Car of the Week | Mazda Eunos Roadster (NA Special Package) '89

I KNEW the Volvo would be chosen for this week! :D

Managed a 09.44.121 on the Nords with it.



YT review: "Returning from originally GT 4 me thinks (?), this is one more of these "quircky" everyday cars GT likes to add. Well I mean it has barely over 100 HP and is a family car from the beginning of the 90's, how is it supposed to feel like on a track? You're right: like a boat, obviously. Still fun it its own way."

Verdict: gotta go with Beater sorry
 
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For the second week in a row, we're featuring a car that just got added to the game!

Using his free pick, @Vic Reign93 has chosen Week 61 to star a car that holds a lot of history for him and one other COTW Hall of Famer, the Honda Civic SiR-II (EG) '93!

Gran Turismo® 7_20240610014240.png


...well, okay, the exact model year might not be the same, but close enough!

Back in August of 2017, GT6's Car of the Week featured the 1995 Civic SiR, and with it, Nismo and Vic battled to a dead heat draw down to the thousandth of a second at the end of 4 intense laps around Bathurst, which you can read about and watch right here! This week, Vic wants to try recreating some of that old magic before the newly added car disappears from the Used Car Dealer, so make sure you grab yours quick! It's already been there for 11 days as of me writing this!


Weekly Lobbies​

Our weekly lobbies are ongoing as usual, and anyone (not a dick) is welcome to join us in racing bone stock EG Civics under BoP conditions!

Click on the hyperlinks to convert the times to your time zone, and feel free to add the hosts as friends on PSN to make searching for the lobbies easier!

The Americas Lobby​

The Asia/Oceania also kinda European Lobby​

BoP/Settings Disabled: On (temporarily reverts cars to bone stock; WIDE BODIED AND ENGINE SWAPPED CARS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE!)
Tracks: Randomly selected by lobby participants (~10 mins practice, ~10 mins sprint)
PP Limit: 406PP
Car: No Limit
Tyres: No Limit

~Special Challenge!~​

Vic himself challenges anyone interested into dying a second time... by recreating the dead heat draw he had with Nismo!

The only rule is that you must be driving the EG Civic, and that the opponents must be of comparable performance to your car. Any track, any race. Go nuts trying to time it to perfection!


Of course, we always welcome opinions, tunes, liveries, photos, videos, or stories about the car here on the thread!
 
XSquareStickIt
For the second week in a row, we're featuring a car that just got added to the game!

Using his free pick, @Vic Reign93 has chosen Week 61 to star a car that holds a lot of history for him and one other COTW Hall of Famer, the Honda Civic SiR-II (EG) '93!

View attachment 1363528

...well, okay, the exact model year might not be the same, but close enough!

Back in August of 2017, GT6's Car of the Week featured the 1995 Civic SiR, and with it, Nismo and Vic battled to a dead heat draw down to the thousandth of a second at the end of 4 intense laps around Bathurst, which you can read about and watch right here! This week, Vic wants to try recreating some of that old magic before the newly added car disappears from the Used Car Dealer, so make sure you grab yours quick! It's already been there for 11 days as of me writing this!


Weekly Lobbies​

Our weekly lobbies are ongoing as usual, and anyone (not a dick) is welcome to join us in racing bone stock EG Civics under BoP conditions!

Click on the hyperlinks to convert the times to your time zone, and feel free to add the hosts as friends on PSN to make searching for the lobbies easier!

The Americas Lobby​

The Asia/Oceania also kinda European Lobby​

BoP/Settings Disabled: On (temporarily reverts cars to bone stock; WIDE BODIED AND ENGINE SWAPPED CARS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE!)
Tracks: Randomly selected by lobby participants (~10 mins practice, ~10 mins sprint)
PP Limit: 406PP
Car: No Limit
Tyres: No Limit

~Special Challenge!~​

Vic himself challenges anyone interested into dying a second time... by recreating the dead heat draw he had with Nismo!

The only rule is that you must be driving the EG Civic, and that the opponents must be of comparable performance to your car. Any track, any race. Go nuts trying to time it to perfection!


Of course, we always welcome opinions, tunes, liveries, photos, videos, or stories about the car here on the thread!
Click to expand...

Am I developping clairvoyant abilities or what?! For the second time in a row I guessed the picked car right! Should've posted my prediction...Anyway, really neat special challenge idea you got there! On to the review...

Managed an 08.47.631 on the Nords with it. YT review: "Returning from originally GT1 or GT2, we're finally getting a nice Civic from the 90's. Man do these things look good, sound great and drive just wonderfully! Talk about true sleepers..."



Verdict: well duh, sleeper in its purest form!
 
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XSquareStickIt

~Special Challenge!~​

Vic himself challenges anyone interested into dying a second time... by recreating the dead heat draw he had with Nismo!

The only rule is that you must be driving the EG Civic, and that the opponents must be of comparable performance to your car. Any track, any race. Go nuts trying to time it to perfection!
Click to expand...
Well, I guess I’ll be spamming Race A this week to have a go at this once I’m done with my Weeklys.
 
SPD Writes Gran Turismo 7's Car Of The Week: Week 60 - Volvo 240 SE Estate
PART 1


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Not exactly the flying brick that's out and about other games, but there's some of that in here, I'm sure.

Back in 1974, Volvo released the 200 series. It's an unremarkable procession that was led to one thing: a new era of safety, with big crumple zones that became the norm for your domestic everyday car. The thing is about the 240 is that it's not only a safe as heck boxy brick; it's also a very well known piece of reliable kit that got Volvo its name in the automotive world for it. They made 2.8 million units of this 20 year ran series, and I'm not sure how to bring this point further other than facts. Initially, the car's name was a code, with the 242 being a 2 door coupe, the 244 being a sedan, and the 245 being a wagon, though this didn't quite follow through later on in the 80's where they all were called 240s.

What we got here in GT world, instead of the homologated monster that is the Flying Brick that I personally nominated in Mini Mexico, is the 240 Estate, notably a model that's said to be the car that started the station wagon trend. It's a good trend, but it didn't do it with a billion horsepower, some new fangled tech, or a hot tub placed on top. Rather, it's just making great use of Volvo's standard procedure of making a safe car thanks to its shape, crumple zones for days, and with airbags combined with ABS on as standard. Managing to sell 959 thousand of these, even I: the kind of guy looking for a crossover to buy from Germany, wouldn't mind this in my real life garage too.

It's a historic car, but nothing too interesting came of it other than it being a popular trend setter. In the end, it was succeeded by the 850. Anyone knows in this early 90's era would be the next step in Volvo's legacy: invading touring cars with a Tom Walkinshaw engineered big wagon boi and getting away with eye turning results for the '94 BTCC championship in the process.

Did anyone particularly enjoy the foul mouthed but overall nice guy design of my newest f-bomb? You better, because I didn't prepare myself to put this car to be nominated so soon. I also didn't prepare a whole crowd of people racing in Tsukuba again, like what we got in Week 23.

Ugh.. thanks for this crap, past SPD.


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Episode 60: We are that of the Mythic Verses


Tokyo Expressway
Inner Tokyo, Japan
Midnight


We begin with following a certain Impreza STI charging through a mostly empty roads across Tokyo..


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Travelling with a speed he deems comfortable that usually isn't for anyone, Rudeboy heads towards his destination, seemingly in a hurry.

Eventually, he arrives.


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Making his way around, he puts his car alongside his crew's on the small rest area just outside the city.

The reason why he's here then makes clear..


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The presence of The List usually gathers a small crowd, in or out their usual US stomping grounds.

With the crew mingling away with the night crowd, races with them involved are yet to be seen.

While he's excited of this happening, Rudeboy didn't heed much of it, though noting while The Outlaw was wearing his disguise, he took a classic Mustang BOSS instead.

the news day.jpg



Just a few miles away from her home, Candy donned in a jogger's attire, paced her steps as the traffic starts congesting.

She's not exhausted, but found a stop light the perfect opportunity to stop, remarking to herself in mild exhaustion.


Candy: "Phew.. whew.. quick check.. breakfast, lunch.. and Minori-chan's favorites from the shop.. now.."


No need to rush, she thought quietly.

Those were her thoughts for today, remembering her maid's state at home being accompanied by her mates.

But however, as if that sign didn't need to appear..


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A vintage Countach came blasting through, and knowing who's in this car, he pace uppened as she mumbled.


Candy: "Ughh.. That is earlier than forecast! I hope they can hold down the fort before I get back!!"


Putting on her earphones, she began to quicken her steps as the ballads of Joe Elliott began to intensify her mood.


just then.jpg



Candy's house
Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
Early Morning


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Just outside the small home, Minori starts flexing her just repaired limbs.

However, she's not alone, as a short man absorbed her practice attacks, with a kick and a punch absorbed by his own well taught guards.

It wasn't quiet, as the man continued with his usual passion..


Gary D: "I don't give a s[BLEEP] if you're going to stop me, Gin. I gotta get to your level so the next time you get that kind of crap, you got backup."

Minori: "Ohh, that's cute, but I'm quite sure you're going to be.. umm.. 'dead' weight."

Gary D: "So's your ass if you don't recover and they come back for an encore, babe."


He kept his words clean, but it didn't stop her from delivering a leaping spin kick from high above.

Took by surprise, he barely blocked it, but painfully shook his limbs as he argued..


Gary D: "URGK, that's stiff, Gin!"

Minori: "You said no holding back, it's like you're angry at me for something.."

Gary D: "No s[BLEEP]! You still owe me for that limited edition phone."

Minori: "Trust me, it's tough when I'm working minimum wage, Gary."


As the next strike was to follow, a raging bull approaches..


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..and stops, energy bringing the car to a halt causing massive heat to pile up its brake discs.

Expecting Candy to be the one coming in, Gary asserts..


Gary D: "Didn't she say she was out for a jog? Girl, this better not be one of your bounty hunters saying hi in they own special way."

Minori: "Always leaping into action, eh? Don't worry: I don't think this one's against us."


Just as Minori calms his thoughts, the people from the Countach then exits, with the driver slowly walking in to greet.


Nirvana: "Nirvana.. greets you, Ginoa."


Creepy.

As a narrator with feelings, I didn't mean it to be that blunt, but she then gets a reply..


Minori: "Bonjour to you too, madame. Ohh, I know you're fuming at me.. at us all for having a scuffle to the death, like we always seem to have a penchant for.."

Nirvana: "Quiet now.. the Crimson one instigated all this, that much I, Nirvana has figured. But Nirvana will think of some way to keep you all away.. that one Nirvana can't seem to control.. the risk is all too high."


Nirvana though turned to Gary, who had a short moment to himself in his head, recollecting..


Gary D: "Yo, I remember you.."

Nirvana: "The LA gangster kid. Kicked you out of captivity within the ranks of the Domini. That is.. how you now recollect I.. Nirvana Kellen."

Minori: "Gary and Nirvana. Ohh, the lowly little man and the dominating enigma lady.. they have met before?"

Gary D: "For sure. She's the reason I managed to get back to you before we got to working with CK that time."


Though, the fourth person then began to speak in his aloof usual way.


Emile: "Cute. But now's not the occassion to make.. a killing. Ginnie."


Greeted Emile as he tips his hat with a mild smile.

Minori tips her frilly maidcap back, with similar tone, spoke back..


Minori: "Nice to see you too, Emile."

Emile: "Likewise. I feel.. you're not going to be working at full capacity, Ginnie?"

Minori: "Umm.. give it another week, to be safe.. and for now, it's Minori."


Nirvana though intrudes with an opinion..


Nirvana: "You are still, to Nirvana, the great Ginoa.. or whatever that name of yours in the past was."

Emile: "Let that remain in the grave."


The jazzy sniper then turned to the only other man around..


Emile: "You.."

Gary D: "Me?"

Emile: "I don't know how, but.. The Saints got word of my everything, and a.. 'Bobby T' wanted me to deliver this."


He then reveals a small package from his inner jacket, handing it over to Gary, who follows this query..


Gary D: "Bobby T? Like, THE Bobby T helping out my homies while I'm banished and s[BLEEP]? Well, I wonder what's in.."


After discarding the wrapping, he then notices the package's real form. and could not hold back how excited he is..


Gary D: "Do my eyes deceive me, or could this be... OHHH! DANG! It IS! A limited edition GOLD plated Mantchom M60 smartphone?! Holy s[BLEEP], the ONE PIECE IS REALLL!"


In other words: a smartphone made to succeed the same phone Ginoa sliced in fury back at Week 26 (Week 53 Flashback).

Ginoa then still is guilty, but she knew he wanted to be alone, thus..


Minori: "Alright, you're excused.. sheesh."

Gary D: "I'll be back when I get this working, for sure. Damn! Bobby, you are my A-C-E ACE!!"


He dashes back into the house, as Nirvana comments.


Nirvana: "That takes care of him."

Minori: "Takes care? It's like you don't want him at all."

Emile: "I'd argue she meant it all unintentionally.. though I smell another rat."


He gestures a person approaching from the distance, sweaty, but for some unexplained reason very attentive with her hearing as she exlclaims, mildly infuriated.


Candy: "Rat? That's the latest and greatest insult, I hear? Humm.."

Emile: "Rodulf told me that's his nickname for you, but I'm not that callous."


However, she thought the tall lady in the back demands attention, as she greets firsthand.


Candy: "Morning to you too.. Nirvana."

Nirvana: "Ohh, Nirvana forgets this shabby place is your area of residence."

Candy: "I know you're demeaning because trust me.. there's a whole list of idiots who want this area as their own."


She spoke with clarity, albeit with a hint of a mean spirit, as Nirvana rebuts with her sassy self..


Nirvana: "Hmph. Of course. You figured as much, but it matters not."


Recalling Week 53's escapades, Minori then spoke..


Minori: "Remember when it was just us the last time?"

Candy: "Yeesh, yes, and don't even SAY anything of that."


Spoke Candy as she tries to steer the conversation aside, but Emile objects..


Emile: "Or what?"

Candy: "Or.. or.. why do you have to be such.. incredibly dangerous elements.."


She wanted to give in, but luckily for her Nirvana had other thoughts, showing a motherly smile, then commenting.


Nirvana: "Do not fret, little fool. Nirvana's in a.. rather pleasant state, wouldn't you say?"

Emile: "Oh, yes. You can say she's.. chopped enough heads above."

Minori: "Chop, drop, whatever: I'm puzzled she is, honest."


She however, then turns away, setting a reminder strictly..


Nirvana: "Nirvana suggests we should keep our schedule, and make our way to Tsukuba, Candy. Don't keep me waiting."


Unsure what to say, Candy remained silent for the moment as Minori expresses..


Minori: "Oh, you have fun now! I got these.. dashing gentlemen keep me company for my rehab today."

Candy: "Yuck."

Emile: "Dashing? That you can decide upon, but.. I'm feeling.. soulful today."

Minori: "Soulful? You mean the sax is here?"

Emile: "Oh yah. Why would I not bring the sax? You're ready for a wicked day of jazz and combat rehab? It's going to be something. Sorry, miss Candy."

Candy: "No worries. You have fun too! I'll leave you a tip, and YOU can ask her for coffee. Now if you'll excuse me.."


Candy then walked towards her home, but not before running into Gary..


Gary D: "Wassup, doll?"

Candy: "Hey! I'll see you for dinner, Gary."


They pass each other, as Gary looked back and observed her hips sway.

He then looked back and had the two killers infront of him, as he happily greets.


Gary D: "Yo, I missed anything?"

Emile: "Not quite."

Gary D: "How's you keep in contact with Bobby T.. umm.. yo, aren't you like The Black Flash?"

Emile: "You can answer that yourself. Or you know.. use that device as it should be used, not sharing catfights of the worlds most infamous assassin on social feeds."


Giggling by this burn, Minori spoke in amusement, watching her boyfriend's soul get destroyed..


Minori: "Hehe.. that sounded pretty harsh."

Gary D: "You for real, girl? I mean.. that's a lesson learned, for sure."


The gangster thought of pointing guns at this black dressed killer man of Boston, but he knows enough how bad an idea that was.

Tsukuba Circuit
Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture
Morning


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On track staff remained present, but an uneasy feeling engulfs the mostly empty Tsukuba Circuit today.

While checking the spaces for their event, Candy and Nirvana walk about, as the former spoke up about this strange air..


Candy: "This is the emptiest I've ever seen Tsukuba in the long history of me coming here."


She turned to the enigmatic brunette, deducing with confidence..


Candy: "You've got something to do with it."

Nirvana: "Nirvana's influences, is as they say: to not be f[BLEEP]ed with."


Arms on her hips, she replied..


Candy: "Obvious. Don't remind me.. and speaking of f[BLEEP].. listen.."

Nirvana: "Hmm.."


Bird Dance Beat
The Trashmen
Surfin' Bird


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Candy: "A sole Volvo. Riding smooth. Guess Manh must've been here for a while now.. he's still into those sleeping pills."

Nirvana: "Nirvana wonders if this Volvo is a result of this new Japanese trend, or something else.."


As the car cruises about, Candy then answers back..


Candy: "I had my share of fun in it years back, so.. it's not. Would you say that Volvo has a chance on keeping up with your Countach?"

Nirvana: "That remains to be seen. On the contrary, Nirvana documents.. the Rudeboy's a talent to not bat an eye from."


You know.. I've been developing first impressions with this Volvo akin to when I did nominate the 242 back in Mini Mexico. The thing is.. that car's a whole different beast because it's a rally racing turbo monster with a drifter's soul hidden inside. The 240 as is doesn't look like a monster, or a rally racer, or a drifter. Even though there's quite a good chunk of convincing likewise for those who want to discover it.

Let's preface with one thing: while the 240 sits in a low PP range, those who think it'll take you far is going to find themselves notably challenged. No, it's not the brakes, or the car having power oversteer. Rather, it's the car negligence to do any form of understeer or even neutral steer that gets me concerned. It's oversteer.. which normally is a good thing, but in the 240's case it's tha fact any steer is oversteer for those with limp arms.


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So, while it's long and shows dominance to whomever it faces.. akin to the Alphard and the Himedic, the handling of this car is, much unlike them, NOT understeer. Thanks to its low curb weight compared to those two monstrosities, the 240 instead incrementally slides across through corners rather than slides across the corner itself. It's as if to say having this big large plane atop as if it can carry a whole house atop. That is.. if the whole house is a kid's bedroom. But unlike a kid's bedroom, you're not safe in this place. You got 100 horsepower carrying 1.3 tons on a perfectly balanced weight distribution, so what's to worry. Well now.. I've already mentioned it, and I don't think I want to repeat myself any more when I shouldn't have to, because it's MUDANA to say it twice.

I'll slide into (booing sounds) handling now, and despite its size, you're going to find it to be mostly similar to the Sambabus: turn the wheel all the way without remorse, and it's going to slow you down drastically especially at this power level. When you brake into a corner, do it so gently; even more so than the cars we had weeks prior. It's the combination of having the big block of drag at the back holding you back when angling the car around, and the slippy comfort tires it has on. It pleads to you that you're not supposed to be taking it around at race pace at all. Moreso, you need to take a corner perfectly with this, because.. you try to adjust and you're going to either lose time (the source of my skill issues on Wednesday lobbies), or get sideways. This car is entirely a prime example of working strong with rhythm: keep it consistent, because otherwise it's the curtains for you.


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And now: the gearbox. Ohh man, here's where things get interesting in a bad way. Push hard enough and you'll get to 4th. Sounds nice, right? Just that.. there'a 5th gear waiting. Ugh.. Want more sources of woe? I mentioned the car is a rhythm car.. it means those tricks that involve the gearbox are to be avoided. Shift mid turn? Shake that booty! Engine braking? More than one, and your rear goes forwards. Short shifting? Uhh, the long gears might want to have you consider otherwise because do this, and you're going to not keep up with the bunch that takes the corners at the right gears. This is discipline I don't have, and I've been racing at a good pace for years now.

Though, if you're not fine with keeping it straight on corner entry, some throttle braking is recommended. The thing vexing about this oversteer that's present at anything you do with the car is that it's not present when you push it to the redline. And its 2 liter inline 4 engine is one that begs you to rev it high. Well, not super high. Speaking of high: these tall gears won't get you much trouble getting this car through curbs or elevation, and that's a plus for rally if not for how tall this whole gearing is. Imagine this with a better gearbox or a fully changeable LSD.. something I will cover on tuner's later on.


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It's highly regarded as the safest car from the 70's and if you're not ready, it insists on wanting to kill you.


Wow.

You know what: I'm starting to think these Scandinavians are trying to tell us something with this low key message. [sitcom laugh track]


The women watch from behind the pit walls in peace as the beige Volvo powers through lap after lap.

Nirvana remained quiet, counting the seconds as it courses through the track, but Candy's thoughts were filled with regards to the Vietnamese man inside.

She then spoke..


Candy: "You sell information, right? How's your collection so far of my old friend Manh?"

Nirvana: "He may be a man from a foreign land, but Nirvana can see through the paper trail he doesn't intend to shy."

Candy: "You're welcome to try creep me out."

Nirvana: "That he was once a delinquent that was going to be sent to California as part of his gang connections, but decided to stay in Japan after a stint of studying not bearing fruit?"


Eyes expanded and mouth opened in horror, the little racer exclaims, terrified..


Candy: "I.. oh my.. I was going to NOT believe that just to cross you, but.. but that detail.. you can't be making that up!"

Nirvana: "Why, you are flattered compounded with creeped out. Don't say a word: Nirvana expected that."

Candy: "Screw that noise; you're bluffing!"


She shouted back with confidence, but Nirvana doesn't need to turn her head to show her menacing glare.

Quick stare later, Candy then got the memo..


Candy: "Eugghhh.. or not.. how dare you.."


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Stretching his neck, Rudeboy then notices an arrival from two women, of which one shouted in delight..


Candy: "Manh!"

Rudeboy: "Ahah! Mother f[BLEEP]ing Candy! I'm so hyped up for the little.. umm.. your little gathering."


He replied stoically as he remains standing straight and hands behind back.

Curious, she answered back..


Candy: "You are? You didn't bring your newer sedans and just.. went all Volvo or bust?"

Rudeboy: "Consider it like me giving your buddies a mother f[BLEEP]ing chance, ahah!"

Candy: "Huh. Fine. As long as there are no bombs today."

Rudeboy: "No. No bombs! Trust me: parents hate it when there's a wire loose in this one!"


He then turned to Nirvana, wondering..


Rudeboy: "This one of your new pals?"

Nirvana: "Hmph. Pal? To her? Nirvana.. supposes that truth is muddied."

Candy: "Nirvana?"

Nirvana: "Allow me. Nirvana Kellen is the name. Broker of information, secrets, a race you'll never want to recall.. that is the game."


Done with her introductions, he shares what he knows..


Rudeboy: "Not just any hot chick called Nirvana, but THE Nirvana of the US underworld? F[BLEEP]ing A, Candy, you got these real mother f[BLEEP]ers in your web!"

Candy: "That's a compliment, right? Because crossing her is a death sentence!"


She saw the little racer flustered, earning a small smirk, as she comments..


Nirvana: "Nirvana likes it. Forgive the pre-emptive prying of my spying, so.. you are Rudeboy?"

Rudeboy: "F[BLEEP]ing yes, that's me.. I was.. I am.. and I always will be Rudeboy."


Taking out a cigarette, she then changes her view, satisfyingly mentioning..


Nirvana: "That settles it. Candy.."

Candy: "Yes, mama?"

Nirvana: "This again, eh? It matters not. Well.. Nirvana remembers that today's closed doors event are.. essentially an expensive social gathering."


With a feeling he wants to, Rudeboy adds.


Rudeboy: "I not paying, so I don't got anything against it."

Candy: "It was Nash's idea, but.. sure. You got me a paperback like last time?"

Nirvana: "Clever girl. One moment."


Walking towards a table in the garage, Nirvana grabs what's asked and returns, handing it.

After a quick skim, Candy observes the graphic of the leaflet, as well as the list of names..


Candy: "Oh, the second of this event. And THIS time it's names.. the last time it was cryptic and unwanted."

Nirvana: "You're welcome. Now, Nirvana needs a quick smoke break. Ciao."


As Nirvana leaves, the two quickly got to inspecting the paperback's list..


Rudeboy: "Sure are a whole roster of mother f[BLEEP]ing names here. I wonder who's going to be here first?"

Candy: "You hear? That's a classic Inline 4.."


Said inline 4 then charged into the pits, revealing a familiar machine.


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Those standing by inspected the classic Italian rally car, as the wine conossieur driving it, exits, checking nothing is left behind.


Candy: "Whoa.. no wonder I recognize it.."

Rudeboy: "Alfa Giulia? Sweet! Don't see things like this on the expressways."


And as he makes his approach, Candy couldn't hide it.


Candy: "B-Bon! Here so soon!"

Boniface: "Ma cherie, why expect otherwise?"

Candy: "Ughh.. well, I was hoping you'd have a dramatic entrance, but.. okay, you're here! Hehe.."


She hides her face behind the paperback, not that it's hiding anything from the men standing by.


Boniface: "Don't let anyone see you all red as always, my sweet pea."


He said with a hint of poking fun towards.

Boniface then turned to the Vietnamese mercenary, respectfully introducing..


Boniface: "You look like her old racing partner.. she's told me a fair amount about you. It is indeed a pleasure! Boniface Richelieu.. of the Richelieu family industries. Address to me as sir, or Bon.. or should you be feeling cruel: Bon Bon."


As those words came, Candy asked..


Candy: "You hated being called that."

Boniface: "Times have changed, Candy."

Candy: "Wow. That's development, alright.."


The mercenary, remaining straight and narrow, commented, albeit with a hint of hurry.


Rudeboy: "Damn, you're posh."

Boniface: "I'd call you a brute, but that's a given considering your foul mouth."

Rudeboy: "Mother f[BLEEP]er! Umm.. not in an offensive way, I mean.."


Remaining with a wide grin on his face, he turns to his love interest and shares..


Boniface: "Despite that.. I approve. Just watch out for my sisters."

Candy: "You and your sisters wouldn't like anyone else in the crew, trust us."

Rudeboy: "Oh yes, mofo Candy. Oh yes indeedy... what about his sisters??"


Just as Boniface arrives back after putting his car to an appropriate location, he asks..


Boniface: "So, there's quite a roster we await.."

Candy: "Umm humm.. I hear a car. Manh?"

Rudeboy: "Another small baby inline 4. Someone you know?"


The answer comes in the form of a British Green Golf.


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Candy looked on as it arrived, remembering..


Candy: "There's only one person I know with a Golf painted this green."


Though this curious mood isn't quite what retains the others, as Boniface..


Boniface: "Ugghhh! Why?! Why me?!"


..starts to dread about the whole moment, as he shields his face while angrily going around.


Rudeboy: "He don't look pleased."

Boniface: "[sobbing] You're about to see irritably displeased very very soon, monsieur."


He charges ahead to the hatchback, immediately confronting Paul as he grabs his flatcap.


Boniface: "You highland stained brute! Not. One. Word."

Paul: "Ach! What in the blazes?! Humm.. In that case, I be making it a whole plethora just to keep you in the loop, Bon."

Boniface: "I'd sew your mouth shut, Henderson, but.. would you do the honours, or shall I?"


Rudeboy looked on towards the animosity, querying..


Rudeboy: "What's with these mother f[BLEEP]ers? I thought it was just social collective, not final scene of a tense battle."

Candy: "They're best frenemies."

Rudeboy: "Ohh.. this is what the Europeans call.. banter!"


Overhearing that, the Europeans came close, as Paul reassures with an eager tone..


Paul: "Aye. Banter that be needing it's own wee segment."


Observing the mercenary, he lets loose and lays out what he sees.


Paul: "Your name's Manh, eh? Tag's clued to me.. you be like.. a proper soldierly type? Knew a wee bunch like that with me own eyes alone."

Boniface: "Oh, how boorish! You're missing the point, Henderson."


Receiving a nudge, Paul rebuts..


Paul: "I know, lad, shut yer trap. Paul Henderson. Uhh.. I'm not quite a guy who goes about shaking hands with people on a regular basis, but.. I got to now I'm the most well known face of Group 3 in Europe."


And not even seconds after..


Boniface: "A face with more losses than hers, mind you."

Paul: "Shove off, eejit. We be in loserland together, aye? Not like it's important or anything."


Rudeboy steps in, asking..


Rudeboy: "I'm troubled in mind connecting these two to you.. these better be mates from track?"

Candy: "Confusingly.. well, kind of. I don't think we've raced together yet."


As she ticks his name off, Paul looks around, feeling estranged by the situation..


Paul: "I've never been to Tsukuba when it's so barren like.. like.. the highlands. It's jarring."

Candy: "I'm a local, and you know I can relate. You're here quite early?"

Paul: "Aye. Got here last night from Rin's home turf, stayed at a nice hotel. Now, am ready, with me Golf all fuelled up for a banger."

Boniface: "Thanks for reminding me, you oaf.. Now I suppose it's the time I do want to check my car for the occassion. So sorry. You two have fun now."


As the pairs start to stand out, Candy reassured, not feeling fine with those last words..


Candy: "Okay.. we're not an item, or were.."

Rudeboy: "Hehe.. speaking of.. they look like a good couple.."


Rudeboy's observations oddly were interrupted with Candy dragging down his uniform's collar, then grumpily expresses..


Candy: "Umm.. two seconds, Rudeboy. One: he's married, and two: Bon's.. with me.."


The mental image of Boniface and Paul being a couple however isn't exactly an alien one, as Candy frustratingly expresses through voice..


Candy: "MANH, YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS?!"

Rudeboy: "Hey, I'm a rude boy, right-"


Taking a page from one of her best friends, Candy took him to the floor and started choking the mercenary..


Rudeboy: "AIK! W-when did she get so f-f-feisty, like for real again?! [wheezing]"


Paul and Boniface, wondering why they never went this far in their casual hatred for each other, watches in concern..


Paul: "Exit, stage left, lad?"

Boniface: "R-right behind you, you oaf."


Still at their spot just by the pit lane road, Candy, filing her nails, listened to Rudeboy rambling..


Rudeboy: "The truth indeed sets you.. free! Ahaha! Oww.. this strain not going away soon.."

Candy: "Ugh.. never let me hear you mention that again, alright? I still have hypertension, you know?"

Rudeboy: "Ya, ok. That much hasn't changed.."

Candy: "I'd ask for another story with Santana, but.. I hear incoming cars."


Cars came, and this time it's a blue pink pair of midships sports cars.


full



She looked on, noticing the brothers exit these stopped cars.


Candy: "That's the Scotts.. am I looking presentable, Manh?"


The answer she got from said Manh however..


Rudeboy: "Now that's a mother f[BLEEP] couple!"

Candy: "They're brothers, Manh!"

Rudeboy: "Well you seem to know these two well."

Candy: "For financial reasons.. ugh, well, we really need to get you more recognized outside of Asia."


The two meet the other two, and the large built Texan broke the silence, eagerly starting..


Demetrius: "My.. umm.. second favorite on track piece de resistance! Y'know, if Nashie boy said this is another shareholder's vacation.. he'd be lying like a hog, cuz gal: I'm spending like a hog!"

Candy: "He's not the one handling the strings this time, Demetrius.."

Demetrius: "Oh yeah, he ain't."

Teddy: "Whatever it looks.. I quite like the fabulous air in this place."

Demetrius: "Trust me.. oil and plastics are polluting our hearts and souls, ain't that right, Ted?"

Teddy: "Polluting, that's what HE calls it? Such unfabulous statements.."


Calmly shifting to his more jovial personality, Teddy speaks..


Teddy: "Well, it's splendid to see you again Candy. This your new friend?"

Rudeboy: "Not quite new.. you call me Rudeboy. You figure out why in one moment."


Interested, he continued..


Teddy: "Rudeboy? Oh, fabulous. Tell you something: Rude isn't in your mannerisms, at least. Theodore. This one's my brother Demetrius. We're Texan, and we're damned rich men of business. That's all you need to know for now."

Demetrius: "How'd you do!"


Spoke up Demetrius with a hand to shake.

They shook, but Rudeboy couldn't hold back..


Rudeboy: "Forget my nag, but you both seem like legit mother f[BLEEP]ing couple material."

Teddy: "So that's where the rude comes in, eh? Kidding! Umm, brother Dimma might not be, but I never hide how I'm into men, if you know what I mean."

Rudeboy: "That.. I do. Sorry, chump: I'm married."

Teddy: "I wasn't interested, but I adore your sincerity."


Interested in this development, Candy then intruded and instead wondered..


Candy: "Well, I understand Teddy, but you're here too, Demetrius."

Demetrius: "Since I hear you had a wrangling at Fuji that time ago, I figure I want in the fun. I've been driving real fast AND dangerous Ferraris for over 15 years, y'know? Remember my Tributo?"

Teddy: "Maybe you can stop sponsoring and get into the thick of it, Dimma."

Demetrius: "Fat chance that's happening, Ted."


Brothers do fight, Rudeboy thought, and he commented with interest..


Rudeboy: "I see the trash talking's already begun."


The brothers then stop, as Demetrius then turn over..


Demetrius: "Yeah.. Candy, I want a favor: you put him next to me on the race."

Candy: "Peculiar.. consider it done."

Demetrius: "Thanks. Now let's go and p-to the-ractice!"


Demetrius walks out, with Teddy feeling mellowed about this whole moment..


Teddy: "Whatever."


He then follows, but as they watch, Rudeboy wonders..


Rudeboy: "So, what's they to you, Candy?"

Candy: "The Scott brothers.. big money from Texas that's interested in making money from motorsports indirectly. Also part of the Kirkham Foundation."


And he wonders more..


Rudeboy: "Why mention that last bit? No reason to point out they're with some mother f[BLEEP]ing big pharma."

Candy: "We'll get there."


later 2.jpg



Some time passes, and the next bunch of cars come in with a mixed bag from a modern hot hatch, and its accompanying all American stock car.


full



More confused on how to describe this, Rudeboy asks his other..


Rudeboy: "I've been wondering."

Candy: "What now?"

Rudeboy: "Your friends really are from all over the world. Nobody I know owns a late 60s stock car."

Candy: "You might relate to him more than you think, Manh."


As the men exit their cars, they close the distance on foot as Candy ticks their names off, before greeting with joy..


Candy: "Well, thanks for making it."

Graham: "You alright, love?"

Candy: "Oh.. I guess I'm fine. It's only you two?"

Carlyle: "You's expecting somebody else?"

Candy: "Yep. Miranda. She was in Tokyo last week."


Graham and Carlyle looked at each other briefly, as they question..


Graham: "Was she now? How was she?"

Candy: "Umm.. riled up. We had a race around the expressways last week. She had to retire.."

Carlyle: "Shucks. It explains why the red Abarth's outta commission."

Graham: "Still need to address the radio silence."

Carlyle: "Course. But it's not like I's keep her around in a day to day basis. Last time she did this.. ahhh.. she's fine."


Rudeboy, who was occupied earlier, came in, waving with a stiff greeting.


Candy: "Meet my friend Rudeboy.. Manh, that's Graham, and that one's Carlyle."

Graham: "Pleasure's mine. A friend of Candy's a friend of mine too, guv."

Carlyle: "Well, HOWDY there. You're that same Rudeboy that's gotten a spark into the engine game here in Japan, I's hear.. sounds to me we can do's us some business."


He saw Carlyle rubbing his palms, but all he could talk back with is with admiration and happy feels.


Rudeboy: "Cool! A man in the business, it seems. So, how did you mofos get to know the little one here?"

Carlyle: "She put a nice leg up my nether regions! Nice, swift, accurate enough for me to cry mama! Hehe.."


However, even though Graham knew what happened in Week 2, he found it disturbing after every mention..


Graham: "Blimey, can we not talk about.. Thanks for confirming the dread in me, Lyle.."

Carlyle: "Little Leo's got's his wakeup call that day, you know it!"


Graham instead took a page from Week 17, recalling as he thought..


Graham: "Me first venture with her's more professional, Rudeboy. You know.. escape drivers on heists.."


Candy followed with another question..


Candy: "You know, after getting our cut, they never followed up."

Graham: "Hell if I knew what's happened to those lot, love. Not even Lyle knows."


Lyle however finds himself agitated, hyping himself in his head due to that low blow, and declares..


Carlyle: "I request permission to pass, because we's going racing, and you know IT'S ON, CUTIE PIE."

Candy: "Alright! Alright. Get going, then."


much later.jpg



Still on their seats, Rudeboy leans ahead, browsing his phone as he waits.

Candy though was done on that and talked..


Candy: "You were quiet."

Rudeboy: "I'm evaluating bloated roster count here. Not good for my head, the reader's head, and the wife's job of keep tracking too."

Candy: "Why the wife? Umm.. well, it's going to get worse."

Rudeboy: "Ahhh.. mother f[BLEEP]ing A! Thanks for the warning then.. there's another car.. sure are a good gathering of inline 4 engines.."


Another car then came in the equation, in the form of a tuned Abarth 500, but despite seeing it once, Candy knows..


full



Candy: "If I know any better, it's the head of the Kirkham Foundation himself."

Rudeboy: "You mean.. Nash? Nash Kirkham?!"


The car then came to a stop by an 86 parked nearby, and as the man exits with his theme song going strong like it should, Rudeboy's excitement motors start to rev.


Rudeboy: "Oh God it's the very mother f[BLEEP]ing one."


The sole man out of the car then walks, his coat swaying with the wind and gripping strong a special racing helmet, as he greets..


Nash: "Top of the day, Candy and.. company."

Candy: "Nash. Ready for another round of 'I told you so'?"

Nash: "If you thought I was trouble with the F1, you're going to be in for something else, verily so. You willing to talk about your friend? I see he.. seems mercenary like."

Candy: "Yeah, umm.. Rudeboy?"


He's nervous, but he hides it better than Candy could as he talks, standing with discipline..


Rudeboy: "That's me. Well.. I know you from television, but I'm, you can say a loyal customer."

Nash: "You are? In Japan.. well.. I can tell you don't seem Japanese."

Rudeboy: "Vietnamese, sir. I mean to talk about my mother."


Nash then thinks..


