Chapter 9 - Showdown of the 500hp Monsters!
October 22th, 2005.
-"I don't understand your question."
"What is there to understand?"
-"Nothing, but I just met you today, and you are asking about the color of my car."
"And that sounds strange, right?"
-"Due to the lack of a better word, yes, it is strange."
"You said you just met me today."
-"Well, yeah."
"But what does met mean to you?"
-"What does it mean to me? It's simple, when a person meets another person."
"You are not answering the question. You include the word in the own meaning. You can't explain it to someone else who does not know the mean of the word that way."
-"But you do know it."
"I do. But I want to know what does it mean to you."
-"You are killing my brain! It's when someone talks directly and introduces himself to a person he has never talked to."
"That is where you are wrong."
-"Why don't you tell me what it means to you?"
"When you met someone, it doesn't have to be directly. You don't have to introduce yourself either."
-"And how do you do that?"
"By interacting with the other person."
-"I see, but when have we interacted with ourselves?"
"That is the point of my question, boy. Now, will you tell me what color is your Elise?"
-"Blue, fine?"
"What kind of blue?"
-"A dark blue, or something."
"The rims. Are your rims stock?"
-"No, they are from a Impreza."
"Ha! Which Impreza?"
-"What do you care, man? I have nothing to explain! What are you, a cop?"
"I'm just an old man, who is eager to find the driver which defeated him, in one of the most intense races I have ever seen. Will you deny me my dream?"
-"... they were taken from a Subaru Impreza Sedan WRX Sti Version 00. Is that what you wanted to know? I have never met you."
"... you were right. I'm sorry to have wasted your time with my silly questions."
-"No problem, but don't do it again."
After I told him that, his eyes turned dull, like if the words he hoped I was going to said had just vanished in the air of Deep Forest. I couldn't help but feel sad for him, so I had to do something. I believe it is going to be better for him.
-"Hey, I'm sorry I'm not the guy you were looking for."
"You don't have to apologize for anything. It was my fault. Besides, you said you were from America, and now that I think about it, the boy I raced against lived in Australia. If I had kept that in mind, we would have avoided this conversation."
-"No, please, don't say that."
"But it is true, and... It's me who should apologize."
-"No need to do that. Hey, what about your car?"
"Huh?"
-"Yes, your Cobra. Looks powerful."
"Oh, yes. It has around 480 horsepower."
🤬 me!! I thought it had around 400 horsepower, but 480?? 🤬 🤬 What the hell am I supposed to do against 480 mother:censored: horsepower?
"What's wrong? You look sick."
-"I'm sorry, it's that not everyday I get to race against a monster like your Cobra."
"Haha, but you don't have to act like that! I'll tell you something, kid. This is your lucky day!"
-"What are you saying?"
"Yes! Look at the cars I talked to you about. They may have a powerful engine, turbo or supercharger underneath their bodies. But if you think about it, what's the point of that in a short course like this?"
-"Yeah, you are right. Now that I think about it, I may have a chance."
"Your Elise, at least as you have told me, sounds like a fast machine. But the most important thing is skill. You may think that relying in too much power is a sign of lack of skill."
-"Yes, my father used to told me that. He said that drivers who rely on a better car are worse than the competition."
"But your father seems to be one of them."
-"One of who?"
"American drivers. Those who used to drive muscle cars."
-"My father? None at all. He liked Ferrari's."
"Power is not the only thing in a car. Handling, weight, all of that matters. But the truth is that, to determine a good driver, the only thing to do is a time trial."
-"A time trial... It may seem amazing, but I never did a time trial before. I always went straight to the races."
"Perhaps you should come visit me at my home, at Capri, when we finish this race?"
-"Perhaps. The truth is that me and my brother there, along our friend, are traveling through Europe searching for the best drivers."
"Ah... Well then. If you ever need something, come to my home. I will give you my number."
-"Sure, wait until I find something to write..."
"Alright."
-"Here, tell me."
"Okay. It's ----"
"Charlie! Charlie! The race is about to begin!"
-"Dammit! I completely forgot!"
"How careless of me! I'm sorry."
-"Wait, at least tell me your name!"
"Sure! My name is Conan Patrick Adams! And I'm glad to meet you, Mr. ..."
-"Charles! Charles Richard Williams!"
