Reviews: Media Preview: Italian Job Stunt Track

By Griswold

Where do I begin? What started out as a small group of acers met at the entrance of PKI at about 9:30 this morning. We had all been invited to be special guests at the official media day for the Italian Job Stunt Track coaster. How much of a true unveiling this was is debatable since the ride has been through techincal rehersals for about 3 weekends now. One kid that was there said he rode it 21 times last weekend. However, that may have been without the effects turned on. But I digress.

Then went in to get our special badges and sign in. The park was still closed to the GP. All of a sudden these huge stretch limousines pull up and Lo' and Behold they are for us! PKI had pulled out all the stops. They were going to treat us like movie stars the whole time.

Well ours was a huge white limo. We got in and of course we had to take pictures of that. The driver took us all the way to the back of the park next to La Rosa's and dropped us off. There was a reception line waiting for us to exit the limo. Next comes the icing on the cake--a red carpet, complete with velvet ropes, which directed us to the ride. It really made you feel like a VIP.

My dad and I were one of the first few to get there. There was pretty much nothing to do until everyone else was dropped off. With the 6 or 7 limo's they had, it didn't take long at all. But this is where I was taken completely by surprise. The dramatic music starts and everything and the announcer directs our attention skyward to a small plane about 10,000 feet up. We are all wondering what to look for until we see 3 divers jump out and enage thier parachutes. They were all part of the show. They each had banners trailing behind them. The first said IJ:ST, the second was PKI, the third was the American Flag. And they all came down right in our midst. Incredible. Well some more mini coopers pull up and a brinks armored car as well. Then out jumps Jeff Seibert--one of the main PR person's at the park, and he welcomes us to the ride. The mayor of Mason, Ohio was there too and proclaimed May 19, 2005 Italian Job Stunt Track Day (uh-huh)

The lunch they served us was great! All of the food had an Italian flair to it. We had Tuscan Chicken, Manicotti, Italian Sausage, ceasar salads, all kind of lunchmeats, cheeses and pepperoni for sandwiches. There were many other sides as well. They used REAL CHINA and SILVERWARE wrapped in linen napklins (gasp) and our soda was poured into these elegant wine glasses. For dessert they served cake and spumoni ice cream along with biscotti and strawberries dipped in dark chocolate.

All that aside, you may be asking me what the ride is like. Well, I am certainly glad I got on it early. Because after we got off...It started to RAIN!.....AND RAIN.....AND RAIN........then came the lightning and they had to shut the ride down. It must have rained for two hours or more. And the event was only slated to last from 11 to 2. I was ready to leave at about 1, but something told me to stay until they told us it was not going to get better. (Their doplar radar was pretty accurate.) I was holding on to very little hope to get to ride it more than once. One couple I had talked to said they had not ridden it at all because they chose to eat lunch first. I felt bad but they had only come from cincy, so I guess it was not too out of their way. They went home before it opned again. Well, it finally stopped at 2, and the crew decided to open it up the the few 50 or so of us that decided to stay (Most of the 2 or 300 hundred had left). Am I glad we stayed! We got on an additional 4 times before the crew said it was time to leave. I applaud the park for at least allowing us to stay a little later.

I have to admit I was a little dissapointed the first time we rode though. PKI does a good job of hyping up rides that are essentially lame IMO (Top Gun back in 93', SOB), and after the introduction we got in the beginning I wasn't expecting to see a ride with a rating of 3 out of 5 (intensity scale). But I have to admit, this ride grew on me after I rode it the last few times in a row. It is a fun ride, with some nice airtime in at least one area and the helix at the beginning is great. The copter scene took me by surprise because I was not expecting to get wet until the end of the ride. The end sequence in total darkness of the sewer was good, but it could have been a little longer. The darkness reminded me of Disaster Transport or FOF. All in all, it was a good ride. PKI has made a wise investment. I think You have to remember that the park is touting this as a ride the whole family can ride together, and that is what it is essentially. It's not as tame as Runaway Reptar, but it not as fierce as the Beast. I was suprised at the airtime we got in the front seat.

Kudos also to PKI for giving us souvenier photos valued at about $12.95 each. My dad and I each got 2 different pics from two of our rides. They are really clear and the frame is pretty nice. Everyone got free photos. Now I won't have to spend the $$ for one when I go back.

Aside from the thunderstoms which PKI couldn't do anything about, it was a good time. Thanks PKI for making us a part of the day!