Nash: "Vietnamese woman.. I'm not in to talk about disclosing patient information, but I'll keep that in mind. Now, I must introduce my cohort."


He's evidently alone, she thought, as she proceeds with asking..


Candy: "Who? Alan? Max?"

Nash: "Well, mister Boy? You're familiar with the show.. verily you can help me with this one."

Rudeboy: "Hmm.. in what?"

Nash: "Summoning our.. tamed racing animal.. Some say he's made love to every animal extinct."

Rudeboy: "Umm.. and some say he's been looking for sharks to jump on beaches."


Nash might've paused, not expecting such a claim, but liked it after a quick thought, as he finishes up..


Nash: "(That's a fine one) All we know is.. he's known as The Guts. You mind.."


Giving the helmet to Candy, she takes it..


Candy: "Umm, sure.."


..then she receives a pat on her shoulder, turns to see hands wanting to grab.


Candy: "Here you go.. whoa!"


Instinctively she gives, but who receives is Sim Gear's mystery racing driver of legend..

Standing further away, they see The Guts wearing his signature helmet, then crossing his arms..


Rudeboy: "Just like magic! Wow! F[BLEEP]ing A, that felt spectacular."


He exclaims as he makes an applause to the scenes passed.

Turning to Candy, he asks..


Rudeboy: "This is the real deal, correct? Not stunt double man. It's The Guts.. your biggest on track rival, Candy."

Nash: "Give it to him."

Candy: "I know."


Handing the animal a mobile phone she took out her handbag, Rudeboy wonders..


Rudeboy: "You're giving him your phone?"

Nash: "Aside for unnatural appearances, he's got a penchant for.. taking your favorite portable device. Without permission, might I add."

Candy: "After the first time, I've opted for a more safe alternative."


The racing animal then started delving into the emptied device, as everyone watched.


Rudeboy: "When they say he's a mystery, you're god darned right."

Nash: "Trust me, you don't want to delve deep this iceberg."

Candy: "If he's here, shouldn't Williem be about?"


He knows about Williem's role, but considering the circumstances, he thought of an answer..


Nash: "I'll let you know if he's coming after the race. I guess we better see who else is around."


much much much later.jpg



Left alone again, Candy sits reading her paperback slowly getting more and more filled with ticks.


Candy: "Hmm hmm.. there's only a couple more groups coming over."

Rudeboy: "I see.. names. Speaking of Nash.. I see Maximus Davies. The other Sim Gear host.."


And without warning, cars come pouring in.


full



Seeing one of the two MINIs she drove back from Week 34, Candy knew Clark is here, and deduces who everyone else around is.


Candy: "And he's brought company.."


The man stepped out, followed by the rest of The Big 3.

He's not changed from when she met him in Croatia, but this time: she was much calmer than her first encounter..

The gruff voiced Messiah then noticed, commenting as he says hello..


Clark: "Morning. Her heart rate's at.. a good steady rate, Giles. I told you she's fine, but you t[BLEEP]s think otherwise, well look at her f[BLEEP]ing now."

Giles: "Oh, all right. Duly noted, you blighter."

Peigi: "Kee.. I didn't even say anything. OH WELL!"


No idea these three gather as heads of the UK's biggest street racing crews, he wonders..


Rudeboy: "We got us a threesome now."

Candy: "Umm, yes.. Max, Giles and Peigi. I suppose I'll let them explain who they are."

Giles: "I'll show you a proper explanation. Giles Crowden. Here's my card."


The museum curator hands Rudeboy a business card, and he reads after receiving..


Giles: "I curate classic cars in my happy little place in Kent. Expansion plans went to the gutter after a robbery in France, but.. I'm thinking Japan might be a better place for that."

Rudeboy: "There's tonnes of that around, though. I wish you the best of luck."

Candy: "And.."

Peigi: "You know what. Let's skip to the chase. I know who this guy is."


The bomb addicted man however didn't think similarly as he recoiled back..


Rudeboy: "Ehh?"

Peigi: "He's the Dragon of Da Nang! Keekee! I've been looking forwards to this! Like a bit of show and tell from Peigi-chan?"


While she seems nice, Clark and Giles both stepped back a little, knowing what's to come.


Clark: "This'll be something."

Giles: "Got popcorn, Max? I hear they've been rehearsing."


And then, she makes her move..


Peigi: "Everyone calls me Peggy: wunderkind of the Hammersmith nightlife.. heehee.. but more importantly: it's time for some revenge. Here."


Without warning, Candy receives a small keychain of a fairy tale princess..


Candy: "Now wha-"


She observes it for a quick moment, deducing nothing illicit's to happen..


Candy: "Cute.. I'm still puzzled why revenge has to come in the form of this cute keychain.."

The Cinderella: "EAT TAZE, BITCHES!"


..until it did, as The Cinderella not only appeared from a nearby garage, but shooting one of this strange duo's form of electrical weaponry.

The taser hit its mark, and Peigi watched the short statured racer take its surge of energy around her body in pain.

As Rudeboy cushions her fall with his body, the hafu DJ cheerily remarks..


Peigi: "KEEKEEE! Peggy and Cindy double team mission success!"

Clark: "Thanks for catching her in time, mister Rudeboy. You can call me.. SimGear's Max, by the way. Presume you met my brother Nash?"

Rudeboy: "I have.."


A moment later, Candy gets back control, but isn't so infuriated, instead calmly shrugging it off..


Candy: "Ggggg... I hate tasers.. I hate it when they reminded me of the pain, and how much they love it.. thanks, by the way."

Rudeboy: "No f[BLEEP]ing worries."


And back on her feet..


Candy: "I-I knew something like this is bound to come, but.. to.. do so today.."

Giles: "Getting to know Peggy is a mistake in many levels, this I hope you will learn, darling."

Peigi: "Mistake?! PSSSHHH, my arse, it's the best thing since.. since I had Cindy to be my buddy in tasting experimental ramen!"


Not wanting to stay, Clark then led them like he knew how..


Clark: "Well, it seems a crowd gather around.. I suggest we go on. It was nice getting to know your friend, Candy.."

Giles: "Ta ta for now."

Peigi: "Ta ta? You mean tit-ties! KEEKEEGUKEEKEEKEEEEHH!!"


Still unknown to Rudeboy as The Big 3, they leave without a word.. while leaving behind their most important asset..


The Cinderella: "Ahh, am sorry for that ruckus, Candy.. she's done handed me a tenner for it all, and.."


Playing around a 10 pound note, Candy mentions, with a slight hint of disappointment..


Candy: "Money is the root of all evil, Cindy.. though.. I don't care, so as long as I have people catching my falls.."


The fairytale princess however turned towards the mercenary, waving her ginger locks around playfully..


The Cinderella: "You're her new boy toy? I'm, umm.. well, they all call me The Cinderella. Trust me, bruvver: it's a long story."

Rudeboy: "What's her gimmick?"

Candy: "She lost her memory, and looks like it's not coming back soon."

Rudeboy: "I feel we should help, like good pals do!"

Candy: "We're not in her story. Not yet as far as I'm concerned."

A moment after the Cinderella takes her leave, Candy runs through the paperback one last time, noting the last names as..


Candy: "This last bunch.. they're closely related."


Behind her shoulders, Rudeboy peeks, noting..


Rudeboy: "I see Sonny Meng.. what do you have with that mofo anyways?"

Candy: "Racing rival. Plus.. umm.. I don't like him at first, but like he said: racing brings us together. And if you can't handle him, let me."


And underneath that, he also notes..


Rudeboy: "And that one says Nishimura.. would that mean.."

Candy: "You read right. Shinzo has a kid. She's chaotic, but behind the wheel: she can be okay at worst.. but a REAL fast one at best. And also.. these days, I call her my big sis."


He smiles hearing that, deciding to express..


Rudeboy: "I know you hate that word, but it's cute."

Candy: "This might be the only case I will except that."


However, the sounds of big engines not only engulf the area, but a siren..


Candy: "Oh.. yep.. he's on this list alright."

Rudeboy: "What? EMS? On racetrack, don't you think emergency services are to be expected, mofo Candy?"

Candy: "Yes, but.. not when it's racing along us."


full



As a select bunch of The List appears, Rudeboy recalls his episode last night, but more notably the presence of local expressway savant Bandit 1000, as he remarks..


Rudeboy: "I know that Trans Am. Belongs to Uncle of The List. Not long ago, I helped gotten it a new engine.."

Candy: "Oji-san is a friend of mine, moreso than the other List people present.."


However, he then counts the Mustang, remembering..


Rudeboy: "I saw them all yesterday night.. that white BOSS belongs to The Outlaw.."


However.. Candy had a hunch.

Said hunch includes yet another surprise attack, and she turns to her back to see a woman rollerblading in.

Lowering her speed, she then circles around the group, then pulls her helm's visor, joyfully greeting..


Rin: "Little sis!"

Candy: "You're not going to surprise me this time, Big sis!"


Watching a teenage sisterly hug, Rudeboy puts the pieces together..


Rudeboy: "This is Nishimura Rin? I see.. I know your dad: never said thing about YOU."


They stopped the cute reunion, as Rin answers back..


Rin: "Ohh.. well.. he never shared much of his personal life when he's butting heads on the streets of Tokyo."

Rudeboy: "Fair. Mother f[BLEEP]ing fair deduction."

Candy: "Rin-san, this is Manh.. we call him Rudeboy.. he's.. umm.. my closest friend before the Ternion. Also: if you weren't keeping your ears in check: he knows your.. our father."


Startled, she exclaims..


Rin: "He does?!"


However, Candy didn't consider this sudden memory of a goldfish moment..


Candy: "Oh my goodness, big sis, seriously?!"


With a quick laugh to himself, Rudeboy strikes.


Rudeboy: "Oh f[BLEEP]ing A I f[BLEEP]ing do! Don't mind the language, but.. I can prove it.. 10, 9, 8.."


Rudeboy might be doing a countdown akin to a demolition job, but as he takes out his smartphone and slowly drags his way through his crowded photo album, he then reveals..


full



..a picture of him in the passenger seat of a yellow Bugatti Veyron, with Rin's late father on the driver's seat, taking the car to a rated speed of 225 miles per hour on the empty expressways.

The women have no reason to see it as fabricated, as they watch with awe..


Candy: "Undeniable.."

Rudeboy: "This was a long time ago, but here: the day he brought a Bugatti to the expressways! 220 MPH! Fastest production car photo from smartphone!"


Hearing a sniffle, the little racer turned to her crying sister..


Candy: "Sis.."

Rin: "I miss him SOOO much, you know. I.. well.. now I have ample reason to trust you.. you're a rude boy, but.."


Shocked by this quick sway of emotion, Rudeboy recollected himself at an instant and stated..


Rudeboy: "Hah! No need to finish that one, darling: I get that a lot."


In thought, Candy wanted to know..


Candy: "I only heard rumors of Nishimura-sensei's Bugatti.. is it still around, or??"

Rin: "Of course. I sent it for detailing yesterday. Or more accurately.."


Her teasing face came out as soon as the three find themselves standing under a menacing shadow.. literally and metaphorically.


Jake Ross: "Jess, you shut your trap about taking my credit, darn it."

Rin: "Guiltyy~"


Rin quickly skated away, leaving her husband to gather his thoughts and words to the host of this event..


Jake Ross: "Well, my little Asian flower.. I hope you're happy The List has come all the way out of our usual turf."

Candy: "I thought we're through with this unwanted grump."

Jake Ross: "Don't take it that way. Much as I still feel alien about the whole place, I still enjoy coming over."


Followed by Murph and Ramlie, Candy however wanted to wave hello to them, though, her companion delved deep in thought.


Candy: "Manh?"

Rudeboy: "This man.. saw him and his posse. Yes sir: he's The Outlaw."


When you thought Nirvana's glares were paralyzing, this one has a killer instinct, as he brings out a glow from those eyes, as he angrily suggests..


Jake Ross: "Any explanations you'd like to bring out before I rip it off your corpse?"

Rudeboy: "(Waaaa, the urge to remain still and pro is getting less!!) N-no denying it!"


Skating her way in, the Interpol agent objected to this hostile air..


Rin: "J-Jake! No killing! In fact, you promised 1 whole month of no killing!!"

Jake Ross: "I know. Especially to named folk like him. Don't think I brought the machete.."


He's not out of the woods yet, Rudeboy thought, and thus he tried to speak..


Rudeboy: "It's.. not that. You were with The List last night. At Rest Stop 60. Everyone's on full show.. including one man that's not there publicly.. that's gotta be you."


Jacob turned his back to his current subordinates, mingling among them briefly..


Jake Ross: "He saw. What's your take on this, Murph?"

Murph: "Oi oi. Guess the rabbit's out of the hat, ay?"

Ramlie: "Come lah, bossman. Rudeboy's not really putting up that name in heart. Ahh, I trust him enough, okay?"

Jake Ross: "You two seem so happy.. he gets ANY word out, and it's the hoosegow for him.. forever. Y'all know that."


And on the other end, the mercenary begins to panic..


Rudeboy: "Candy! Mother f[BLEEP] this, I'm being oppressed like a mofo!"

Candy: "Hey, don't get me involved!"


And after that, he turns back..


Jake Ross: "There's no putting that genie back in the lamp, boy. It's too late to weep.. unless.. ever fancy being in The List?"

Rin: "That quick? We've yet to see how well he fares in that Volvo of his.."

Jake Ross: "I'm seeing the benefits of an international crew after Will, Eduard and Adachi. I can gauge if he's good or not."


He seems nice, they all thought, but not if your name's Manh, as he still holds back..


Rudeboy: "This is a trick, yes?"

Candy: "It's not your style to be.. coy like this, dark one."

Jake Ross: "Usually one of the few things I have to deal with newcomers in The List is to process their thoughts. First up: let them know who's the boss, for starters."


Ramlie then intruded..


Ramlie: "Hey, boss.. I've checked our cars, and the ambulance.."

Jake Ross: "Good to go?"

Ramlie: "Yes, yes. Might need a little more detailed tune up for the track.."

Jake Ross: "Well.. time I enthuse the Big 3 now that they're here to ruffle your feathers as they would mine.."


As the dark one makes his leave, Murph briefly slinks in..


Murph: "Scuse me, mate. I'm Murph. Say, you need a thief of a grand set of filching skills, you DON'T know where I am, you DON'T find me, and we've NEVER done business, ay? But.. I'm an ambulance driver these days. Though my passion's always been mucking about on the streets whether they like it or not, ay?"

Candy: "When are we going to have another episode with you?"

Murph: "Fraid that's not for me to decide. I'm off now."


And the one last member of The List..


Ramlie: "So, fancy seeing you here, Rudeboy. Now I know you are connected to her."

Rudeboy: "Oh, it was while back thing, Lee. Now connected again. How's the LS? I'd like to see the work."

Ramlie: "Today I brought the power down for Tsukuba reasons. We can go all out, for.. tomorrow night?"

Rudeboy: "Mother f[BLEEP]ing A, I'm down."


a little longer than a few minutes later.jpg



Back to just two, the one man still shakes from that flight close to the sun..


Rudeboy: "Candy.. mother f[BLEEP]ing.."

Candy: "Still shaken by this.. small sect of The List, or.."

Rudeboy: "The boss. Being.. the Jacob Ross that's shaken up Tokyo roads once. No wonder I was afraid of facing him.. it's in his blood."

Candy: "That's odd. When I hear about what's in the Ross family blood.. it's more pride than fear. Okay, I guess you do need some form of explanation of why I call him the dark one.."


However, the air pollutes, though they know it's not natural for it to happen, and confirmed such as they turned back..


Rudeboy: "Ughh, tobacco. That's your smell, Nirvana.."

Nirvana: "I, Nirvana, have returned. So.. who's left on the list? If Nirvana's calculations do no wrong, there's only one name left.."


A quick peek confirms..


Candy: "Sonny Meng."


And the brunette then explains, with her stoic face remaining..


Nirvana: "As I, Nirvana have planned.. he's going to be Nirvana's adversary in the race.. how lovely."


Like an egg hatched, Rudeboy connects a piece of streetwise lingo..


Rudeboy: "Heyy. I know this: phenomenon known as.. umm.. Sonny VS Nirvana!"

Candy: "It's the other way around, actually."

Rudeboy: "Like it f[BLEEP]ing matters."

Nirvana: "It does. It's to mark Nirvana won the first race."


As she asserts the importance of that name, a supercharged Corvette came in, though with the body of Sonny's iconic Camaro SS.


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However, Candy found no ease of mind, as she realizes..


Candy: "That's odd."

Nirvana: "Enthuse me, Candy."

Candy: "I'm used to Sonny Meng being an ass and coming in with a song playing about. He showed me when his.. what he calls 'New Hotness', comes around, that montage music from Scarface should be going on by now."


Unable to object, Nirvana conforms as she puffs out a cloud of smoke.


Nirvana: "Astute.."


And to confirm, another man comes out of the Camaro, as Rudeboy confirms..


Rudeboy: "The guy coming out isn't Sonny Meng, Candy."

Candy: "Told you so."


The man appearing is however not Sonny Meng, but the man that's closest to him in his adult life..


Kirk: "Hola, miss Candy and crew."

Candy: "Kirk, outside Burbank, California? What sorcery did this?"


Remembering her time with him visiting on Week 36, Nirvana observes this unusual act, staring down this chubby buff man with intrigue.. as Rudeboy watches her..


Nirvana: "Hmm.."

Rudeboy: "(She's real eager about this buffed up heavy set person)"


Candy not getting a response is fair game to what she knows about Kirk, as she proclaims..


Candy: "Silent treatment? Well, I'm happy to see you regardless."

Kirk: "Likewise. Now please take these.."


Handing the three a pair of binoculars each, they find themselves puzzled..


Falling To Pieces
Faith No More
The Real Thing


..as a song begins to rumble.

Candy, with wonder, questions..


Candy: "Binoculars?"

Rudeboy: "What's it for?"


After a pause, Kirk then answered as he takes a piece of paper out his jean pocket..


Kirk: "You'll catch on. Umm.. oh: 'Look up in the sky! Is it a bird? Is it a plane.. NO!'"


Confused by a moment, the arch-nemesis then took a guess, and looked upwards..


Nirvana: "Oh.. Nirvana sees his ploy.."


She looks upwards with the binoculars, and the others follow suit, seeing a small figure getting larger by the moment.


Candy: "Oh, what is he thinking of NOW?!"

Nirvana: "This has to be the most outlandish Sonny Meng has ever gone to make an entrance."

Rudeboy: "Whatever good or bad, this mofo's future is mother f[BLEEP]ing insane.."


Said figure then clearly reveals to be a man, skydiving on to the track.

Not taking in accord of any safety or appropriate measures for skydiving landings, he takes aim in the middle of Tsukuba Circuit.

Seeing enough to see no cars on the venue, he pulls the chute, falling gently as no issues come to be in this spectacle of an arrival.

As those watching stop looking, they notice Kirk already missing.

The man headed by the parachute's landing spot, clearing up as the man taking off the bag speaks..


Sonny: "I.. have arrived. Thank you, thank you."


He's already en route to his Camaro, but not before running into the bunch meant to greet him on the event.


Sonny: "So, of course you saved the best for last, right, Candy baby? Of course, I'm flattered, but let's not think about good old me for the next few minutes."


He's gleaming all over, Candy thought, as she teases instead..


Candy: "Well then, Rudeboy. I permit you to be rude to him considering.."

Rudeboy: "..how self absorbed this mofo is? He make Santana look generous."


Sonny though turned back as he sees his brother in arms carrying his unwrapped chute..


Sonny: "Sorry you have to clean that up, fatboy. If I think this positively, I say it's a warranted success, beh."

Kirk: "Cool. The cleanup crew for this shindig's gotta be more than just me for next time."

Sonny: "Yeah. Maybe you can ask Raw to come along when I do this s[BLEEP] lah."

Kirk: "That, or I ain't got the hang of packing up a used chute. Y'know, I'll think about it."

Sonny: "Last offer, Kirk: you wanna ride shotgun, or am I going solo?"

Kirk: "Trust me: you might need the 100 kilo advantage, Son."


Now showing a disturbed look, Sonny turns to the brunette woman nearby..


Sonny: "Well, big and ugly.. I'm here. Ready to take this round to the next level?"

Nirvana: "Is Group 3 not to your level? It matters not. Today, I, Nirvana will run you in the mud with your right hand man watching in its fullest! Fufufu.."


They're meant to leave together, but Sonny notices the odd person out..


Sonny: "Oh, you're Candy's old flame? Well, not exactly, but I'm happy to see another South East Asian in the roster, lor. Sonny Meng: Asian-American Badass. You all know me, but it doesn't hurt to remind everyone who's her greatest adversary on track."


Seeing an imaginary explosion behind him, Rudeboy not only reassures himself, but decides..


Rudeboy: "Well.. I'm sorry, Candy, but I like him already."

Candy: "Bull. S[BLEEP].. Bul[BLEEP]! You hypnotized him?! HOW?!"


Waving his head like a shampoo model, Sonny boasts away..


Sonny: "What does charming and badass compound into? The greatest combination, of which your ass ain't going to ever match, baby! [teeth shines]"


..followed by receiving a stiff headbutt from the short statured racer.


Sonny: "HAIYAA!"

Candy: "Don't even think about it, Manh.. Lulu is going to be SO proud of me."


*I went past the 150k word limit this time and thus gotta double post.. how could I go further than such a limit?!
 
SPD Writes Gran Turismo 7's Car Of The Week: Week 60 - Volvo 240 SE Estate
PART 2


As the day processes, a collection of Candy's invitees come carousing around the small circuit.


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Candy, ready to go for the upcoming race, peeks towards the spot she first met Nirvana, expecting to see her puffing away her stresses away.

While the tobacco stench repels her, she decides to head over, and ask..


Candy: "Are you not.. going to go practice?"


Ignoring her, Candy puts her hands on her hips, replying with sass..


Candy: "Sheesh. That silence I presume is a no."

Nirvana: "Nirvana would presume you too are done with practice?"

Candy: "With an hour to go, I prefer using this time for soothing my soul. You still remember I got my issues with hypertension, hmm?"

Nirvana: "Nirvana does. As would any mother would."


The parental reference shook her slightly, demanding a follow up..


Candy: "Odd.. you say it time and time again how much you didn't enjoy the motherly reference.. especially how recent I used it.."

Nirvana: "It comes to a reminder for Nirvana that it also annoys that rascal Sonny Meng, so if he cracks, then that is a win for I.. Nirvana."


Nirvana then disposes of her current burnt out cigarette, turning to Candy with a scent of authority along with nicotine.


Nirvana: "Well.. Nirvana awaits."

Candy: "What?"

Nirvana: "You know what Nirvana desires, fool.."


Not showing remorse, she kept up the pressure with a silent gaze..


Candy: "I.. umm.."

Nirvana: "Don't give Nirvana that crap. Nirvana has the power to.. hire and fire."


A serious faced Nirvana takes out her zippo lighter and lights it, perhaps to remind her victim of the damage she's able to inflict.


Nirvana: "Consider this a courtesy request."

Candy: "It's about your Diablo, isn't it?"


Candy wasn't ready, but is sure this is coming, as she reluctantly bows..


Candy: "S-sorry.. for breaking you, I mean. Your car however.. I really enjoyed pushing a V12 with all my heart that it might be my last, that.."

Nirvana: "Your apology needs work, but honestly Nirvana is glad to hear that."


The sudden tone of joy questioned her.


Candy: "Eh?"

Nirvana: "Ginoa speaks the truth, then. If Nirvana needs you to be pushed further ahead, then don't be surprised if something that this devised by Nirvana come forth again."


Coming together, she relieves another heavy burden through her mouth..


Candy: "Ohhh.."

Nirvana: "Do not worry about live or let die scenarios for now. Perhaps Nirvana should clear the air, as that self loving clown Sonny Meng is expected to be up here in a moment."

Candy: "Am I hearing this?? You're taking his signature skill?"

Nirvana: "And putting it to Nirvana's gain? Of course. It also ticks him off. You get the idea."

Candy: "That I do! Teach me someday?"

Nirvana: "Fufufu.. ohh, my short statured fool. When it's mastered, Nirvana would gladly accept that request."


Noticing the little racer leaning on the rail, Nirvana recalled..


Nirvana: "You used to smoke, correct?"

Candy: "In my high school days. Was quite the delinquent despite my upbringing and.. size."

Nirvana: "This you detailed further than the last time Nirvana asks."


Ready to leave, she then brings a reminder..


Nirvana: "Since you're ready, Nirvana must assume you are too about.. you know."


She walks aside and reveals the man she loathes the most..


Sonny: "Oh, the usual spot, Candy baby?"

Nirvana: "Him."


Candy, not unprepared, speaks..


Candy: "Well, this was no ways a surprise. Do tell: ever raced that Countach before?"

Sonny: "I hope you mean before we had a tussle the last time.. no lah, don't think so. Can't risk pushing hard that legendary Italian wedge on this tight place. Then again.. Nemesis has went street racing before, so.."


Nirvana, able to strike, goes for the throat in speech..


Nirvana: "You've proven Nirvana has more.. balls than you can handle."

Sonny: "If you're thinking I should rip these beautiful denims off to show my.. this part of me.. hmm.."


Candy, however, might be the target, as she starts to argue..


Candy: "N-Nirvana! No! You're making him CONSIDER it?!"

Sonny: "To be fair, it might gleam. Worth a try. Now.."


And before she could break..


Candy: "GWAA! How abhorrent! That's it! I'm gone!"


The two that remain, despite usual hostilities, had a moment to enjoy this departure.


Nirvana: "Wasn't it you: the crowning jewel of rabid idiots that said that we have a rating to keep aware?"

Sonny: "It's the website's rules and terms, beh. Not for me to decide, but it's badass as it is. [teeth shines]"

By the day's apex, the track gets full usage of 20 different cars crowding with their colors on full show, and power at the ready.


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And as the light signals go, they all move onwards to victory.


Bird Dance Beat
The Trashmen
Surfin' Bird


However, all eyes come to the stranger of this whole collective, driving his ages old beige Volvo to the redline, much to the dismay of his close others should they be around.


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Yay, it's tuner's, and boy oh boy, you're not going to love this if you want a complete and utter sleeper at 550 PP. I'm so glad we finally get a car that needs a tune that's not raise, twist and harden the rear to fix. If not straightforwards, the 240 is full of character and charm. Did I say charm? Well.. it's not quite everyone's type of charm.


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First thing: the tuning master Praiano himself has put out a tune for the car. While it is perfect for 500 on Sports Hards, this is much too soft a regulation for my tastes. Said tune however it follows suit towards the many quirks the car has that needs address. These days, I don't copy these tunes; usually just take a hint or get an idea on what's done to keep things sort of competitive. Oh, I know some of you like to point, so I'll admit: copying was definitely Gran Turismo 5/6 era SPD's crime. I got no complaints after a quick trace; he's the master after all!

On its current configuration, putting power on the car is asking for a rear happy exercise in frustration. So, let's get that issue out of the way, and first get these in: a wide kit, rear wing, widened tire profile, fully custom LSD and suspension. Bringing up the rear downforce, and making a much more less roll happy setup (my anti roll bards are 8 and 7 last I mucked about) will cure initial issues. The damping ratio you also want low: this I learned in Mini Mexico that if it's stiff, it'll feel restrictive, but more eager, if that's the word for it. The car's rear is definitely restrictive, so it's going to be soft. Around the lower 20-30 percentiles sounds okay, as long as it's not soft like Senator Armstrong final boss fight on opposite day.


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Like many of the roster not having much of a power presence, this car has an option to add a turbo. Now, unless you're going to run racing tyres or know what you're doing with this, you otherwise stay away from these. It's because even the lowest one will inflate your power values, even said perfect tune above won't cut it. With a turbo, treat this like a Mopar muscle car on a diet: loads of power carrying little weight. I decided to defy this rule and produce a 550 PP on Sports Softs. It took many trips to the wall for me to create what looks like the variant of the car that's driveable with this rule: nerfed power restrictor (yep, it means a messed up torque band), and all the ballast to the front. That's how I did it.. and probably how you want it too if you really still need some stability. You can make it softer if you like, or even raise the front if needed.

This is pretty much how to make your 240 more stable: the movie script. So, after your suspension and turbo advice, you know the LSD is next. This one's easy: since the car refuses to lock up decelerating, we're going to amp that up with a lot of deceleration (mine is at 40) and.. acceleration comes to the car's current power output, meaning lower when it's more powerful. And you know those heavy gears? Get a fully custom manual, and tighten that sucker to your heart's desire!


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You're chuffed if you want a rally tune, but if we're on Sports Softs: congratulations to me to making this complete and utter sleeper on 550 PP, and it also means I'm happy to say it's possible, despite the rules we have to bend in order to make it work. I've been working on a 550 on hards, but so far.. it works should you treat it like a Mopar muscle car.


No, screw that.

Screw documenting 20 racers around for 10 laps!

Nobody cares what happens in the race anyways! (there's a race planned for next week, by the ways)

Not to mention I didn't end up in a Carrera GT!

So I'll just announce who won..


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Ramlie: "Oh, bagus! Serious, bossman: you nearly caught me.. I'm not exactly patriotic, but have you heard the term 'Malaysia Boleh'?"

Jake Ross: "Not the first time you told me.. though, it's this enthusiasm that earns you the spot on my elite, Lee. So Bandit 1000 can do Tsukuba too, huh?"

Ramlie: "You'd be surprised what other tricks I got up my sleeve."

Jake Ross: "Tricks. You are a bag of tricks from the day I met you, Lee."

The day continues, and as the sun begins to wane, so does the activity.


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After bidding goodbyes, Candy finally finds time to leave the track, left only with herself, and the duo consisting of Sonny and Kirk.

While only one can be loud among these, it doesn't stop their mingling in the garage..


Candy: "She's in good hands."

Sonny: "Ahh, I appreciate doing that to our favorite little killer. She's relatively connected to a lot of us, maa. I'd draw a diagram, but since it got more legs than a centipede.."

Candy: "Afraid I'd get bored? You're God damned right on that end."

Sonny: "Boredom's not going to be what's up, though."


Laying on a set of chairs, the three continue to talk, until Kirk remembers..


Kirk: "One more thing."


He approached his boss and whispered something..


Sonny: "Uhh.. uhhuh.. ohh, right right! Completely slipped my mind, lor. How can this be?"


Sonny finds the moment to stand up, followed by Kirk as he wanders, leaving Sonny to declare..


Sonny: "Yo, Candy! Before we head out.. that bitch queen Nirvana told me something."

Candy: "Well? Spit it out already."

Sonny: "Umm.."


However, considering Kirk's state, he needed to stall.

Sonny isn't one to do so much, giving him internal panicking as he tries to compile what to say..


Sonny: "(Walao, a poor choice of words.. not to worry, we'll fix this in a jiff!) Well, I want to.. to.. itu.."

Candy: "If this is about you trying to have a dick measuring contest with a woman earlier, don't even mention it any more than you already have."

Sonny: "As great I want to pursue that line of thought, it's not that.. Candy! Baby! Just that you gotta give me some moment as I gotta process. Sonny Meng, what the hell, siao, siao.."


She's not dumb, and he's right for once, as she figures..


Candy: "Oh my gosh.. are you stalling?!"

Sonny: "Candy! Sis! Baby. Don't mind me extending my speech for no reason, but you gotta trust me.. this American Asian Badass.. wait, it was Asian American Badass.. anyhow. You gotta trust me: I am not stalling!"


He spoke all as sweats come pouring down, though just then Kirk chimes in..


Kirk: "It don't take a genius to tell, Son."

Sonny: "Well, thanks Kirk: I knew I could count on you."


Spoke Sonny in his uncaring Mr. Krabs tone as he was corrected.


Candy: "Annoying. I don't care if you missed me, or you want to sexually harrass me; we can talk more at my place."


Though, just as she begins to ready her departure, Kirk hears a knock.


Kirk: "(The signal) Son, that's the one. I believe you should tell her."

Sonny: "I was getting to that, lard fat."


Using his One Step Ahead, Sonny shuffled across towards Candy's general view.

Grumpily interrupted, he began to speak with confidence..


Sonny: "Candy.. what came as a guise to introduce Rudeboy to the gang was.. well, a guise ahead of another guise."

Candy: "I'm not so easily fooled. We are done here. I really want to check on Minori-chan."

Sonny: "You're going to love this one. Kirk.. press the button!"


Kirk, with a remote switch, pushes it..

Only for nothing to happen, as he looked on with confusion..


Sonny: "Is nothing happening?"

Kirk: "Ugh.."

Sonny: "Batteries dead?"


He took out a pair of double As from his pocket, replacing the dead ones in the remote..


Kirk: "I'm on it."

Candy: "Do you carry AAs like anywhere you go, or.."


With batteries replaced, he hands the worn out ones to Sonny, as he replies with an intriguing mood.


Kirk: "Erghh.. something like that. Was taught to be flexible. Y'know.. you lose focus for one second in this game, and.."

Sonny: "Yeah yeah, things don't go to plan.. the usual s[BLEEP]. Least this case nobody's getting hurt, so I ain't complaining, maa."


With his grin strong, he declares, enthusiastically..


Sonny: "Might I suggest you sit down, so you'll be standing up when we open this door.."

Candy: "Ehh.. It's not my birthday, just so you know.."


She spoke with little interest in their ploy.

But when the garage opens, something else was here.


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Two men stand by, though not really trigerring any kind response of from Candy.


Candy: "That's just Manh and the dark one.. you know, you've set a new low on disappointment today."

Kirk: "They know. Move aside gents."


They do so, and behind them come a pair of women, but not just any women..


Lucia: "Aww.. look at her. Hasn't changed a bit since I was gone."

Jake Ross: "Doubt it. Go for it, Luce."

Cierra: "H-hiya!"


This is the most impossible thing yet, Candy thought, but she couldn't shield the moment, as if it was the early weeks of her adventure, that her closed knit group came by to say hi..


Candy: "Lulu! Ohmigosh! You're here! And with Cierra! I-I-I!"

Cierra: "So happy?! M-m-ME TOO!"


The men watching by get together, as Sonny inquired his best buddy..


Sonny: "How'd you do it, Jake?"

Jake Ross: "Got some more use out of the hacked Prophecy Tablet."


He waved it about, which keen eyed Kirk has his sight glued to it..


Kirk: "Talk about modified. I wonder if it can play Call of Duty Mobile on it."

Sonny: "You heard that, beh? Games and food is what you're fuelled on, big boy."


Before he could, Rudeboy got the first preview..


Rudeboy: "Can I have a look.. ohh. Mother f[BLEEP]er.."


He looked all over the protected mobile device, in and out every hole and up and about its various panels.


Jake Ross: "What's your gumption on it?"

Rudeboy: "This military grade. Probably got in built encryption. I'm more afraid of where you got this rather than yourself."


Handing back the tablet, the mercenary stepped up to the posse of happy little ladies, and wanted to ask..


Rudeboy: "Heyy.. this must be the Ternion you spoke of. The ones taken by some shady group of punks."

Candy: "Uhuh. Lulu, and Cierra. This is Manh.. you call him Rudeboy, but he's not quite rude."


He didn't have his hat on now, but he tipped his head anyways, as he greeted..


Rudeboy: "Yo! What's good. It's about time I meet the mother f[BLEEP]ing prodigy herself."

Lucia: "I.. umm.. don't do that. But.. I do see why they call you Rudeboy."


Cierra however moved quickly to the back of her group, hiding from his sight..


Lucia: "Don't mind Cierra, she's.. like that."

Cierra: "L-lovely.. straight posture and muscular build.. I mean.. Eeeep!"


This all seems grand, but Candy then wondered..


Candy: "I suspect they're not here for long."

Jake Ross: "You guess right, my little Asian flower. This nice lil' event Nirvana made for us.. it got us this distraction to get them away. Enough time for.. one race, then they scram. Am afraid it's to keep this all low key like."


She heard the words 'one more race', and didn't even hesitate to declare..


Candy: "Well, of course I'm game. How about you guys? Uno mas?"

Even though their rights are about to go, a second run around Tsukuba starts to brew.


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They were all exhausted, but the Ternion didn't quite follow that sense of fatigue as their brief reunion reinvigorated their spirits.


full



The competitive aura however still remains strong with all competitors, ensured from Kirk watching this all happen from the distance through the same binoculars he distributed.


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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------​


There is a ton of potential in this wagon. I really didn't want to give it a Beater, because as is, it feels that way. If any of you play Wreckfest, you know this car feels right at home with it with its current handling profile.

Unfortunately to bring the Sleeper in this is much too taxing for any muggle about. I tried all kinds of combinations on a tune. And the whole time behind the wheel is an exercise that makes me want to go back to the Carrera GT. I'm afraid it's an easy.. perhaps a high Neutral, until it gets a potent non aspirated powerplant transplant.
Click to expand...

Waaa, if you thought I waffle a lot, this is essentially that episode taking that in form.

I need to question sometimes to present SPD. How I trump even the likes of Week 23, I never knew it'd come anyways. Don't pack the whole roster in like this, past SPD said, but well, to me rules are made to be broken. Especially with things like one song per part (exempted because self insert is present today).

They were meant to appear in prior weeks that I didn't write, but we have one of the two Scott brothers in Demetrius from Week 43, and Sonny's own right hand man with a strangely hidden past from Week 36 making their debut/return. I plan the plot, alright. It's not moving or anything, but slice of life style seems to be the only way I can keep going.

Oh well. Enjoy the walls of text, me buckos.. I don't even know how I even said that, ugh..

As the main character, Candy Lam is bound to appear in every segment, be it either as the lead role, or as a small mention.

The infamous Sweet Toothed Lone Wolf of Asia, or known worldwide as Le Glace Pacer. While her social presence is significantly poor, her presence on the track hasn't been short of perfection, now under the pressures of being a monetary source of higher powers, as well as her role being the most prime form of woman racers.. But don't let her hear that.

