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Begin...Again: Part Two
I decided that it would be best to take my new (old) Supra to the TRD tuning outpost. I saw that the GTA had now allowed third-party tuners, but, I thought that itd be best to let the builders give me the upgrades, and not some dopey car-nut that may or may not break my machine all to hell.
However, when we got to the TRD temporary shop, located with the other company tuning divisions out back behind the GTA Headquarters, we noticed a small problem.
Geez, everybody and their grandmother is out here. Well never get your car done today at this rate! Angela complained.
Itll be a few minutes before the trailer can get it back here let me see whats going on oh, before I forget, my name is Chris. Nice to meet you, I said to Angela, walking up towards the front.
I guess both of us forgot... I shook my head, walking around the crowd.
I got to the front of the crush, and saw a very flustered-looking mechanic who appeared to be taking a break.
Hey, doing any business today? I greeted, walking up.
You could say that all the rookies want a racing muffler or a shiny flywheel, cause you know they gotta spend all their money on the first day, the mechanic laughed.
I laughed at that, too. Then again, when I was a rookie Can you slot me in ahead of these guys? I got to the point.
What makes you so special? the mechanic cocked a brow, understandably. I showed him my 100,000 credit check.
That. Oh, and these, I added, taking out from my pocket the letters of certification for my licenses, since the GTA wouldnt be able to issue the actual ones until midnight. Something else in the extensive agreement with the member states.
But the mechanic was most interested in the check. How fast can you get your car around here?
I looked back at the arriving trailer, which Angela and my crew was directing into one of the few available spaces near the garage. That would be it now, actually.
Very good, then, the mechanic grinned, and shouted back into the garage, Whatever youre doing, stop it! Weve got a real driver out here that needs some work done!
I watched another three mechanics emerge, and follow their apparent leader to my trailer as my crew eased it down the trailer ramp. They were suitably impressed.
A Supra! Finally, a damn decent ride to work on! one mechanic said.
As the mechanics and my crew eased the Supra into the garage, a mildly surprised Angela walked up to me.
How did you manage the VIP treatment? she asked me.
I showed them the money, I shrugged, following my car into the garage.
Four hours later saw my car being rolled out of the shop, looking exactly the same as it had before. Inside, though, there was a totally new drivetrain, a brand-new suspension, and full Stage 3 weight reduction. I still had plenty of cash available, but I decided to leave the engine alone. Efficient use of available power, I believed, was better than having huge amounts of it just to be wasted.
Alright, you guys take the trailer and find my temporary home base, and call me when you do. Angela, you and I are heading to GT Auto, I said, getting into the Supra.
Okay, she said, also getting in.
Lucky for us, Id seen the GT Auto shop when we were walking back to the tuning village, or I never would have found the damn thing. I hoped the line Id seen there had shrunk by this time. Ever since the GTA had introduced that special oil, people came in droves, lured by the promise of a power boost without invasive mechanical work.
Thankfully, there were only a few other cars there when we arrived, though.
Welcome! What can we do for you? asked one of the GT Auto guys, who always seemed cheerful for some reason, which was good. I hated mean maintenance people.
Change the oil, give it a good washing, and direct me to the wheel collection, please, I replied as Angela and I got out of the car.
No problem! We have the new and used wheels past the oil change stations, on your right, he pointed past the cars that were up on the jacks.
Thanks, I nodded, walking that way, Angela in tow.
Changing the wheels just cause, huh? Angela asked me.
I nodded. Habit.
I picked out a set of wheels from Dunlop, which were labeled 005, and asked to have them put on. Id seen the wing shop sign, too, and wandered back there. A few minutes later, a GT Auto tech came out to the oil change station, where my car was up in the air having the Dunlop wheels equipped, with the wing Id picked.
A wing, too? Angela made a face as we, too, arrived back at my car.
Wings are for downforce, and are therefore good. And, they look cool, I explained.
Im with you on the first argument, but she sighed.
As they were finishing up with the Supra, my cellphone rang.
Hello? Oh, you found it? wait, its I trailed off, stepping outside the GT Auto and looking off towards the west. Sure enough, I saw my trailer, parked in front of one of the line of bland-looking garages in that area.
I wish theyd told me that earlier, I blinked.
I drove Angela and myself back to the temporary garage. As soon she got out of the car, she said:
Im gonna go register us for a race. Should I go for the FR Challenge?
Sunday Cup, I said.
why? Youd kill newbies like that.
I want to make sure Ive got this thing set up correctly. The Sunday Cup has the lowest risk, but its still race conditions.
Angela rubbed her chin. Fine. I guess I should ease into this whole crew chief thing, myself.
As it was basically night time now, we all decided to get some sleep.
Next morning, one of the GTA officials dropped by to give me my shiny new licenses. Angela asked him about Sunday Cup registration, and was told that we were in whenever we wanted, which, for us, was now. After the officials left, Angela ordered the crew to load up my car and move out.
We were on our way to the High-Speed Ring.
--------
Story Notes: I know, I know I promised racing, but this was way too good a stopping point to pass up, otherwise this would be four times its current length...
