lift/launch system LIM
Height 150 ft (46 m)
Drop 150 ft (46 m)
Length 630 ft (190 m)
Speed 65 mph (105 km/h)
Inversions 1
Duration 1:10
Max vertical angle 90°
Capacity 900 riders per hour
Acceleration 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds
Height restriction 54–75 in (137–191 cm)
Trains Single train with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 28 riders per train.
Flash Pass Available
V2: Vertical Velocity at RCDB
Pictures of V2: Vertical Velocity at RCDB

V2: Vertical Velocity is an inverted steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California. It is California's first and only Spiraling Impulse Coaster, built by Intamin and opened in 2001. It stands 150 ft tall (46 m) and reaches speeds of up to 70 mph (110 km/h). The ride is tied with Medusa and Superman: Ultimate Flight in the same park for tallest coaster in Northern California.

The coaster’s track is essentially a large U shape that is loaded at the base and uses a series of LIMs to accelerate the train up each side of the track. One side of the track is twisted track (commonly called an inline twist) that ends in a straight section angled at about 45 degrees, the other side is a perfectly vertical straight track. The train seats 28 riders in a standard overhead suspended design.

When it was installed the ride was 186 ft tall (57 m). Both sides of the track were vertical, the front tower twisted, and the rear tower straight with a reverse LIM segment at the top (designed to hold the train momentarily). In 2002, the ride was temporarily closed while the track was modified from 186 feet (57 m) to the city ordinance limit of 150 feet (46 m). To lower the height, the front tower was tilted to a 45-degree angle and the reverse tower lowered to 150 feet (46 m).

For the 2007 season, V2 was repainted red with maroon supports. Before the repainting, it had yellow track with blue supports, which made this ride's paint scheme very similar to Wicked Twister at Cedar Point, which has yellow track and green supports.

Vertical Velocity has been closed for extensive refurbishment for the past four months, which has included the removal and complete disassembly of the train. Sections of track, as of May 25, 2016, are missing and queue railing has been removed for refurbishment. Various sources said that its residency at Discovery Kingdom was in question. In addition, other media sources have questioned if V2 will be demolished due to the large amount of downtime needed per year and the generally medium to mediocre lines during the operating season. Similar media sources have speculated that V2 will be repainted to a Batman-themed color scheme and renamed as such because The Joker is now neighbors with V2 and this would be an ideal fit as V2's paint is now in the first stages of severe fading. Stock footage from The Joker has shown that the tops of supports of V2 have completely faded to white despite the supports originally being a maroon shade. As of July 21, 2016, V2 has reopened to the public. The official website now lists the ride as 'temporarily closed'.


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