Theme Song: Def Leppard - Bad Actress
Racing Duel Music: Def Leppard - Nine Lives
Gender: Female
Nationality: Hong Kongese
Age: 30
Current occupation: Professional racecar driver
Distinct features: Long, clean, straight ashen hair tied to a ponytail via traditional red braids. A stiff, stoic Asian beauty that starts to show sign of wrinkling, covered by heavy layers of makeup. Thin, rounded diamond face, with various beauty signs of it being worked on unnaturally, especially her unblemished small snub nose, heavily lipsticked mouth and thin brown Asian eyes. Short body with small proportions.
Choice of clothing: Typical modern glossy sleveless Hong Kong dress, but 90% she will have her favorite on, that's in blood red with a white bauhinia pattern on, with matching sandals. Most of her clothes and themes come in red or white.
Cars: Toyota GR Yaris 1st Edition RZ "High Performance", MINI Cooper S, Honda NSX Type R '02, Mazda Demio XD Touring

Even though she's a proud Hong Kongese, Candy is actually born in high society Tokyo, and more exposed to living in a usual Japanese lifestyle. An only child, it was easy to find herself spoiled rotten from a young age, getting what she wants and not caring how it got there, thanks to wealth she inherits strongly. Her father notably was an executive in Toyota's racing division.

A target in her younger ages, Candy's early life was full of trouble from others that are against her being a Hong Kong native in Japan. She never made any friends as a result, and this loner habit of hers remained even after changing schools, going so far to even give her a new alias. While her parents have a strong standing in the society she lived in, she remained in their shadow, because she couldn't find comfort out of it.

Upon reaching her adult days, Candy's first 'milestone' would come when an incident in a high class event caused her to run, leading to a manic police car chase spanning several weeks before she was arrested. The victim of these events would have deep ties with various Yakuza families. While her parents retreated to Hong Kong, Candy stayed in Japanese prison, learning that if nothing needs to come her way, she needs to learn something she initially dreaded to do: manipulate the human mind, a state of thought she was once a victim of.

After her sentence, she regained her freedom, and it didn't take long that was noticed by the city's largest street racing community. Still with her inherited wealth, she started off strong in the streets. Years then pass, in which she eventually proves herself as a top competitor for racing in many top endurance races worldwide.

While her fans are out there in many parts around for being a woman dominating a man's sport, she's not exactly a great social interactor, and is a nobody outside the racing community. With many questions still left unanswered, maybe there are more ulterior motives with the unsanctioned blue MINI project..

The newest member of infamous street racers The List so happens to be one country bumpkin that puts his charm above all else to any sweet talking, pretty lady he finds, whether they like it or not.

Theme Song: The Alan Parsons Project - Psychobabble
Racing Duel Music: Cinderella - The More Things Change
Gender: Male
Nationality: American
Age: 28
Current occupation: Stunt actor
Distinct features: Blonde hair, often slicked upwards to a folded twirl, revealing his charmed, rugged diamond face. Small green eyes behind medical sunglasses, with a chubby hook nose and a wide mouth that drastically puts a nasty idea to his often showing grin. Average height, with slightly wide profile. Skin is blemished in many places. Always chewing wheat.
Choice of clothing: Never consistent, but it's always action oriented. He can be wearing a tank top, to army fatigues. His lower body usually has khakis and combat boots. Has an affinity for orange. Wears special sunglasses due to an incident that damaged his eyesight.
Cars: Plymouth Superbird, DeTomaso Mangusta, Maserati Merak SS

This ravishing, but honest down to earth lover was born from a long line of the first Dutch immigrants to America of the 19th Century. Being a rural countryman of Illinois descent, Carlyle hasn't been of note in the racing world. But everyone around him know this man can get into the career without issue, as he's got the moves thanks to his long experience as a prime stunt actor of a small Los Angeles movie studio: Aurea Signum Studios. And one mantra that follows would be how that studio never fakes their stunts. Carlyle specializes in the vehicular aspect of this, notably, aside from women, he gets his arousing fix through high speed chases.

How Carlyle manages this is due to his family's ties with the classic car communities all over America. He's never without his Superbird ever since he turned 16, and it's always seen nearing 200 MPH. No doubt this would lead to how he's a frequenter to the police stations all over the nation, taking chances to just woo at just about any woman he sees within. Most commonly, that would be in central Los Angeles, where his own mother works at, and he would meet a significant link: a Japanese officer living in America, who has ties with the most infamous street racer in the nation.

A night stint of The List was interfered when Carlyle made their legendary speedster sweat with nitrous behind them. Not only did it get him a spot on The List, codenamed "Hot Shot" as per their rules, but he would prove invalauble as team support, along with being a creative thinker stemming from his army cadet youth, especially if he'd be deluded to say women were on the line.

In fact: a figure such as he somehow carries major weight in the underworld, particularly being the man to go to procure older cars, be it a used car or a Hagerty appraised classic. There are strong suggestions his role in the classic car communities are just a front for smuggling, but rumors remain as rumors.

Tech savvy geek with a forte in extreme sports. While her chaotic nature always gets her into situations unwanted, her overall innocent and kind upbringing gets her to be responsible of being the only one capable of lighting up the complete darkness in her husband's inner struggles for a final identity.

Theme Song: Muse - Guiding Light
Racing Duel Music: Eurythmics - Would I Lie To You?
Gender: Female
Nationality: Japanese
Age: 29
Current occupation: Interpol special operative
Distinct features: Medium, layered bob burgundy hair. Athletic, slightly wide diamond face. Brown hooded eyes, thin almond nose and a small mouth. A natural beauty with a small layer of makeup that exists only to hide her eyebags. Thin profile with an average height, and above average proportions.
Choice of clothing: Always wears a bespoke pair of sporty earphones. Never with a distinct fashion style due to her clinging as a master of disguise, even though she's more of a master of imitation. Most of a time she's with a sporty crop top, denim skirt with tight sporty arm socks, leggings and sports shoes.
Cars: Lexus LFA, Lexus RC F, Daihatsu Copen

Rin started off life in Tochigi. Not even years in, she has been diagnosed with a minor mental defect which hampered her thought processes. While it didn't get in the way of her everyday living, it prompted her parents to remain her a single child. It did get her to do the occasional odd and unusual behaviour. Aspiring to be the family's model child, she didn't let her setbacks bring her down. A top grading student with impressive feats in athleticism, and to remain incredibly pretty; you can say all these good things about her, it's supposedly impossible.

With her mother, love was unconditional, but her father seems held back. Further on in her teen life, she would find out aside his day job that he's a well known, on and off street racer. The relationship would sour further, but that changed in the aftermath of when she decided it's time to see if she can do better. Acing her driver's test was one thing, but immediately sneaking out and winning a Clubman Cup event in Motegi was the next.

Rin would head to the UK instead of local institutes for higher education, but it was a guise as her father wanted to protect her from local troubles stirred by his actions. Away from home, this would be a pivotal era for her development. An old friend became her starting point in racing. She would meet certain individuals, including her husband to be. But also came a criminal group that wanted to exploit her near perfect genetics, with these events causing mental damage, and giving way to her chaotic shifts in mood.

She would make her escape in marriage, prompting her to stay in California. The paranoia didn't stop there. On the first chance she could, she started working as a police officer, even deciding to adopt identities and learn imitation. But her fears did arrive. They staged an accident, and before she got taken away, she escaped, leaving everything behind for a long 7 years. This time was used for her to anonymously hone her racing to a whole new high, protected by Interpol.

And gladly, that time is over. But a lot has changed. Most importantly: her father has died. Initially succeeding him by joining FIA GT racing, she failed to inquire an investigation on how he left a legacy behind in the form of Candy..

They said if there was a God in the worldwide street racing scene, Jacob Ross' moniker as The Outlaw was the very thing He and anyone else in said scene would be unequivocally afraid of.

Theme Song: Metallica - Disposable Heroes (Remastered)
Racing Duel Music: Gary Numan - I Am Dust
Gender: Male
Nationality: American
Age: 33
Current occupation: Rookie racer, in guise of his top street racer moniker
Distinct features: Balding marked, medium swept up brown hair. Roughened up with a few cut scars, but smooth, thin chiseled, and somewhat attractive diamond face. Aggressive, azure down turned eyes, thick grecian nose and serious, semi-thick lips. Tall build, with a fit build carrying developed muscles. Those muscles would artificially expand further when he becomes The Outlaw.
Choice of clothing: Black is the name of the game, usually with a custom tailored suit vest under a dark long wool jacket. Never seen without a black bespoke pinch front cowboy hat, with an engraving: 'Oderint dum metuant'. As The Outlaw, he would add on a thick special bulletproof attire, and a breathing apparatus that steams out an unusual drug should he need it.
Cars: Ford GT '06, Ford Mustang Boss 429, Ford Mustang Gr. 3 Road Car (as The Outlaw)

As the firstborn of a rich Californian racing legend, racing was definitely in his blood and Jacob had that opportunity for succeeding his father, joyous and determined this is the future for him.

But in his youth, something happened to his young psyche, and to say it changed him would seriously put it mildly.

The details remain sketchy, and it remained a sensitive topic within his family even to today. It drove a wedge between him and his parents far enough that he wouldn't be the same after his teens. These events harbors the influence of him becoming a fearless, serious somber man with said fear as a weapon of his own.

Now that the weight of succession is beared to someone else, Jacob carved his own destiny. Mixing his passions of the past with his more darkened methods, he toughed through the many grueling years to become the self proclaimed, undisputed fastest street racer of the US, through being a founding member of The List, aliased as The Outlaw: a drug enhanced, nigh unbeatable driver with a penchant for deceit, destruction, disrespect and fire, usually all combined. It's said that there are unspeakable tales of terror that happens to those who oppose The Outlaw: the identity he protects dearly, so much that over time, he's developed a vengeance to those that threaten this visage and those close to him.

Eventually, he married someone: a youthful Japanese girl who would be the greatest ray of sunshine he could ever get. But even that was a marriage that wouldn't last, as both became a target from greater powers. After a long 7 years, that threat now extinguished, he resumed the bumpy, happy life, hoping to outrun the past he knew wouldn't catch up. These days, Jacob has recently registered as a rookie FIA racer, with initial plans in his head saying to take it slow. All seems dandy, until certain events including the rise of his wife's old enemies resurface, enveloping him in the darkness where he then believes is the only place he belongs.

And if his fans and followers are familiar with his talents that developed his legacy, know that his history with a clenching darkness has caught up to him. It's unsure whether his known heroic side has fallen, merged, or even co-exists with his persevering dark side.

Some say he has an unmistakeable alternate take on the origins of shoelaces, and that he's campaigning a drive to ensure mandatory use of condoms outside of pleasure. All we know is.. he might be a parody of something more legendary, but he sure is one racing animal.

Theme Song: Finger Eleven - Gods of Speed
Racing Duel Music: Celldweller - Unshakeable (BT & SeamlessR remix)
Gender: Male.. and boy are we glad this is known
Nationality: oh crap
Age: definitely around his 20s? 30s, I guess
Current occupation: Speed
Distinct features: Has no hair, and has a mildly chiseled face of a.. unknown if it's Caucasian or Asian look and skin tone. Sharp wide brown eyes, thick grecian nose and unpronounced mouth. Hard to say under his clothing, but its speculated he has a well built body with developed muscles.
Choice of clothing: His signature racing helmet is always on him, but very rarely can be seen without it. Aside from that, he wears whatever the situation desires, usually in shades of carbon black.
Cars: Genesis G70 3.3T, Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Vision Gran Turismo, Hyundai N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo Group 1, Toyota 86

A mute, socially awkward man of unknown origin and information. All the people know about him is his mythical exploits on the track, being one of the fastest beings on the planet behind any type of car. Not knowing where he came from, some say he was a child of a sinister experiment gone bad. Others say he's the resurrected spirit of a legendary racing driver and brought to the world to show how it's done.

Whatever naysay is related, The Guts' unequal presence on the track is by far the single most dominant feeling of 'Nobody but him is winning this race', and with the rise of talents behind his flag, it's been a proven fact. Usually followed by an ambassador to help communicate, The Guts only speaks through body language, or occasionally with sign language. And if those don't work, he often snatches smartphones and somehow get away with it.

Now under the British car show Sim Gear, The Guts non-racing days have been all about testing cars and showing his ego. But some time ago, since the show's discontinuation, there have been rumors of The Guts being related to The List, but not even group veterans and founders aside the big boss can prove this. Although, the indirect proof of his signature Genesis G70 winning top level street races with his name on it has been circulating.

Bohemian Like You plays

Once part of the greatest street racing crew in the UK, Sonny's now a key player in The List's day to day finances. While these days, he's started a long running racing career, leading to a gigantic bounty of success. This egotistical, proven all around badass comes forward as the most divisive top racing figure in the USA.

Theme Song: Rush - Vapor Trail, The Dandy Warhols - Bohemian Like You
Racing Duel Music: A Silent Truth - Chariot (Daycore)
Gender: Male
Nationality: Half Singaporean, half American
Age: 32
Current occupation: As he would state it: a mother[BLEEP]ing racing celebrity
Distinct features: Curled, black medium long hair, always semi-shiny. Handsome, diamond Asian like face and skin tone, with a long stubble combined with a Zappa. Narrow angled grey eyes that shine when he wants to, subtle upturned nose, and hair surrounded mouth. Overcompensating perfect teeth that glares when he wants to. Slightly taller, semi slim build, with mild developed muscle.. also that gleam when he wants to.
Choice of clothing: Usually in biker style clothing, including leather all around with an undershirt.
Cars: Dodge SRT Viper GTS, Chevrolet Camaro Z28, Ferrari 288 GTO, GT By Citroen Road Car

While he might have a Singaporean father, his work as a presidential bodyguard means Sonny's an all American citizen. Birthed in Washington, he moved to California when he was still very young. There, he would meet the eventual leader of The List, and befriend him, being his social contact that would relate with him as that man would darken. On the contrary, Sonny remained as optimistic as he always has been.

But his optimism didn't carry over to his education, where he was often the main culprit of racism as an issue there. It was then he would learn, then utilize his famous mantra of always being one step ahead. By using his birthday gift: a 69 Camaro, he would cause what he would dub as the best graduation day ever: getting just about every nemeses in his school driver license suspensions, while he gets away scot free. Due to this epic win, his egoist side would rise from then onwards, possibly never reaching a ceiling.

It wouldn't stop there. Applying to study in London found itself to be a costly move, and he would bring said Camaro over the Atlantic to begin street racing in those streets just to break even. And past that, UK's top street racing crew known as the Prophecy would take attention, and adopt him as the first ever mentored student, known as a Chosen. Even though Sonny did graduate with middling honours and is ready for adult life, he chose to spend his earnings to chase his hobbies, and to everyone's surprise: it would end up being his life's work, with his unshakeable ego and skill would put him in the podium spot of any racing field he touches.

In addition to his successful racing career, he took on the role as The List's main income source, internally codenamed "Chimera". In recent years, Sonny's momentum has been halted when his mother passed, and now has a mission to find the Mrs. Meng to succeed even further than just his wealth and fame. These days, while he might be the badass he claims, he's also bound to lure in all sorts of trouble, such as the bad luck he's known for among his divisive peers, alongside his, what he dubs: 'favorite hostile secret admirer' in Nirvana.

A definition of the mysterious benefactor to the American dark side, nobody truly knows who, where, what or how this Nirvana person came to be. Aside being one of California's biggest earners within its black market, the only thing people know about her is that you never want to be on her bad side..

Theme Song: Nirvana - All Apologies
Racing Duel Music: Peaches - Boys Wanna Be Her (Tommie Sunshine's Brooklyn Fire Retouch)
Gender: Female
Nationality: Unknown, presumably American
Age: Unknown, presumably in her late 30s
Current occupation: Black market information broker
Distinct features: Medium long straight brunette hair, with the left side slightly longer on the front. Broad and tall diamond shaped face, with heavy eyeshadow and deep red lipstick. Wide and narrow green eyes, thick button nose and lip sticked mouth. Eyes always covered with a bespoke pair of sunglasses. Wears a pair of ruby gemmed earrings. Tall, slender figure.
Choice of clothing: Isn't one for a certain clothing style, but her daily go to includes a designer cropped jacket and blouse. Underneath usually is seen with dark, long skinny jeans, with tall leather boots underneath. Never without her prized golden necklace, carrying the iconic Nirvana grunge band smile.
Cars: Lamborghini Diablo GT, Honda Civic Type R (EK), Lamborghini Countach LP400

If there's a dark American secret or two worth knowing, there's a very good chance it either came from, or is already been privy by the mysterious, unusually beautiful chain smoker known as Nirvana. While she's not hiding any association with it, it's unclear why she took up the name of a once popular 90's grunge icon.

Despite being in the game for approximately a decade, Nirvana's role as an information broker has been volatile for involved parties. Regardless of the risk, it's a very fruitful business that allowed her to make up a luxurious, albeit mysterious way of living. Every day passes with her face on at least one association wanting her death, be it from minor greivances or major groups, with rumors saying even involving the darkest organizations within national governments. But by being directly connected to the Assassin's Guild means that threat is non-existant for her. It's strongly rumored she is the one completely external individual with the unstoppable, absolute Trinita L'Assassina on speed dial, as various wealthy crime bosses that had her targeted once had their groups dissolved in a week.

Anyone knows Nirvana is one mysterious figure that probably intentionally overdelivers her speech with speaking in third person, combined with odd lingual skills and backed with an odd accent. While it's obvious she's hiding everything about her, there's no hiding her services mainly being stationed in Los Angeles. There's also no hiding that she likes to drive an old Lamborghini Diablo, and it's seen frequently street racing at night. Her presence often causes the racing at night to be mostly calm, a sign of her connection with the local police.

A worker of secrets, Nirvana also knows how to keep them, and over the years, she begun to even use them for her own benefits. While not exactly the most expensive of secrets, using The Outlaw's identity allows her to blackmail her way into The List, now part of them as code name "Enigma". But running with the self proclaimed fastest crew isn't the goal. She uses it as soon as she found out racing celebrity Sonny Meng serving as the group's backbone, and also being directly related to its leader. To her, Sonny is the one person she deems her nemesis. Nobody but the just as similarly egotistical Nirvana only knows why this grudge came to be.

Representing a Asian flair within The Big 3, this homebrew London based musician often alternates her dual heritage sides of crazy and insane, shaken, stirred and then blended together in a cocktail nobody wants to have a taste of.

Theme Song: Helloween - Hocus Pocus
Racing Duel Music: TOKYO MACHINE - TURBO
Gender: Female
Nationality: Half British, half Japanese
Age: 22
Current occupation: Radio DJ by day, Nightclub DJ by night
Distinct features: Paler than usual skin tone. Black short-medium bob, but with pink neon highlights. Round topped, but triangular bottomed face. Thin Asian brown eyes, stubby but subtle hooked nose and wide thin mouth. British styled freckles. Blade shaped tongue. Thin and short, but with larger proportions.
Choice of clothing: Never seen without designer wireless headphones on neck. Whatever she wears, it's often sporty and revealing, not to mention how much it emphasizes towards her chest. The most modest she can get on her upper body would be a skin tight singlet that's easy to loosen.
Cars: Nissan CONCEPT 2020 Vision GT, Nissan Silvia K's Dia Selection (S13)

Peigi's grown and still residing in her current birthplace of Hammersmith in central London. Being an only child of her British father and Japanese mother, Peigi's a wild youth who hates being alone, and to keep her company aside her family, she has two different national cultures to play with in her life. This, along with an early young age addiction to stimulating drugs and aphrodisiacs however made her unequally, as mentioned by various witnesses, hyper crazy.

Growing up in international communities, Peigi's known for being a control freak who's often found herself in trouble not for any kind of misdemeanor or rule breaking. It was her incessant, eccentric behavior that's often led her to either become the apex of trouble. She usually finds herself feigning innocence by acting funny or being quick on her thinking. She's only managed to graduate past high school, and the best skills she's acquired in her childhood include talking quick, being a show of enthusiasm, and garnering top grades in musics and drama class.

By day: she's a Radio DJ, but by night, it turns around to her taking to the turn tables at select clubs around London. Often when she's not in a gig, she's out racing in the streets, taking charge of The Mountain Blazers: the UK's top street racing crew of high octane import tuners, under alias as it's anonymous head honcho: The Yama-no-Kami, or The Mountain God. These roots of racing on the streets are unknown, but the skills she's developed stemmed from her days as a serious Junior racing series competitor. There are rumors that something else's been done artificially; being a top tier illegal street racer aged at 22 is bound to set some red flags.

Her psyche may be fragile, and considering what kind of person she is behind the mask, breaking it is a risk nobody is willing to take. Within her peers, family, crewmates and The Cinderella, there's an official list of what not to mention to Peigi, such as certain names in music, society and movies to name a few..

Once a troubled drunk whose success in touring cars was washed aside, Paul gained a new sense in life after dropping the bottle and working on his family. But a new inner Scottish bloodlust arises, and he's making troublesome dealings with it going uncontrolled as his spotlight shines being the current FIA figurehead.

Theme Song: U2 - Hawkmoon 269
Racing Duel Music: U2 - Where The Streets Have No Name, Alpine Stars - Jump Jet
Gender: Male
Nationality: Scottish
Age: 34
Current occupation: Race car driver
Distinct features: Scruffy medium brown hair parted at the center. Wide, slightly tall brown eyes. Thin hooked nose with semi-thick, but narrow mouth. Non distinct marks of red all over face due to alcohol addiction in the past. Thin brown soul patch on the chin and a very discrete goatee. Oval triangular face. Thin, but with developing muscle on body, with average height over bright skin.
Choice of clothing: Always with a plaid design flatcap, but his favorite's a gray one with green accents. Attire varies, but the general look with him consists of a long sleeved polo shirt, thin jeans, and leather shoes.
Cars: Aston Martin One-77, Volkswagen Golf I GTI

Born the son of his professional golfer father, and his housewife mother, Paul was born a free spirit, the second of the family's Wembley born children. Notably in their childhood, Paul would represent the manly, more physical side of the new generation, while his older sister would pick up the books and become the brains of the family. That principle still remains today, where Paul would use his sister's advice to conquer any obstacle, and his sister would use him for her own goals.

Paul initially wanted to become a golfer like his dad, but as he grew up, the appeal of the sport didn't stick with him as he would eventually transition to racing karts in his teenage days. While various reasons came to mind such as the meeting of certain racing figures, and his interest in engineering grew, the real reason was, just like any growing man would do: impress a lady. The girl he fell in love with was into said go karting scene, and it so happens her father was The Bristol Harbinger: a famed Le Mans endurance racer from the mid 70s. Still, being close to his own father would mean his golfing skills are just as fine as his racing.

Becoming a family man at the height of his career would bring out the worst in him, as this era of Paul would end up being an overly aggressive competitor in touring cars. Worse, he went into drinking, and it would corrupt what's left of his good side, developing fits of rage and even moments where he would have a weakened spirit. But even if things got worse, the bottom of it all never seemed to develop. His family stayed, he's never gotten in big trouble, and even if he got his racing license suspended, he could still find ways to support his family. He believes in some form he's lucky, and that was exemplified when he became the lucky owner of an Aston One-77.

After a series of events involving a conspiracy, assassins, a nuclear heart, and his long time rival's heel face turn, Paul would start rooting out what was wrong with him, dropping the bottle and becoming what he calls a newer, better him. Having the most successful of comeback tours, Paul would become the face of the UK's GT racing scene, and become the standard of Group 3 racers on the whole. While this is a tall task, Paul now has a new catchphrase to keep an open mind, and so far it's not failed him yet.

Known by anyone who's anyone in the Nurburgring racing community, Lucia is known by many as a shining example of a prodigous talent of both the garage and the track. Know even more, and one can find wearing these ridiculously large shoes is a tomboyish short fuse, always ready to blow sky high.

Theme Song: Robbie Williams - Different
Racing Duel Music: Garbage - Control
Gender: Female
Nationality: German
Age: 23
Current occupation: Race car driver/team manager/racing mechanic
Distinct features: Blonde, straight shoulder length hair. Thin diamond face with small cheeks and sharp chin. Smooth shaped blue eyes with some thin make up under. Thin, average to tall body height with slender features.
Choice of clothing: Trendy and chic. Whatever she wears, it's always flexible, tight and revealing on her limbs. Common sightings include either a combo of t-shirt, puffy vest and shorts, or a mini dress, all with sandals. Reasoning is that she doesn't have to make drastic changes when needing to get in her mechanic or racer's getup.
Cars: BMW M4 Coupe, Nissan Fairlady Z (Z33)

Eifel born Lucia was never into the car game as she started off living. With her only sibling: a carefree cool and sporty brother, she came into the family when races around the Nurburgring was already a family tradition. And her family's also carrying deep ties, with a race commentator father, mechanic mother, and her sole uncle living in the family, racing for Porsche. Her relatives were also mostly male, toughening her masculine side unintentionally.

Unlike her brother, Lucia never got into the sport at her teenage days. Being forced fed this ideology initially has her rebel, but eventually develop into her mean streak she still carries today. Having a terrible time growing up, she was bitter, and often quite shy, never showing her face for her family in the times the spotlight came. That all changed as soon when her brother, a fledgling Nurburgring Taxi driver, brought her to a few taxi runs and showed the joys of the car as it reaches the limits. This would be moment she started getting along with her family and their racing traditions, starting with said brother.

Heading to the UK to reinforce her new found interests, she's become involved in the developments of the legendary Group C driver known as The Bristol Harbinger. With his ties still strong in the racing world, Lucia's tutoring and lessons brought her to Toyota for a few years to be a part of their apprentices in racing teams. Diversity wasn't an issue, and she wasn't alone in the female foreigner department. She would then bond with an extremely timid and awkward beret wearing American tuning genius, and a Hong Kongese lady who would eventually become the famous GT racing woman known as Le Glace Pacer.

Before they parted, Lucia promised these two women, them and her now formed a friendship together as Toyota's Tenacious Ternion, that she's going to be as good as they are. Those words these days are harder to reinforce, with troubles keeping pace in the workshop and on the race track. But she's still very young in her career; she knew giving up would let this ternion down, as well as her family and friends who would honestly back her efforts.

One of the founding members of the infamous, vastly exclusive American street crew with an international cast known mainly as The List. This gruff in general, semi Irishman is never seen slow thanks to his all-around sense, reliance, and secret sixth sense on insa-not so insane stunts.

Theme Song: Ash - Arcadia, Dropkick Murphys - The Last Letter Home
Racing Duel Music: Dropkick Murphys - The Battle Rages On
Gender: Male
Nationality: Half British, half Irish
Age: 30
Current occupation: Car thief
Distinct features: Buzz shaved blonde hair. Chubby, rounded diamond face, surrounded by reddish tinted pale skin. Narrow droopy green eyes, freckles under the eyes, short pointed nose, and wide dried mouth. Notably carries a badass baritone. Average build and height.
Choice of clothing: Casual looks incline towards his love of British sports. Frequently with a sports shirt, slim slacks and sneakers. You're either going to see him in colors of Aston Villa FC, colors of the English white and red, or just red all over.
Cars: Many due to his ever growing collection, but he's often seen with either McLaren 12C or Radical SR3

A high value serviceman of petty American crime. UK born Murph was born in a smaller town: Milton-Keynes and grew up raised, then raising a church after his parents disowned him. The way he sees it, it's just another way to break free of the chains that bind him. The crazy driving of his started there, where he usually finds himself in a pinch upon doing some robbery work. In relation to the illegal duties he carries out, his overall goal is to ensure the clergy and the children they keep will never go hungry or sad. After years of this activity, Murph moved on while keeping his donations steady from the shadows. While he's never been caught entirely, getaway seems to be his forte, and that fact slowly cements itself over time.

However, his notable rise to fame would come in his penchant for using risk for massive rewards. He would find himself using lightweight sports cars in contact heavy street races, using every trick he learned in his mental book. This in turn would help him gain international infamy on the streets. With intent of clearing his heat, he lays low in America, meeting a giant and his superior in form of The Outlaw. This chance meet, also with being ahead of the pack in general racing got him a spot in The List as one of its founders, even though ulterior motives arose revealing he's to stop this uprising altogether. That suspect allegiance changed as soon as he knew the pain of a machete's deep cut to the gut, but this change of heart got him to become the official right hand man of the big boss.

Now, with his newly christened nickname as "Murph", he revels as everyone who's anyone in the worldwide street racing scene calls him insane, but he's not dumb, and so far nothing's going to stop him. Murph usually finds himself doing his racing and general thief work in the States, but he often makes his way back to the UK to catch up on the local news, check on his old stomping grounds, keep track of his car smuggling connections with his growing car collection in Surrey, or test his mettle in the growing street scenes that's been clamoring a chance at a truly insane racing machine.

An aristocratic, but overall simplistic French gentleman, carrying awards in literature as well as a well versed connoisseur of wine. But his biggest achievement is none of those, but of racing in the GT leagues, most notably being a dominating recurring champion of the Supercar Festival Leagues.

Theme Song: Yes - It Can Happen (Cinema Version)
Racing Duel Music: Yes - Love Will Find A Way
Gender: Male
Nationality: French
Age: 28
Current occupation: Race car driver
Distinct features: Clean combed back black hair, with a large white stripe in the center. Baby blue eyes, almost always seem closed. Thin mustache, wide upturned nose and mouth with regular skin tone. Slightly thin build with average height.
Choice of clothing: Fine suits are his wardrobe's modus operandi. Comes in many forms, but his favorite combine a silver slim fit suit vest and matching pants. Expensive accessories from a Rolex watch, fountain pens in his pockets, golden pins of various fancy shapes, and a pinned handcrafted gold trimmed rose (doubles as a hidden knife).
Cars: KTM X-BOW R, Alpine A110 (2017), Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT Veloce, Maserati MC20

Secretly referred to the as the family's little Bon Bon, Boniface is the last of 3 current generation of the infamous Richelieu of Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon: a family whose wealth surpasses many that of just about anyone in Europe thanks to their stake in developing nuclear products, particularly electrical power and energy developments worldwide. While the middle child handles this business without remorse, and the eldest sister being a very well known bounty hunter for the Assassin's Guild, Boniface himself gets his family name famous in sport, notably in race cars.

Unlike his Paris born sisters, Boniface was born when they've already retreated to Sainte-Croix. But from a young age, he was often sent to the capital to be raised by relatives, schooled in the most lofty of education institutions. As he grew up, he didn't get along with others of his age well, but rather preferred to be among other adults, eventually acting and getting along with them. While his maturity rised, his manners remained sloppy and smug, thus why he usually calls similarly aged persons barbarians, brutes, or whatever synonym he can figure out.

These connections would eventually lead to two of his life's greatest passions. Race car driving, and wine. After high school, he went on to quickly pursue them. Eventually, he would become a famed touring car racer, notably as the sport's purely clean racer with a near perfect clean race record. His interest in wine would lead them to his other life as a wine connoisseur, releasing weekly reviews to his online website. An open learner whose recently graduated with a Major in English Literature, Boniface's current focus is to help his family's financial issues, with its problems stemming from his sister's newly diagnosed complications in her heart.

Thanks to burying the hatchet with his long time Scottish rival, he's found yet another path to take in being the recurring champion of the Supercar Festival. But those skills are put to the test as he inadvertently made his way into the ranks of The Prophecy as their newest Chosen.

The one odd case of a wannabe gangster turned up to eleven. A hard headed, figuratively and literally, young man whose ties to the international crime syndicate brings him all over the world, with the UK now his latest stop.

Theme Song: Rob Zombie - Never Gonna Stop (The Red Red Kroovy)
Racing Duel Music: Rob Zombie - Never Gonna Stop (The Black Cat Crossing mix)
Gender: Male
Nationality: American
Age: 27
Current occupation: Gang leader
Distinct features: Messy medium side fringed brown hair shaped like a bob. Attractive heart shaped face akin to a young popstar. Wrinkled green protruded eyes and small upturned nose. Black birthmark surrounds the left eye in a round circular shape. Caucasian skin. Short and semi-thin.
Choice of clothing: Street themed clothing, leaned more towards comfort, and often hued in his gang's signature purple. Never without his purple cap with his name on it. Various golden jewelleries are observed, but usually isn't there when the moment isn't right.
Cars: Shelby Cobra, Dodge Viper SRT10 (ZBII), Dodge Challenger SRT Demon

While Gary might seem like a pampered child, his 'boys in the hood' Californian ghetto life has been full of challenge. His ambitious actions in the past got him to be betrayed by the closest of family and friends. He was also denied moments of glory and fame, and narrowly escaped death row for a crime he didn't do. But it never meant his exploits remain unnoticed. Deemed useful by a Japan based Chinese investor, Gary got out of prison and started working for him as his top branded muscle... even though that's not the best way to describe the short and skinny gangster. His swift speed would instead be his physical stand out trait.

With his debts done for said investor, Gary-D finds himself in the UK, forcefully exiled after stints involving a large crime family in his home turf of Los Angeles. Just before that, Gary has taken his time to get himself involved in high level street racing, thanks to a certain dark one. His quick reflexes and street smarts means that the sight of his Viper, Cobra or Challenger would be respected. While in the UK, he would make his actions straight with the Kirkham Foundation as their errand boy of sorts, while also helping out new friends and planning his big return to the States. Eventually, he found himself racing in the top street racing leagues as one of the Prophecy's Chosen.

Although he lacks in general smarts, manners and perhaps luck, Gary-D has the reputation as a battle hardened fighter, an even more hardened pervert, and an abnormally great host for leadership. Despite his exile, he's incredibly popular to those exposed to his talents. He's eagerly awaited by many friends and his old gang to make his return to the States.

An intelligent man who's anger led to better things than just mental help. This figure would be the self recognized leader of the most exclusive and feared street racers within Europe: The Prophecy.

Theme Song: Avenged Sevenfold - Unbound (The Wild Ride)
Racing Duel Music: Slayer - Raining Blood
Gender: Male
Nationality: Welsh
Age: 37
Current occupation: If not a fanatically themed cult leader, a car show host
Distinct features: Short red hair over a short, rounded diamond face. Sharp green eyes, with a hint of red in the whites, as if fury's always present. Tearful eyes, thin nose and small mouth. Average build and height with bright skin, but with a more noticeable muscle built upper body.
Choice of clothing: Top of the line branded clothes and accessories, but nothing out of the quintessential British fashion, including a newsboy cap, long multi layered skin covered articles of fancy fashion, and climbing boots.
Cars: LaFerrari, Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary, Ferrari F430, Volkswagen Sambabus Typ 2

Real name: Maximus Davies. Clark Kayne is merely an alias for this Cardiff born orphan. After his abusive family's demise by his hand personally, he was raised in Manchester, and thus met an important figurehead for his life onward: the sole successor of the Kirkham Foundation, who would end up being a legendary 90's era racing youth, and his beloved brother for life.

Nowadays, he's mainly known as the only, then one of the three hosts in slowly uprising car show Sim Gear. But his real portfolio would be as the sole individual that leads The Prophecy: a London based street crew that houses strict teachings and top end performance car culture, once the sole governing entity that dominates all of the UK's street racing.

While a bit of a pugilist, has a bit of a temper and enjoys violence on a minor scale, Clark possesses a great IQ level, and strategizes often for the next move. Aside writing gospels for his exclusive club, Clark finds himself credited for writing scripts and scenarios for Sim Gear, as well as carrying it initially as the sole figurehead while the studio was still getting started.

Also with a leaning towards illegally obtained Ferraris, Clark has the talent to handle whatever car he can reach forth, infamous for running the V12 Hybrid trinity LaFerrari on the roads without incident. Despite this, his racing talents shine only away from the track, due to a past incident he won't let go from that cost him his reputation and potential partner for life.

While mostly a withdrawal and overly careful man of the track, he now rules as leader of the Crown Jewels: a London based street racing crew specializing in classy Euro flair, notably on old school and muscle. But it's mostly all about having a smashing old, illegally fast time on the road.

Theme Song: Pink Floyd - One of These Days (Soul Machine remix)
Racing Duel Music: Bloc Party - Prayer (Does It Offend You, Yeah? remix), The Prodigy - Spitfire
Gender: Male
Nationality: British
Age: 40
Current occupation: Museum curator
Distinct features: Short, combed back burgundy hair. Round, thin face. Deep-set brown eyes, average tall nose, with a small fancy mustache, and visibly has a top of the line dental plan behind his clean small lips. Overall average build and height surrounded by a pale-ish dark skin.
Choice of clothing: Classy British, usually with an argyle vest and matching 3/4 length leggings and slip ons. A longcoat can cover this for colder weathers.
Cars: Aston Martin Vulcan, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Aston Martin DB5

Having lived in London from his youth, Giles is no stranger to the gentlemen's community within. If a younger Giles was to be defined, it would be his love of many old British sports, such as polo, rugby and fox hunting. Racing would enter that equation by suggestion, and being incredibly competitive at driving old Japanese hatchbacks in Euro dominated touring cars would become a staple in his career highlights.

Done with the riff raff and the drama, Giles eventually found himself as a former touring car racer, who found the rewards behind it all wasn't worth keeping himself in. Instead of packing away in shame, he found himself reborn as soon as street racing became part of his life's equation, thanks to, once again, a suggestion by his old friend: The Messiah.

A mostly stiff but just as pleasant man whose lived the upper class British lifestyle through his family heritage. Now largely done with the track, Giles shares his interests in cars through the Crowden Automotive Museum: a small but flourishing attraction located by the outskirts of Oxford. Can come of as a bit of a pessimist due to his careful nature, but he often finds good reasons to do so.

While this is true by day, by night, Giles' successes in his years street racing causes him to win big, as he takes the mantle of The Spitfire: a member of London's The Big 3 that dominates the night races with his custom Aston Martin Vulcan. Its presence brings an orderly sign in the chaos of the high velocity night life.

Just like a being that fell from the sky, Cierra brings herself as The Prophecy's unwanted deus ex machina that can do anything.. if her extremely timid self won't hold it back.