I decided that it would be best to take my new (old) Supra to the TRD tuning outpost. I saw that the GTA had now allowed third-party tuners, but, I thought that itd be best to let the builders give me the upgrades, and not some dopey car-nut that may or may not break my machine all to hell.
However, when we got to the TRD temporary shop, located with the other company tuning divisions out back behind the GTA Headquarters, we noticed a small problem.
Geez, everybody and their grandmother is out here. Well never get your car done today at this rate! Angela complained.
Itll be a few minutes before the trailer can get it back here let me see whats going on oh, before I forget, my name is Chris. Nice to meet you, I said to Angela, walking up towards the front.
I guess both of us forgot... I shook my head, walking around the crowd.
I got to the front of the crush, and saw a very flustered-looking mechanic who appeared to be taking a break.
Hey, doing any business today? I greeted, walking up.
You could say that all the rookies want a racing muffler or a shiny flywheel, cause you know they gotta spend all their money on the first day, the mechanic laughed.
I laughed at that, too. Then again, when I was a rookie Can you slot me in ahead of these guys? I got to the point.
What makes you so special? the mechanic cocked a brow, understandably. I showed him my 100,000 credit check.
That. Oh, and these, I added, taking out from my pocket the letters of certification for my licenses, since the GTA wouldnt be able to issue the actual ones until midnight. Something else in the extensive agreement with the member states.
But the mechanic was most interested in the check. How fast can you get your car around here?
I looked back at the arriving trailer, which Angela and my crew was directing into one of the few available spaces near the garage. That would be it now, actually.
Very good, then, the mechanic grinned, and shouted back into the garage, Whatever youre doing, stop it! Weve got a real driver out here that needs some work done!
I watched another three mechanics emerge, and follow their apparent leader to my trailer as my crew eased it down the trailer ramp. They were suitably impressed.
A Supra! Finally, a damn decent ride to work on! one mechanic said.
As the mechanics and my crew eased the Supra into the garage, a mildly surprised Angela walked up to me.
How did you manage the VIP treatment? she asked me.
I showed them the money, I shrugged, following my car into the garage.
Four hours later saw my car being rolled out of the shop, looking exactly the same as it had before. Inside, though, there was a totally new drivetrain, a brand-new suspension, and full Stage 3 weight reduction. I still had plenty of cash available, but I decided to leave the engine alone. Efficient use of available power, I believed, was better than having huge amounts of it just to be wasted.
Alright, you guys take the trailer and find my temporary home base, and call me when you do. Angela, you and I are heading to GT Auto, I said, getting into the Supra.
Okay, she said, also getting in.
Lucky for us, Id seen the GT Auto shop when we were walking back to the tuning village, or I never would have found the damn thing. I hoped the line Id seen there had shrunk by this time. Ever since the GTA had introduced that special oil, people came in droves, lured by the promise of a power boost without invasive mechanical work.
Thankfully, there were only a few other cars there when we arrived, though.
Welcome! What can we do for you? asked one of the GT Auto guys, who always seemed cheerful for some reason, which was good. I hated mean maintenance people.
Change the oil, give it a good washing, and direct me to the wheel collection, please, I replied as Angela and I got out of the car.
No problem! We have the new and used wheels past the oil change stations, on your right, he pointed past the cars that were up on the jacks.
Thanks, I nodded, walking that way, Angela in tow.
Changing the wheels just cause, huh? Angela asked me.
I nodded. Habit.
I picked out a set of wheels from Dunlop, which were labeled 005, and asked to have them put on. Id seen the wing shop sign, too, and wandered back there. A few minutes later, a GT Auto tech came out to the oil change station, where my car was up in the air having the Dunlop wheels equipped, with the wing Id picked.
A wing, too? Angela made a face as we, too, arrived back at my car.
Wings are for downforce, and are therefore good. And, they look cool, I explained.
Im with you on the first argument, but she sighed.
As they were finishing up with the Supra, my cellphone rang.
Hello? Oh, you found it? wait, its I trailed off, stepping outside the GT Auto and looking off towards the west. Sure enough, I saw my trailer, parked in front of one of the line of bland-looking garages in that area.
I wish theyd told me that earlier, I blinked.
I drove Angela and myself back to the temporary garage. As soon she got out of the car, she said:
Im gonna go register us for a race. Should I go for the FR Challenge?
Sunday Cup, I said.
why? Youd kill newbies like that.
I want to make sure Ive got this thing set up correctly. The Sunday Cup has the lowest risk, but its still race conditions.
Angela rubbed her chin. Fine. I guess I should ease into this whole crew chief thing, myself.
As it was basically night time now, we all decided to get some sleep.
Next morning, one of the GTA officials dropped by to give me my shiny new licenses. Angela asked him about Sunday Cup registration, and was told that we were in whenever we wanted, which, for us, was now. After the officials left, Angela ordered the crew to load up my car and move out.
We were on our way to the High-Speed Ring.
--------
Story Notes: I know, I know I promised racing, but this was way too good a stopping point to pass up, otherwise this would be four times its current length...