"Charles... Well, I'd better get going. The Cobra won't drive itself unless I tell him to."
"Who did you say he was?"
-"Conan Adams."
"Where do you know him from?"
-"From nowhere. Just today. I'll give you the details later!"
"Sure. Now worry about winning this race. You will need more than skill."
-"So, I lack of an advice, other than the one Mr. Adams gave me. Could you raise my spirit a bit?"
"I have an advice for you. But it's not a good one."
-"Everything will do it."
"They won't stop, they won't slow down, they won't pit, and they won't overtake, because as soon as this race starts, you will be likely at last place. Your only hope is a miracle to happen. But between you and me, I never believed in miracles, and neither do now. Keep that in mind, and you should be just fine."
-"Thanks for the encouraging words, Eric! I can always count with you! Oh, by the way, Sarcasm Mode Off."
"You wanted an advice, and I gave it to you."
-"About the pit part... Why would they want to? It's a race of only two laps..."
"I was saving this advice since the first day I taught you how to drive. I was hoping to give it to you for an endurance race or so."
-"I will never race an endurance race."
"So it be."
-"I will prove you wrong today about your advice. I will never lose, as long as I have the Elise."
"I can't wait to see you fail."
Two minutes later...
Everyone! Take a look at today's lineup! Have you already seen it?
-"Do not listen to Eric's 🤬 He only wants you to lose, and I will prove him wrong today."
Well, now that you have indeed, let's begin this race!!
"I have started in second place, but you, my friend... You have started in last place. I'm really sorry, and I hope you will believe me when I tell you that if I could have changed our positions, I would have."
-"Damn it, why do I always get last place?"
"What was your name? Conan? At least that is what I've been told."
Alright! As soon as we start, the fastest car ahead, the Viper, inmediately leaves behind the Cobra of Conan. We are getting to the beginning of the first corner, and I will see how much do I know about the course! But something's not right with my tires.
-"Arrrggg, drifting!!"
"Poor Elise. The driver is good, but the car can't really keep up with us. It's an unfair race, but it is not our fault that the races at Deep Forest lack car limitations. As such, you should have brought a faster car."
-"If I drift every single corner of this track, I will lose miserably!"
"There's nothing you can do!"
"Damn you!"
-"The GT is right there! He's slowing down!"
"He knew I should have bought those Brembo's..."
-"This is my chance!"
"He is too close. I have to block him somehow! This is were the GT's huge body comes in play!"
-"This is going to be miracle one, Eric."
"That's it! I'm doing it! Oh, no---!"
"--Understeer... But why?"
-"You are sliding to the outside... That's understeer messing with you."
-"Yup, miracle number one! You know what's that Eric? It's pride 🤬 with you!"
"He passed me!"
"The GT has been overtaken? These americans and their erratic driving! Go back to NASCAR!"
-"You are next... Miracle number two!"
"Driving over the grass. You are one of two things: very smart, or very stupid. If you lose control, you will crash inevitable. But if you get it just right..."
One thing I realized as soon as we entered the corner, were a few marks in the grass. Someone else has already tried this. And the marks strech all the way to the end of the corner. That is why I know I can do it.
"He is understeering! Ha! Lady Luck's not on your side today!"
-"I will pass you..."
"He's all over the place! The Elise has lost control, I knew it!"
-"What did I told you?"
Even though I knew I could do it since the beginning, the end result was far better than I expected. In the end, there's always a chance.
-"The Benz is close to my bumper, will he crash me? He can't be serious! It was just a pass after all!"
"I can pass you now, but I have strict orders to let you go. So you have a clear path now. This is mere child's play."
"So... Go on, catch up the rest."
-"Why didn't he passed me?"
-"No time to think! Conan is just ahead!"
"He is getting closer! I knew it!"
"Dammit! Too fast!"
-"The RUF is ahead, too! I will pass him as soon as I have the chance!"
"The RUF was not careful enough. You must have a lot of luck. You should be called Lucky Charlie! Maybe you were born in Ireland instead of USA."
As I was about to pass the RUF, I came across a nasty surprise.
-"Ohhhhh dammmmmn!! I almost crashed!"
"Beginner!! Learn how to drive first!"
The gap could have been shorter... But if it had been any shorter, panic would have kicked in, and my arms would have steered towards the wall. Or towards the river...