Theme Song: Journey - Wheel in The Sky
Racing Duel Music: Pendulum - Witchcraft (Pegboard Nerds remix)
Gender: Female
Nationality: American
Age: 25
Current occupation: Racing mechanic
Distinct features: Medium, straight brown hair. Sharp and short triangular face with a just as sharp chin. Narrow green eyes around a thin but pointy nose above a slightly thick, but narrow mouth. Small patches of oil can be seen under her brown eyes. While adult, still retains a teenage look in most of her facial features. Average height, skinny body with regular caucasian skin.
Choice of clothing: Always with her signature blue beret. Her clothes vary, but usually consists of a cropped jacket over a tight undershirt, tight skinny jeans, and leather slippers. Can also be seen wearing a mechanic's getup.
Cars: Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, Dodge Coronet Super Bee

Hailing from San Francisco, Cierra's personal history has been unremarkably blank, until she picked up a spanner from a local chop shop that raised her as one of their own. The shop allowed her to get exposure to her passions as a car mechanic, also earning said staff as a family to lean towards. Slowly but surely, she would earn a reputation modifying cars to be street race ready in a short period of time. Over time, she gains an understanding on what to do if a car needs to drift, grip, drag, or just even lay low on the pavement with lamps all around.

While her social skills remain an all time low due to her timid soul, her ever growing skills in developing and maintaining top levels of performance at a young age manages her to receive scholarships for special tutoring from various manufacturers around the world. From experimental American machines, European supercars, to the domestic powerhouse in Toyota, there's very little in the car she doesn't understand.

Cierra also received the lovely perk of testing out cars from the chop shop just as soon as she reached her sweet sixteens. This skill would work out well for police evasion and warrant issues she piled up. It's unknown how she manages her way in and out of San Francisco with a warrant for her constantly present in the California area alone, but sightings of her in Toyoda would be the last anyone's heard of her in the public.

Her latest caper has her ousted from her home turf, and somehow end up in London, where she becomes another of the Chosen: The Messiah's chosen racers for him to mentor.

Once a youthful, late 90s racing powerhouse with family fortunes secured his good life as the strategic and composed mastermind behind the Kirkham Foundation of Medical Sciences. This Manchester native is settled for many lives worth of riches, racing world influence and overall standing in his many fields, but he requires the help of a few worthy others to achieve the goal of housing the fastest racers on the planet.

Theme Song: Coldplay - White Shadows, Coldplay - Paradise (Epic Orchestral Cover by Carl Abelgas & its_draconix)
Racing Duel Music: Electric Lights Orchestra - Prologue + Twilight
Gender: Male
Nationality: British
Age: 41
Current occupation: Corporate director
Distinct features: Medium sized, clean cut straight grey hair with white edges. Wide oblong oval face, with hints of wrinkling. Thick narrow nubian nose with often dried out mouth of average size. Slightly tall, very fit build covered by strongly pale skin.
Choice of clothing: No real preference outside of what's British. Functional is what matters. He's often with designer clothing that make him look and feel youthful, such as a puffy jacket over shirt and jeans, bright tracksuits and if anything is formal, it's brightly colored.
Cars: McLaren F1, Abarth 500

Nash was birthed in his current home turf of Manchester. A rich upper classman of Whalley Range, Nash might be born with wealth on his pocket from day 1 due to his father's role as the figurehead of long time pharmaceutical megacompany: the Kirkham Foundation. But he wasn't quite blessed in other ways. His mother passed from childbirth, and his father's not long for the world with a terminal illness. With connected family unwilling to support this dying cause, Nash was left with the family fortune from age 10. However, his father's advice never left him: he's to only trust himself, and never to let anyone give them a chance to take away the family riches.

With that advice in mind, he's left his lofty life of a giant mansion with servants on every whim to enroll himself to the best, with loyal corporate figures acting as his legal guardians, ensuring he would come up to grow as the future of the company. His trust issues would plague him until he would scuffle with a boy who would grow up to be the UK's street racing pioneer known as The Messiah. Said boy would change Nash for the better, being the first person he would open to, and declare as his brother: a role still going strong today. His bitterness towards others would end, as this period of comforting his always angry brother would give way to Nash's overall kind spiritedness coming out.

Reaching adulthood, Nash balanced out his new role as the Foundation director with the life he yearned to find, and he looked hard. Upon suggestion by his brother was track racing, and while his brother was unfortunate, Nash went on to be a GT racing icon after his debut years, meeting many others in this career. But the good times never last, as he was diagnosed by a rare form of albinism that caused his body to age quicker than usual. While his foundation went far to develop a cure, nothing fruitful arose. His undying dedication to this cure had him hit the books, so hard that it earned him great honors in medical sciences and economics. As he would take on an American protege to give his racing wisdom, he's uncertain of his fate, and adopted a successor to give down his company due to an old friend's promise.

These days, Nash's undiagnosed condition prevents him from racing in his name, despite being in peak physical form, but he's usually out and about racing various top racing fields as the Mysterious NZ. And if he's not co-hosting Sim Gear with his brother, he's scheming away his latest big dedicated project known as the Mythic Initiative. Now with six in tow, he's hoping to rid the discord caused by his own protege entering a dark chapter, hoping that the choice never has to come..

As the clock struck 12, her past became a mystery, and what's left of has been shrouded by her persistent pursuees. But as she becomes an integral member of the Big 3, she ventures on to find her hazed past, or perhaps start anew?

Theme Song: Eddie Vedder - Invincible
Racing Duel Music: not yet found
Gender: Female
Nationality: Presumably British
Age: Presumably in her mid 20s
Current occupation: Unknown
Distinct features: Medium, slightly curled burgundy red hair. Straight, angular brows. Diamond shaped face, with an attractive look consisting of a subtle aquiline nose, thin rounded eyes and small mouth. Thin application of makeup, with a notably strong appication of pale red lipstick. While pleasant to look at, her facial expressions are notably exaggerated. Average height and build over pale caucasian skin, but notably fit.
Choice of clothing: Always today's fashion. If she would wear anything usual, they would be locally sourced or given a much fancier look than usual. Normally with a blouse and long pants, wearing raised sandals.
Cars: Nissan Z Performance, Nissan Z 432

The Tales of Cinderella intends to help open her to the world as she dedicates herself to search for her past.. thus this segment is intentionally redacted.

One of The List originals, Ramlie is known mainly as Tokyo's Fastest Taxi Driver, breaking speed limits he usually has a hand in establishing. While he can't hide his age, he's an optimistic man who desires speed through and through, never stopping his honing of said crafts he's found himself excelling at.

Theme Song: Ozzy Osbourne - Love To Hate
Racing Duel Music: Digitalism - Circles (Eric Prydz)
Gender: Male
Nationality: Malaysian
Age: 51
Current occupation: Taxi Driver
Distinct features: Naturally bald head surrounded by a slight darkened skin tone. Stubby round face, almond brown eyes, wide nose and mouth with large, shiny protruded teeth. Slightly short, but with average build.
Choice of clothing: A mish mash of whatever he finds, but usually it's a buttoned shirt with great color representation, denim shorts, slippers and cheap dark tone sunglasses.
Cars: Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, Mazda Atenza Gr. 3 Road Car

Born the second of four paddy farmer's children in a small rural community within Kedah, Ramlie never amounted to anything in life other than making sure by the end of the day, his family gets their well earned compensation. While the labour work wouldn't stop, his aspirations came to fruiton upon his family getting themselves into an industrial scale, bringing in the use of machinery to help with the farm work: garnering an interest in these machines, from what, to eventually how.

He never stopped learning to become an engineer so he too can invent and produce these marvelous creations. However, this enthusiasm would wane for a moment as soon as he's dropped out of high school. While the farmer's life would satisfy his family and friends, he aspired for more, still thinking positively that he's bound to make that impact in life somewhere. With the gizmos and gadgets mindset still strong, he headed out to make a living driving taxis.

Years pass, and Ramlie's small taxi company finds itself in good steady condition to run without issue. On the side, however, he dabbled into being a mechanic for cars, eventually putting aside one of his cabs to become an experiment street racer with a grassroots engine swap, taking more time to finally succeed. Taking it around the area and the expressways proved to garner him attention in the night racing scene. From then, the famed Uncle was born, riding sedans with unimaginable power into victory.

Finding himself in America after the local authorities drove him out of the country, Ramlie became one of the originals of the List, along the 4 members. Being the original mechanic and handyman of the team helped them out for their long age of dominance until it's time to put the heat aside and settle down. These days, Ramlie can either be working on his self tuned taxi job in Tokyo, or handling few small paddy farms in Japan as its stakeholder. He's eager to do so, but never sure when he can return to Malaysia, wanting to see how life moves on without him.

A former marine, with the deadly combination of being a silent, two-faced sneak and an all American underworld justicar, laying down verdicts he so chooses with either the soothing tunes of jazz, or a high powered sniper rifle.

Theme Song: Soundgarden - Hands All Over
Gender: Male
Nationality: American
Age: 37
Current occupation: Hitman for hire
Distinct features: Unkempt, scruffy medium black hair. Face is mostly shrunk like, with notably small brown eyes, tiny nose, and unpronounced mouth. Thin mustache and chin strap beard. Often mistaken as Asian, but actually Caucasian. Slightly tall, thin muscular build with semi-long proportions on his limbs.
Choice of clothing: Hides his eyes behind well spent large teardrop sunglasses. A black fedora to match his overall dark suits and their grey hints. Strong penchant for classy, black tie clothing, and it's always seen dark.
Cars: Chevrolet Camaro SS

A man with arms bonded for handling the heft of 50 calibre rifles, and moreso for nicer suits. Before going as Emile in the underworld, he would be known as The Black Flash, named as a play of his Boston Massachusetts origin, and also of his origins as a major player in the killing fields. But it never truly started there. Emile wasn't smart, or notably talented. But he was fit. So he went to the military the first chance he got in his late teens, helped by his semi wealthy, but all around patriotic family and upbringing.

Becoming a peerless man with a sniper rifle, Emile's focus was true and his shots probably truer. He would earn his military honors along with his squadron that included a traumatic youth, a defender of the American way, and a soon to be senator. But one year, after a tour in the Middle East, he came home with his family brutally slaughtered and his home savaged. With all the resources at his grasp, his well honed focus was turned to an even finer slice of vengeance. His unrelenting force would bring those responsible to their graves, and he would leave no stone unturned, bringing a small hint of his intents to anyone else involved: through death.

It was by the end of that rampage that Emile grew to be permanently somber. His pride for the all red white and blue was turned to a shadow, and he would believe that if nobody was to help others to becoming him, he would be the one to do it. With a reputation in the criminal world, the now renowned Black Flash has a creed: a self regarded 'good guy', only accepting contracts against notably terrible figures. Some would say he would rival the Trinitia, of which one he learned of her ways personally as fellow mates: a cybernetically enhanced femme fatale known as the Killer of Killers.

Always based in California, should he have to leave the States, it must mean serious business.

An anomalous UK born American roadie turned fledgling racer supreme. While nothing stands out from the outside, Graham is a healthy gambler, fueled by his keeness of psychology in game theory: a studious and frequent user of this art, which always gives him an edge on his day to day troubles.

Theme Song: Motörhead - I Got Mine
Racing Duel Music: The Cult - Wild Flower
Gender: Male
Nationality: Half British, half American
Age: 29
Current occupation: Up and coming racer
Distinct features: Copper middle parted fringe. Square face, with round green eyes, thick nose and average sized mouth. Covered with mutton chops and a moustache. Pale skin covering an average heighted man with average weight.
Choice of clothing: Usually with a baggy t-shirt with a sleeveless biker denim jacket, dark jeans, fingerless gloves and brown heavy duty boots.
Cars: Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk7

Born out in the deserts of Nevada USA, Graham was actually the result of a rich American with a British mistress. However, with them having no willingness to take care of him, they sent him to the nearest orphanage. He never quite learned of this fact until he was an adult, but he let that part of his past go; his life as an orphan hazed all over this, as it's in no way bad, just challenging.

Usually out and about in the deserts, Graham's main exposure to the outside world was due to 3 determining factors: bikes, his closest brother Jonathan, and his competitive nature to win. This latter fact has Graham eventually learn the inner depths of game psychology: a skill he utilizes when it's needed. His teenage life was all about riding their old Harley Davidson revived from a dump, then heading to every town, noting every chess competition and making a quick buck in getting good results. Graham was no grandmaster, but at that age: it's hard to find anyone who can beat him. Not to mention he's been pocketing money over time for the inevitable departure.

Adulthood however took a turn for the worst, as a tragic accident killed off his brother in an incident that clashed with a former racer and his girlfriend. Graham couldn't take the grief, and wandered on towards the West, into California. What he strived to live for was reduced to ashes. Unsure what to do, he made a gamble that worked out: include himself in the day to day activities of a small movie studio.

Initially working for free, his overall patience would pay off as the studio's biggest stars took their eyes on him, and decided he needs another shot at life. Noting these stars as stunt actors with a penchant of doing their stunts without any ropes or assistance, Graham would work under one of them as her steward, growing eventually to be her good friend.

Finding out of the ravishing Dutchman's illicit activities, Graham took part anonymously, finding out his talent for driving is something he yearns to exploit. Taking up offers for Suzuki's newest branch of FIA racing, Graham knows this next gamble would pay off.

A technological marvel with a sharp finesse in her life ending work that got her the moniker of the Killer of Killers. Formerly the most sought out assassin for hire, she now lives in refuge under a guise, hoping nobody would find her unless you have a problem and no one else can help..

Theme Song: KMFDM - Professional Killer
Racing Duel Music: KMFDM - Virus (Pestilence Mix)
Gender: Female
Nationality: French
Age: 30
Current occupation: Maid? (obviously in disguise, she's actually the self proclaimed greatest assassin in the world)
Distinct features: Black, medium well combed right side bob, aggressively blonde when portraying her maid Minori personality. Smooth triangular face. Thin green almond eyes, thin tall nose with wide tip, and narrow mouth. Slight perky, blemished cheeks. Shiny white teeth that seem unnatural (actually bombs). Bright caucasian skin, with average height, weight and proportions. Small creases over arms and legs (actually hidden blades).
Choice of clothing: Your usual frilly maid outfit (definitely not intended). Outside, she's usually wearing a dark colored halterneck blouse/tank top, with black jeans and comfort slippers. Wears a red butterfly clip (actually a hidden knife), a golden set of bangles on her left hand (actually a hidden taser), and a large banded watch on her right (hiding the barrel of a hidden gun in her arm)
Cars: Ferrari F40, Renault R4 GTL

Perhaps the most well known member of the Assassin's Guild that serves as the example to not follow for any prospective killer due to her actions of infamy. Taking on a rural upbringing just out in the hillsides of the Pyrenees, this killer to be had a name, and being the only child of a family. Taken by an unknown sickness, her father left the family, forcing her to migrate with her mother to find better pastures. While they found refuge within a millionaire's estate, the man was a predator by the definition, taking his mother to satisfy his pleasures while the lone child would run away finding that truth out with intents to exploit it. Being on the lam by child police and this richman's associates, she learned to not only hate men, but also to hide and survive.

She would then meet one of the very few men she can respect: a Catholic priest who took her in. Informing him of her farmland origins, the christened Gino would come through living on and off the sanctified church grounds, using this time to hone her athletic and martial skills. However, as she came to adulthood, the men in pursuit of her finally caught up, and further her hatred of these people by not only destroying anything she comes to contact with, but also using their influence and wealth to frame her for that act. To get back at these people, Gino would conduct the perfect crime: one she's been planning ever since her arrival. To get this near impossible task done is to help kindle her inner perfectionist, but put her on the most wanted list in the country.

Her escape all the way to the southernmost side of the country got the attention of the Richelieu family, who would massively profit of these crimes indirectly, and thus led to their favor for her. Befriending the profit minded alpha and her wine loving little brother, the once again renamed Ginoa had revenge in her heart, now striking anyone who would exploit the poor, declaring herself a self serving assassin based by the Richelieu's turf. Her most pivotal moment in this career came when she was to bring to the end of an experimental surgeon: the man who would grant her artificial augmentations of her body who apparently was a high ranking member of the Assassin's Guild. This eventual clashing would lead to her joining, as well as the birth of the Trinitia L'Assassina that stemmed from their efficient, effective service.

Within this organization and thanks to the jealousy of the Richelieu matriarch, Ginoa finds herself travelling all over the world, even mastering a roster of languages, but these days finds herself hiding away in the center of Los Angeles, unwilling to step out of this shadow for the amounts of deathly gazes awaiting to end her. She did however learn two more important life lessons thanks to a few close friends, inclusive of The Black Flash, her short gang leader lover and an angry fellow known as The Messiah: vengeance is a strong motivator, and similarly so is love.

Shy, unfocused, but a straight forward, kind hearted fellow with a penchant for helping out the best he can. The definite Yin to Sonny's Yang, Kirk is no slouch in anything he does, developed into this automotive jack of all trades thanks to the friends and support he's fostered after a life alone.

Theme Song: ZZ Top - I Gotsta Get Paid
Racing Duel Music: Rush - Secret Touch
Gender: Male
Nationality: American
Age: 31
Current occupation: A lot, but racing mechanic is what he usually puts forwards
Distinct features: Short, combed back black ponytail. Puffed up round face. Narrow rounded navy eyes, thick narrow snub nose and thick lipped mouth. Pronounced muscular wrinkling on cheeks and face. Average height, with a mix of fat and muscle within a well weighted body.
Choice of clothing: It's never not a tight tank top and well fit blue denim jeans, along with his signature pair of work gloves and safety boots.. unless it's cold, which a longcoat enters the equation.
Cars: Roadster Shop Rampage, Chris Holstrom Concepts 1967 Chevy Nova, Toyota Supra 3.0GT Turbo A

Kirk's past was mostly undocumented and not left pursued, strangely as if this past, and his desire to pursue it was tampered with by higher forces. Needless to say, the only things he remember of his past is that he's born in one of the lesser cities within California. What he does know stems from his time as a young adult, where he awoken in the middle of the warm California desert, only with his name intact. Going in and out of smaller work, he has no place to call home, usually forcing himself to be useful to remain alive. However, the experience allows him to learn the appropriate skills he would make great use of today, particularly in culinary and engineering.

However, he soon found a great first venture that not only got him a place to stay, but money to earn, and that is facilitating motoring events in a small town within Orange County. A gentle soul by nature, his great decision making by prioritizing growth over violence earned him the respect of the community, up until a clashing with some degenerate racing crews caused a rift, extorting money from him and the community. He keeps on hoping that one day this would end. And those hopes came one day when he would take a look at a certain classic Chevrolet Camaro. Said car would be the ride of the then rising celebrity race driver known as the Asian-American Badass, and from then they bonded.

After a final clashing ensued with the help of his new friend, he would be forced out of Orange County due to these crews organizing a headhunt for him. Making their escape into his new friend's stomping grounds within Burbank, California, Kirk knew he would end up in a prison, unwavering and in undying gratitude to his new friend for life. However, that initially hellish life would be, in eventuality, a form of heaven for him, living it out with a small biker gang that had similar incidents that precede their meeting. Now leading as the Vice Captain of Sonny Meng's private biker gang, he would also delve further into his own interests in life at his own casual snail's pace.

One day, he would find out that the groups that organized his bounty would be dissolved and completely disappeared without warning. Taking no heed of it, little did he know there are interested parties looking for a man like him..

.

Theme Song: David Bowie - Oh You Pretty Things
Gender: Male
Nationality: American
Age: 43
Current occupation: Oil tycoon
Distinct features: Straight, combed down medium blonde hair. Wide square face with thin almond green eyes, a thick roman nose, and stiff semi-thick lips. Mild showing of wrinkling over always oiled up face. Tan skin. Above average height with wide set build.
Choice of clothing: Whatever the ocassion, he will wear it, be it a texan business outfit, casual hawaiian with shorts, or a t-shirt with slacks. But they're always with a platinum colored top over silver bottoms. Never without his signature, expensive white cattleman cowboy hat.
Cars: Ferrari 512BB, Ferrari F8 Tributo

Born one of the 2 from a rich Texan oil magnate, Demetrius knew wealth wasn't going to be a problem as he grew. Raised appropriately to ensure the money is kept in family hands, his focus in life comes in the form of his little brother, who would grow to be an eccentric queer king of his own kingdom. Demetrius, who prefers a simple life, kept telling himself: 'life is good, but I can always make it better'. As a result of embedding these ideals, he eventually taught himself that money is the ecstasy of life, despite all the allures wealth tends to bring ruin to those that hold it. Growing up without much hassle, Demertrius developed himself as this self loving, rowdy individual who don't mind sharing the happiness around.

Sticking to his guns as the successor of a large Texan based oil corporation, Demetrius got straight into the business as soon as he's finished his master's degree in business. Troubled by close family issues, and especially his little brother's drug habits, Demetrius took his money across the Atlantic and went to an old family friend. Also in some trouble financially, he pitched in and held shares, leading to the revival of the Kirkham Foundation. His brother healed, and his family in good standing, he then was playfully known as Dimma, for bringing the light to this dark age.

Feeling good about this outcome, Demetrius then on considered growing his monetary gains with others in mind. As a suggestion from the Kirkham Foundation's board, he found investing in sports to be a good place to start. Starting off with gaining ownership in various football leagues and teams, he went on to ventures in motorsports, prominently as the main sponsor of one of America's number 1 racers: an egotistical half Singaporean.

The success story of one who holds all the cards for worldwide entertainment enterprise All4Fun LLC. A strange, feminine man who knows how to play the money in his way that'll satisfy his dirty pleasures and bank account.

Theme Song: Freddy Mercury - Mr. Bad Guy
Gender: Male
Nationality: American
Age: 39
Current occupation: CEO
Distinct features: Dyed pink medium/long flattop with some punk-ish hues. Wide oval shaped head with close green eyes, a thin snub nose and average sized mouth. Has a thin beard and some facial marks around. Slightly paler skin than usual. Has dark lipstick and eye makeup on him often. Average height with a slim build, with moderate, unpronounced muscle underneath. Tattooed on his chest are the words TTFS in a fancy font.
Choice of clothing: Hardly seen without his puffy black/pink jacket with nothing under, meaning to show his chest at all times. Underneath usually are dark jeans and pink pleather boots. Wears earrings, a nose ring, and has an 80's pink tinted shades on him at all times.
Cars: Ferrari 365 GTB4, Ferrari F12berlinetta, DMC DeLorean S2

Born a rich Texan oil magnate's son, Theodore wasn't pleased to find the wealth has to be split from his greedy older brother. They might like each other, but Theodore wouldn't show his inner side that keeps telling him to try to claim what's rightfully his. While that phase has passed, this idea has seeped into his personality strong, giving people ideas that he can play the sinister vibe very well, as well as scheme devious scenarios to a devastating effect, while that hasn't materialized yet.

Using his wealth, Theodore would get an education and receive his master's degree in business and psychology. However, in his schooling years, he would develop various severe drug addictions that luckily didn't kill him, but instead would garner him various side effects that linger on today, such as his thin body, a shift to this more feminine side of his, and prominently: his sex organs having a shutdown. Not content with this personality, he shifted gears and used a good chunk of his capital to reinvent himself, leading to the pink haired Teddy Fabulous character he's been playing today.

Entering the toy market with his family's oil business as a means to start up strong, Theodore found wealth an everyday commodity to him, donating a good chunk of them to underprivledged children around the world to keep his face. These days, he's been seen investing into sports, now currently wrestling in indie development brands and putting his money where his brother has: a sign he's still clung on to their competitive past. Notably, he now is one of the main sponsors of a certain egotistical half Singaporean racing master.

A top tier expressway bandit defines the Rudeboy's racing talent, but this excitable Vietnamese security agent defines himself as the man who put Tokyo Expressway on the watch list for FIA events, and that's just one thing.

Theme Song: Slash, Myles Kennedy And The Conspirators - World On Fire
Racing Duel Music: The Mowex - War (feat. Marcus Klavan and Matt Litwin)
Gender: Male
Nationality: Vietnamese
Age: 32
Current occupation: Security advisor
Distinct features: Medium dark brown braids tied to a ponytail. Tall, sharp diamond face. Brown, sharp asian eyes. Wide hawk shaped nose, and average downward mouth. Muscular wrinkling on his thin cheeks. Narrow, thin handlebar mustache and tied up goatee. Reddened patches of skin over face. Average height, but with a slim build, while muscular underneath. Has a tattoo of a red Vietnamese star on his forehead.
Choice of clothing: His clothes are always tight fit flexible. It's always a standard issue security outfit that he usually goes to work with, that includes a long sleeved buttoned up shirt, slacks, combat gloves, boots and a combat vest. Various jewelleries are similarly present, such as an amethyst nose ring, his platinum wedding ring, and ruby studs on his ears. In some form carries grenades on him, be it a sole one in his pockets, or laid out his combat vest.
Cars: Toyota Crown Athlete 'G', Subaru Impreza Sedan WRX STi (GD), Volvo 240 SE Estate

As an only son, Manh was born out in the villages just a few clicks away of the great beaches of Da Nang. Life for him wasn't hard, however, as his parents were both army veterans that survived and got honours for serving during the Vietnam War. Never usually with any of his parents, or any close family as he grew to a teenager, Manh lived his life simply, helping with errands with tourists on the beaches. His hard work, despite not getting schooled properly, ended up helping him get extra funding for his own purposes, as well as maintaining his family's sole non-scooter: a Volvo 240 Estate.

Growing up, he got main exposure to the many criminal groups that reside around Da Nang. During this time, he not only learned essential survival skills, but somehow had a penchant to use the word 'mother f[BLEEP]er' very frequently. This ended up not only getting him favors from the local crims as a known figure that brings excitement, he also was granted the Rudeboy name he still clings on to today. The Rudeboy name however began to circulate as a feared name as soon as he found another interest in making makeshift bombs, stemming from him training dogs to detect mines in the army. This however turned for him as a moment to think, as he wonders if his parents are heroes, why are they risking their own to pursue the good life.

To avoid further criminal infamy, the wealthy parents decided to send Manh to Japan, but he knew that's not his future. Standing with failing grades aside phys ed, he was to return, but enjoyed life in Japan so much, he had to find an excuse to stay. Searching hard, he got a spot working for a small security firm providing both mercenary work and manpower for safety. It's do or die for Manh, but his influence in the gangs and the military paid off, giving him commendations and he rose up the ranks. Bringing his family after their retirement, he would proceed to marry a young lady he worked with.

However, his adventure in cars began when his wife would introduce him to the expressway racing in the night. How he got into this league was like when he learned how to make bombs: unrelenting. Entering the field of racers wasn't easy, but to him: he's never bothered with an easy life. Also rising these ranks, he would become the second in command of a crew that carries purely only non-Japanese racers, to give them a safe space to be aside the locals. One such person he took interest during this time was a short Hong Kongese lady with great fame on the circuit.

Eventually, time passes, and as the leader of this crew he's in for years, he wonders if he can reach further.
 
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SPD Writes Gran Turismo 7's Car Of The Week: Week 61 - Honda Civic SiR-II (EG)


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There are no Shingos in my writing universe.. not yet, at least.

We all know about the jokes about VTEC kicking in, but the origins of that joke would come back all the way to the 5th generation Civic coded as the EG: what probably is one of those Japanese compact cars that had a bigger splash outside the land of the Rising Sun. That splash being North America tuner culture.

Taking into form by late 1991, the EG Civic was regarded the start of the sporty Civics, mainly because it took form the Civic many know and love for the first time: a 2 door coupe. But this is the hatchback form we look at today: the form it's taken on since the start.

Suffixing this model's name is SiR-II. SiR badged EGs would mean one that's been sports tuned and stripped of most electronics. The SiR-II would end up being the top performance trim of the EG Civic. The Type R badge would end up on the EK further ahead. Thanks to the former's lack of safety and amenities, this trim became a Japanese market exclusive. Just about a ton's heft be carrying 167 horsepower. through its naturally aspirated VTEC powered 4 cylinder second generation B16A.

But how well did the EG race? These days, there's a lot of things a well engineered EG Civic can prove, but to best answer this: on its release year of 1992, the EG replaced its former generation and took to the JTCC for 2 years. And in its low displacement JTC-3 class, the car demolished, with class wins by cars #100 of Mugen, and #14 of Mooncraft. That latter team we all know as the funky green red and orange Civic race car that inspired the race modded variant in the first Gran Turismo.

Now, while this isn't exactly the car that brought the tuner boom to the US, the EG on the whole became that car, which I really can't explain further thanks to not being a kid in the US that's into these kinds of cars. It made shockwaves, you can say. I say it's big enough that if you recall the first few minutes of the original The Fast and The Furious, you have three of these tuned puppies stealing electronic goods from a trailer. It's not the SiR-II or even a hatchback, but you get the idea I hope.

I'm feeling like a nice little hangout in High Speed Ring with this one. Gladly this week it's not packed with around half of the roster this time. It's half of that, but that's way more manageable... and not breaking past 150k letters.


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Episode 61: Another Step Forwards


High Speed Ring
Teshikaga, Kawakami District, Hokkaido, Japan
Late Morning


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Clouds might crowd on to the track, and the chances of rain are anyone's guess unless you're into forecast.

Walking at a dulled pace through the pitlane, Candy and Maverick converse..


Candy: "Sarge.. you've worked with Emile, right? Tell me.. I find him scary when he's working."

Maverick: "In his eyes, that's focused, rookie. A small glimpse into the old him when he was once known as The Black Flash of Boston."

Candy: "The old him? What, I didn't know there's an old him and a new him.."

Maverick: "New him's inspired by the jazzy vibes.. giving his victims a taste of what makes Boston music a vibe."


With thoughts of a wicked Emile despite being described as a morally sound man of justice, Candy requests more from someone who knows a greater deal of him..


Candy: "Would you say you're a match to him.."

Maverick: "What? Should we fight? I'll get back to you on that. You said you saw twirling tomahawks?"

Candy: "Ulp.."


Looking like she bit her tongue, Maverick retained a smile but with interested eyes as he noticed..


Maverick: "I can see a yes from that face, rookie. Tell you what.."


He reached out from the back of his utility belt, and brought out a foldable axe, but to Candy, she sees them as the same tool Emile had..


Candy: "W-why do you have a pair of THOSE tomahawks too?!"

Maverick: "Just one. Still, they're my goodbye gifts for my old squad, y'know. Handmade tools with my family name on 'em! Emile's got a carbon forged tomahawk, while you probably know of gunny Ross's machete. My speciality too, that."


He figures now is the time to show off some of his martial expertise, playing about the lightweight chopping tool..


Maverick: "Swish up, left, and right.. The secret lies in this: ring shaped slot, you put in your ring finger. I'd give to you to try, but you don't seem so.. proficient in handling these tools."

Candy: "Don't even."

Maverick: "You must've really crossed him to get that out."


Though her trauma with various groups have mellowed out, that's not quite the case with Emile, as she struggles to eke out..


Candy: "He was working.. I was the target."

Maverick: "And he held back? Luck was on your side then, Rookie! The Emile I know these days is a merciless killer! Hahah!"


He thought of a positive spin on it, however though she's not too keen on it.


Candy: "Uh huh.."

Maverick: "You got no enthusiasm in that. You take those wins, Candy. In fact.."


His sharp nose picked another scent, and..


Maverick: "Got another scent on? I got my sights on.. is that black tea?"

Candy: "Ohh, yes. Something to keep us up and awake for today. Your sense of smell is.. okay, it's quite good."

Maverick: "Feel free to call me a wolverine, Candy!"


Their walk continues until..


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Martinez: "Well, we're here. Thanks for that nice walk about, rookie.. I suppose I go and get some rounds in.. hustle on to the track. I'll relieve you, rookie."

Candy: "At ease, sarge!"


Unlocking the classic Corvette, he enters his car, and not a moment sooner, he takes off..


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At the time, she mumbles..


Candy: "I suppose getting some rounds too is not a bad idea. Now that I've got some speed issues ironed out.. I think winning this is a possibility."


Wearing her race attire in full, she comes out to her MINI, confident and strong..


Candy: "It's time to show them my stuff.. no, don't even think about it."


She.. must've hinted that there's a fourth wall.

Thinking the readers' lust in play, she shows nothing of that kind with her clothing right now.

But since she plays dirty, it's my turn to play dirty too.


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A lilac S13 brakes later than usual, nearly hitting Candy, who leaps into the nearby stack of tires.


Candy: "WAAAHH!"


She's not hurt in any serious way, but her emotions however.. are..


Candy: "P-P-PEGGYYY!! THE NERVE OF THIS PUTRID HATEFUL LITTLE R[BLEEP]ED BITCH..."


Owned by the public guise of The Mountain God himself, the driver hops out, excited by the sense of danger about..


Peigi: "Someone called for me?! Kee KEEH!"


Back on her feet, she has stern words..


Candy: "Alright, little crazy.. you don't use your friends as brake markers, okay.. especially ones as tall as you."

Peigi: "Fwee.. I know. Sooo.. my Candy darling! I'm not sure why, but I really think now's the time for you to come clean with us lot of the Mountain Blazers"

Candy: "(She really swept that aside?!) W-we're past that, right? I mean.. I got Max to say we're good, so we are?"


With a show of teeth, she declares on that..


Peigi: "Aww, silly lady! I know we are! But I mean.. well, I have to bring my mates for that. You mind letting them have their say?"


A sharp whistle follows, and while nothing immediate came, just after, her German associate came to the rescue.


J.J: "So here you are, Princess! I presume your run has been.. great? POSE!"


Flashed by the Pizza Tower parry, Peigi got to business quickly..


Peigi: "Wahh! Well, what you thinking? You innit for some proper easy money?"

J.J: "Oh.. how about you ask.."


Like clockwork, he stops as soon as a pair of blue Japanese sports cars came over.


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Remembering their hustle in recent weeks, the little racer can't help but comment on The Cinderella's vehicle of choice..


Candy: "Cindy's really taking that Z432 out and about without hassle?"

Peigi: "Keekee.. you like it, don't you? [slurping]"


Exiting the car, the driver is one fairy tale princess with a role to star in, and cockney in her words..


The Cinderella: "Peggy and Candy. Alright, you're right.. you both stand tall together proper equal and all.. You alright?"

Candy: "For you, that's a loose term, ain't it?"

Peigi: "Just say you are, Candy."


Spoke Peigi as she nudges the racer's side.


Candy: "OWAAA.. Umm, I guess I am! Still miffed you're alright bringing around a Z432 around without much issue."

The Cinderella: "You're having trouble with that? You need more faith in me! C'mon, big guy!"


Daijiro walks in, showing his usual tough guy self as he chuckles loudly..


Daijiro: "Heh heh heh.."

Candy: "Fine. I guess I need more faith."


He smiles, nodding as he shows agreement all over.


Daijiro: "Hmph."


She though has been gathering doubts that she shared soon..


The Cinderella: "I've been thinking a proper rematch with the proto Z though, not me old antique."

Peigi: "C'mon, Cindy! It's the fastest antique I've ever seen. You hit anything, and we can always call our good pal Carlyle."

Candy: "She's right. Remember Alsace?"

The Cinderella: "You bet I do! It's.. umm.. I won? Ummmm?"


Intruding like he always would, J.J objected to this badgering of the mentally wounded..


J.J: "We can't be muddling her head any more than we are, Candy."

Candy: "Ugh, I didn't mean it, alright?"


And to back him up..


Daijiro: "Heh."

Candy: "No, I don't find it amusing, Jiro-san."


She argued in a soft, but mildly furious way.

Peigi though decided to help her out..


Peigi: "Anyhow.. we didn't come here for just racing.. I've got a nice little concert tonight in Sapporo! You heard of the sakura blossoms, with my music, following the rhythm bouncing up and down like.. like.."

Candy: "A rally car.. please! Enough innuendo!"


..sigh, never mind.

She went on to taunt the little racer of her.. I hate it when innuendo gets involved, but guess what: it's Peigi!

Anyways, she went on to start.. umm.. feeling around her own upper body in silly ways.


Peigi: "Ohh. What's the matter.. bra sizes much too lacking? Keeheeheehee!"


Not a fan of where this goes, she implies, uneasily..


Candy: "Tsk.. please make it stop.."

The Cinderella: "Benedict Cumberbatch."


glass shatters


Pupils shrunk, expression deadened, and mind out of control.

Peigi and composure splits up once again as those words compile, flailing around and shouting..


Peigi: "NOOOOOOOOO~"


Like her, J.J too wasn't a fan of that.


J.J: "We promised the reliance of that be much less, Prinzessin."

The Cinderella: "Can't be helped, J."


Though, he then takes advantage of the situation, turning to Candy..


J.J: "In any case.. I have another favor, Candy."

Candy: "Let me guess.. I'm driving another FWD car. And let me guess: it's another Civic?"

J.J: "It's not like you can't forecast what I have ready, don't you? Ja, it is yet another one, darling. Come follow J.J while those two hunds get the Princess on her feet."

Candy: "Not like I'm expecting anything else from you.."


They leave, but what's being left behind however..


The Cinderella: "You know, Jiro.. you ever meet any other lady's who's got issues hearing certain names or what not?"

Daijiro: "Umph."

The Cinderella: "Umph indeed. Let's get her fixed up good. Come on now, Peggy."

Peigi: "HISSSSS!"


eventually.jpg



They aren't too far away from the commotion, but the silence speaks for itself.


J.J: "Voila! Here we are!"


Entering one of the garage spots, they see..


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And the owner then explains..


J.J: "SiR-II EG. Top Japan only trim, also known as America's favorite ricer. Well? What's on your mind, frau?"


Queried J.J as he noticed his guest inspecting the car's bodywork in detail.

After a quick lean downwards, she then stood straight, answering back..


Candy: "Coming from you.. I'm expecting more pink."

J.J: "A sunny yellow strikes more Civic than pink.. but your suggestion isn't bad or anything."

Candy: "Least this one's not as flashy as the FK."

J.J: "It's not as quick too, nor does it spit out fire. But that's not why you're here."


Scratching briefly on his wrinkled chin, he explains..


J.J: ""We have a few hours.. I want the most out of this one. Just like the FK, Frau."

Candy: "Oh, well.. usual fees.. and.. I want something more. If you remember.."


Considering the lack of a writeup on Week 51, J.J recalled his deal then..


J.J: "Right! As promised! Umm.. I struggle to think how we can.. make you more tuner savvy.. AHAH! We can have a quick selfie."

