Venice II is duplicate of the Italian city of Venice, built in a construction project financed by Umberto Lombardi.
History[]
Hover Car Racer[]
Some time in the years after hover cars and the accompanying racing sport were established, the Italian property developer Umberto Lombardi devised an unprecedented project which proposed building an exact replica of the city of Venice, 50 miles east of the original. Despite being mocked at such an outrageous idea, Lombardi managed to acquire the necessary development rights and funding to begin the Venice II project, and soon the new city began to take shape.
As Venice II neared completion, those who had once laughed at Lombardi changed their minds as the property developer's vision came to fruition, and several luxury apartments were bought by Europe's rich and famous. As a result, Lombardi made a huge fortune, allowing him to begin similar Venice replication projects around the world.
As an avid hover car racing enthusiast, Lombardi presumably had some hand in bringing the Grand Slam race the Italian Run, to Venice II, where his city would serve as the final destination for the professional league race, with the finish line located in the Grand Canal. For several years, the Italian Run was successful in drawing race fans to Venice II, with the tourism providing a boost to the local economy.
After Lombardi invited Jason Chaser and his team to participate in the Italian Run under his license, they and Pablo Riviera's team stayed at the Lombardi Grand Hotel in Venice II for the duration of their stay in Italy before and after the race. At the end of the race, the tailfin of the Argonaut II exploded, causing the car to crash into Venice II's canal, with Jason having to stay in the local hospital for a couple of days while he was briefly comatose.
Notable Locations[]
Grand Canal[]
An exact replica of the original Grand Canal in Venice, albeit with chlorinated water to keep the canal clean and clear.
Italian Run Finish Line[]
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Lombardi Grand Hotel[]
A luxury hotel located in Venice II, built and owned by Umberto Lombardi, who also resides in the hotel's penthouse suite.
Events[]
Italian Run Hover Car Race[]
A professional-league hover car race that takes place throughout Italy, and which concludes in Venice II. The Italian Run is the third of the Grand Slam Races. The final leg of the race has racers drive through the Grand Canal, which is known by fans as the Gauntlet.
Trivia[]
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