Backlot Stunt Coaster
Encyclopedia
Backlot Stunt Coaster is a steel
launched roller coaster
currently open at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan
, Ontario
; Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia
; and Kings Island
in Mason, Ohio
.
. Under its original name and theme, the ride featured unique cars which resemble ¾ scale MINI Coopers. Special effects were incorporated throughout the ride including sound effects built into the cars, a helicopter that attacks riders with a simulated machine gun sound, pyrotechnics and water effects. Sound recordings of "Action!" and "Cut!" would be heard at the launch and the brakes, respectively. The last drop which simulated the Mini Coopers jumping out of a sewer featured water jets that sprayed to simulate a splash down.
At the end of the 2007 season, all three Italian Job coasters were renamed and rethemed to Backlot Stunt Coaster for the start of the 2008 season. This directly coincided with the sale of Paramount Parks
to Cedar Fair. Special effects which were incorporated throughout the ride were all removed. The MINI Coopers were removed in time for the 2010 season.
The train then passes a "No Entry" sign and comes to a halt in front of a black tunnel. Just then, a helicopter rises to the train's left, shooting simulated gunfire to the rising score of Ride of the Valkyries
. Under Paramount's operation, the gunfire cracked pipes and barrels, which sprayed "gasoline" (truly, water) all around riders. Though that effect has since been removed, the second round of gunfire still ignites where the gasoline would've splashed, catching two barrels on fire before a gas tank explodes. Just then, riders hit the second launch, flying into the darkness, twisting and dropping before flying out of the "broken billboard", splashing down in an L.A. aqueduct, and turning into the ride's station. (As of 2010, Kings Island does no longer have the "L.A. aqueduct" filled with water, hence the splashing effect does not operate).
, but this feature has never been used.
As of the 2010 season, Cedar Fair no longer holds the license to use MINI Coopers on Backlot Stunt Coaster. Because of this, the trains were simplified and do not resemble any specific brand of car. They have also changed the arrangement of the car colors on the trains: One train is all blue, the second is all red and the third is all white.
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...
launched roller coaster
Launched roller coaster
The launched roller coaster is a modern form of roller coaster which has increased in use in the last decade. In place of a traditional chain lift, the launched coaster initiates a ride with high amounts of acceleration via one or series of Linear Induction Motors , Linear Synchronous Motors ,...
currently open at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan
Vaughan
Vaughan is a city in York Region north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Vaughan is the fastest growing municipality in Canada achieving a population growth rate of 80.2% between 1996–2006, according to Statistics Canada having nearly doubled in population since 1991. Vaughan is located in Southern...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
; Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia
Doswell, Virginia
Doswell is an unincorporated community in Hanover County in the Central Region of the U.S. state of Virginia. Originally called Hanover Junction, it was located on the Virginia Central Railroad, which later became part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad at a crossing of the Richmond,...
; and 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...
in Mason, Ohio
Mason, Ohio
Mason is an affluent city in southwestern Warren County, Ohio, United States, 22 miles away from Cincinnati . As of the 2010 census, Mason's population was 30,712. Mason has experienced fast growth, with its historic Main Street remaining at the center of the community...
.
History
The three roller coasters originally opened as Italian Job: Stunt Track at Canada's Wonderland and Kings Island in May 2005. One year later Kings Dominion opened their clone, Italian Job: Turbo Coaster. All three coasters' themes revolved around the climactic chase scene at the end of the 2003 film The Italian JobThe Italian Job (2003 film)
The Italian Job is a 2003 heist film directed by F. Gary Gray. The film stars Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, Seth Green, Jason Statham, Mos Def, and Donald Sutherland. It is an American remake of a 1969 British film of the same name, and is about a team of thieves who plan to steal...
. Under its original name and theme, the ride featured unique cars which resemble ¾ scale MINI Coopers. Special effects were incorporated throughout the ride including sound effects built into the cars, a helicopter that attacks riders with a simulated machine gun sound, pyrotechnics and water effects. Sound recordings of "Action!" and "Cut!" would be heard at the launch and the brakes, respectively. The last drop which simulated the Mini Coopers jumping out of a sewer featured water jets that sprayed to simulate a splash down.
At the end of the 2007 season, all three Italian Job coasters were renamed and rethemed to Backlot Stunt Coaster for the start of the 2008 season. This directly coincided with the sale of Paramount Parks
Paramount Parks
Paramount Parks was an operator of theme parks and attractions, which annually attracted about 13 million patrons. Viacom had assumed control of the company as part of its acquisition of Paramount Pictures in 1994....
to Cedar Fair. Special effects which were incorporated throughout the ride were all removed. The MINI Coopers were removed in time for the 2010 season.
Ride description
Accelerating from 0 –, the train rockets into a three-story "parking garage" shell, passing through two upwards helixes meant to mirror the ascension of a car through a true parking garage. The car then drops from the top of the helixes into a street lined with highway signs and three police cars, with sirens and lights flashing. Slaloming between the officers, the cars pass a sign reading "Left Lane Must Turn Left". Just then, the train flies upward and into a turn banked at 88 degrees, flying down into a dip and then passing down a set of "subway stairs".The train then passes a "No Entry" sign and comes to a halt in front of a black tunnel. Just then, a helicopter rises to the train's left, shooting simulated gunfire to the rising score of Ride of the Valkyries
Ride of the Valkyries
The Ride of the Valkyries is the popular term for the beginning of Act III of Die Walküre, the second of the four operas by Richard Wagner that comprise Der Ring des Nibelungen. The main theme of the Ride, the leitmotif labelled Walkürenritt, was first written down by the composer on 23 July 1851...
. Under Paramount's operation, the gunfire cracked pipes and barrels, which sprayed "gasoline" (truly, water) all around riders. Though that effect has since been removed, the second round of gunfire still ignites where the gasoline would've splashed, catching two barrels on fire before a gas tank explodes. Just then, riders hit the second launch, flying into the darkness, twisting and dropping before flying out of the "broken billboard", splashing down in an L.A. aqueduct, and turning into the ride's station. (As of 2010, Kings Island does no longer have the "L.A. aqueduct" filled with water, hence the splashing effect does not operate).
Trains
Backlot Stunt Coaster has three trains, each with three cars, and each car can sit four people. Originally, all the cars were shaped like MINI Cooper cars colored either blue, red, or white, like in The Italian Job. Each car was equipped with working doors and lights. The cars were supposed to fishtailFishtailing
Fishtailing is a vehicle handling problem which occurs when the rear wheels lose traction, resulting in oversteer. This can be caused by low friction surfaces...
, but this feature has never been used.
As of the 2010 season, Cedar Fair no longer holds the license to use MINI Coopers on Backlot Stunt Coaster. Because of this, the trains were simplified and do not resemble any specific brand of car. They have also changed the arrangement of the car colors on the trains: One train is all blue, the second is all red and the third is all white.