Candy: "R-really? Umm.. it's not like I ever like doing that when I'm out and about.."

J.J: "Pfft. We're in Japan! I've seen social media hits on people doing JoJo poses like I sometimes do. Surely everyone here's got that inner fancy specular self.. well, I'll help. I'm always into the manga covers. You can be.. umm.."

Candy: "Ermm.."


She's slowly curling into a ball, he thought, but with a bit of positive thinking, J.J declares..


J.J: "Oh Candy.. it's true.. you indeed are a shut in. But don't recent episodes prove otherwise? Ughh.. no matter."


He closes in and crouched to her height, then explaining an idea..


J.J: "The Messiah told me about the time you had counseling with Sophia.. it helped immensely to some degree. Frau, I don't know what you think of her now, but it needs to be revisited.. SPARK!"


Covering a part of his face with his whole hand, Candy replied nervously..


Candy: "I.. don't know. What other things will they say about me."

J.J: "Ahah! Insecurity. You know our Prinzessin has trouble with getting a character out for her rookie racing career when looking at Peigi when she plays that brattish Mountain God character? So the Princess handed her a book in the Cockney accent, and thus.. the way she speaks."

Candy: "It's a fake accent, huh? How is getting me to talk like that going to help?"

J.J: "Look, if there was a piece of advice I learned when I was starting out in the Blazers, it's that.. comparison is the thief of joy, quoted from.. I think it was the 26th president of the US."


She finds herself even more confused, as J.J let out a quick sigh before moving on..


J.J: "The silence.. how daring. It means.. if not some divine force from above, you will be the judge of your own actions, not others. You have not much character, but not because you are a dullard dummkopf. Rather.. it's because we don't know the character in you."


With character in mind, J.J thinks of someone.. with an ego to hurt..


J.J: "Take for instance the b[BLEEP]d Chimera of The List.. he's not ashamed or withdrawal of his personality, and it hasn't hurt him far as we know."

Candy: "Didn't you say comparison is bad?"

J.J: "Exactly. But he's not hiding being himself. You are hiding behind something, perhaps by someone. Insecure! Now, we want to see the real you eventually.. it's a gradual process."


She may be called Candy, but her sweet self refuses to come out with this kind of talk.


Candy: "Ughh, I like how you're being nice, but the point remains blunt."

J.J: "Hey, I tried! The only person who would talk to me is a grunting buffoon."


Spoke J.J. with a positive mindset, which Candy..


Candy: "I.. umm.. thanks."


..followed with a quick bow, while unable to quite get the lesson.


J.J: "Well, we don't need a JoJo themed picture. Just be yourself. I'll be me. Now.. POSITIONS!"


Moving around to the front end of the EG6, she wonders..


Candy: "I was wondering how a selfie is going to help us in some form.."

J.J: "It'll help our reputations. Proof you had a run with us, and we have contact with you.. I cannot explain further, but for now you trust me. I can forecast this."

Candy: "Whatever.. I'm more of a hashtag girl."

Freedom To Win
Mayumi Chiwaki (feat. LUKA)
Gran Turismo: The Real Driving Simulator - Rock Arrange


As the car makes its way around, the harmony between its VTEC powerplant and an aftermarket turbo reveals a mystic rhythm..


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Entering the large straight, the little racer couldn't get enough of the blistering acceleration..


Candy: "As is.. this car can run!"


With her on the passenger's side J.J finds excitement from more than just being by her side, as he holds on to the seat handles..


J.J: "Marvelous! This is enjoyable. Honest, if not your career, I can appoint you an initiate of us Mountain Blazers."

Candy: "You have to sell me that better. I'm getting offers from The List and The Prophecy, you know?"

J.J: "You're not going to get more than what you earn from racing."

Candy: "Oh? I'm taking notes from Cindy. How about a brand new tuned car, for starters?"

J.J: "Darn, she strikes a hard bargain. To be.. fair, the Prinzessin earned that car from her first tournament, so.. tough luck!"

Candy: "What's that?"


Realizing, he withdrew his thoughts and chose to hold his words, replying nervously..


J.J: "Oh.. must be the wind! Ja! Now drive.."

Candy: "Hmph.. Dick."


Civics are probably one of the most prominent models of FWD performance cars. So while it might be the least notable of this current roster, it doesn't mean it might be the worst to drive or take out.


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First of all we have a look at the power.. now, since this is a VTEC powered Honda, your only way to ensure its meme worthy dominance is to rev it as high as you can. You gotta push it real high, which you can do by either leave the car to rev further past the shift lights, or you can just watch it rev to 8200 RPM levels and shift then. In tandem with its rather well balanced 5 speed manual, the EG6 has acceleration in its list of fortes as well, being able to keep up on the straights should handling be an issue.

Speaking of handling, you're going to expect this: the car suffers from general corner understeer. Thankfully it's not got horsepower to accentuate further this problem, and there are a few ways to play with this. Obviously you can bounce the revs, but there's a catch: only accelerate when YOU NEED TO, as when decelerating, understeer rears out its ugly head. Another piece of advice I've noticed is to keep the car on a higher gear when you don't need a lower gear's speed on less than half its RPM. Supposedly, the VTEC boost on higher revs does something to the car's understeering, I wager.


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There's more. While this EG6 might be the sportiest of the sporty, taking the car around in an.. unnatural flair will tell you the car suffers from some weight transfer, especially if you're trying to be REAL obnoxious with it. Notably, since the car gets some hint of understeer from decelerating, I deduce that it has a rather stiff deceleration value on its LSD. Anyways, that does mean if you do need to bounce the revs, do it in nanomachine (-s son!) sized increments. So, while you do need to be careful with engine braking causing some real understeery tendencies, other methods I've noticed like trail braking are okay for this car. Generally, the car's brakes are alright, but it doesn't cater well to those that brake rather late.

So, the last time I wrote about a Civic ages ago, I have to mention traction. No, it's not 'Turn on traction control', because that rule, to me, is pretty much what NOT to do with any FWD car, because when it's on, you can find yourself bogging the car down when turning. Not to mention you're going to be in that limbo region where the car understeers from deceleration.. and should I mention how bad it is on turn exit.. yup, keep that off.


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Let's end this with a nice quick comparison from myself in the MINI Cooper S. The MINI in general is much more of a corners car thanks to its real peppy agility and the lack of a proper top end in its gearbox, while also notably more challenging to drive thanks to its loose rear end when decelerating. It's still a great Sleeper, and this Civic takes all those, and turns it upside down, but has yet to fail bringing a smile to my face when I'm behind its wheel.

There really isn't much else to say. A monster on the straights as much as it tries to convince you such on the corners. No wonder it's favored by Americans just as much. Speaking of Americans, I must address how the car's.. not quite small. Because this has been the most incident heavy week I've ever gotten myself into.


There was a zen, developed with the car's tuned bliss let loose under the clouds.

Though Candy didn't quite get the sweet memo about it, approaching the final corner out of nowhere got a little more tense.


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Looking back on the large straights she then sees a pair of hot heads making names.


Candy: "Eh?"


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Behind the wheel of the tuned Hakosuka is the once dead Street Racing Oni, and the other in a heavily modified Camaro is a certain somebody who needs no introduction.


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They pass without hassle, but Candy didn't quite have the mood to leave it lying around..


Candy: "Oh, they're really trying to arouse me.."

J.J: "Flustered? Oh, it seems The List is here too, huh?"

Candy: "You want a high octane check of performance? Just say the word."


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The Civic then proves to be a solution to the problem, as Candy keeps the car going, eventually going along their wavelength.


J.J: "I think I'll find out for myself in a while. I think you've earned my appreciations, Frau. Let's get you paid, and ready for later. Back to the pits."

Candy: "Your call."


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later.jpg



Done with their little showdown, the 2 classic cars come in, stopping themselves in a spot for The List..


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..and associates, it seems.

Keith Ross, little brother of the man behind the mask of The Outlaw, waves in the drivers exiting their cars.


Isamu: "Ahh, it's you. Beautiful. You might not be Jacob, but I think we're going to have a great time."


He spoke with earnest, but he's got a feeling to get some heat in later.

Seeing his dog Shin charge towards him, he leans down to catch him crashing after a leap.


Isamu: "The horde of Americans here today at the north end of Nippon is an ill omen, don't you think so, Shin?"


Exhilarated by earlier, Sonny though had to ask..


Sonny: "What says you guys? You like the mutt?"

Keith: "Sure! I mean.. I'd get one if Monnie isn't allergic."

Isamu: "A real pity. You're obviously missing out."

Keith: "Yeah, ain't that a darn tootin' shame."


A man walks out, then takes a deep breath in.

As he exhales..


Kirk: "Ahh.. I love the air here.. Looking confident, Son."

Sonny: "Oh, you know me, butterbean. Me, and New Hotness means.. I'm afraid you all be racing for second place now."


The other pair watches from a short distance, expressing distaste..


Keith: "As his classmate from a past era, I know how to put a frown on that punchable face, Adachi-san, but.. with circumstances in place, that's not going to happen."

Isamu: "Again, a real pity. Shin's just too cute a pooch to even hurt him."


Though, in the badass's mind comes the thought that Kirk and Isamu have never met before today, prompting..


Sonny: "How about we get some bases set here. Adachi, this is Kirk.. my right hand man who never leaves our place of residence unless I bribe his fat ass."

Kirk: "Hi."


That was the dullest 'Hi' he's ever heard, and Isamu didn't relent..


Isamu: "Hi? That's it?! You're cute, you know that? At least you can take care of Shin. He likes you.. But he likes everyone unconditionally!"

Kirk: "Whatever witchcraft he got cooking, I ain't budging."

Sonny: "That's the thing about Kirk, though, Adachi. He's stubborn like a bull and at peace like a devout monk, no matter whatever you do, lor."


His games don't work, but he's not that stubborn at least, as Isamu directs the conversation someplace else..


Isamu: "The only thing that matters is if he can drive."

Keith: "Drive? Sometimes I feel so diminished, he'd be the better driver, y'know!"


He put his palm atop his face as he expresses such great dismay from what was heard.


Isamu: "Odd.. you can do Super GT, but yet you truly are a far cry to The Outlaw.."


However, Kirk noticed something else from behind their guests..


Kirk: "There's your favorite little racer comin' over, Son."

Sonny: "And we were going t-no time to explain: you fellas don't mind keeping her company? I'm not going to take any chances of her skull leaping up at my.. divine, chiseled chin.. [teeth shine]"


Nobody can question his charisma at work, but whatever the reason, the two answered back.


Keith: "Chiseled, but he minds getting it cracked, eh? Don't you worry Son. We don't mind at all."

Isamu: "Whatever you say. I mean.. fifty credits say she misses Shin, after all."

Keith: "I'll take that chance."


As one pair leaves, the other pair confronted an arriving little racer..


Candy: "It's you.. The lesser brother."

Keith: "You dare doubt me? Well, good morning to you, Candy. If you're looking for my brother or your big sis.. well, you're s[BLEEP] outta luck."

Candy: "That's fine.. Adachi-san. How's the arm?"

Isamu: "You know me. Forgive me for not keeping in touch with you, Candy-kun. But.. I'm sure if he could punish me, I'd have bite marks. SHIN! KOI!"


Upon those calls, Shin barked away in full force of the power of love.

She's faced the dog many times before, and happily caught him as she leaned down.


Candy: "Well look! Shin is here! I've missed you! Who's a good boy?!"


Isamu put out the big smile of money coming in, as he sees Keith ready to take out his phone's bank app.


Isamu: "Told you. It's payday, sucker. Account number zero zero four nine zero.."

Keith: "[groans]"


As the transaction comes through, Candy took her time looking around..

An orange Chevrolet takes her fancy first.


Candy: "A C2 Corvette.. I know this is the son of the great Corvette Captain, but.. I'm sure he's no historian."


Then, on to the Skyline..


Candy: "Ohh, this Hakosuka.. we raced last week. Soon, I'll get behind the wheel of something this special."


She notices the men still on their phones, but wanted to hear a certain something from them, as she pulls the arm of the once armless bandit.


Candy: "By the way.. sorry for putting you aside, Adachi-san, but I saw you going wild with that pompous ass, and this is his Camaro."

Keith: "Hear that? Going wild? Gayyy."

Isamu: "Quiet you sexless fool. We're not tasked with hiding him from her."


While Keith gets a playful nudge, Candy senses..


Candy: "Well, the jig is up, Keith. What's he on about?"

Isamu: "He mentioned.. something to not explain. But we said yes, and that's all we got."

Candy: "Well, since there's nothing too interesting with you two, I think I'll leave you to prepare."


As Candy walks away, Keith and Isamu turn backwards, acting suspicious despite the situation not asking for it.


Isamu: "Ahh, farewell to you.. Kiss-san.. do you see what's going on behind?"

Keith: "My name's not Kiss.."

Isamu: "Not important! What is, is that we were the distraction."

Keith: "He's not paying us to do this crap, y'know."

Isamu: "But admit it.. it's fun to do something illegal. Or help someone do something sort of illegal. You're just a pansy, Kiss-san."


While that's yet another insult, that last sentence was true, as Keith refuses to fight back, mentioning however..


Keith: "I wish I was in your shoes, Adachi-san."

Isamu: "No, trust me: you don't. Near blindness and a robot arm's not worth it."

Keith: "It don't help how freaking cool that all sounds."


He's dealing with a man in a slump from all that, but..


Isamu: "Hmm.. you seen Shin?"


meanwhile 2.jpg



A few garages down, the pair lift out a large military carrying case from a red Supra.


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Placing it softly by the floor, they wipe their initial sweats clean as Kirk start to complain..


Kirk: "You sure we ain't going to find a trolley for this?"

Sonny: "This'll be our only shot, tubby. Don't got the time."


Exhausted, Kirk kept going with the lack of logic of this 'job'.


Kirk: "I feel this is supposed to be a four man job, Son.."

Sonny: "We got a gym in the penthouse for a reason, fatty."

Kirk: "Yeah, I'm the most frequent user of that! And the in penthouse b-ball court.. and the in penthouse bowling alley."

Sonny: "Yeah, yeah, you're fit. And I'm the Conqueror of The British Empire. Don't use your back, alright. On three."


Legs bent down, they ready to lift..


Kirk: "One.. Twoo.."

Sonny: "THREE!"


..and start struggling to carry the heavy load through the empty backroads.

They're strong, but Sonny thought of a distraction..

..in terms of a hip hop beat..


Sonny: "♪Budu budu budu bud budu budu bududu..♪"


Being his right hand man, Kirk then recognized it all, and started to sing along, somehow forgetting his exhaustion..


Sonny: "♪Two trailer park girls go round the outside! Round the outside, round the outside! [beatboxes]♪"

Kirk: "♪Two trailer park girls go round the outside! Round the outside, round the outside!♪"

Sonny: "[beatboxes]"


Their steps turn rhythmic, as they move with the song in tune..


Kirk: "♪Guess who's back?♪"

Sonny: "♪Back again?♪"

Kirk: "♪Shady's back..♪"

Sonny: "♪Tell a friend!♪"


And without notice, they've covered a good distance, as they guess..


Kirk: "♪Guess who's back..♪"

Sonny: "♪Guess who's back..♪"

Both: "♪Guess who's back..♪"


However, as they were to continue, Sonny hears a bark from behind.


Sonny: "Umm, guess who's bark? KIRK, break!"


Putting the carrying case down fast as they could safely, Sonny and Kirk look together what that quick interruption was, and Kirk then happily greeted..


Kirk: "Whew. Hey there, Shin.. Son, you see: I am so ready for.. 4 minutes of this!"

Sonny: "I ain't, bro. Alright, you're a fit ass.. stamina wise."


Spoke Sonny, softly as he collected his breath..

Kirk, while handling the dog, wondered..


Kirk: "So, why we headed for Kuro Uma for?"

Sonny: "Talked to Ayumi. They got a place to keep this hidden round here for the day before we bring it out later."

Kirk: "Right, right.. what's in this anyways?"

Sonny: "Things for tomorrow? Sorry I used your ride, bro."


On her phone, she receives a text from Jacob, notably about her request on the C2 Keith will be driving today.

Putting her phone away, she mumbles in wonder..


Candy: "A C2 Corvette.. that the dark one sometimes drives as The Outlaw. He's the Corvette Captain, sure, but.. that means it's gotta be quick.."


She then arrives to where she wants to be.


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With familiar cars from past weeks returning, she takes a quick shout out..


Candy: "Konnichiwa! Yumi-san! Deki-san!"


As nobody came to her, she peeked under the car, hoping Hideki would be down there, but to her mild dismay..


Candy: "Not under the car this time.."


She looked back up and those she seeked then appeared, rushing out the garage.


Hideki: "C-Candy-kun! Hey!"


The couple exit out, with the first thing their guest noticed is their clothes, ready to race.


Candy: "You all look nicely settled."

Ayumi: "Ohh, we start enjoying visiting the far edges of Nippon since the FIA really pays.. that's just one reason. And Hokkaido's always a great location for.. romantic escapes."

Hideki: "Y-yes! Ehe.."

Candy: "You know, I remember hating coming here before meeting people like you."

Ayumi: "Consider us GUILTY! AHAHAHA!"


Creeped out by that sudden shout, she responded, internally as well.


Candy: "Y-yikes (she's both my big sis and Chunhua with that sentence)."

Ayumi: "Anyhow, I'm waiting for something, so I'm going to say sorry to not let you peeve further than what I said. You know what we're bringing for our run today. I plan to one up Rike-san once again."

Candy: "Aww.."

Ayumi: "We're still up for a nice traditional Hokkaido dinner later, right?"

Candy: "Oh, absolutely!"


Not intending to stay much longer, that all changed as soon as a crashing sound comes by from behind..


Candy: "What's that noise?"

Ayumi: "Noise? What noise? Deki-san?"

Hideki: "N-nothing! I mean.. something! But it's totally nothing!"


About to treat it like nothing, it became something as soon as the men in the back forget the notice about discretion..


Kirk: "SON! Did you break anything?!"

Sonny: "Mei shi, lor! You see the ridges on this thing? Candy's cargo.. I guarantee it's tougher than diamonds, maa. That mutt's annoying the mission! Why you aught to let him sit on the crate again?!"

Kirk: "Blaming on others is so not you, Son.."


And her response drastically changed..


Candy: "That's my name, coming from not just any noise. I'll see you two on track, then.."


And as Candy looks towards the back areas, the couple comment on the moment.


Hideki: "I-umm.. know I shouldn't say a single word, but.."

Ayumi: "Don't worry about it, Deki-san. Let's leave it to them.."

Hideki: "Ermm.. yes.."


just then.jpg



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Putting down the shutters, the two guys sit leaning on it while wiping their sweat away.


Sonny: "Whew.. yeah, we're finding a forklift after the race, okay?"

Kirk: "Roger that. You see, little Shin.. he can be bargained with."


However, as they want a moment to cuddle away the yellow dog, Sonny hears a set of steps..


Sonny: "Think you can go buy me a few beverages and get that dog to his rightful place while.. One Step Ahead says I'm going to handle the little lady?"

Kirk: "Yeah, sure."


His right hand man now gone out the back, Sonny now contends with one of his greater on track rivals, as she comes in with a grumpy look.


Sonny: "Candy. Baby. Hey again. This is not the place for it, so.. we can go talk somewhere more.. cordial like, mah."

Candy: "Stalling again? Nice try. You really have a reason being here, and for some reason keeping it away from me. Are you.. smuggling illicit drugs or.."

Sonny: "I'm smuggling, but it's not harmful produce or anything, honest! Thing is.. it was in Kirk's car. He's racing with us, and since you saw New Hotness, he's going to need the load off."


Knowing Kirk, and what cars he has personally, she guesses..


Candy: "He is? He better be using the red Supra."

Sonny: "Y-to the-E-S, my darling, he is."


Gaining access to an A70 to drive however caused her to forget about the Candy's Cargo from earlier.

Still, she isn't one to snitch, as she thought..


Candy: "It helps to tell I am interested, but.. ehh. You know.. there is a worksite nearby.. maybe you can ask them nicely for a truck?"

Sonny: "Ask nicely won't mean they will give it to me.. or even.. sis, how do you even know that, lah?"

Candy: "All this doubt! How dare you not believe me."


As Candy replied with an angry look, Sonny gets on his feet and thinks of the easy way out card.


Sonny: "Not saying I won't try, Candy baby. Your input is credited.. you want a thousand credits, right?"

Candy: "Umm.. alright, I'm buying."


Putting aside the reasons why he's around, she and him exit the garage.

Walking out, she asks: further delving with reason.


Candy: "So.. why are you even here? It's.. strange seeing high profile racing celebrity like you doing the small fry's big day."

Sonny: "The day Sonny Meng graced this event is the most important day of these lowly people's lives. But to me.. it was Tuesday."


The great Lord Bison meme however didn't sway her.


Candy: "I'm not taking that for an answer."

Sonny: "What other cards do I play, huh? You're probably just as famous as I am? I like High Speed Ring? You ask Bon. I owe him something and he wants me to have a look at Clubman Cup Plus. Satisfied?"


He looked, but she remained unimpressed.


Sonny: "That face screams no? Fair enough. I won't show my private messages with our favorite French aristocrat. If you won't believe Hokkaido has less stringent cargo rules with cars, I can only present to you my honest answer.. in SONG! HIT IT!"


Reaching offscreen, he grabs a microphone, and started putting out one of Eminem's biggest hits on the tool.


Sonny: "♪I SAID: this looks like a job for me! So everybody: just follow me! Cause we need a little.. controversy! Cause it feels so empty, without me!♪"


It was completely left field, as Candy can't contain this chaos.


Candy: "Eh? Huh? How? Oh my goodness, what the he!"

Sonny: "♪Lea la la la LAHH! Lea la la la LAHH! Lea la la la LAHH! La la la LAHH!♪"



Fortunate to not cause any downpour, the clouds watch from above a race beginning..


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The green light flashes, and they're gone!


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Freedom To Win
Mayumi Chiwaki (feat. LUKA)
Gran Turismo: The Real Driving Simulator - Rock Arrange

In its current non modified state, the EG Civic's your usual sporty FWD hatchback with some issues in a strictly decelerating LSD and some problems keeping the car appropriately behaving around the turns.. or taking turns. They're not bad, just they can be improved, for sure! Thses will be what this segment can address.


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Ahh. another FWD car: my one true weakness. It's.. copper to Metroman, only that I'm not effing about on it: I really don't understand it so much, we need FWD specialists like what we got in JC's Garage. Though, unlike last week: I won't be using any of that today.

Now, the SiR-II is the first car to carry an engine swap on its release, and it's the transfer of a more potent VTEC powerplant from an Integra Type R. I'm not going to detail much because of what happened a few weeks back with the Jimny (an excuse to write about a Swapped Analysis Segment, essentially), but if you ask me.. it's not a remarkable swap, while it is the lore friendly swap for sure. This car is like a Miata: people stuff all kinds of weird thingamajigs under its hood.

Heading to GT Auto, with these aero parts, you can turn your EG6 into what many people have done to theirs: a proper track racing machine. Getting all the aero parts can get you up to 200 units of downforce to play with. You don't want this too high if you're roaming the expressways, so play with your own needs.


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In terms of adding power, you can put a turbo on the EG6. Predictable. What's not is that the car has the most meaningless turbo choice ever. All of them give a similar performance area, not change the powerband in any notable way, and yes: I spent the money and paid for all of them. I guess for today, the choice boils down to the sound. No, I'm not going to tell you which one to take. Just that you're welcome for any of them. No matter the selection, you're going to top out your EG6 with a 310 horsepower hatchback, and with all the weight loss and other knicknacks, you can reach 600 PP on Sports Softs. Speaking of tires: do get an appropriate set for how fast the EG6 is going. At least Sports by the time you inch above or at 500 PP.

You know what that means? How about a revisit to Week 50's challenge I too way too seriously? Umm.. so far, the results are.. 'promising', and that's how far I'm getting on with at the time of writing. There are flames, but I haven't gotten one the size of your mama's ass to warrant mention.

Might as well address the car's issues first. LSD: deceleration go all the way down with the torque (on stock it says zero but with 50 torque), and put up the acceleration. If you're going all out with the 300 horsepower, about 30 is fine. To deal with that loose transfer of weight, the anti-roll settings just need a kick up. Mine stands at 3 on front, with 10 in the back because oversteer is king. And while you're at it: if you have a brake balance controller on, mine is set to at least +2. This is definitely preference, however.

With my usual rear hard philosophy at work with the high downforce levels, the car won't oversteer despite these.. stuffing all this to the rear, so don't fret. In fact, if you're so worried, then drive the thing: it's a throwback to the touring car nominated all the way back in Week 7, and maybe a bit more rowdy to compare it to Week 51's FK.


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And just like the FK: the car settles very nicely at 500-600. Surprising? Sort of, but this car's produced at an era that birthed many amazing FWD cars. Did you ever hear the glory of Volkswagen Corrado VR6 the Sleeper of Sleepers? What, you'd think I forget? I too have great hopes it's coming to GT, but considering that's me with the JCW Countryman for 2 years, I guess that's all just unrealistically optimistic.

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J.J: "Oho! Even with the perfect launch the B16A can't quite lose them."

Keith: "This thing really launches! Now to see if it can race on the corners.."


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The Cinderella: "Something's up with your car, Jiro."

Daijiro: "Hmph.."

Candy: "That GTO's not going as fast as it should.."


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Sonny: "It doesn't feel right to say I conquered this race.. but I'll shake them off my tail for the hell of it."


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Isamu: "Hehe.. I bet Kiss-san is sweating a whole waterfall up here.. wouldn't you say so, Shin?"

[BARKING]


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Candy: "A perfect entry. That's the grip of one Augur modified MINI!"

Maverick: "Better see if I can stay on the rookie's six.."


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Candy: "That EG is really pushing!"

Kirk: "Golly, she ain't bulls[BLEEP]ing about that MINI."


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Ayumi: "This is a sign I should've taken the FD."

Daijiro: "Heh."


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Isamu: "Aww.. he's lesser than The Outlaw, and that is no fluke."

Keith: "Blast, I mis-shifted.. I better bring this baby home or pa's gonna crucify me."


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Sonny: "Oh yes, turn me on, little Civic. Show me a good time!"

J.J: "Hi hi.. they don't call me radioactive for nothing. C'mon now, little VTEC."


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Isamu: "Peigi Daitoku.. the Mountain God. This will be a fierce battle."

Peigi: "DOKE! KONO BAKAYAROU!"


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Hideki: "Candy-kun.. this Lancer is going to be your bane."

Candy: "Interesting. Deki-san's going all out."


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J.J: "Princess and the Prinzessin in view as we enter the final lap.. Catching the legendary Asian-American Badass is truly just a dream now.."


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Maverick: "That's two in a row of poor showings with the C4.. gotta get this thing pumped up for the next encounter, it seems."


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Candy: "And Keith's done."

Keith: "Darn it, I'm not quick."


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Isamu: "Peigi-kun won't stand a chance on my turf even if she is The Mountain God, but.. you beat me, for now."


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Sonny: "So easy, ma. This car's way too fast for those knuckle draggers, lor. Or is it me.. why not both?!"

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Before anyone else asks: No I don't have an inner Slim Shady.
I guess the Carrera GT's part of who we are.. why fight it?

the news day.jpg


Candy's house
Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
Afternoon


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The sun shines beautifully: a perfect day for washing cars at home.

Usually unable to reach the farther ends of her cars' topsides, with the help of Minori, things are going great, though not without some concern as Candy asks once again..


Candy: "Are you sure you're fine?"

Minori: "Oh, don't worry about me, bebe.. that kind of pain is normal to me."

Candy: "Pain? Normal? I can't handle Nirvana's cigar burns, but you lost limb functionality, and shook it off. Remind me not to ask you for employer feedback.."

Minori: "Like I ever fill those in with a honest heart, Candy.."


She moved on to something else..


Minori: "How was Hokkaido?"

Candy: "It's nice, thanks for asking, Minori-chan. Great vibes, good weather.. and the people.. don't get me started on the people. Locals and not."

Minori: "And your race, Candy-sama?"

Candy: "It was fun, but if I'm seeing it with results: decent.. the MINI really has trouble on High Speed Ring. Or am I not pushing myself hard enough?"


Remembering J.J's recent advice to not compare herself with others, she can't help compare herself once again, as she pauses with a thought..


Candy: "Hmm.."

Minori: "There's something on your mind.. well?"

Candy: "I met the pompous ass.. your boss. He took pole in the race so easily, I always wonder.."

Minori: "Oh? I know not of his secrets of his trade. What I do know is that he plans to stay in Japan for a while. He mention that?"

Candy: "No.. that, and not only did he take all the glory, but.. he's hiding something from me.. it's just a hunch, but I can't shake it off my head."


Remembering the bribe she took, she recalled that her name was mentioned, after all, and she had a hunch..


Candy: "Don't tell me.. you know what it is?"

Minori: "Hmm.. honest, pote.. I've been staying at your place for a few months now, so it's not in my radar no more.. so sorry."

Candy: "You're a killer, but at least you're not some back talking snake."

Minori: "Snake, yes. Back biting? I.. honestly don't think so."


They continued their wet work, but not before an intrusion..


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A pair of cars from yesterday's action come charging in and spreading a cloud of smoke as they stop.

Seeing New Hotness was enough for the homeowner to figure out..


Candy: "Wha? This was scheduled, was it?"

Minori: "Not from my end. Allow me?"


She went on to face off against an exhausted pair of some playa dudes.. though they're not really playas.


Minori: "Here so soon, eh? Enjoy your drive, messieurs?"


Kirk might be relaxed the past hours in a car, but his stamina's taken a toll, while he forgotten that for a moment as he watches in awe of Candy's more humble abode.


Kirk: "Holy cow, so this is your place.."

Candy: "Umm.. yes.. I'm sure you're turned on for the wrong reasons now.."


Kirk honestly kept admiring the house..

But Sonny thought tight body shapes from wet clothes was the current place of interest in his eyes.


Sonny: "That we are, but.. not only that freak Nirvana would attack me at my lustful pleasures.. well, all that's besides the point."

Kirk: "Son, I-"


He wanted to object, but that went all overruled, as he calmed him to continue..


Sonny: "You're welcome! That was exhausting. Fun, but still.. no wonder you took the all nighter train, Candy baby: just that much better an experience."

Candy: "I wish I could warn you. You really weren't expecting them, Minori-chan?"

Minori: "I knew they're coming, not.. exactly when."


Hearing that, Kirk went on to uncharacteristically leap on this train..


Kirk: "Minori? That what she call you? That's cute."

Minori: "It's intentional so nobody suspects a thing! Hmmph, you still know how to press on me."


She replies with a hint of aggression, but Candy then got a small hint from Kirk..


Kirk: "Don't mind that.. we annoy each other a lot."

Candy: "Sounds like the good old days for you three, huh?"

Sonny: "Yeahh.. you feel you're safer here, Gin, despite.."


It was a while ago she had to, but she explained again, this time with a tease on her words.


Minori: "Aww, I know you care for me, boss, but.. you know.. should I get jumped around you two, it might not be pleasant, oui? So.. here I be."


Candy though was uneasy with how it's looking, though..


Candy: "Umm.. again with uninvited guests.. I think you can give us.. 10 minutes to dress up proper?"

Sonny: "Take your time, sis."


15 minutes later.jpg



Alone on the chairs in the lounging area, the boys discuss as they stave off their exhaustion of a big lift..


Kirk: "The Supra did good, right?"

Sonny: "Ohh I don't doubt that, my tub of lard. It's obvious I won, but.. it was a competitive roster. That German guy from the Big 3 really gave it his all. Any Civic with him in it, he's bound to make leaps when he should hop.."


Dressed properly, the owner of the place enters the room.


Sonny: "Yo! Candy! You were driving that EG6 before the race, right?"

Candy: "Yup. It's a masterwork. It'd compete with your Peugeot, I say.. though, we were racing with a guy who claims to be a master of the VTEC front powered domestics, and he's not wrong yet."

Kirk: "You taking that into accord for your street crew's invasion?"

Sonny: "Until Clark goes hostile on us, I'm not worried."


Though, she however noticed..


Candy: "That giant crate wasn't here earlier."


Yesterday they were nearly found with it, but today, they don't mind it one bit, as Kirk spoke..


Kirk: "I suppose this is the time."

Sonny: "Yup. So.. a long while ago, you said something to the lines of wanting.. umm.. what was it called again?"

Candy: "You're not making any sense unless you hit some key words."


Minori then comes in, serving the guests the treat that gave the home a flair for great coffee.


Minori: "And here you go.."


Even without a smell or a taste, Kirk saw enough to tell.


Kirk: "Whoa! This is grade A coffee."

Minori: "Beans grinded just now.. so.. that's a military supply box if I see one. From those two.. umm.."


Military being a key word, Candy predicts..


Candy: "So, this is what you've been hiding around yesterday?! Weapons?"

Sonny: "She presumes soo quickly, bro."

Kirk: "I know."


He's acting high and mighty, but he suggests..


Sonny: "Well, why don't you open it and see if you can piece it up like you did Jet Jaguar over there."

Candy: "Building another robot figurine was definitely not in my to-do list today.."


She opens the fastenings and unlocks the latch.

Seeing a group of items secured with foam, she takes one out, questioning.


Candy: "This.. is.. a.. light but tough elbow pad.."

Kirk: "Kind of like armor, eh?"

Sonny: "She can wear it and claim it's got her powers like in some super sentai show, lor.."


Her mind jogged, she's surprised to find out..


Candy: "The power armor?!"

Minori: "Ohh?"

Sonny: "DING DING DING! You got it, Candy baby. Paid for by yours truly, but.. to be honest, I really want you to pay for part of it. If I gotta measure, the cost be like.. something lofty out of Auto Plus."

Candy: "Well, I'll do so with installments. Minori-chan, if you please.."


Minori then took out a whole slew of composite materials, slowly gathering that these are designed to be worn in a certain way.


Kirk: "Well, another happy customer, Son."

Sonny: "I know, beh. But.. I expected this. Besides, she can pay anytime; it's not a large dent in the first national of Sonny Meng."


As she slips into another piece that she thinks is for her calves, she wonders..


Candy: "I've been thinking.. Sonny.. you never got my measurements.."

Minori: "Umm.."

Sonny: "Ginnie handled that. Don't think I want to spare that detail."


later.jpg



It didn't take long, but Candy now has a fully shielded look on her.

However, while it's not much thicker than any usual military ballistic armor, she struggles to get about, as she questions..


Candy: "This is.. pretty heavy!"

Kirk: "Think positively: it done fit her quite good."

Sonny: "Yeah.. Lyle: a man with a military background did recommend against getting you one, remember?"

Candy: "But.. is there anything else I should know?"


Minori quickly looked up, down, left, right, and figured from that brief observation..


Minori: "I see.. holes for in built weaponry, lighting, a battery pack for electronics.. it's quite modular."

Candy: "Minori-chan, I'm not sure how you-"

Minori: "I know the guy who makes these, okay? Used to date him. Should I not be in hiding.. we're speaking, just don't tell Gary.."


Watching a little girl unwrap a gift for Christmas, Kirk however remembered.


Kirk: "Oh speaking of which.. you want to check what's further in the crate.. I recall it's why we had trouble transferring it."


She got enough hint from him that she immediately hopped to the supply crate and found ammunition, drugs and replacement limbs under all the mess she's made..

Overflowing with gratitude, she unfurls it all..


Minori: "Ohh! You shouldn't.. but you did! Merci! I feel that's a few month's supply! I desperately need this for the next outing with the Trinitia.."


After a few steps along the hallway, she wonders..


Candy: "Oh.. this is going to get some getting used to.. how about we try out if it's bulletproof?"

Sonny: "Don't think we brought our firearms, today, right?"

Kirk: "It's that or we get busted."

Sonny: "Heh. Maybe some other time. Right now.. I have an idea how you can repay me a bit."

Candy: "Well?"


Sonny stood, cheeky in his attempt for the next favor..


Sonny: "Show us around the place. I know Tokyo, but not know know, like someone who lives here. And Kirk too wants to see some.. culture, am I right, fatso?"

Kirk: "Don't shove it on me again, Son!"

Sonny: "You can't stop me, busta!"

Candy: "Alright alright. You're lucky there's not much else happening now. Minori-chan, if you please.."


As the weather remains, Candy then exits her home, now freed from her newly gotten protection.

She looks at her Demio, ready for what's to come..


Candy: "Four of us.. suppose it's Demio time.."

Kirk: "HOLD IT!"


Looking back, she sees the men with their shoes on ready to go, but Sonny commented..


Sonny: "Whooo, that's some echo! Surely that's gonna get you noticed in the courts of Japanifornia."

Kirk: "Thanks, I've been working on it.. Alright Son, the stage is yours."

Sonny: "Gotcha. She's our little Miss Toyota, and I propose she wants to ride a Toyota. So.."


He points towards a certain car as soon as he quietens down, and Candy looks on to see..


full



She looked in awe, knowing..

Candy: "Woah.. I haven't gotten behind a Supra for.. like forever!"


Her hands are together, but she then noticed a pair of keys coming in between them from another pair above.


Kirk: "Here ya go. Ever drive an A70?"

Candy: "If I did.. honestly, I don't remember."


They move on to the car, and she notices, for a 30 year old machine..


Candy: "Oh? It's like it's brand new.. you sent this to a shop, or.."

Kirk: "We had breakfast in a cafe.. that's near a GT Auto garage."

Sonny: "Best idea ever. Pristine cars, and filled bellies. Bit pricy though."


Commenting about price, Candy added..


Candy: "Anyone coming over has to have no problem with money."

Sonny: "My credit is good, by the way.. In fact, with you onboard, there's a good chunk of racers that owe me."

Candy: "Let's not talk about my dues, you ass. I'm thinking where to start driving to.."


Before they got in, Minori then appears..


Minori: "Excuse my lateness, messieurs, but I say we're ready to go?"


Not approved by her wear, Candy tells that..


Candy: "Eh?! That's my sports bra you're wearing!"

Minori: "Whatever it takes to hide in plain sight, Candy. I know someone who knows someone who knows what Ginoa wears."

