Racing in the city that never sleeps-part 1

[darshadow]

Ok, this is my first attempt at writing a report . This is part one:
Friday 18- Friday morning’s harsh sun wakes me from my sleep. Driving to New York was a chore and both me and my car needed a break. My aunt’s apartment is stuffed with newspapers, magazines, and transcripts from her entertainment show. After eating breakfast and showering I finish packing my bag for the day. Inside a laptop, work gloves, and driving gloves are met by other pieces of equipment for the coming day. After saying bye I walk down the stair to the lobby and exit out the green doors. At 10 am the city is, as always, teeming with people working through their last day of work for the week. In the parking lot a billboard advertises the race on Saturday. As I approach me car I reach for my keys and turn the alarm off. The white 300zx turbo sits ready for a unique kind of day’s work. Inside the sparse interior a multitude of gauges and controllers take up most of the space in the center. I toss my back into the back beneath the hatch and start the car. The engine starts with a quick growl and then settles into a low grumble as I ease the clutch in and pull out of the parking lot. My driver side takes control and I quickly stab the accelerator making the engine momentarily scream. The traffic heading into downtown is the worst ever. The course takes up many of the main thoroughfares and has been a restricted are for the past week as crews prepared for the race Saturday. I pull up to the gate and hand over my registration papers to the cops sitting outside. ‘Hi, you’re the first hear. Follow the signs to the pits and Ill radio the race coordinator that you’re here.’ He says hading my papers back to me. After passing through another gate I pull into an empty stall and park. As I get out a man waring a Sparco shirt walks up and introduces himself as one of the coordinators. ‘Glad to see you. Today is simple you get a 5 lap time to get a feel for the course and do any modifications to your setup. If you want to you can wait till the others have done their laps then you’ll be granted another 5 laps. For tomorrow a pit crew and tire selection will be available to you all paid for by the sponsors. Feel free to use anything you see here to work on your car and just pull out and talk to the track manager when your ready to start your practice laps. Any questions?’ ‘No I’m good thanks.’ I say. He walks off and I grab my gloves and empty the rest of the stuff from the trip from California.
Donning my helmet and tying up my shoes I climb back into the driver’s seat and lock my self into the seat via the 4point harness. As I pull out I roll down my window and signal the track manager who’s sitting in a booth in front of a bank of monitors and radios. After a quick glance at the monitors and a few words into his radio he turns on the green lights and I’m off.

The engine quickly jumps and I rocket towards the first turn. My heart skips a beat as I jump on the brakes as the wall gets closer and closer. My vision blurs and I feel my body forced forward by the force of the brakes. The rest of the lab is uneventful as I take it easy and get a feel for the course After rounding the carousel at the end of the course stabbing the accelerator forces my vision to blur again as the turbos kick in. Nothing but the course and car can distract me. The second and third laps turn into to as a blur as I test myself and the car to our limits.

As the I round the carosel for the last time I ease off the gas and let the car cruise towards the pits. As I enter I feel the adrenaline quickly start to fizzle out. As I get out of the car my hands are shaking and I’m sweating. I take another couple minuets to tweak a couple pieces around the car and then I hook-up the laptop and download the data from the ECU.

I leave the course knowing that tomorrow is going to be a real challenge no matter who I have to race against.
That night I spend some time relaxing and taking shots of the car. New York ranks high on my list of place to take photos.

I eventually get back to the apartment and collapse into the bed and feel the darkness embrace me as I think about the coming race.
end part 1: all usggestions and comments welcome.

 

[Smallhorses]

First attempt huh? It's a very good start! 👍 Keep it up! +REP

 

[FLK]

Be interested in seeing some details such as lap times and what you've done to your car as well, but a promising start and I'm looking forward to the next part.

 

[AMG.]

Good first report, want to see the rest.

/drums fingers on table top impatiently /

Just viewed your profile, there must be something wrong with the database as it shows 0 posts. You've also been dormant for a year and 2 days.

I'm not sure whether to still welcome you to GTP or not



AMG.

 

[darshadow]

Yeah, broke 3 ps2 this year alone and had to wait a while to save for a fourth. Plus school and other stuff so yeah. I'll post again in a couple days, g2g to work.

 

[AMG.]

Yeah, broke 3 ps2 this year alone and had to wait a while to save for a fourth. Plus school and other stuff so yeah. I'll post again in a couple days, g2g to work.

Eeuh, what exactly did you do to the last picture. It looks like the real deal, not too sure about the wing though ... and you pasted the text in bottom right corner.
Right ??

AMG.

 

[darshadow]

I didnt do anything to any of the pictures besides using the in-game camera functions. The next part will be in soon. And happy new years all.

 

[Smallhorses]

I presume he used a New York City backdrop in photo-travel mode.
I'm speculating of course since I've never used photo-travel myself.

I must admit I was amazed by all the cars on track with him at first glance, but even more so when I noitced they're all NYC cabs!

Good photo, adds to the realism of the story! 👍
The wing looks a little odd, but just because of the way it's located, and the way the targa-top seems to blend into it.

