Orlando Florida Guide
News
Iwerks Entertainment
Creates DAYTONA USA Ride Simulation Attraction; New Custom Attraction
Opens July 2001 at Daytona International Speedway.
BURBANK, California (BUSINESS WIRE)
Feb. 7, 2001
Iwerks(R) Entertainment
Inc. (OTCBB:IWRK) a leading provider of special venue theaters, announced
the signing of a contract to provide an Iwerks TurboRide simulation theater
and custom film production for DAYTONA USA, the award-winning, official
attraction of NASCAR at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach,
Fla.
The 32-seat, high-tech theater will feature the Iwerks TurboRide(R) 8-Seat
Electric Motion Base, state-of-the-art high-definition video projection,
and an action-packed, four-minute film, "Daytona Dream Laps,"
which will be shot on location at the Daytona 500 racetrack. It opens
in July 2001.
"We're proud of our continuing relationship with DAYTONA USA and
delighted to have the opportunity to entertain family audiences. People
of all ages will be able to enjoy the sensation of winning the Daytona
500, in this attraction," said Don Iwerks, chair and co-founder of
Iwerks Entertainment.
"We are extremely excited to be working with Iwerks again on this
unique project," said Aubrey Harris, director of operations, DAYTONA
USA. "It was time to refresh our venue, but more importantly, ever
since we opened, many of our guests have been asking for a motion simulation
ride."
Following a pre-show orientation, guests settle into their motion base
seats for the live-action film Daytona Dream Laps, which will take them
racing four times around the Daytona 500 racetrack, competing against
the vehicles of celebrity Winston Cup racers.
The film will be shot on location, on the Daytona 500 track. executive
producer is Iwerks' Doug Yellin. His crew includes director Brent Loefke,
producer Carl Beyer, director of photography David Nowell, driving coordinator
Glen Necessary and sound engineer Greg Meader, of Iwerks.
"Ever since he joined the company four years ago, Doug Yellin has
brought a special, dynamic quality and versatility to our production department,"
said Don Iwerks. "Once again, he has assembled a first-rate team
to produce a film that audiences will respond to and want to see more
than once."
The new ride simulation attraction is the second specialty system Iwerks
has provided to DAYTONA USA. The first was a 5/70 large format cinema
that premiered with the attraction in 1996 and still exhibits the film
Daytona 500. DAYTONA USA also features cars, exhibits and a video arcade.
The facility received an Award for Outstanding Achievement in 1997 from
the Themed Entertainment Association.
Iwerks Entertainment Inc., founded in 1986, is the number one provider
of 8/70 Large Format Theater systems worldwide and the industry leader
in ride simulation. Iwerks' technologies include Giant Screen (Iwerks(R)
Extreme Screen(TM)), ride simulation (Iwerks(R) TurboRide(TM)), turnkey
3D/4D theatres (Iwerks(R) 3D/4D FX Theatre(TM)) and other specialty attractions.
Iwerks has nearly 200 installations in 38 countries worldwide at entertainment
centers, amusement parks, movie theatres, museums, science centers, shopping
centers, casinos, resorts, nightclubs, restaurants and more.
Iwerks has received two Academy Awards for Scientific and Technical Achievement:
in 1998, Don Iwerks received an Oscar(R), the coveted Gordon E. Sawyer
Award; in 1999, Ron Schmidt received an Academy Award(R) Plaque in recognition
of the Iwerks patented Linear Loop(R) Projection system.
Visit www.iwerks.com.