Sonny: "Ehh, don't be so startled, baby! I'll buy you a couple more if you like."


meanwhile.png



full



Firing away at certain intersections in the middle of Tokyo, Candy realizes..


Candy: "It doesn't take a genius to tell it's modified.."

Kirk: "Head on the expressways, find out how much more oomph I gave it. Rumor has it it's a Group A racer in a street legal shell."

Candy: "I hear you."


She knows where to go, but she has no idea what to expect with this Burbank based group of friends under one roof.


Sonny: "Yo, Kirk, I got a little something in the MP3 player."

Kirk: "What's that?"

Sonny: "You'll see, lah."


Kirk reaches out front and presses play, seeing it play a certain Eminem hit..


Without Me (Instrumental)
Eminem
The Eminem Show


Candy reacted poorly, with a hint of fury..


Candy: "Wait.. no wonder you're into this the day before!"


Though Minori had a more sentimental reaction..


Minori: "Aww.. I truly admit I miss being with you guys.."

Kirk: "Don't mind us.. when it's us 3 in a car, we go about our business with a song in mind."

Sonny: "Not just any rap hit.. sing along karaoke style!"


Candy brought the car to a halt on the light, but the moving goes to the rhythm..


full



Kirk: "♪Guess who's back?♪"

Sonny: "♪Back again?♪"

Minori: "♪Shady's back!♪"


The driver however wasn't in the beat..


Candy: "Uhh.."


Minori laughed a little as she reassured her..


Minori: "Aww.. she's not in the groove. Don't be shy.. we're friends, correct?"

Kirk: "♪Guess who's back?♪"

Sonny: "♪Guess who's back?♪"

Minori: "♪Guess who's back?♪"


She isn't a big fan, but knows enough, and is comforted enough to gather that sift of courage..


Candy: "♪Guess who's back?♪"

Sonny: "AHAH! You did it, sis! Anyone up to do the verses?"


The light remains red, but Candy however reviewed what she learned yesterday: comparison is the thief of joy.

Unable to fully comprehend this saying, she however had an idea of it when the people in the car began to rap incredibly poorly.

They're all not Eminem, but what's stopping them from having some fun with one of the best rap songs to ever exist?


Candy: "Ohh, those people.."


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------​


After driving a tuned variant, this is a certified Sleeper. AFter the third, I suppose Civics are easy Sleepers. Miata easy, maybe?

They're not only well made, but can be made even more well than they already are. Not to mention like any Civic: you don't pick them up and master them by lap 3.

This car wants you to learn, and in return gives you an appropriate environment for growth on that end. I took this from when we had the Civic on Week 8, but you want to know where I can back this up?

You know who you are when I say congrats on the last second Gold medal; you earned it!
Click to expand...


After last week's pile of whatever, this writeup's supposed to be simple. My definition of simple is as convoluted as how well am I getting rid of my inner Sundowner.

I guess I cannot hide my newfound love for Freedom To Win. Truly, I wonder to myself: how did I find this otherwise underexposed remix album?

Speaking of music.. that Eminem hit is as random as you think, even though we did get the return of Slim Shady a couple weeks ago.

But it appears I can write it in with regards to how much of an ass my self insert has become in recent appearances. The more punchable he becomes, the better.

As the main character, Candy Lam is bound to appear in every segment, be it either as the lead role, or as a small mention.

The infamous Sweet Toothed Lone Wolf of Asia, or known worldwide as Le Glace Pacer. While her social presence is significantly poor, her presence on the track hasn't been short of perfection, now under the pressures of being a monetary source of higher powers, as well as her role being the most prime form of woman racers.. But don't let her hear that.

Theme Song: Def Leppard - Bad Actress
Racing Duel Music: Def Leppard - Nine Lives
Gender: Female
Nationality: Hong Kongese
Age: 30
Current occupation: Professional racecar driver
Distinct features: Long, clean, straight ashen hair tied to a ponytail via traditional red braids. A stiff, stoic Asian beauty that starts to show sign of wrinkling, covered by heavy layers of makeup. Thin, rounded diamond face, with various beauty signs of it being worked on unnaturally, especially her unblemished small snub nose, heavily lipsticked mouth and thin brown Asian eyes. Short body with small proportions.
Choice of clothing: Typical modern glossy sleveless Hong Kong dress, but 90% she will have her favorite on, that's in blood red with a white bauhinia pattern on, with matching sandals. Most of her clothes and themes come in red or white.
Cars: Toyota GR Yaris 1st Edition RZ "High Performance", MINI Cooper S, Honda NSX Type R '02, Mazda Demio XD Touring

Even though she's a proud Hong Kongese, Candy is actually born in high society Tokyo, and more exposed to living in a usual Japanese lifestyle. An only child, it was easy to find herself spoiled rotten from a young age, getting what she wants and not caring how it got there, thanks to wealth she inherits strongly. Her father notably was an executive in Toyota's racing division.

A target in her younger ages, Candy's early life was full of trouble from others that are against her being a Hong Kong native in Japan. She never made any friends as a result, and this loner habit of hers remained even after changing schools, going so far to even give her a new alias. While her parents have a strong standing in the society she lived in, she remained in their shadow, because she couldn't find comfort out of it.

Upon reaching her adult days, Candy's first 'milestone' would come when an incident in a high class event caused her to run, leading to a manic police car chase spanning several weeks before she was arrested. The victim of these events would have deep ties with various Yakuza families. While her parents retreated to Hong Kong, Candy stayed in Japanese prison, learning that if nothing needs to come her way, she needs to learn something she initially dreaded to do: manipulate the human mind, a state of thought she was once a victim of.

After her sentence, she regained her freedom, and it didn't take long that was noticed by the city's largest street racing community. Still with her inherited wealth, she started off strong in the streets. Years then pass, in which she eventually proves herself as a top competitor for racing in many top endurance races worldwide.

While her fans are out there in many parts around for being a woman dominating a man's sport, she's not exactly a great social interactor, and is a nobody outside the racing community. With many questions still left unanswered, maybe there are more ulterior motives with the unsanctioned blue MINI project..

A shy but determined prospective artist with a variety of talents thanks to his smarts and willingness to learn. Now handling a tuning shop, he's eager to keep his craft fresh by travelling around the world.

Theme Song: Gorillaz - O Green World
Racing Duel Music: Cheap Trick - Everything Works If You Let It
Gender: Male
Nationality: Japanese
Age: 24
Current occupation: Tuning shop co-owner
Distinct features: Short spiky black hair above an oval face. Small, brown wide set eyes, thin almond nose and unpronounced mouth. Faint presence of freckles under the eyes. Always with a skin repair bandage on some part of his face due to acne. Bright skin. Average height and build.
Choice of clothing: Always with large rounded glasses, but is transitioning to contacts due to racing more often. Usually with a combo of a tight t-shirt with a buttoned up jacket/thick jacket based on the season. The lower body is always covered with sports slacks and sneakers.
Cars: Toyota 86 GRMN

Kyoto native Hideki was born into the world without much of a tale. Him and his two sisters lives has been mostly within the city, specifically nearby the cherry blossoms of the temples and shrines around. His early life come to following the footsteps of his scientist father: a man with dreams to make it big within the fields of life preservation. But a quick look concludes that he really only inherited his father's geeky and fast learning nature.

Despite that, the children were more into the arts, inspired by the natural beauty of japan. The sisters moved to being a pop star and actress respectively. Hideki took on arts and crafts, coming from his interest in doodling from a very young age, and reading manga. Strangely, his favorite manga consists of those with cars in them, especially Speed Racer. This doodling eventually gave way to his skills in precision sketching he uses today.

Coming into university with a stellar portfolio, Hideki's time on the side came to bolstering his interests. He bought a guitar and started earning on the side performing for small venues, and took on requests for sketching. And the moment he could, he earned his driver's license. While his muse and art are doing great, he gained a desperation to fill in his want to drive, not willing to save for a car. This led him to the racing community of university undergraduates, often mistaken for stalking the woman leading it: Ayumi Tanaka.

A small scuffle between local hotshots and universities wanting to show dominance in the racing groups caused the otherwise unremarkable and shy Hideki to raise his voice. A challenge was coming, and he had weeks to prepare. This is where it started with meeting and eventually bonding with future girlfriend Ayumi. In the end, he overcame it barely, and earned an inner drive to race, and respect in the local racing scene.

Over time, he graduated, and started a tuning shop with his girlfriend. Still together, and also strong on his side hustles, Hideki's main thought today stemmed from a pivotal meeting with an American in Gion, whose dark side seems to keep getting darker.

An easily excitable young lady, who doubles as a young major art graduate and a master of Mazda's rotary cars, this energetic little bubble opened a small JDM tuner shop with her boyfriend to an initially mild, then great enough success, leading them to journey all over the world to expand their horizons.

Theme Song: The Bangles - Everything I Wanted
Racing Duel Music: Girlschool feat. Motorhead - Please Don't Touch
Gender: Female
Nationality: Japanese
Age: 25
Current occupation: Tuning shop owner
Distinct features: Medium-long, curly black hair tied as a ponytail. Semi sharp oval face. Large, wide green eyes, narrow aquiline nose and a small mouth that can truly expand when she gets excited. Average height, slightly underweight with average proportions.
Choice of clothing: Western influenced dailywear, usually in the form of a crop top and rolled up jeans. Colder climates prompt her to wear a single size winter jacket over it. Usually has a cap or beanie with the kanji Ayumi on it.
Cars: Mazda RX-7 Spirit R Type A (FD), Mazda RX-7 GT-X (FC)

With an origin from Kyoto, Ayumi is an only child whose upbringing mainly comes from her family's traditionalist views. She didn't mind it at all, as it would mean her life would be family oriented as she grew up. Her father: a traditional calligraphy expert, endlessly suggested his only daughter to move on to the future, but always remember the past: a statement she can't let go of, as it moved towards her leaning for a certain car with a certain engine..

What set her inspiration for her hobbies was a visit to the Mazda Museum in Hiroshima, seeing the roster of Mazda's cars was a passion after the first visit, and it became an annual thing for her. She would eventually get her first Mazda from a wealthy and generous relative in the form of a classic FC RX-7 GT-X. Her peers in university would often see it shake up the track, as she learned to drive and race at the same time. Years in her freshman university days are appropriated to her winning similar class races of various scale, earning her the moniker of Rotary Queen.

With an on track name, she somehow got a bit of attention, good or other wise. Notably, she made a name when clashing with some local Kyoto racers over their heads. It went in her favor thanks to a man who stood up for her: her future boyfriend Hideki. While he didn't impress from the outside, his heart convinced her enough to connect them. Time passes, and with their art majors completed, they would head into finding work. If it weren't for a certain dark horse, who she would idolize and cement his fame in Japan through his unofficial fan club, it would never lead them to their small but eventually flourishing tuning garage based in Fuji.

While her boyfriend Hideki is quite the introvert, Ayumi is a most definitive opposite, having a booming voice, a metabolism for high speeds and gets excitable really easily. And her name as Rotary Queen starts to grow as she would try to get behind the wheel of every rotary powered car she can, eyeing on a new RX car Mazda has been conceptualizing.

Bohemian Like You plays

Once part of the greatest street racing crew in the UK, Sonny's now a key player in The List's day to day finances. While these days, he's started a long running racing career, leading to a gigantic bounty of success. This egotistical, proven all around badass comes forward as the most divisive top racing figure in the USA.

Theme Song: Rush - Vapor Trail, The Dandy Warhols - Bohemian Like You
Racing Duel Music: A Silent Truth - Chariot (Daycore)
Gender: Male
Nationality: Half Singaporean, half American
Age: 32
Current occupation: As he would state it: a mother[BLEEP]ing racing celebrity
Distinct features: Curled, black medium long hair, always semi-shiny. Handsome, diamond Asian like face and skin tone, with a long stubble combined with a Zappa. Narrow angled grey eyes that shine when he wants to, subtle upturned nose, and hair surrounded mouth. Overcompensating perfect teeth that glares when he wants to. Slightly taller, semi slim build, with mild developed muscle.. also that gleam when he wants to.
Choice of clothing: Usually in biker style clothing, including leather all around with an undershirt.
Cars: Dodge SRT Viper GTS, Chevrolet Camaro Z28, Ferrari 288 GTO, GT By Citroen Road Car

While he might have a Singaporean father, his work as a presidential bodyguard means Sonny's an all American citizen. Birthed in Washington, he moved to California when he was still very young. There, he would meet the eventual leader of The List, and befriend him, being his social contact that would relate with him as that man would darken. On the contrary, Sonny remained as optimistic as he always has been.

But his optimism didn't carry over to his education, where he was often the main culprit of racism as an issue there. It was then he would learn, then utilize his famous mantra of always being one step ahead. By using his birthday gift: a 69 Camaro, he would cause what he would dub as the best graduation day ever: getting just about every nemeses in his school driver license suspensions, while he gets away scot free. Due to this epic win, his egoist side would rise from then onwards, possibly never reaching a ceiling.

It wouldn't stop there. Applying to study in London found itself to be a costly move, and he would bring said Camaro over the Atlantic to begin street racing in those streets just to break even. And past that, UK's top street racing crew known as the Prophecy would take attention, and adopt him as the first ever mentored student, known as a Chosen. Even though Sonny did graduate with middling honours and is ready for adult life, he chose to spend his earnings to chase his hobbies, and to everyone's surprise: it would end up being his life's work, with his unshakeable ego and skill would put him in the podium spot of any racing field he touches.

In addition to his successful racing career, he took on the role as The List's main income source, internally codenamed "Chimera". In recent years, Sonny's momentum has been halted when his mother passed, and now has a mission to find the Mrs. Meng to succeed even further than just his wealth and fame. These days, while he might be the badass he claims, he's also bound to lure in all sorts of trouble, such as the bad luck he's known for among his divisive peers, alongside his, what he dubs: 'favorite hostile secret admirer' in Nirvana.

Representing a Asian flair within The Big 3, this homebrew London based musician often alternates her dual heritage sides of crazy and insane, shaken, stirred and then blended together in a cocktail nobody wants to have a taste of.

Theme Song: Helloween - Hocus Pocus
Racing Duel Music: TOKYO MACHINE - TURBO
Gender: Female
Nationality: Half British, half Japanese
Age: 22
Current occupation: Radio DJ by day, Nightclub DJ by night
Distinct features: Paler than usual skin tone. Black short-medium bob, but with pink neon highlights. Round topped, but triangular bottomed face. Thin Asian brown eyes, stubby but subtle hooked nose and wide thin mouth. British styled freckles. Blade shaped tongue. Thin and short, but with larger proportions.
Choice of clothing: Never seen without designer wireless headphones on neck. Whatever she wears, it's often sporty and revealing, not to mention how much it emphasizes towards her chest. The most modest she can get on her upper body would be a skin tight singlet that's easy to loosen.
Cars: Nissan CONCEPT 2020 Vision GT, Nissan Silvia K's Dia Selection (S13)

Peigi's grown and still residing in her current birthplace of Hammersmith in central London. Being an only child of her British father and Japanese mother, Peigi's a wild youth who hates being alone, and to keep her company aside her family, she has two different national cultures to play with in her life. This, along with an early young age addiction to stimulating drugs and aphrodisiacs however made her unequally, as mentioned by various witnesses, hyper crazy.

Growing up in international communities, Peigi's known for being a control freak who's often found herself in trouble not for any kind of misdemeanor or rule breaking. It was her incessant, eccentric behavior that's often led her to either become the apex of trouble. She usually finds herself feigning innocence by acting funny or being quick on her thinking. She's only managed to graduate past high school, and the best skills she's acquired in her childhood include talking quick, being a show of enthusiasm, and garnering top grades in musics and drama class.

By day: she's a Radio DJ, but by night, it turns around to her taking to the turn tables at select clubs around London. Often when she's not in a gig, she's out racing in the streets, taking charge of The Mountain Blazers: the UK's top street racing crew of high octane import tuners, under alias as it's anonymous head honcho: The Yama-no-Kami, or The Mountain God. These roots of racing on the streets are unknown, but the skills she's developed stemmed from her days as a serious Junior racing series competitor. There are rumors that something else's been done artificially; being a top tier illegal street racer aged at 22 is bound to set some red flags.

Her psyche may be fragile, and considering what kind of person she is behind the mask, breaking it is a risk nobody is willing to take. Within her peers, family, crewmates and The Cinderella, there's an official list of what not to mention to Peigi, such as certain names in music, society and movies to name a few..

Hailed as one of the fastest street racers in the treacherous mountains of Japan, Isamu brings a curse he so willingly carries to prove he is more than your usual unbeatable hothead behind the wheel.

Theme Song: Linkin Park - Lost in The Echo
Racing Duel Music: Linkin Park - Blackout
Gender: Male
Nationality: Japanese
Age: 28
Current occupation: Track racing personality
Distinct features: Black, short/medium spiky hair, with a hachimaki underneath. Notably handsome look, with red asian eyes (contacts?), a thin grecian nose and often dried up mouth. Thin rounded Asian face with some skin blemishes. Average height, but slightly thin build.
Choice of clothing: Wears a retro 80s style sunglasses at all times, due to issues in his vision. Isn't one for a particular fashion style, but his clothes are always white with red accents. Some parts of clothing might not be tied or secured properly.
Cars: Amuse S2000 GT1 Turbo, Nissan SKYLINE 2000GT-R (KPGC110), Honda Sports Vision Gran Turismo, Toyota Alphard Executive Lounge

Up above the mountains of Gunma prefecture, there was a folk legend from the 80's. They said those who raced and survived down the dubbed 9 Valleys of Hell would be granted audience by the mysterious, but all inspiring Raiko: the fastest street racer in those parts of Japan. A challenge usually follows, and those who failed would be brought to shame in a level that usually has them retire from street racing, and those who succeed would take the mantle and become the all new Raiko.

Gunma native Isamu would be the forty ninth challenger for this mantle, and he would not only successfully take the role of Raiko, but also be assassinated the very night he was to celebrate this achievement. The legend of Raiko would sizzle away due to fears surrounding the curse of the 49: the number of death and agony, with Isamu's soul to burn in purgatory forever.. as it was to be written.

Years later, thanks to some efforts within certain criminal organizations, Isamu would come back, but something was off, especially with his new habit of wearing a strange pair of sunglasses at all times. Nobody would believe he was the same man, so Isamu decided the whole of Japan would find out he's the real deal: by being the fastest racing down the roads of Japan as The Oni. Behind the wheel of what's known as a cursed S2000, we find Isamu as a bit of a slacker, an enthusiast on speedcubing and a confident goof who likes to taunt others, making fire out of any situation. This latter aspect of character is stemmed mainly from his Kabuki theatre upbringing, with rumors of certain Yakuza families floating around this whole new reborn character.

Often referred as a sleek and slithering reptile with a talent for FWD racing. A geek who often follows unusual trends, but his smarts, observations and general know it all brings brings whatever affiliations to his to relevance, most recently the UK based racing crew known as the Mountain Blazers.

Theme Song: Europe - Seven Doors Hotel
Racing Duel Music: Kraftwerk - Radioaktivität (The Mix)
Gender: Male
Nationality: Half British, half German
Age: 27
Current occupation: Weather analyst
Distinct features: Short black ponytail. Thin tall triangular face with tall forehead. Small 8 pronged star tattoo on his chin. Thin eyes with skinny cheeks and nose. Misshapen, but clean white teeth, and wears orange tinted contacts. Reddish pale skin. Average height on a skinny body shape.
Choice of clothing: Usually wears a turtleneck sweater under a pointy jacket, combined with skinny slacks and pointy slip-on shoes.
Cars: Honda Civic Type R FK2, Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition FK8, Honda Civic SiR-II EG6

A sickly thin man, born and raised in Nottingham. While grades are his forte and his work allowing him to live a good life, he's more known as this UK underworld genius who serves as the sanity check, as well as the brains behind the Mountain Blazers in nation operations. Before The Big 3 was formed, The Prophecy's dominance under The Messiah would remain untouched until Jovan and another bright individual from a rival crew would make moves that develop into the instrumental push of their respective groups to set in stone the Big 3 known today.

Careful and calculated, Jovan is a stylish man who often doesn't leave behind details unchecked. He's a perfectionist in many ways, but usually finds excuses to demerit his own achievements, and try to make even the smallest flaws work eventually. Jovan would be the kind of person who would like to intellectually argue with anyone, even with himself. Odd enough, nobody truly knows how Jovan got into said business to begin with, but it's these personality details that tell us why.

Outside of his work, he is usually never seen without this other Mountain Blaze in tow: a quiet, strict but caring sumo wrestler. He can be a bit of a weird thinking hipster, and habitually does odd postures of a bizarre origin: something said sumo wrestler often grunts negatively about.

A Mountain Blazer staple, internally known as The Ogre. The protector of these dangerous paths, whose proved time and time again that the mountain isn't to be climbed by unprepared adventurers.

Theme Song: Midnight Oil - Armistice Day
Racing Duel Music: Asia - Ride Easy
Gender: Male
Nationality: Japanese
Age: 45
Current occupation: Bouncer
Distinct features: Medium, flat top shined black hair. Wide, square face reinforcing his chiseled Asian look. Eyes squinted enought to say they're seemingly non-existant, but works fine. Wide chiseled nose and large wide plain mouth. Tall, large figure with muscles, in an also chubby way.
Choice of clothing: Normally in a suit with jacket combo, with jacket arms folded inwards. In casual moods, or while racing, he wears comfortable traditional Japanese clothing.
Cars: Mitsubishi GTO

An Osaka native. A once aggressive, always brash former sumo wrestler whose moment of fame in ring was taken to a halt by his terminally ill dying daughter. After her passing, Daijiro made amends with his heartbroken family, and couldn't find solace in staying at his home turf. He travelled across the world to hopefully soothe these senses, eventually finding his zen by being a grunt heavy, but overall quiet passive man.

His journeys would take him all the way to the UK, where his fellow Japanese relations within would have him witness a young Hammersmith born hafu on stage as a nightclub DJ: who he mentally identifies as a splitting image of his own daughter. With a fire in him roaring, and a determination set, he finds out of her street racing game quickly and as years passs, then proves himself to be worthy of someone like The Mountain God's protector, be it her identity, her side hustle or her life.

Despite issues getting along initially, they both willingly mature to each other, and importantly to Daijiro: it's a total win as he gets a second chance to be a father figure.

He might be more of a dormant volcano, only communicating in grunts or small pronounciations, but anyone who knows Daijiro understands that he carries a gentle heart from his rough exterior, especially the sickly thin bizarre half German poseur who's usually at his side.

As the clock struck 12, her past became a mystery, and what's left of has been shrouded by her persistent pursuees. But as she becomes an integral member of the Big 3, she ventures on to find her hazed past, or perhaps start anew?

Theme Song: Eddie Vedder - Invincible
Racing Duel Music: not yet found
Gender: Female
Nationality: Presumably British
Age: Presumably in her mid 20s
Current occupation: Unknown
Distinct features: Medium, slightly curled burgundy red hair. Straight, angular brows. Diamond shaped face, with an attractive look consisting of a subtle aquiline nose, thin rounded eyes and small mouth. Thin application of makeup, with a notably strong appication of pale red lipstick. While pleasant to look at, her facial expressions are notably exaggerated. Average height and build over pale caucasian skin, but notably fit.
Choice of clothing: Always today's fashion. If she would wear anything usual, they would be locally sourced or given a much fancier look than usual. Normally with a blouse and long pants, wearing raised sandals.
Cars: Nissan Z Performance, Nissan Z 432

The Tales of Cinderella intends to help open her to the world as she dedicates herself to search for her past.. thus this segment is intentionally redacted.

Prime model US Marine that has served his nation in so many ways, you'd lose count. A known adrenaline junkie and jack-of-all-trades, Maverick's always on the prowl for new experiences to add to this growing dossier of his, racing now the newest target on his sights.

Theme Song: Celldweller - Louder Than Words
Racing Duel Music: Motörhead - Runaround Man
Gender: Male
Nationality: American
Age: 35
Current occupation: U.S. Marine
Distinct features: Blonde upswept, short spiky hair. Wide diamond face. Scruffy, thin 5 o'clock shadow. Sleek round blue eyes, thin straight nose and small, straight mouth. Tattoos on his arms with army based symbols. Slightly tall build with a fit, well built body.
Choice of clothing: He's never without a shoulder mounted radio and his dogtags around. But in the public, he's often with a leather jacket, thick leather cap and combat boots, wearing a combo of a tight t-shirt or tank top, with khakis or jeans under.
Cars: Dodge Challenger R/T

Born Mack Martinez of Alabama, Maverick was the runt child of a small, well handled family that stands strong in the persisting cultural Alabaman historical preservation society, specifically on the Civil Rights movement. As white and blonde as any white skinned supremacy is, Mack as a child is often targeted by those who oppose his family's work defending the American racial equality, while being a child of semi Hispanic descent. If there was one thing Mack was taught, it was to defend his rights and thus it's known that he as a youth was violent and rather unforgiving in defense of his beliefs.

Though, all this trouble enabled an inner violent self, one day he went too far and got involved in vigilantism, attacking known racists and related to those who would torment him in his youth. Nothing was subtle, leading to an arrest, and the officer in charge gave him a proposition rather than jail time: forced servitude to the US Marines. Changing his name to Maverick, he would later find himself positioned in the army to escape the stresses of his home, even though they hailed his presence as a hero rather than a villain. These initial years, Maverick underwent therapy, keeping that inner violence in check with discipline taking it over: a milestone to his favorable, supportive personality he adopts to today.

While life was rough, Maverick would be paired up with some other volunteers, eventually being the closest thing he has as good friends. These would include a dark skinned senator to be, a keen virtuoso doubling as all American patriot, and a young mentally traumatized man of shade. By the end of their service, they would part ways, with Maverick opting to stay in the marines, believing that the rights of his nation were the most important thing to him. A long decade has passed since, and after being discharged honorably as the greatest sergeant around, he returned home as a hero.

Now married to an international flight pilot, Maverick's often alone and in peace with his violent past, but as a result, gets easily bored. After trying out various hobbies to test his fitness and agility, he would get into motorized sports, such as stunt flying, paragliding, and various other sports and activities. Known around his local neighborhood as a jack-of-all-trades, Maverick's newest venture would be in racing cars, usually behind the wheel of a Challenger with roots in Trans Am. However, this all stems mainly from him finding out one of his squadmates eventually became The Outlaw of infamy.

The current era successor of the well known Ross racing family of Ventura Bay, California. A casual player who takes his journey step by step and reeling in the experiences to be this future force of nature his brother already is..

Theme Song: Airbourne - Ready To Rock (Black Dog Barking)
Racing Duel Music: AC/DC - Rock Your Heart Out
Gender: Male
Nationality: American
Age: 26
Current occupation: Race car driver
Distinct features: Partially scruffy, blonde combed back hair. Diamond face with rough edges. Blue eyes, hard edged grecian nose, and wide, deep mouth. Average height with slightly thin build.
Choice of clothing: Wears a zipped up sports jacket at all times, but contents vary from racing teams, anime or American football logos. Under all that's always a t-shirt with blue denim jeans and matching sports shoes.
Cars: A whole collection of them, but is 95% of the time seen with his Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (C6)


Like his brother, Keith too was born in the sunny side of coastal California. But there, the similarities end. However, while his brother distanced himself from his family after a certain event, Keith was the only exception to that rule.

Carrying a nice flowing blonde hairdo, Keith grew up as if he was more normal than that of his only other sibling: not in military school and instead in your usual elementary. Considering his father's reputation, Keith became a strong contender for the family's legacy as soon as he was bred into it, from entering racing schools as soon as he was able, to even forcing, then growing an interest in his father's signature car: the Corvette. It's not unusual for Keith to show this interest strong towards his friends and classmates, wearing racing memorabilia as his usual fashion statement.

Befriending a certain Asian American Badass and a small fat nerd with a flair for the young internet imagery, the once wimpy Keith took his influences from their actions, coming out into adulthood with his geeky yet cool flair of his, and took his future to the track after high school. While initially flourishing in the amateur leagues, an opportunity came for him to take part in Super GT for Honda. Unknowingly, alongside his nerdy friend, he's accompanied by a set of characters whom his brother set up with to watch him, eventually befriending them. Said group includes an Italian Interpol agent, his German hot head sweetheart, and the Bristol Harbinger.

Despite scoring high overall, and eventually getting into GT racing, rumors spread of Keith being too pampered, and the presence of his brother's intervention to the racing scene bound to come. Then, it all came down to Keith officially named the successor of his family's racing heritage: a name he strongly objected to at first, but then he didn't relent to represent when encouraged by his brother who he endeared so much all his life. And due to recent events, the Ross brothers dream start to flourish after today..

A technological marvel with a sharp finesse in her life ending work that got her the moniker of the Killer of Killers. Formerly the most sought out assassin for hire, she now lives in refuge under a guise, hoping nobody would find her unless you have a problem and no one else can help..

Theme Song: KMFDM - Professional Killer
Racing Duel Music: KMFDM - Virus (Pestilence Mix)
Gender: Female
Nationality: French
Age: 30
Current occupation: Maid? (obviously in disguise, she's actually the self proclaimed greatest assassin in the world)
Distinct features: Black, medium well combed right side bob, aggressively blonde when portraying her maid Minori personality. Smooth triangular face. Thin green almond eyes, thin tall nose with wide tip, and narrow mouth. Slight perky, blemished cheeks. Shiny white teeth that seem unnatural (actually bombs). Bright caucasian skin, with average height, weight and proportions. Small creases over arms and legs (actually hidden blades).
Choice of clothing: Your usual frilly maid outfit (definitely not intended). Outside, she's usually wearing a dark colored halterneck blouse/tank top, with black jeans and comfort slippers. Wears a red butterfly clip (actually a hidden knife), a golden set of bangles on her left hand (actually a hidden taser), and a large banded watch on her right (hiding the barrel of a hidden gun in her arm)
Cars: Ferrari F40, Renault R4 GTL

Perhaps the most well known member of the Assassin's Guild that serves as the example to not follow for any prospective killer due to her actions of infamy. Taking on a rural upbringing just out in the hillsides of the Pyrenees, this killer to be had a name, and being the only child of a family. Taken by an unknown sickness, her father left the family, forcing her to migrate with her mother to find better pastures. While they found refuge within a millionaire's estate, the man was a predator by the definition, taking his mother to satisfy his pleasures while the lone child would run away finding that truth out with intents to exploit it. Being on the lam by child police and this richman's associates, she learned to not only hate men, but also to hide and survive.

She would then meet one of the very few men she can respect: a Catholic priest who took her in. Informing him of her farmland origins, the christened Gino would come through living on and off the sanctified church grounds, using this time to hone her athletic and martial skills. However, as she came to adulthood, the men in pursuit of her finally caught up, and further her hatred of these people by not only destroying anything she comes to contact with, but also using their influence and wealth to frame her for that act. To get back at these people, Gino would conduct the perfect crime: one she's been planning ever since her arrival. To get this near impossible task done is to help kindle her inner perfectionist, but put her on the most wanted list in the country.

Her escape all the way to the southernmost side of the country got the attention of the Richelieu family, who would massively profit of these crimes indirectly, and thus led to their favor for her. Befriending the profit minded alpha and her wine loving little brother, the once again renamed Ginoa had revenge in her heart, now striking anyone who would exploit the poor, declaring herself a self serving assassin based by the Richelieu's turf. Her most pivotal moment in this career came when she was to bring to the end of an experimental surgeon: the man who would grant her artificial augmentations of her body who apparently was a high ranking member of the Assassin's Guild. This eventual clashing would lead to her joining, as well as the birth of the Trinitia L'Assassina that stemmed from their efficient, effective service.

Within this organization and thanks to the jealousy of the Richelieu matriarch, Ginoa finds herself travelling all over the world, even mastering a roster of languages, but these days finds herself hiding away in the center of Los Angeles, unwilling to step out of this shadow for the amounts of deathly gazes awaiting to end her. She did however learn two more important life lessons thanks to a few close friends, inclusive of The Black Flash, her short gang leader lover and an angry fellow known as The Messiah: vengeance is a strong motivator, and similarly so is love.

Shy, unfocused, but a straight forward, kind hearted fellow with a penchant for helping out the best he can. The definite Yin to Sonny's Yang, Kirk is no slouch in anything he does, developed into this automotive jack of all trades thanks to the friends and support he's fostered after a life alone.

Theme Song: ZZ Top - I Gotsta Get Paid
Racing Duel Music: Rush - Secret Touch
Gender: Male
Nationality: American
Age: 31
Current occupation: A lot, but racing mechanic is what he usually puts forwards
Distinct features: Short, combed back black ponytail. Puffed up round face. Narrow rounded navy eyes, thick narrow snub nose and thick lipped mouth. Pronounced muscular wrinkling on cheeks and face. Average height, with a mix of fat and muscle within a well weighted body.
Choice of clothing: It's never not a tight tank top and well fit blue denim jeans, along with his signature pair of work gloves and safety boots.. unless it's cold, which a longcoat enters the equation.
Cars: Roadster Shop Rampage, Chris Holstrom Concepts 1967 Chevy Nova, Toyota Supra 3.0GT Turbo A

Kirk's past was mostly undocumented and not left pursued, strangely as if this past, and his desire to pursue it was tampered with by higher forces. Needless to say, the only things he remember of his past is that he's born in one of the lesser cities within California. What he does know stems from his time as a young adult, where he awoken in the middle of the warm California desert, only with his name intact. Going in and out of smaller work, he has no place to call home, usually forcing himself to be useful to remain alive. However, the experience allows him to learn the appropriate skills he would make great use of today, particularly in culinary and engineering.

However, he soon found a great first venture that not only got him a place to stay, but money to earn, and that is facilitating motoring events in a small town within Orange County. A gentle soul by nature, his great decision making by prioritizing growth over violence earned him the respect of the community, up until a clashing with some degenerate racing crews caused a rift, extorting money from him and the community. He keeps on hoping that one day this would end. And those hopes came one day when he would take a look at a certain classic Chevrolet Camaro. Said car would be the ride of the then rising celebrity race driver known as the Asian-American Badass, and from then they bonded.

After a final clashing ensued with the help of his new friend, he would be forced out of Orange County due to these crews organizing a headhunt for him. Making their escape into his new friend's stomping grounds within Burbank, California, Kirk knew he would end up in a prison, unwavering and in undying gratitude to his new friend for life. However, that initially hellish life would be, in eventuality, a form of heaven for him, living it out with a small biker gang that had similar incidents that precede their meeting. Now leading as the Vice Captain of Sonny Meng's private biker gang, he would also delve further into his own interests in life at his own casual snail's pace.

One day, he would find out that the groups that organized his bounty would be dissolved and completely disappeared without warning. Taking no heed of it, little did he know there are interested parties looking for a man like him..
 
@RX8 Racer was the only one who attempted a dead heat tie with the EG Civic last week, coming in as close as 0.055s in Daily Race A! Well done!


After two straight weeks of featuring cars from the latest 1.48 Update, it's time to go a whole decade back at warp speed. Chosen by "Molmaz", we're featuring the Red Bull X2014 Standard Car!

Gran Turismo® 7_20240616020517.png


Succeeding the utterly unhinged X2011, the X2014 is tamer in both power and mass, while doing away with the axial–flow fan that was a standout feature of the X2011, but mistake that for being slow at your own peril; it has almost the exact same power–to–mass ratio as a 2017 Formula 1 car, making it one of the fastest cars in the game still!


Weekly Lobbies​

Our weekly lobbies are ongoing as usual, and anyone (not a dick) is welcome to join us in racing bone stock X2014s under BoP conditions!

Click on the hyperlinks to convert the times to your time zone, and feel free to add the hosts as friends on PSN to make searching for the lobbies easier!

The Americas Lobby​

The Asia/Oceania also kinda European Lobby​

BoP/Settings Disabled: On (temporarily reverts cars to bone stock; WIDE BODIED AND ENGINE SWAPPED CARS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE!)
Tracks: Randomly selected by lobby participants (~10 mins practice, ~10 mins sprint)
PP Limit: just don't bring the Tomahawk
Car: No Limit
Tyres: No Limit

~Special Challenge!~​

Molmaz challenges anyone to create a GTWS Nations Cup livery for your X2014, representing your own country! Post the pictures in the Livery Editor subforums too if you're confident enough!


Of course, we always welcome opinions, tunes, liveries, photos, videos, or stories about the car here on the thread!
 
Tsk, even though I'm deeply caffienated, I can't really think of a meme to express my desire for pain. Something involving Monsoon I guess, but well: Traction Control 1 is your friend this week.

Also:
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Alex p.
Yeah that X2014 is quick, alright...it's the fourth fastest car of the entire game BTW. I managed a 04.50.995 with it on the Nords in GTSport (RH tyres). Video of the lap coming at the end of October.
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Curious, which is faster, the X2014, or the Mercedes 2017 F1 car? Around both Tsukuba and Nürburgring.
 
XSquareStickIt
Curious, which is faster, the X2014, or the Mercedes 2017 F1 car? Around both Tsukuba and Nürburgring.
Click to expand...

Tested both only on the Nords. The X2014 is faster, by A LOT. Couldn't get the F1 under the 5 minute barrier (on SS tyres it would be easy to do so though - on the other hand the X2014 on SS tyres would get into the 04.30s easily though).
 
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Obelisk
I won't touch the Red Bulls, even with a 100 meter long stick.

I respect them for their speed, but they just are not for me.

My verdict's a Neutral - they're fast, but we KNOW they're fast.
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The Junior Red Bull is like Gr. 4/ Gr. 3 speed, so nothing crazy.
 
Alex p.
The Junior Red Bull is like Gr. 4/ Gr. 3 speed, so nothing crazy.
Click to expand...
That is the exception rather than the rule, but even that one's a headache because it's got an overabundance of grip and doesn't communicate on the limit as well as it ought to.
 
Obelisk
That is the exception rather than the rule, but even that one's a headache because it's got an overabundance of grip and doesn't communicate on the limit as well as it ought to.
Click to expand...
I very much agree.
 