"But you can't be called that much of a beginner! You almost crashed, right, but almost being the key word, you exited the corner with a higher speed than me, thus allowing you to keep up with my Boxer. I can't wait to see what you have in mind for the big finale."
-"I will pass you soon... I bet all the money I have."
"He seems determined to win. I don't care if I lose this race. But to lose against an Elise is something I can't afford to do."
-"I have to do something right now!"
-"Some sideways action is needed!! If I can't outrun him, I can at least make him lose concentration!"
"What the---"
"Awesome! I knew it was him!"
"Hilarious! The kid can drift! But instead of looking at my rear mirror, I should focus on the road ahead."
-"I can't hold it any longer! Too... much... downforce! Where's the grass on the back wheels when you need it?!"
"Nice control! But you should go to Japan instead. I heard they appreciate fancy driving there. Leave the real racing to germans."
-"The last corner of the track! I've got only one lap left!"
"You have become faster than before, Conan. But this Viper I got me is faster than your Cobra. And I can tell you that because I colaborated in the design and tested it!"
"He's fast... No, the car is fast. He is just driving as slow as always!"
"The last corner! Most of the accidents at Deep Forest happen in this corner. Will you be able to clear it?"
-"I will definitely make my move here."
The place is beautiful... I never thought that I would get to see a sky as clear as Germany's. Or is it because this race I've grown up since we came here, and I see things much clearer now? But we haven't been here for too long, so I can't really tell. But one thing is sure: this trip has been worth every second of it. And this is the perfect place to end it!
"Again?! You are going to lose control! Give up while you still have the chance!"
"He's here!"
"Charlie, come on brother! I support you!"
"What?!"
"He's on the curb!"
-"I can beat you, pal."
"Dammit! He's right behind me!"
"Incredible..."
-"Is there a way you can block me?"
"He's getting off!"
"Pass him! Now!"
-"Come on!"
"No way."
-"You can enter a corner, and clear it as fast as you can. But in the end, exit speed is all that matters. Since my vehicle isn't as fast as any of yours, I must rely solely in my ability to maintain speed through and at the end of the corners."
-"Yet there's no way to blame it on you. After all, you solely rely on your power..."
"You won't get away with this for too long, boy. There's one lap left, and I will make you regret this!"
The Elise has passed the RUF!!
"He did it!"
"But how... I can't believe it. I wanted him to lose... That's why I brought him here."
"Impossible!"
-"... that is why it's better to start slow. I wonder if you have ever drove a slow car before."
Incredible! The Elise passed the RUF! The start of the second lap is just ahead, and the Viper has been in the lead since the very beginning! It seems we have a defined winner in here!
"Don't say that. If the race was already defined, I wouldn't have participated."
-"Conan. I understand what you told me before. But I keep thinking... Who's good and who's bad? Am I good and the car is bad? Or am I bad and the car is good?"
"You are keeping up with the Cobra. But you won't last long in third place."
The Elise is changing directions! It seems he is determined to cross the line in second place!
"But I won't allow it. You may have a great exit speed, but you can't go pass that limit now."
-"I will do it."
-"I say,
GO FOR IT!"
"He is getting closer and closer. But at the same time, I'm getting faster and faster."
-"I'm catching you, Conan."
-"Just a few meters!"
"You are slowing down! You can't pass me in a straight, forget about it!"
-"I got him!"
"But me, instead..."
"He's is going for the pass! He will cross the first lap in second place!"
"I wouldn't be so sure about that."
"I can speed up as soon and as long as I want to!"
-"Dammit!"
The Cobra has crossed in second place, followed by the Elise in third, and the RUF in fourth! The GT in fifth is approaching, followed by the SL in last place!
"Don't give up just now. You can do better than that! Show me in this lap!"
-"I can't go faster... But I have other things to worry about."
"Out of my way!"
To be continued...
I'm glad you are enjoying it. You are right Smallhorses, but I must say that your race reports are pretty good 
Why don't you race some 200 points races? This race was worth 200 A-Spec Points, but it was cheated in a way. I entered with the Elise in R5 tires in +10 difficulty, but then I went to settings and changed the tires back to S2. Another way to make the race harder, since if I had entered with S2 tires in +10, the cars would have been much slower 
