Test Track

This is another simulation ride, but this time instead of being a computer simulation like ‘Mission Space’, it is an actual ride around a vehicle test track.

This was originally the ‘World of Motion’, which was a ride through various animatronic displays showing how travel had developed. At the end of the ride you exited in a GM based ‘Autorama’ car show complete with vehicles on stage that were revealed similar to when a new car is unveiled for the first time.

Test Track is completely the opposite of the original attraction, being a thrill ride where you actually get to experience the different aspects of vehicle pre-production testing. As you enter the attraction, you are directed through a workshop with evaluation tests, e.g., seat wear resistance, door testing, impact tests, & suspension testing. There is always a long queue for this ride, so we used the ‘Fastpass’ ticket option to miss most of the line.

When you reach the briefing section you are shown a video of the test track controller specifying what aspects of the vehicle will be tested – traction control, ABS, chemical & heat resistance (which a video showing what each aspect chosen consists of). He then tells the operator to choose a certain option (which she questions as to whether this is a good idea) while the video display shows a vehicle crashing (as the option is chosen).

You then pass through to the staging area where you enter the test vehicle. These are futuristic styled, open top cars, which seat six. Each row contains displays showing vehicle status & speed. The ride starts in the building where you undergo the series of tests. The vehicle first accelerates through a hill-climb, travels over different road surfaces to test the suspension, & then brakes with & without ABS. It then travels through the environmental testing areas – heat (110F), cold (10F), & corrosive chemicals (in this case just water, spayed through Mickey Mouse nozzles). The vehicle then starts to accelerate towards a huge crash test block which, at the last minute, opens to reveal a long straight outside the building where you accelerate to 65 mph before riding around a banked curve attached to the main building above the entrance.

As you exit the ride, you pass through the GM ‘Autorama’ with the latest GM cars on display (the new Camaro looked cool) & a Test Track & GM themed gift shop.