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The early Gran Turismo games have revolutionised the racing game genre by including everyday, seemingly boring family cars in its roster, allowing players to not only experience driving these not–at–all–sporty cars at their limits, but also to transform these unassuming econoboxes into unlikely Swiss Army Knives, capable of sharing racetracks with sports, super, and even full fledged racecars. However, as the fidelity of game consoles began to increase, so too did the time and resources required to add a car into the games, and thus slowly but surely, those unassuming commuters one could realistically encounter in real life or even own themselves were trimmed out of the shrinking car lists in favour of established, fan–favourite, or historic cars, such as the 911s, Corvettes, and GT-Rs. Even the few relatively attainable cars in the game, like the Civics, Golfs, and pickup trucks, are all top of the line stuff with loads of sporty options bundled in. That is to say, the car list in Gran Turismo 7 reads almost like a hall of fame of the automotive industry, and most everything in it has some sporting credentials and intent.


And that is precisely what makes the 1993 Volvo 240 SE Estate such a standout addition to Gran Turismo 7; It has zero sporting intentions and capabilities, making it one of the very few "normal" cars from the 70s to 90s in the game. It's soft enough to not break your grannies' backs on their way to church, and it's fast enough to get your perishables from the market home before they spoil, no more. Not only is it woefully, agonisingly slow, but it feels properly clumsy when pushed in the corners. It's a long overdue, much needed taste of what a "normal" car feels like to drive, and it's only with this context that sports cars like Silvias and Supras can shine; otherwise, they'd just feel slow and clumsy themselves.

Gran%20Turismo%C2%AE%207_20240620080854.png


So, what's an everyman car of the mid seventies to early nineties like to drive at ten tenths? Surprisingly scary, actually! It pitches, it rolls, and yes, it yaws, both on braking and accelerating, making it not only scarier to drive fast than a 930 Turbo by my estimates, but it might also be the single lowest powered car that would benefit from Traction Control. Its soft suspension also makes it incredibly snappy when it does skid sideways, making it deceptively difficult to recover despite everything happening so slowly. That said, its soft suspension means that even the notorious sausage kerbs have a hard time discouraging a rampaging 240 to avert its course, and it's a very light car by modern standards—1,324kg (2,919lbs)—which means it also has a very contrasting sense of approachability to its danger, making it an excellent car to learn car control in.

Gran%20Turismo%C2%AE%207_20240620080839.png


I might not like driving the Volvo 240 SE Estate, but I opine nonetheless that it's one of the most important and standout additions to the game's roster, adding some much needed variety, context, and a bit of the soul of the Gran Turismo of old back into the car roster of GT7. What it really needs right now isn't racing suspension, slick tyres, and sick aero parts; it just needs more cars of its ilk to compare against, and a proper career mode that would justify their purchase, upgrades, and use.

Gran%20Turismo%C2%AE%207_20240620080847.png
 
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SPD Writes Gran Turismo 7's Car Of The Week: Week 62 - Red Bull X2014 Standard Car


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Red Bull is memed for giving anything wings, but what you see here isn't the kind of wing that helps you fly.
All this Nations crap is giving me wonder why isn't there a single Scapes spot in Singapore. WA LAO MAA, It's still SO baffling, I tell you!


So, if there's something these simulation based video games are allowed to do, it's to allow production that bends the rules of reality. You got things like the most intense kei car, to a two thousand V10 herder of memes.

For longtime Williams and Red Bull open wheel racecar designer Adrian Newey, that would come in the form of the Red Bull X series of cars. Beginning this life as an F1 car that isn't conform to F1 rules, Adrian Newey just tried putting his aerodynamic design studies up to eleven with a monster turbocharged V6 to boot, and released the first of this series with the X2010 in.. 2010. Now, the X2010 has been virtually tested and gave times that F1 cars of then and today dream of attaining. Things like 20 seconds quicker in Suzuka, and half a minute quicker around the Nurburgring.

Of course with the success of the hilariously quick comes Mr. Newey to pump out more for the gamers at home. By the time Gran Turismo 6 came, a post release update brought an updated series of the X2010. Coming out at late 2013 (not 2014, deal with it), the X2014 series came out with 3 different trims: the Junior, Standard and Fan Car.

Today we take on the Standard: the middling trim of the lot, and one that's no way a slowpoke. It has the same Venturi effect we see with the Fan Car, though not as pronounced. Also to add on this aerodynamic prowess, the car's got tools like that double plane front fender and appropriately designed carbon fibre flooring that takes great advantage of this. It's also not got a thousand horses that the Fan Car gets, but its 2 liter V6 rated at 788 horsepower isn't to sleep with when it's going about with 650 kilos around your track of choice.

While it's a bit of a shame we're not sure if we are getting the Fan Car, this car's still a hoot to drive. You get a turbo and downforce values that boost the quicker you go. And a mindset that wants you to take certain turns with your foot still on the throttle. Is the dream of a real life slot car true? We have to get behind it to find out.

Story wise.. I'm going unexpectedly wild with this one. What happens when you blend the fastest in Gran Turismo with some of the fastest cars that isn't the Tomahawk? I'm sure I see you nodding with absolute carnage in mind, eh?


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Episode 62: A Foray Into The Insanely Gifted


Suzuka Circuit
Suzuka, Mie Prefecture
Afternoon


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In today's Suzuka related clientele, a roster of the world's fastest from near and far, occupy these sacred roads for the afternoon.


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In full power on the backstretch, Le Glace Pacer makes her mark as she brings forth the great endurance winning GR010.


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Supposedly a racer with this talent balances threat and thrill behind a car as advanced as this, but Candy however isn't quite at ease, murmuring to herself..


Candy: "Upped turbo.. no limiter.. what am I even driving?"


Her clouded judgement continues, somehow still achieving an acceptable pace as she rambles..


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Candy: "Hamza said I'm going to 'need' it? Troubled is what I am.. but with no limits? It just gets this Hypercar to be even more unbearable?"


To her, what matters is that she's alone with these thoughts and nobody's going to get in her way of what she thinks of today's rabble..


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All that however turns to wishful thinking as a pair behind begins to contest..


Dance
Ratt
Ratt & Roll: 8191


Candy: "Huh? This sounds familiar.."


It takes one hint of discord from the outside to..


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..cause the Toyota to overshoot a turn and rub its stiff chassis on the turfing..


Candy: "EHHH?!"


..leading to it going along the sand beside the esses.


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To say she's at unease would now be even more and less accurate at the same time, as she furiously blurts out..


Candy: "AUGHH.. gone! Great. F[BLEEP]ing great! Lost focus for ONE second.. ONE second! I wish I was in the Demio now.. I can still drive.. but those two. Whoever they are.. f[BLEEP]ing hell, they really blew me off course?"


However, in their special little world comes another round of Nirvana VS Sonny, and with two different walks of life comes two different definitions of top tier speed..


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Despite their more calm demeanor in comparison to Candy, the intensity brings a new level of trash talk..


Nirvana: "Come, you witless swine man. Nirvana will show you the FUTURE of speed."

Sonny: "Oi! Ugly lanjiau! Lasers can't beat my friend this tried and tested turbocharged BEAST handled by this badass!"


Okay, maybe it's worse than that, darn it..


Following her report of her minor incident, Candy brings home the GR010 to the pit lane.,


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5 minutes later.jpg



She paces outside the garage, obviously nervous and carrying a hint of guilt.

As if a doctor exited the operating room, the head mechanic comes out and reports..


"So.. no damage, but we're not taking any chances. We'll check what's up, and get this all cleaned up for later, Candy."


A sigh of relief comes from the racer, followed by a gratituous reply..


Candy: "Thanks. Oh thank goodness.. they're paying top dollar just for this casual race of extraordinary levels, and I aim to not disappoint."

"Oh, Mr. Hamza wishes to see you when you are able. He's by his car."


With that burden gone, she responds eagerly.


Candy: "I think I'll get that sorted right this moment, then. I'll see you guys later."


With that information, she sets off for a short walk ahead, and upon arriving, finds that..


Candy: "Hamza? With the Helwalker? Two figures I'm not expecting together, honest."


Having not met Rodulf for a while, she closes in, clearing the Enzo blocking a pair of her competitors for later.


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Thoughts of one Hayato develop, just as she receives greetings.


Hamza: "Salam-alay-kum."

Rodulf: "Ahh.. little mus. It's been a while now."


Out of her mind, she replies with a wave.


Candy: "Likewise. So.. you're here too?"

Hamza: "Oh, well.. let's say he's been instrumental in his work for my benefit."


He has a way with words she thought, but not hiding it enough for he to figure out as she exclaims in fear..


Candy: "Err.. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Rodulf: "If you are thinking the screams eked as I rip their eyes out.."


Hamza didn't think a sinister tone with a killer's posture was the way to go, objecting calmly..


Hamza: "I would refrain from this line of talk, Rodulf."

Rodulf: "Or what?"


Argues Rodulf in a coy tone, but out of nowhere the funk goes on.

The three turn to a nearby barrel, as a pair of hands from the inside lift open the top..


Hayato: "Got you now.. CANDY-CHAN!"


The man inside: a ninja wannabe slash hotshot formula racer, hops out and lands, kneeling.

Before he could get up on his feet proper however..


Rodulf: "Excuse me for five seconds."


The menacing Swede assassin grabs Hayato by the sides of his head..


Rodulf: "ORAAHH!"


A fierce headbutt follows.

Hayato drops down, then meets Rodulf's boot sole on his face.

With no reason to stop, he sends that boot forwards, and sends it down to the floor, with Hayato's head in between..


Hayato: "GWUUAAAHH!"


To those watching, a blazing KIWAMI kanji briefly appears as this all concludes.

Pain however was not within Hamza's best interests as he shakes his head. Candy however, couldn't hold a humorous side coming out..


Candy: "Hahaha.. that Moto-san.. picked the wrong bunch to jump today, I say."

Rodulf: "Glad to find his pain to your amusement, little mus."


He's still on the floor, coping with some pain, but nobody seemed to care, as Rodulf then pats his hands clean, noting..


Rodulf: "That was an exceptional imprint of my bloody boots to his face.. but I see that annoying one is resilient."

Candy: "Resilient? I've seen him stabbed, shot and carrying all kinds of internal incidents that scream emergency."


Hayato however unsurprisingly gets up, seemingly unharmed aside the blood on his face.

Startled, his assailant watches..


Rodulf: "One Kiwami Heat action isn't enough? Such a character."

Candy: "He's also attracted to danger, so.."


In a flash, Hayato unsheathes his weapon, points ahead as he threateningly speaks..


Hayato: "Alright, Candy-chan. I have to tell you to stop because I should be the one doing the talking."


Entertained, Rodulf speaks up.


Rodulf: "Oh, you are indeed a someone to me.. Super Formula whizz kid Hayato Matsumoto."

Hayato: "Whizz kid? Nyeehh.. much as I like it, I don't leave sudden strikes to my iron clad skull without consequence."


He might be a resilient former yakuza enforcer, but Rodulf, and anyone around know better, as he playfully taunts on..


Rodulf: "Oh? Did my ears hear right? You know who you're f[BLEEP]ing with here?"

Hayato: "Ohh, I like to find out the HARD way."


Candy sees this all, knowing she's seen in the past the near aggressive forms of these two men.

Hamza couldn't let this all happen, as he leaped in between..


Hamza: "Ya Allah! We're not parting our wealth over a hand-to-hand ruckus. Especially when you're the sort that don't play by the rules."

Rodulf: "He started it, kamel."


He's never an angry sort, but Hamza's tone leans close to that, as he slowly comes to a calm while explaining..


Hamza: "Forgive me if it sounded brash, but I'm expecting a whole lot more maturity from you two. Today.. we can't be joking when this little lady has found herself to be the example."


She hardly has a moment to be smug, but for now, she puts that down..


Candy: "You hear that? The EXAMPLE."

Hayato: "Don't get it over your head, Candy-chan; you see who you're talking to?"


Pointing towards Rodulf, a dark aura somehow develops around his body shape..


Rodulf: "Hmm hmm hmm.."

Candy: "I'm not in the mood to be intimidated now."


Suddenly, that all disappears, and failing to account this, Rodulf confusingly wonders..


Rodulf: "Uhh? (Shook it off like a wet cat.)"


Leaving the murderous pair behind, Candy looks up towards Hamza, asking..


Candy: "Team said you wanted me?"

Hamza: "Was hoping to know why the crash on the esses, but the men's come back to me with zero issues aside some sand, so it's nothing then. I apologize."


It was so obvious, she thought, as she readied and presented her take on it..


Candy: "Just distracted by a pair of lightning bolts.. but, if anything, Hamza.. even though the money's good, today's whole festivities scream like a complete wildfire waiting to happen."

Hamza: "I'm only here to supervise, not take control of today's adventure, Candy."


Hayato chimed in as he closes the gap..


Hayato: "Nyeehee.. if you need to know, should a major incident come out, we're all covered by the joined forces of the Kirkham Foundation, and Igneus Racing. Besides.. this has got to top off Sim Gear's ridiculous skits.."


The Helwalker's presence triggered a question, as Hamza then asks..


Hamza: "I'm interested, Rodulf. Regarding your past ventures with them.."

Rodulf: "So I got a job to off Nash Kirkham? It's a failure I live with, but.. for today, tis not my fault they need a 1000 horsepower Bugatti racecar with an expert handling it."


Hayato however noted Candy's less than fully confident face and stance, questioning..


Hayato: "Did something happen to you, Candy-chan?"

Candy: "Sure did.. put the GR010 in the sand, and lucky for me it's still functional. Still shaken, so.."

Hayato: "Shaken? C'mon! Get something like my Super Formula in there, and it might not be the same. Don't sweat too hard."


She looked away, replying somberly..


Candy: "Yeah.. or.."


..though unable to miss the pair of cars just meters away from the Group 1 Bugatti.


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Eyes raised and senses sharpened, it agitated her enough for her to ask back..


Candy: "Those are Red Bull X open wheel concept race cars. The stuff of nightmares. How are they even here today?!"

Hayato: "To me, even with jiji sharing to me his actions, the reaches of Sim Gear are indeed a mystery."


Also noticing, the two other men enter the discussion, with Rodulf admitting softly..


Rodulf: "I wouldn't the confidence to handle those tools of destruction, even with my years holding a Super License."

Candy: "Hamza? Any idea?"

Hamza: "Not quite. My influence spreads, but it's closed doors for anyone aside their own within Red Bull. I did get a hint.. that white X2014 is being handles by the mystery Red Bull master.. known as the N.Z."


This wasn't the first she's tackled that name.

Memories pour back of what she knows, as she describes an opinionated idea..


Candy: "Far as I know, the legendary Natsuhiro Saito's passing both proven and documented. Don't tell me that's another term for The Guts, is it?"

Hayato: "Nyeehh.. I doubt that. As uninterested he is on sharing his own secrets, Guts-chan has gobs of pride in his own name."

Rodulf: "Bah. Long he's a capable racer, I don't care who he is."


And she turns to Rodulf, following..


Candy: "Would you say he's Augur, Helwalker?"

Rodulf: "That is.. not a bad question, mus. Though.. since Augur resurfaced quite recently, I doubt it."


Fortunate for her, she has just the idea: the other man handling the Sim Gear skit for today, as she announces..


Candy: "I figure it's time to go see Alan. He's told me of his obssession with the N.Z. name."

Hamza: "That's because he indeed has history with him."

Candy: "Interesting. Maybe now I'll heed him about it."


She readies to depart, but then, Hamza remembers..


Hamza: "Oh, one reminder, people: this isn't a race for points or anything. Go out with your heart's content."

Rodulf: "Mmhmm."

Hayato: "This is going to be good, heh heh heh [slow clapping]."

Candy: "Oh you men. Figure I'm done here. I'll see you on the track, then."


She walks further back the pit lane, running into a pair of cars from the same name, but seemingly crafted from different dimensions.


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She noticed the odd person out of all this: Alan Robinson, wearing his 90's smooth surfaced racing helmet above his race suit.

He's having a talk with what could be the driver of the other Jaguar next to his Group C legend.

Alan however had the instinct to turn and notice Candy's arrival, as she spoke with confidence.


Candy: "Excuse me.. Alan?"

Alan: "Candy. Fine afternoon, my dear. Might I be of service?"

Candy: "That's a good look for you?"

Alan: "Honestly I'm bloody surprised it still fit me noggin. Anything else?"


Looking about, she finds they are isolated enough to not get overheard.

The little racer then spoke..


Candy: "It's about N.Z. You know he'd be here?"


With his self assured look and mood, Alan talks back..


Alan: "Yes. The name appears, but the person behind that mask.."


He stopped, and since it did come out as sudden, Candy followed, querying..


Candy: "Is something wrong?"

Alan: "Forgive me. I'm looking at the past again. Usually behind the N.Z name is our good friend Nash, as a tribute to my good friend Saito-san. However.. these days he's not capable of handling the most intense racecar to ever exist on the face of this planet."


A quick glimpse onto the short statured racer gave Alan an idea, which however he didn't wish to go with, as he warned..


Alan: "You're thinking of it, but there's no urgency; we're not going to barge into the fort and demand answers, Candy.."

Candy: "Fine. If not Nash, who could he be?"

Alan: "Wish I knew. Clearly Nash isn't telling me everything. I knew the bloke for years, yet that white haired porcupine's not at all got a perfect score in the honesty exam."


The elderly racer then recalled a thought..


Alan: "Saito-san told me should this come.. his name going all around aside Nash.. well.. if we're going to see if they're worthy, we have to see how capable they are on the track. If I'm not giving my all, that is."


She's young, and he's old, yet their enthusiasm for this whole undertaking are also polar opposites.

Dreading what's coming, she muttered..


Candy: "Ugh, and me."

Alan: "Considering its casual flair, this probably might be the most challenged you've ever felt on track, huh?"


Her face turned cross as she continues, quickening as she begins to fume..


Candy: "Is a Le Mans racer comparable to a few formula cars and Vision GT prototypes? Your gimmick is sick, you know?!"

Alan: "The younger generation's always keen to rack up the views with stunts like these.."


She turns down the heat, looking at Alan's whole attire matching his car's..


Candy: "I'm not sure what's scarier.. you in your Group C machine again? Or this supercharged electric Jaguar?"

Alan: "I suppose we'll find out. Ever since.."


He walks towards his car, unthinkably mumbling on as he has a feel on the car's body..


Alan: "My history with the XJR-9 was.. nothing spectactular. Raced in Le Mans a few times, and then.. as Jaguar turned away from future racing past the mid-90s, I thought I too was done."


Watching him going on with a sluggish pace, Candy had to say something.


Candy: "Sir? Hello? You're not going to stop, or?"

Alan: "Why.. today's a very personal day for me, surely. Well.. the lads at Sim Gear decided for my birthday 2 years ago was to buy, rebuild, refurbish, and even classify my old XJR-9 for racing today. Only today, I will be going on without Saito-san's blessings."

Candy: "Didn't he.. pass long before?"

Alan: "Oh yes. But how else did I get into racing with Jaguar before that? You can figure out he was to race for them if not for his passing."


He lets go of his sentimental moments, turning back to the little racer as he declares..


Alan: "My desire to get this around Suzuka grows. So.. how about one more thing?"


With that, she didn't think much aside from..


Candy: "One more thing.. The Guts?"

Alan: "Oh, he's certainly here. We've made sure of that. What's the matter?"

Candy: "From one enigma in a race suit to another.. I'd like to see him in person."


A call for summons, he thought, as he steps forwards, and gathers what's needed in his head.

Then, he begins to chant..


Alan: "Very well. Some say he once won a race series with seven fingers, and that if he ever showed up in Masterchef.. he'd win an award for being the quickest cook to prepare a full course meal. All we know.. well, we call him: The Guts."


This time, nothing supernatural happened, as The Guts then appeared as he made his way down from the pit wall.

He walked slowly towards the Jaguar garage, as he knows he's needed there..

The two monitoring this watch on, mingling..


Candy: "Ever thought of the concept of The Guts having multiple relatives from a different nation?"

Alan: "Some say he didn't like the idea."


However, instead of the usual stop, he walks past them without care, as if he's the brooding main character of Tekken.

Those that expected him to halt then felt startled by this..


Candy: "Wait, what?! After all this time we spent on bringing you over?!"

Alan: "It hardly took 20 seconds, my dear."


Though it seemed like a deliberate act, they notice his Hyundai waiting for him, door open and engine cold.

The animal enters, and then puts his foot down..


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Who he left though didn't stop talking, as Candy mildly exclaimed..


Candy: "Gurr.. he probably didn't heed our call, but still: all that ticked me off a little."

Alan: "Better this than you attacking him out of the blue. You know Candy.. Max told me of your hypertension. I applaud your perseverance."

Candy: "If you're trying to make me feel better.. how dare you, but thanks."

Alan: "That's an.. let's say it's an unusual way to put it.."

Candy: "Either that or someone gets angry each episode.. that's Lulu's job, and she's not quite available at all times."

The race isn't going to start for a couple hours, giving the little racer an excuse to move to a less familiar side of Suzuka's pit lane for today.

Mostly calmed from her experience with the sand earlier, she then remembered the presence of a certain pair that caused that trouble to start.


Candy: "This is going to be the third week in a row where I get an episode with the pompous ass Sonny Meng.."


And if there's someone by his side in a competitive sense, there's only one.


Candy: "At least it's with mama Nirvana. Perhaps she's content to.. share our grievances."


As those images develop in her head, her eyes sees said Nirvana, smoking a cigarette by a laser powered prototype.


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It's long past Week 53's hostilities, as Candy walks on through the polluted air and greeted with some of their usual sarcasm.


Candy: "Oh, you seem to be.. tense, oh maternal figure. Is.. anything wrong?"

Nirvana: "Alongside the clown Sonny Meng being around? Nirvana has a few problems in the vicinity.."

Candy: "Like?"

Nirvana: "The racer that claims to succeed the name of N.Z. as is not the face of the Kirkham Foundation."


At a glance, she suddenly dropped her cigarette to the floor from her mouth, and squatted down, holding her head..


Nirvana: "Ughh.. Don't heed of Nirvana's growing pains in her head.."

Candy: "Pains?"

Nirvana: "It's from handling the Chaparral. You remember?"


Looking back at Week 41's absurdities (Chaparral 2X around Spa Francochamps), Candy's taste on the car returns to bitter her mouth as she brings back..


Candy: "It's that zapping sound. Even behind the helmet it disturbs.."

Nirvana: "The conduction of the laser to its.. Nirvana prefers not talking about it."


She's in trouble, she thought, but Nirvana halted any advance Candy wanted to make as she gets up on her own..


Candy: "Why even be here, Nirvana? You could be scheming something else in some other part of the world."

Nirvana: "Nirvana.. has had enough of Sonny Meng's streak of victories in recent days. I, Nirvana, cannot risk that to grow further."


Questioning her desire within, Candy pulls it out to her speech..


Candy: "(So much pride on bringing just one man down, huh?) I'm seeing all the cordial times together, but still you REALLY don't like this guy, huh?"

Nirvana: "Nirvana reserves the right to share you the truth of that fact."

Candy: "I'll figure it out, eventually. You can bet on that, right?"

Nirvana: "Nirvana welcomes your futile attempt."


Upon notice of her cigarette box being empty, she stomps on her dropped cigar, then asked, frowning.


Nirvana: "Are you here for idle chatter, fool?"

Candy: "No. Not really. I'm not standing idly by when Ginnie's under threat from everyone around the world. I'd do what I can, but.."

Nirvana: "It's out of our reach.. but Nirvana tries to ensure that three way Mexican standoff a few weeks ago will not pass again."


Candy took advantage of that and decided to know..


Candy: "I wonder.. how did you catch wind of that all?"

Nirvana: "Hmph.."


flashback.jpg



A battle rages on, the night Candy reconnects with a certain Vietnamese bomb addict (Week 59).


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However, as Ginoa lays on the grass, with her left arm lopped off, and all other limbs disabled, she can only hear blows struck like hammers, and needles pierce like rivets.

As thoughts gather to escape, she notices the Aussie giant covered in red: most likely her own blood.

Her eyes also note a small light from the sky: a drone, but she couldn't keep track as she somehow was carried into a vehicle, lying upwards on a chair as it zooms away.

Sirens then start to pollute the area's quiet.

The two women looked around, and knew their time's not long together.

As Quinlan scans about and sees the mess they've made, the Crimson End disappears, leaving a mist of red.

Without much choice, she ran towards a side of the Sumida River and jumped.


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While the pile of corpses were many, by the time police were already gathered under the scene of battle, the three women were gone..


From Quinlan swimming in the dark river, the Crimson one already disposing of her equipment and blending in a nearby street as Miranda Summers, a debilitated Ginoa's escape..


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..arrives in the form of Week 26's absolute unit, and its recurring Irishman driver plus owner.


Ginoa: "Kkhhh.. this sucks.. to be rescued by.. this man.."

Murph: "Oi oi. Feeling alright, love?"

Ginoa: "M-merci.. Barrington."

Murph: "No worries. Let's find you someplace hidden like, ay?"


Unable to stop what she dreads, Nirvana finds a glum sensation to describe..


Nirvana: "Nirvana is so fortunate.. to have a hand reach out there in the form of that Irish thief. But.. since then.. the Crimson one found herself again hidden from Nirvana's own sight. A shame."

Candy: "Shame? You should've seen Ginnie's self esteem then.."

Nirvana: "That woman needs to learn there's always circumstance where being the best isn't what matters."

Candy: "How about Quinlan? I saw her on TV yesterday. She probably is the strongest of the three if she made it out unscathed."

Nirvana: "The toughest, that is no question. But strongest? Don't be so naive. By a league, Ginoa is the best of the bunch.. Nirvana guesses she was overpowered."

Candy: "And you.. have a drone spy network?"


However, Nirvana decides that's to be answered with one of her signature glares, as she looks on little Candy and putting her fears ahead..


Candy: "I.. I guess we're not talking about that.."

Nirvana: "Trust Nirvana, as you: little fool, should not be delving into that. Now.. let's go. Nirvana will want some backup for the living headache coming in 10 seconds."


Cheekily Nirvana taps her own noggin, making use of her newest learned skill stolen from her nemesis.

However, it became clear said skill progresses at an alarming rate, as her prediction then walked in and loudly announces a greeting..


Sonny: "Ahah! Here be the double trouble."


Unlike last week, someone was missing, and Candy pointed it out..


Candy: "I see you're lonely.. is Kirk not around?"

Sonny: "Fatboy slim's got things to do with the biker squad, maa. Sorry you didn't get to say a proper goodbye. He'd give you a good four out of five stars on that tour, though."

Candy: "What's the one star lacking for?"


He had the answer, as he slowly transitions towards Nirvana answering back..


Sonny: "Wish I knew. We're going to need all the rest we can for what's coming in a bit, you freak bitch."

Nirvana: "Oh, on that Nirvana agrees. Even if it does have to come from that giddish mouth of yours."


She's still relatively calm, but decided to depart, announcing..


Nirvana: "Perhaps Nirvana can find some way to soothe this soul. Ciao."


With only two on the scene, Sonny takes out his corny Asian side out, as he grumpily proclaims..


Sonny: "Guess it's just me and you."


She's used to him, but not when he's serious, as she recoils back a little..


Candy: "You don't sound.. pleased."

Sonny: "Hmm? Yeah. I mean.. you probably catch no ball on what I mean I play with the fan club, lor."

Candy: "Why's that then?"


Arms crossed, he describes what he spoke of..


Sonny: "I.. umm.. have been doing some misdirection with where I'm going. Supposedly, if my social media was true, I'd be in Bathurst right now for a Group 4 race. The problem is that one: f[BLEEP] Bathurst and two: I am of guilt that my fans paying to go to watch me race are coming home disappointed."

Candy: "R-really? Remorse? From you? Much as it's hard to believe.."


Her anger then gathers with that act..


Candy: "Tian a! You selfish prick! It's like there's a reason you don't want the respect, even though you wish to bleed in it!"


He sighs on, putting the mood for this week's meeting..


Sonny: "Did Nirvana not tell you?"

Candy: "She tells me all kinds of cryptic s[BLEEP]. But for you.. umm.."

Sonny: "About me in particular. I know you are going to say no, because it's so obvious lah. But.. but.. remember our first proper meet with Jake?"


Taking place all the way back in Week 3, Candy only remembers, aside getting ONE PUNCH..


Candy: "Uhuh? I.. guessed and confirmed you're looking for a girl."


And then comes a form of Sonny she's yet to meet: filled with frustrations..


Sonny: "It's been a year and NOTHING! I can't smile forever, lor. The moment the fan club sees me, and I see them, I. AM. RUINED. And I'd blame Nirvana, but baby.. I don't blame others so easy."

Candy: "You're a dick, but I don't think that's fully accurate."

Sonny: "The dickish side comes out when they all look at me funny.. yup, peer pressure's a bitch. I don't even know how you're mostly left alone, Candy baby."


He's stressed, but Candy too finds this all too inconceivable, confusingly asking..


Candy: "Okay, back on you.. not with innuendo."

Sonny: "So, my precious little racing queen.. I've got the most difficult task of all today, and of course I'm real stressed about it, lor."


As if the positioning wasn't off enough, they head to the next garage..


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It wasn't a Lotus, or a McLaren, but something completely original, as the owner presents with his arms out..


Sonny: "Feast your eyes on this!"

Candy: "A turbo powered F1500T that nearly wiped me out? Of course it was you."


She didn't waste time and inspected the 80's aerodynamics about..


Sonny: "This is the first you got this close, right?"

Candy: "It wasn't at the penthouse, so.. well, I'd ask how you got your hands on it, but I guess this means you have open wheel experience?"

Sonny: "What? Of course I do! I'm Sonny f[BLEEP]ing Meng! But much as I'm waging war with my search for a woman and my fan club who loves me dishonestly.. I guess I should thank you."


Even though he was, she didn't take that gratitude seriously.


Candy: "Oh boy. For what?"

Sonny: "Being honest.. not stabbing likeable old me.. and allowing me to vent a little. Like I said: I can't smile forever. But I can't help it. With you.. I gotta keep smiling."


She turns to the driver and explains, stammering a little..


Candy: "Alright alright. Meeting a grumpier person does that to you, or.."

Sonny: "Not confident that's the answer I seek, sis."


She didn't think of her words, but she wanted to keep the air clear, as she puts them out..


Candy: "Fair enough. Just one thing."

Sonny: "Yo?"

Candy: "You're looking for a woman, right? Promise that it's not me, and I.. umm.. help if available."


Sonny wasn't a rocket scientist, but he thought all that was sound, as he then adheres..


Sonny: "Ehh, what the hell, that's a promise!"


She didn't realize the smug satisfaction of all that, as she wonders..


Candy: "Heh.."

Sonny: "Wa lao, I know a poker face, baby. First time you tried making a deal?"

Candy: "Oh.. I guess so."


She had a moment to herself, but not long after, Sonny, now with his helm on, announces..


Sonny: "Well, I gotta find my zen now with this death machine. You've got a Hypercar to mess with, right?"

Candy: "You want to find out which one's more of a challenge to mess with?"

Sonny: "Oh yes, baby. How about someday, I'll get you acquainted with this piece of kit? That is.. if you don't crash it first."

Candy: "I'll take that chance."


As he hops in the open wheel classic, he starts it, and soon as he's able, it leaves on.

It did leave an impression.


Candy: "Yup.. very 80's F1 turbo."


Nirvana then walks up from behind, as she watches.


Nirvana: "Little fool.."

Candy: "Weren't you soothing that smoky soul of yours?"

Nirvana: "Watching Sonny Meng crack a hint does that to greater than usual levels."

Candy: "I.. hear you."


Her intuition then leads to Nirvana then deduce..


Nirvana: "From what Nirvana gathers.. he pays you when I, Nirvana, leaves with a less than favorable mood?"

Candy: "Sometimes. I'm not in the market for bribery, mind you.."


She lets out a smile with the One Step Ahead finally getting to her, dismissing her, but not before..


Nirvana: "Hmph.. in that case.. Nirvana will have other plans with you that you might just.. adore. Ciao."


And she then leaves..


Candy: "If that's cigar burns on the neck again, wait till she finds out Minori-chan giving me a few pointers.."

2 hours later.jpg



Aurora (feat. Metrik, Justin Hawkes Remix)
Camo & Krooked
Hospital Records


A most expensive lineup of some of this world's fastest come together for an unrestricted brawl around Suzuka.


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One car, one racer, one winner. But today's race isn't about winning, rather to serve the crazy viewers of a most popular car based TV show.

There are those who are in it for the gigantic paycheck, others with unclear motives, but all in all: a good time's an assurance..


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Just as the green comes to light up, all these cars swiftly reach blistering pace, as if it's a Japanese cartoon.


Red Bull X series cars have been touted as the kind of cars that push the very limits as humanly possible. So if you're struggling, we just gotta accept we're not quite as superhuman to take this for a ride.


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Briefly I should mention the cockpit review, but even though it's a closed cockpit and I do these when I drive these with first person.. that's what I did! So, first glance: there's nothing too strange to note. All symmetrical, nice little cameras for rear view, the racing wheel having a cancel and enter button.. perhaps acting as an input device for what might be the computer in the racing wheel. Hmm... not quite the fan of the second speedometer having way less frames per second than that the usual one has. I mean.. has anyone crashed a Corvette because of its hologram being up to date? If there's a reason, thus far I can't find it. Though visible extinguisher and kill switches at reach are quite nice little details.

Let's address the car's greatest known trait other than its fast as eff boi: it rides low, like real low. To be more precise: 50 millimeters low. So, the amount of air that goes under there must be intense considering how little space left for it to fly under, and not to mention the amount of air to plow through. Despite that, the X2014 strangely won't have much issues with some larger curbs. Perhaps things like Seaside turn 2, and a few Nordschliefe turns can incite that curiosity for you. A trip to the grass is catastrophic regardless, so don't get any ideas.


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However, as a venturi effect car, downforce increases the faster you go, so if you thought the 2J was difficult to handle, this one might be worse.. if not the advances of technology. It's rear downforce values are so high, you'd sue if it could slip out. You can slip out, but with the tires on the softest thing possible on stock, I say you're probably intentionally doing it to get that back out. Or careless. Let's go with that.

Which brings me to this: despite this undesirable trait, the car carries understeery suspension and LSD settings. As the car came from the factory, the LSD has some rather notable settings. No, you're not having blurry vision: that indeed is a 40 for deceleration, meaning if you let go of the throttle, supposedly the car's not going get any angle. This all is by design, as I'll describe briefly later why.

But the brakes are just a real unit: I have brake balance set to +5, to deal with understeer, not to mention the car's brake markers are a ways ahead of those you see from an LMP. Speaking of which, when you take it around a corner, take extra care of your inputs; this car's liable to take you to the inside corner if you put that wheel on to the side without heed, if not for that LSD setting. As an example, a post high speed hard braking turn like Les Combes with this car won't even need full turn input depending on your entry speeds.


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What else do I see behind its formula one styled cockpit? Well, in many ways attributed to the soft slicks on stock, general traction, particularly exit corner traction is alright. Not perfect, but there's no way you're getting this to go ham unless it's sudden power. You definitely want traction control at 1 on the start line. Moreover, I definitely am alright with taking this car with traction control on if you're not quite the expert. Let's face it, we all aren't! Occassionally, the car tends to unsettle when the gears are involved on the turns. It means you don't need to early shift for traction, and well: you don't want to be revving this car up from lower RPMs anyways: the car can be skittish on that side of the powerband. Speaking of shifting, it's noted you can't shift up normally when there's no power, thanks to its F1 engineered seamless shift racing gearbox that prepares the next gear for you, which adds to this odd behaviour. Despite all this, engine braking or throttle braking is however perfectly fair game.

Akin with the SF23, the X2014 wants you to believe in it. There's very little that's tricky. Shift as intended, brake a little bit later, and inputs.. okay, that's a little tricky: any janky inputs is going to be unforgiving to you, handing a quick trip to the barrier. Umm, so yes. believe in it as much as yourself.. yes, this is cornier than me saying kids are cruel.


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Oh insert declaration for a divine overlord figure of your choosing here, it's tuning. Like I mentioned: the car's got a general understeery vibe that's by design. It's by design that reliantly, enough so that the advice is in line with this in mind.

You can't put extra power or even nitro, so don't think about going faster with an extra piece from our favorite shop Understeering Engineering. What you can adjust is like what you see in the MINI Clubman VGT: suspension barring ride height, downforce, LSD and gearbox. You do have to buy the gearbox and any additional tires, but they're not so important to attribute your enjoyment with the car.

The X2014 lives and breathes a godlike downforce stat, and believe it or not, that's indeed incredibly true the more you delve in its tuning. One thing you might notice is that its front downforce is at it's lowest. Huh, you think, it can go up, and you can go all out on all the corners in the world. That however is a trap. When you do pump that all the way up to 1500, the car's going to predictably turn better, but undermine all that understeering setting its got on stock, meaning that rate of you meeting the wall is going to be substituted with meeting a smoky, Dead Or Alive themed end to your race pace. Then it's the wall. Not even raising the rear's downforce alone will help: you gotta get it some more grip.

Actually, making the X2014 is probably the more preferred thing you want over one that makes you feel like an expert in F-ZERO GX. Well.. along with raising that rear downforce, you can lower LSD acceleration, get that negative camber upped in general to make it less of a twitchy thing, less general stiffness of the springs, and greater damping settings on the front than the rear. I was going to suggest raising the gearbox, but in general that's not productive for the car. You get wider early gears and narrower later ones. I hardly use that rule, so I'm kinda happy to use it.

On the whole, you don't want to change much on what's already on the car, so people that throws numbers around like Moon Knight's infamous meme photo is pretty much are going to be saying that second word on that meme their entire experience on the wheel.

If not the livery themed special challenge, getting the car to go around 65 seconds at Yamagiwa is my objective this week. Though uhh.. let's say that entry on me taking yet another fruitless weekly challenge too seriously means something for what's set. It's satisfying to make it as much as it is to tune a X2014 to go further than it could already. Fledgeling tuner SPD truly finds it all grateful for this experience.