 

[AMG.]

I presume he used a New York City backdrop in photo-travel mode.
I'm speculating of course since I've never used photo-travel myself.

I must admit I was amazed by all the cars on track with him at first glance, but even more so when I noitced they're all NYC cabs!

Good photo, adds to the realism of the story! 👍
The wing looks a little odd, but just because of the way it's located, and the way the targa-top seems to blend into it.

Off course ..... that must be it. Never, well once, used it either.

AMG.

 

[darshadow]

Sorry I havent been able to update had a death in the fam be back soon'ish.

 

[Smallhorses]

That's not good news, sorry to hear that.
Time with family, especially after something like that, is precious, take all the time you need.

 

[darshadow]

Saturday 19- Again I wake up early, but this time it's before dawn. My aunt is also up already. We both get ready quickly and we then get into the 300ZX and drive to the course. Already the police are there in larger numbers and television crews are setting up thier gear. I pull into my pit box and say good bye to my aunt as see sees a couple reporters she's worked with before.
By 10 the grandstands begin to fill and the activity in the pit area almost doubles. The other drivers showup and I can feel the tension in my neck building. I quickly change into the provided race suit and walk down the pits getting a look at my competition. Right next to me sits a yellow, late 80's Corvette. Next to that sat a brand new red Viper SRT-10 and right next to that another Viper, a silver Hennesy edition. At the end of the pits sat two TVR a 305 and a Speed 6. After saying hello to the other drivers I return to my pit and speak to my pit crew chief. "Hi. I'm just going to be running Sport Hards on the rear and Sports Mediums on the fronts.' I tell him as he takes out a small note pad. "Ok here's the deal, they companies sponsoring this race say that they'll give which ever crew a bonus for the fastest pit times, so we are also gunning to win.' he says shaking my hand. I like him, he wants to win as much as I do.
its 1:30 Pm and time to start the race. I fall into the back of the TVR 305 and wait for my chance as the lead TVR takes the geen flag and blast down the track with a wicked growl. I have to keep at 50 mph until I pass the flag. Wait and then, its time, I drop into 2nd gear and floor it.

Diving into the first courner I miss judge the turn and endup braking deep into the entrance. I can already see the back of the 305 turn the courner just as I begin to turn the wheel. I shake my head and try to remember the practice llaps the day before. The 305 breezes past the SRT-10 on the following straight and takes 5th place. Down the straight I make a massive gain on the Viper using my large twin turbos to full advantage. I make a split second decision and make a move on the Viper in the corner entrance. WIth both of our brakes glowing, we dive in. I quickly drop into 3rd then 2nd then push the nose into the inside line. I turn for the apex and see the Viper pulling wide and almost hitting the barricades.

As he slows even more I let off the brakes and roll onto the throttle beign carefull not to smoke the tires. The overhead address system tells me that the Corevette has been passed by the 305 giving me my next target. I am firmly locked onto the rear of the Vette as we enter the quick s turns leading to the back straight. I follow his line exactly throught the turn and as soon As I can drop the hammer and start to pull him in. At the last moment I pull out from behind him and rocket next to then infront of him. Entering the carosel I glimpse the 305 and lock on agian. On the long front strait I real him in the left right at the start/finish line.

Using my extra momentum I sneak in behind the black viper and evnetually charge past him on the next straight.

Only one car left and 2 laps in and Im riding high and can see the green blur of the TVR Speed Six as it takes the corners perfectly and rcokets downt he straights.

by the 5th lap I finally pass him and take the lead. For the next 4 lasp I create a small lead, but feel my enthusiasim drain as the car begins to understeer more adn more. I've cooked the tires, 10 laps in. The TVR sees my problems and jumps forward. I try to keep him behind me but twitch to much as we exit onto the back strech and begin to spin. As I correct I see him fly by and away. My hopes crushed I bring the car into the pit and sit tight as the crew does their thing, setting a blistering time.

The rest fo teh day I can do nothing but chase the Speed six. Everytime I feel like im cathcing him I have to pit. On the final lap I am withing 10 seconds, but cant catch him. I settle for 2nd this time but begin to plan for next year.
Friday 25- She's gone. Right off the exit only minuets from home I get hit by a drunk driver adn she's gone, the entire front end ripped to peices. I only suffer whiplash adn some cuts from the glass, but my dreams of a rematch seem bleak.

 

[AMG.]

Friday 25- She's gone. Right off the exit only minuets from home I get hit by a drunk driver adn she's gone, the entire front end ripped to peices. I only suffer whiplash adn some cuts from the glass, but my dreams of a rematch seem bleak.

Good report Darshadow. Quite entertaining. Too bad you came in second. Must admit I had to read the above paragraph 3 times as it seems to be thrown in at the last moment. The flow of your story was interrupted by it. + rep 👍

AMG.

 

[darshadow]

Thanks all, sorry for the lack of detail my memory card was 'accidentally' destroy by certain peoples. I'm going to start another story soon.