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Alan: "That 2014 model's shot up at an instant, dear me."


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Candy: "No more f[BLEEP] ups, Candy. Away from that sand.. and these other cars.."


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Alan: "There we go.. 170! Indeed: now is the time to say.. let's go racing, chumps!"


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Sonny: "Laserface's not bad. But can she keep that up?"

Hayato: "2X.. American powered EV with experimental engine. How can this woman get such a car for her own?"

Nirvana: "Hmph."


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Alan: "The power of the Jag.. compells you.. fake N.Z."


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Candy: "Lap 2.. and we're already getting segregated by pace. Guts is unrelenting with that super Jag!"

Rodulf: "Whew.. keep it up, djurs.. I'll show you all power soon."


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Sonny: "OUT OF MY WAY, HAG OF HAGS!!"

Hayato: "OUT OF MY WAY, umm.. hag of hags?! Nyeehee.. that Sonny Meng has no idea what he's saying sometimes.."


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Candy: "Passed! Oh, Guts.. he must've wiped that Muroc's hybrid clean.."


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Hayato: "Shiro.. you can race, but can you square off against the likes of ME?!"


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Rodulf: "Curses.. that is a fast Peugeot."


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Nirvana: "The combination of that laser and.. the pompous ass. This truly challenges I, Nirvana.."


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Alan: "Here they come.. we're not in La Sarthe, so.."


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Candy: "A couple more to go.. I'm hyped, but.. this is way out of my league."


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Candy: "That smoke! If that's bad.. imagine a combustion based Jaguar VGT.."


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Hayato: "Old timer! Time to put you back to the retirement home!"

Alan: "Come, Moto-san, you dog. Think you can take me?!"


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Nirvana: "Time to discharge."


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Hayato: "Euk? It's like lightning!"

Nirvana: "Two positions.. Fufufu.."


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Nirvana: "N-Nirvana.. applauds your.. urgh.. persistence.."


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Alan: "One more round.. time to hold them off."


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Sonny: "Heyy.. look at big ugly go! if this is to keep me hyped, I'm down!"


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Hayato: "Oh, this is my turf. Don't even think about going away so easy. OVERTAKE ON!"

Sonny: "Urghh.. they're NOT dead."


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Hayato: "Nyeeeheehee! Told you so."


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Hamza: "The Guts is struggling on this venture? Nash ought to hear of this."


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Hayato: "I've saved the best for last, old man! That's for calling me a dog!"

Alan: "Jesus. He was waiting on me to simmer down. Smart lad."


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Rodulf: "It's the last run, but it doesn't mean there's no time for.. shadow versus shadow."


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Sonny: "Backstraight Nirvana's already coming.. I gotta.."


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Nirvana: "Fufufu.."

Sonny: "Haiyaa.."


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Hayato: "YAAAHAAA! Winner? Me? If you expected anyone else, you are a COMPLETE and UTTER IDIOT! WAAAHAA!"


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Candy: "Whew.. time to relax.."


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Candy: "W-what?! What do you mean I lost by a hair.. that PEUGEOT?! GURR... how.. how.. HOW DARE YOU!!"


After post race processions come to an end, night eventually falls.

A group of tuners, both local and foreign, make their way onto the track.


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But not everyone's left yet.


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Pretty much the only ones left, Candy hang around with the packing Sim Gear crew behind them.

The host of this endeavor though isn't hard to lose, as Candy comes by and explains..


Candy: "Alan.. I have to say.. all that chaos is exhilarating!"

Alan: "Indeed. You were spectactular."


He then turn around to see someone drowned in the oozes of victory.


Alan: "But alas: we paled compared to the likes of you, Moto-san."

Hayato: "What can I say: I'm good at what I do. I raced here all my life, after all."

Alan: "Yes, well, if your name had value, it's going to skyrocket."

Hayato: "Nyeeheehee. I look forwards to that for the future. More fans to shoo away like your friend, Candy-chan. You didn't do bad, old man. First loser? Still high praise, nyeeheeheeheehaahaa!"


As the men talk about being in the front pack of the race, she's however feeling left out.

Alan didn't fail to notice this, calmly explaining.


Alan: "We don't mean to sound ungentlemanly, Miss Lam, it's just.. we're excited, is all. Haven't treated my Jag like my 90's chore in a long long while."

Candy: " Don't worry bout it. I'm not long for this pace of race.. I'm sticking with being a sweet toothed beast with GT cars."

Hayato: "That's fine, Candy-chan. I like it where you're going too. Really: I'm more glad this all went off without a hitch."

Alan: "Which is strange considering our history with these kinds of shenanigans."


However, Candy swapped topics and began to wonder, now in mind about..


Candy: "So.. about the new N.Z.."

Hayato: "Still too vague. Drives like your typical clean and respectful anyone. A certain anyone with.. years holding a Super License?"

Alan: "And not the usual anyone with a Super License: proper fast one."

Candy: "It's too late to weep now. That name comes up: I'll keep a sharp eye out from here on out.."


She then wonders..


Candy: "What's your plan now? Back to Tochigi?"

Alan: "Not tonight. I've some time to handle logistics with my XJR, then I'll find some hotel for the night. You two are.. quite so lucky?"

Candy: "Well, we'd apologize, but.. [imitating] not to sound ungentlemanly.."

Hayato: "Nyeeheehee. Straight out of the book of Rin-chan, that was! Good luck, old man."


The young adults leave the old man to his work, but as they walk back to their cars, Hayato..


Hayato: "Candy-chan, be honest.."

Candy: "What is it this time, Moto-san?"

Hayato: "I've been hearing I'm not wanted in recent days.. this true?"

Candy: "Where have you been hearing that? Ughh.. never mind. Sounded like it's just nothing; just don't heed it at all."


Ohh.. uhh.. uh oh.

She walks on, but Hayato, arms crossed and head occupied with doubt, remains still..


Hayato: "Nyeehh.. not quite the answer I want."


He then leaps onto the sky, crashing into this monitor I watch while writing this..

Wait.

WAIT!

HEAR ME OUT!


Hayato: "NYAHAHAHAAA! I know it's your doing, Narrator-chan. From Week 58. You cheeky son of a bitch, you'd think I don't know?!"


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------​

While Neutral is the easiest rating you'd give to the X2014, in what way do I want to even hear this car being rated?

It's meant to be unrated, it's existence cannot be rated, it's performance.. is meant to not be rated at all.

However, I decided to hand it something else entirely: old Horizon themed award I call one Mark of Zen, and for this week, it achieves this on one track I've been struggling to make work myself with: Bathurst.

I'm not so bad at Bathurst to hate it because I suck or something, but I never think to feel negative about it in some form when cruising that place with this around, despite its many non-friendly traits.

With the X2014, and maybe some other car, I instead failed to think those negative thoughts.
Click to expand...

Short, simple, but includes a race that you would scream Gran Turismo on how it's sorted and classified.

Feel I should take a break. Writing's in a funny spot these days, and I actually finished this one on Tuesday. That's a new record, but I'm not keeping score of how quick I churn these out.

I hope we're not getting anything Sonny Meng related next week. If he's one of the most capable racers in my whole writing (because hurr he's after all a self insert), then I always feel he needs to be challenged. Like Moto-san knows about how I talked crap about having him too often in a certain period, that's true now for the.. one person I put my heart closest to in this whole writing shindig.

Speaking of which: I'm making Moto-san break the mold so much, it's now ridiculous..

As the main character, Candy Lam is bound to appear in every segment, be it either as the lead role, or as a small mention.

The infamous Sweet Toothed Lone Wolf of Asia, or known worldwide as Le Glace Pacer. While her social presence is significantly poor, her presence on the track hasn't been short of perfection, now under the pressures of being a monetary source of higher powers, as well as her role being the most prime form of woman racers.. But don't let her hear that.

Theme Song: Def Leppard - Bad Actress
Racing Duel Music: Def Leppard - Nine Lives
Gender: Female
Nationality: Hong Kongese
Age: 30
Current occupation: Professional racecar driver
Distinct features: Long, clean, straight ashen hair tied to a ponytail via traditional red braids. A stiff, stoic Asian beauty that starts to show sign of wrinkling, covered by heavy layers of makeup. Thin, rounded diamond face, with various beauty signs of it being worked on unnaturally, especially her unblemished small snub nose, heavily lipsticked mouth and thin brown Asian eyes. Short body with small proportions.
Choice of clothing: Typical modern glossy sleveless Hong Kong dress, but 90% she will have her favorite on, that's in blood red with a white bauhinia pattern on, with matching sandals. Most of her clothes and themes come in red or white.
Cars: Toyota GR Yaris 1st Edition RZ "High Performance", MINI Cooper S, Honda NSX Type R '02, Mazda Demio XD Touring

Even though she's a proud Hong Kongese, Candy is actually born in high society Tokyo, and more exposed to living in a usual Japanese lifestyle. An only child, it was easy to find herself spoiled rotten from a young age, getting what she wants and not caring how it got there, thanks to wealth she inherits strongly. Her father notably was an executive in Toyota's racing division.

A target in her younger ages, Candy's early life was full of trouble from others that are against her being a Hong Kong native in Japan. She never made any friends as a result, and this loner habit of hers remained even after changing schools, going so far to even give her a new alias. While her parents have a strong standing in the society she lived in, she remained in their shadow, because she couldn't find comfort out of it.

Upon reaching her adult days, Candy's first 'milestone' would come when an incident in a high class event caused her to run, leading to a manic police car chase spanning several weeks before she was arrested. The victim of these events would have deep ties with various Yakuza families. While her parents retreated to Hong Kong, Candy stayed in Japanese prison, learning that if nothing needs to come her way, she needs to learn something she initially dreaded to do: manipulate the human mind, a state of thought she was once a victim of.

After her sentence, she regained her freedom, and it didn't take long that was noticed by the city's largest street racing community. Still with her inherited wealth, she started off strong in the streets. Years then pass, in which she eventually proves herself as a top competitor for racing in many top endurance races worldwide.

While her fans are out there in many parts around for being a woman dominating a man's sport, she's not exactly a great social interactor, and is a nobody outside the racing community. With many questions still left unanswered, maybe there are more ulterior motives with the unsanctioned blue MINI project..

Some say he has an unmistakeable alternate take on the origins of shoelaces, and that he's campaigning a drive to ensure mandatory use of condoms outside of pleasure. All we know is.. he might be a parody of something more legendary, but he sure is one racing animal.

Theme Song: Finger Eleven - Gods of Speed
Racing Duel Music: Celldweller - Unshakeable (BT & SeamlessR remix)
Gender: Male.. and boy are we glad this is known
Nationality: oh crap
Age: definitely around his 20s? 30s, I guess
Current occupation: Speed
Distinct features: Has no hair, and has a mildly chiseled face of a.. unknown if it's Caucasian or Asian look and skin tone. Sharp wide brown eyes, thick grecian nose and unpronounced mouth. Hard to say under his clothing, but its speculated he has a well built body with developed muscles.
Choice of clothing: His signature racing helmet is always on him, but very rarely can be seen without it. Aside from that, he wears whatever the situation desires, usually in shades of carbon black.
Cars: Genesis G70 3.3T, Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Vision Gran Turismo, Hyundai N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo Group 1, Toyota 86

A mute, socially awkward man of unknown origin and information. All the people know about him is his mythical exploits on the track, being one of the fastest beings on the planet behind any type of car. Not knowing where he came from, some say he was a child of a sinister experiment gone bad. Others say he's the resurrected spirit of a legendary racing driver and brought to the world to show how it's done.

Whatever naysay is related, The Guts' unequal presence on the track is by far the single most dominant feeling of 'Nobody but him is winning this race', and with the rise of talents behind his flag, it's been a proven fact. Usually followed by an ambassador to help communicate, The Guts only speaks through body language, or occasionally with sign language. And if those don't work, he often snatches smartphones and somehow get away with it.

Now under the British car show Sim Gear, The Guts non-racing days have been all about testing cars and showing his ego. But some time ago, since the show's discontinuation, there have been rumors of The Guts being related to The List, but not even group veterans and founders aside the big boss can prove this. Although, the indirect proof of his signature Genesis G70 winning top level street races with his name on it has been circulating.

Bohemian Like You plays

Once part of the greatest street racing crew in the UK, Sonny's now a key player in The List's day to day finances. While these days, he's started a long running racing career, leading to a gigantic bounty of success. This egotistical, proven all around badass comes forward as the most divisive top racing figure in the USA.

Theme Song: Rush - Vapor Trail, The Dandy Warhols - Bohemian Like You
Racing Duel Music: A Silent Truth - Chariot (Daycore)
Gender: Male
Nationality: Half Singaporean, half American
Age: 32
Current occupation: As he would state it: a mother[BLEEP]ing racing celebrity
Distinct features: Curled, black medium long hair, always semi-shiny. Handsome, diamond Asian like face and skin tone, with a long stubble combined with a Zappa. Narrow angled grey eyes that shine when he wants to, subtle upturned nose, and hair surrounded mouth. Overcompensating perfect teeth that glares when he wants to. Slightly taller, semi slim build, with mild developed muscle.. also that gleam when he wants to.
Choice of clothing: Usually in biker style clothing, including leather all around with an undershirt.
Cars: Dodge SRT Viper GTS, Chevrolet Camaro Z28, Ferrari 288 GTO, GT By Citroen Road Car

While he might have a Singaporean father, his work as a presidential bodyguard means Sonny's an all American citizen. Birthed in Washington, he moved to California when he was still very young. There, he would meet the eventual leader of The List, and befriend him, being his social contact that would relate with him as that man would darken. On the contrary, Sonny remained as optimistic as he always has been.

But his optimism didn't carry over to his education, where he was often the main culprit of racism as an issue there. It was then he would learn, then utilize his famous mantra of always being one step ahead. By using his birthday gift: a 69 Camaro, he would cause what he would dub as the best graduation day ever: getting just about every nemeses in his school driver license suspensions, while he gets away scot free. Due to this epic win, his egoist side would rise from then onwards, possibly never reaching a ceiling.

It wouldn't stop there. Applying to study in London found itself to be a costly move, and he would bring said Camaro over the Atlantic to begin street racing in those streets just to break even. And past that, UK's top street racing crew known as the Prophecy would take attention, and adopt him as the first ever mentored student, known as a Chosen. Even though Sonny did graduate with middling honours and is ready for adult life, he chose to spend his earnings to chase his hobbies, and to everyone's surprise: it would end up being his life's work, with his unshakeable ego and skill would put him in the podium spot of any racing field he touches.

In addition to his successful racing career, he took on the role as The List's main income source, internally codenamed "Chimera". In recent years, Sonny's momentum has been halted when his mother passed, and now has a mission to find the Mrs. Meng to succeed even further than just his wealth and fame. These days, while he might be the badass he claims, he's also bound to lure in all sorts of trouble, such as the bad luck he's known for among his divisive peers, alongside his, what he dubs: 'favorite hostile secret admirer' in Nirvana.

A definition of the mysterious benefactor to the American dark side, nobody truly knows who, where, what or how this Nirvana person came to be. Aside being one of California's biggest earners within its black market, the only thing people know about her is that you never want to be on her bad side..

Theme Song: Nirvana - All Apologies
Racing Duel Music: Peaches - Boys Wanna Be Her (Tommie Sunshine's Brooklyn Fire Retouch)
Gender: Female
Nationality: Unknown, presumably American
Age: Unknown, presumably in her late 30s
Current occupation: Black market information broker
Distinct features: Medium long straight brunette hair, with the left side slightly longer on the front. Broad and tall diamond shaped face, with heavy eyeshadow and deep red lipstick. Wide and narrow green eyes, thick button nose and lip sticked mouth. Eyes always covered with a bespoke pair of sunglasses. Wears a pair of ruby gemmed earrings. Tall, slender figure.
Choice of clothing: Isn't one for a certain clothing style, but her daily go to includes a designer cropped jacket and blouse. Underneath usually is seen with dark, long skinny jeans, with tall leather boots underneath. Never without her prized golden necklace, carrying the iconic Nirvana grunge band smile.
Cars: Lamborghini Diablo GT, Honda Civic Type R (EK), Lamborghini Countach LP400

If there's a dark American secret or two worth knowing, there's a very good chance it either came from, or is already been privy by the mysterious, unusually beautiful chain smoker known as Nirvana. While she's not hiding any association with it, it's unclear why she took up the name of a once popular 90's grunge icon.

Despite being in the game for approximately a decade, Nirvana's role as an information broker has been volatile for involved parties. Regardless of the risk, it's a very fruitful business that allowed her to make up a luxurious, albeit mysterious way of living. Every day passes with her face on at least one association wanting her death, be it from minor greivances or major groups, with rumors saying even involving the darkest organizations within national governments. But by being directly connected to the Assassin's Guild means that threat is non-existant for her. It's strongly rumored she is the one completely external individual with the unstoppable, absolute Trinita L'Assassina on speed dial, as various wealthy crime bosses that had her targeted once had their groups dissolved in a week.

Anyone knows Nirvana is one mysterious figure that probably intentionally overdelivers her speech with speaking in third person, combined with odd lingual skills and backed with an odd accent. While it's obvious she's hiding everything about her, there's no hiding her services mainly being stationed in Los Angeles. There's also no hiding that she likes to drive an old Lamborghini Diablo, and it's seen frequently street racing at night. Her presence often causes the racing at night to be mostly calm, a sign of her connection with the local police.

A worker of secrets, Nirvana also knows how to keep them, and over the years, she begun to even use them for her own benefits. While not exactly the most expensive of secrets, using The Outlaw's identity allows her to blackmail her way into The List, now part of them as code name "Enigma". But running with the self proclaimed fastest crew isn't the goal. She uses it as soon as she found out racing celebrity Sonny Meng serving as the group's backbone, and also being directly related to its leader. To her, Sonny is the one person she deems her nemesis. Nobody but the just as similarly egotistical Nirvana only knows why this grudge came to be.

Fourth wall breaking fan favorite racer of the current Super Formula era, Hayato's achievements haze the many dilemmas and twists he's found himself in. A former Yakuza enforcer that doubles as an just as silent and swift ninja wannabe with a unfavorable young personality to back up his race track talents.

Theme Song: The Crystal Method - Play For Real (feat. The Heavy)
Racing Duel Music: The Crystal Method - Play For Real (feat. The Heavy, Dirtyphonics Remix)
Gender: Male
Nationality: Half Japanese, half Brazilian
Age: 30
Current occupation: Race car driver
Distinct features: Dyed dark purple hair in the shape of a ponytail. Wide, diamond shaped face with pale skin. White tinted eye contacts, flat thin nose and a slim mouth exhuming a dangerous smirk. Average height, slightly thin build. Heavily tattooed body due to his past within the yakuza.
Choice of clothing: Dark colored, and always covering his skin. Commonly wears trendy clothing, nowaday's its a designer sweater hoodie with 3 quarter denim pants, tall shoes and a belt. Never seen without his traditional made ornamental katana and its sheath behind, presumed a fake to just about anyone who don't investigate.
Cars: Honda NSX (NB), KTM X-BOW R

History was shady, but first records show Hayato was born in Nagoya with a mixed Japanese Brazilian bloodline. Notably, his family carries strong ties to the shinobi warriors of Sengoku Japan, giving him an idea on what kind of person he was going to grow as. However, he was a rebellious soul who could hardly get anything going in curriculum. That journey as a ninja would have to wait until one day, he would personally go on a journey to retrieve an old relic hidden in a deathtrap shaped like a home. He might have succeeded, but the problems started. Said relic was a priceless katana, and word got out, his family and clan were slain or went missing, including his family, who had an abrupt but heartfelt goodbye, not knowing where to go.

After reaching adulthood, Hayato made his way through life with a girl he met. It was thanks to her he got involved in Yakuza affairs, being the sole daughter of a top family enforcer. He would learn their ways, brandish their stripes and worked his way up the ladder. On the side, he applied for a junior Red Bull course in racing, again because his girlfriend said so. That eventually grew as he was noticed by two important individuals: an infamous street racing delinquent, and the head of the multi million organization known as the Kirkham Foundation. With their offers, Hayato had a new goal: to be deemed an icon, as someone significant.

Years pass, and Hayato leaned back to the criminal element strong. But as he grew in strength, that went to the test as the family he served was the same one that terrorized his teenage days. As his connections to the relic he used came to light, blood flooded rivers as he fought his way up to get the answers he needed. All was said and done, but one final test remained: the woman that lived with him all those years pledged her allegiance against him, and in a final struggle, he cut her where she stood. Past all the heartbreak, he would remember her by selling the relic katana to the government, then having a master blacksmith forge a whole new sword: the same one he carries at all times on his back. He branded the sword as 'Yoko': the girl he lived with all his adult life til then.

Now with those bloody ties severed, Hayato stands now a strong contender for the Honda Racing Corporation. While his focus lies on Super Formula nowadays, he's been seen testing out Honda's Group 3 division. And there's a good chance he might be travelling the world, eager to be showing his honed racing skills.

The most feared bounty hunter in all of Europe, maybe the whole world. An unstoppable wild killer, whose emotions are, to him, just a setback to the bigger picture. But there's more to him than just a savage, remorseless shell honed to kill.

Theme Song: Yngwie J. Malmsteen - Perpetual
Racing Duel Music: Yngwie J. Malmsteen - Gates of Babylon
Gender: Male
Nationality: Swedish
Age: 36
Current occupation: Bounty hunter
Distinct features: Balding swept back parted blonde hair. Notable skin damage, scarring and blemishes on his aggressive, top wide then lower thin oval face. Small patch beard. Tall, and fairly muscular on a thin body.
Choice of clothing: Thick leather gloves and steel tipped industrial boots covered by industrial coveralls, usually only worn by the leggings. Tight fit striped shirt, padded with protection. A fur jacket covers the top when weather is cold.
Cars: Bugatti Veyron 16.4

Known mainly as the Hel Walker or the Grim Reaper. Rodulf is probably one of the best, and just as merciless and ruthless bounty hunters known to man. But his humble origins from Kiruna have been rather normal. He was a shy, but cool star basketball player in his small community growing up, and was prepared for a life going pro on just playing sports. There, he learned that teamwork has been a core part of achieving a goal. But all this does is reinforce his feelings as a man who works and operates alone. This is because as he was to exit high school, he would play his last match with his team before being the sole survivor in a plane hijacking, indirectly caused by, as he found out personally, a terrorist organization.

With all ties gone due to his death being presumed, the still young Rodulf learned how to survive in the cold Swedish wilds, from living off the grid, and eventually kill. Knowing enough of those who buried his past in the snow, he would begin a long and hard pursuit of these individuals, and he would learn to hone his killer instinct, put aside his sympathetic personality and get stronger after each kill. The cold bloody war would end as he would end the terrorists by his own hand. However, due to the leader being bound by a certain organization's protective contract, the just as feared Assassin's Guild would take action and send their best assassins to find and apprehend him. Mercilessly, Rodulf didn't think twice and put him on their radar when he sent these assassins back to their masters in boxes.

And he wouldn't stop there: he rampaged his way to the inner circle of this organization and by stroke of luck they instead managed to calm him and inserted him into the group to protect themselves. Now, the life of high stakes killing begun anew, with his specially armor plated Veyron being the testament of his nearly decade reign. The Guild would then place a major base within Kiruna, specifically near Rodulf's older stomping grounds.

While savage and likes to hold grudges, those who do luckily know Rodulf can find a quiet man who thinks to himself a lot, and while scars are all over his body, he can be quite aloof, menacing and anti social. While he's feared and protected, Rodulf can sometimes be found racing legally in the FIA in Group 1 Bugattis. He would make use of this relationship to bolster his driving talent with his own car. Some rumors speak of him clashing with a few racers personally, but nothing has happened on this end. Right now, he has his eyes on The List, with an eager gaze towards the man behind the strings..

A legend of the past generation. Alan's time as The Bristol Harbinger echoes on into his terrible parenting and the contrary of such when it comes to mentoring. A classy charismatic figure who craves at the chance to push hard a racing machine again.

Theme Song: Queen - You Take My Breath Away
Racing Duel Music: The Cure - Wrong Number (acoustic)
Gender: Male
Nationality: British
Age: 59
Current occupation: Retired racer
Distinct features: Short, combed back, clean greyed chestnut hair. Heart shaped face. Similarly colored goatee on top of a stubble. Thin hooded blue eyes, thick but shallow funnel nose, and thin, wide peach mouth. Average height and slightly less weight.
Choice of clothing: Strictly a cardigan over a suit vest, fine pants and just as fine slip ons and woolen gloves. Never without his specially engraved pendant, engraved AR-CR.
Cars: Jaguar XJ220, Aston Martin DB11

Once known as the Bristol Harbinger, it's no surprise Alan's humble origins were within Bristol, specifically behind the heritage of a metalworking industry heavy family. Aspiring to make a living in one of the larger engineering factories producing ships and planes, Alan's dreams took a turn when his father: the foreman of a prominent steel milling factory, got the factory involved in producing various machinations for Jaguar. At his younger ages, he's greatly exposed to the hard works in the mills and the foundries, but never found himself in serious dedication to it, despite humbling towards its peoples.

Amassing wealth, Alan and his sole sister eventually was personally exposed to the racing world in form of their wealthy father's collection of classic cars, notably those made iconic within the gentlemen racers era. By the time they reached adulthood and are proven able to drive, they've been handed down one car of their choosing. Both went for Germans, as Alan's first car would come in the eventually rare BMW 507. Unaware of why his peers and relatives start to distance away from him, he's never been made aware that the car's value reflected to his person: something future Alan found out.

His calling for the track came when the foundry workers started organizing quick, but overall grueling rally events around the industrial areas they worked in. There, not only would this younger Alan find his calling by being the quickest in the tiny classics raced, but also found he wants to earn his glory, not be handed down them. Respect for this form of him is gained, and he would gain a catchphrase, stating that "What's once hard can be bested with self improvement, and we keep getting on with it until it's all a chore.". That all would move on to his greatest age in his career: handling Group C Jaguars.

Eventually wedded a lady and raised a daughter, the wife's sudden death by an accident put a rift between this pair, blaming one another for the cause of this separation. It was then he's made an abrupt retirement to the racing game. Wealth was never an issue then, thanks to his past and then work's role as a racing school instructor. Usually not straying further ahead open wheel racing, Alan's problems started to fade upon meeting his daughter's sweetheart: a young Scottish enthusiast. The bond they created as mentor and pupil also cast away the social barriers between him and his daughter. Now with a keenness on helping others, he didn't hesitate when a German racing family asked him personally for his services.

Age might've slowed his senses, but this current Sim Gear host's always on the lookout for fresh talent, or even a way back into the game.

Once upon a time, Hamza was a well taught race car driver that partnered up with the Californian based Ross family. But looking deep through all his Arab wealth and overindulged lifestyle however is a humble adventurer who dreams to make his legend through the ventures and challenges he readies himself to overcome, like the prophets before him.

Theme Song: The Qemists - Your Revolution
Racing Duel Music: Pendulum - Propane Nightmares (Celldweller Remix)
Gender: Male
Nationality: Arabian
Age: 39
Current occupation: President of a small racing firm
Distinct features: Pale amber skin. Tall triangular face, with a thick, well trimmed full face beard. Clean swept back short black hair. Sharp brown eyes, wide, thick button nose and semi thick lipped mouth. There's usually a few scars healing on his face, but that's never determined where in different points in time. Above average height and below average weight.
Choice of clothing: Defined by his expensive keffiyeh, with a dark green pattern and shiny gold engraving around, etched with his name in Arabic. Always with formal clothing underneath, but remains to him as flexible and loose. Always wearing something above, such as an abaya, kurta or suit jacket, but they show flair of his wealth (gold engraving usually).
Cars: A whole roster of them, most prominently a Enzo Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series

Born the youngest son of an Arabic kingdom royalty's cousin, Hamza was actually set for life no matter how dumb or ill thought his decisions were to be. As he grew, these decisions of his brothers ill natured actions molded Hamza into the man he is today, being the lone inheritor of the family's wealth. His eldest brother was a raging alcoholic who passed in a car crash, and the following one caused an upset in his local supercar scene that led to him being jailed for fraud and other felonies. Actually pleased of their departure, Hamza took these lessons to reflect, the former getting his humility in check, the latter ensuring good graces always besting fortune.

In fact, as he reached adulthood, he knew money was the root of all evil. So instead of spoiling himself silly, Hamza thought: why not make a statement in some form in this short life and make something extraordinary. While handling his second brother's left behind assets (including the Enzo he daily drives today), Hamza notices the odd one out in this collection: a Pikes Peak Audi. Researching this car's past granted him a clear vision on what he wants to do.

Hearing of Group B, Hamza started a small racing team. Known as Igneus, the company went on to initially building high performance commercial cars of a more dune hopping nature, but it didn't take off. Instead, the focus eventually changed to reviving the Group B name that wowed many racers' souls in the past, but hopefully also learn the mistakes it had made. To ready himself, Hamza went to America to learn the delicate craft of racing. Famed for fearlessly rallying expensive sports cars with a band of thrilseekers across the nation, he eventually got involved with the Ross family, treating this family with love unlike his own.

Personally asked by the leader for his finances, Hamza's dues are paid back as the secret benefactor to The List's funds engine. And getting tutelage from The Outlaw will soon pay off should he have a need to roar whatever top end machinery he finds himself running with.
 
I didn't want to review the "car" we had for Week 52.

I hate the all–consuming trend of S and CUVs. I think the vast majority of the people who buy those things have near zero use for any of the "Sport" and "Utility" of these Vehicles—if there's any to be found in those FF hatchbacks on stilts. I think most people buy these things just for show, and what car company is more showy than Lamborghini? When someone thought to put two and two together, the seemingly unlikely pairing of the words "Lamborghini" and "SUV" came together like air to a bird, the sea to a fish, and contempt to the contemptible, resulting in not the fastest running Lamborghini ever made, but the fastest selling one of the company's entire 60–year history. Yada yada, some context and history about Ferruccio Lamborghini never wanted to make sports cars, how the company made the "Rambo Lambo" LM002... Look, I get it. Doesn't make the Week 52 make any more sense or less of a poop stain to look at.

No, I'm not going to sully my fingers typing its name out. I do all my research on it in an incognito tab on another browser. I don't even feel this filthy browsing for porn. When I had to take a photo of the car to announce it at the start of Week 52, I didn't even shoot my own car. I don't want this brain rot and hollow showboating invading my life, my personal space, more than it already has. Seeing one in real life makes me sick. The only solace I can take in the Week 52 being added into Gran Turismo 7 is that I can adamantly refuse to own one, not even for a fleeting moment to fill my otherwise complete CarDex. In fact, that one omission in the 497–strong list as of Version 1.45 is something I take pride in. Yeah, it might seem trivial to be so worked up about not owning an inconsequential car in a video game, but I take the same pride in not owning a Week 52 as I do not relapsing into old habits or being rude to a retail worker. Sometimes not doing something is in itself, every bit an achievement as actually doing something. Not owning a Week 52, especially when I had everything else, was an achievement to me.

Was.

Vic then comes along and chose the Week 52 for Week 52 of Car of the Week. He held my family at gunpoint, my balls in a vice, and threatened to LS— no, EV swap an RX-7 before my taped open eyes if I didn't honour his "request". And so, the folks at Lamborghini became 300,000 Credits richer as their hired guns shook down a fallen and tearful pretend reviewer. They stripped me of all my clothes and took away all my means of payment and transport, and as a final "F–you", the only way could make it back home in the sweltering, inhumane heat was a Week 52 with my name, ID number, and blood type printed into its upholstery... in my own blood.

A more able man might have tried to make Bloody Marys with spilled blood in my situation by reviewing the Week 52, but willing myself into a Week 52 felt like dipping my soul into a pool of radioactive acid. All I can tell you is that first and second are uselessly short—2nd gear tops out at exactly 100km/h, which should be all I need to mention to illustrate the one purpose they're there to fulfil. The thing wants to be short shifted at about 6,2, and is completely soulless both to drive and to listen to. It stops really well for something that weighs the collective guilt of mankind's worst tendencies*. Drag completely nukes this thing past 230km/h (143mph). The front heaviness of this thing is somewhat mitigated by what feels like brake vectoring on corner entry, which means to say that it pushes harder than delivering mother cattle after the initial turn–in. Vic opines it's faster through a corner sideways than straight. Ask him for the details. I'm just a broken shell of a man stripped of all dignity, purpose, happiness, and hope in life.

*The Week 52 weighs 2,197kg (4,844lbs) according to the game. Those figures could be dry humour, as is the case with most Italian performance cars in this game. I'm not going to sully my search history with trying to dig up its kerb mass.

In terms of raw pace, it'd struggle immensely just to keep up with a first gen Audi R8 V8. Can you imagine actually paying 911 GT3 money to get spanked by a Cayman GT4? I'd say I couldn't if I hadn't been forced into actually experiencing it. I SUPPOSE it's the third fastest four seater in this game behind the Porsche Taycan and Charger Hellcat, and it would outlast the EV Taycan and be much easier to drive than a Hellcat. To drive, though? There's nothing exciting or even remotely pleasant about the driving experience. It's completely devoid of any sense of occasion, quirk, or personality. And that just doesn't scream "Lamborghini" to me.

Not like the 2000 Diablo GT.


From the moment I had to launch it from a standing start, this thing BELLOWED out character, and I'm not just talking about the sound of the showpiece 6L V12 slung aft the cockpit, either. As one might expect from a naturally aspirated unit that's capable of revving to a dizzying 8,000rpm, the NA V12 engine of the Diablo is completely lifeless below 3k rpm, waking up in a dazed stupor only past that. The complete lack of life in those low revs, along with its very tall gear ratios, mean that it's much more advantageous to turn off the makeshift launch control that is TCS and just modulate the wheelspin off a standing start—not to mention much more fun and engaging. Push it past 6,000rpm though, and this thing instantly snaps from "mildly grumpy to be up early on a Saturday morning" to "fissed the puck off just because it can", almost as though an invisible turbo passed laughing gas into the engine's cylinders and the driver's lungs, and it's a violent transition in first and second gear. In the 5 or so seconds it takes the Diablo to get from 0–100km/h, it's already shown more character than the Week 52 could ever scrape together in its lifetime. Right from the moment the lights go out, the Diablo has already established its personality and preferences in a way that almost looks as if written by a manga artist trying to introduce and establish a new character: Make a strong, cinematic impression, convey the character's intention, establish the character's absurd power level in the dynamic, maybe pepper in hints of its quirks for flavour, and then slowly hint at its weaknesses in a pace the audience can digest while keeping their interest.

Gran%20Turismo%C2%AE%207_20240426101606.png


As previously mentioned, the gear ratios of the Diablo are not just tall, but also wide apart—a necessity when trying to reach 200mph with just five forward gears. This, combined with its peaky engine, means that every gear has to be wrung for every last rev it can muster before upshifting, lest the upshift drops the L532 engine below its awakening point of 6,000rpm. Wring each cog for all it's worth, and the Diablo will just barely stay above said 6k threshold with each upshift. In other words, bringing each gear to its symphonic limit is not just its own reward, it's also to avoid painful punishment, and it lights up my stupid lizard brain on both motivational ends like a Christmas tree set on fire. Despite not having a stick shifter for my T300RS and thus only shifting with the paddles, there's a nigh indescribable quality to the Diablo's shifts that just make them so stupidly satisfying to grab. They just feel smoother and a little quicker than most stick shifts in the game. I wonder if the dog–leg pattern of the gated shifter has anything to do with it?

Gran%20Turismo%C2%AE%207_20240426101613.png


Continuing where the 25th Anniversary Countach left off, the Diablo GT comically staggers its tyres front to rear as though a Top Fuel Dragster to keep itself stable: 245–335 in this case. Of course, front tyres so skinny would have better luck stopping Y2K than it would a 1,490kg (3,285lbs), 200mph–capable cruise missile, to say nothing of trying to stop and steer a rampaging Diablo at the same time. Braking isn't the Diablo's strong suit, and ironically for a rear mid engine car, braking and turning has to be largely separate affairs, all in spite of the fact that late model Diablos like the one we have coming with ABS. And if you thought trail braking it was bad, wait till you need to adjust the Diablo's turning radius deep into a corner: the differential is so tight that it's damn near impossible to get the front end to turn when not hard on the brakes deep into a corner!

Gran%20Turismo%C2%AE%207_20240426101559.png


"So, what's the difference between the Week 52 and the Diablo, if both Lamborghinis push with understeer heavily?", you might be asking at this point. The difference, dear astute, sexy reader, is that, in addition to its spine–chilling, bum–burning soundtrack, the rear mid engined Diablo has a playful side to it unlike the Week 52, and the magical part about having that playful split personality is that sometimes, that playful side wins. The problem with using a tight differential in generating understeer is that the more understeer you try to dial into it, the harder and faster the car goes sideways once the rear tyres lose grip for any reason—a situation not unfamiliar to drivers of the Diablo owing to its racecar emulating rear suspension setup making tar mountains out of molehills. Beware of cutting corners too much as well, because the Diablo's preferred portal to the underworld lies just beyond paved asphalt, and once there's a grip difference between the two rear tyres, all hell breaks loose. And, as stupid a notion as it is to powerslide and drift around a 1 in 83 classic supercar, the Diablo GT is... really controllable in a slide. Don't get me wrong: you still have to catch it the nanosecond it goes, but if you're prepared for it and are quick enough, and if the NA V12 is awake and angry enough to give you the torque, the Diablo GT is a shockingly predictable and controllable lunk to slide around. In other words, the Diablo has so much character that it feels like two personalities constantly fighting each other, whereas the Week 52 can't find a shred of emotion in it, even if it were piloted by asylum inmates.

Gran%20Turismo%C2%AE%207_20240422081822.png


After having experienced the Diablo and running its similarly brilliant Murciélago against it, I just can't fathom how anyone could accept the Week 52 wearing a Lamborghini badge, let alone want it. It's a licence to print money for VAG, not a car meant to be driven by drivers. And sadly, it's not a trend that started with the Week 52; rather, the Week 52 seems to be the culmination of a long lasting syndrome.

Gran%20Turismo%C2%AE%207_20240422081829.png
 

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