Race Line (Part 3 & 4)

A Story by Jared Cage

please read parts 1 & 2 first, you won't understand the story if you don't

Part 3: The Birth of another Ghostly Godlike GTR
        It was running fine, but, it wasn�t going to be good enough to face the DB9. I had made just enough money to tune the E46 M3 GTR, but it wasn�t going to do any good. Two days after Tracie�s challenge, Race Line was back in my shop, with 2 new additions, Brian and Travis. Steve, the scout, Grey, the drafter, Jenna, the blocker and Brian my new speedster, will be helping me to beat the backstabber. Travis became my tracker; he�ll be running ahead of the track to give directions. My E46 M3 GTR won�t do me any good; it was too out modeled to go against a fully customized DB9.
I went to my shop to go check my dough but it just wasn�t enough to buy me a new car that would be good enough. If I ran down the pass of Fortuna, my engine would wear out, my suspension would give in and I swear my tires will blow up.
It could run down Angel Hills with no problem, I practically grew up there. Fortuna is the deciding part of the race. If I couldn�t beat her at Fortuna, though I beat her at Angel Hills, I�d have to race her in Madison, and I know I couldn�t run down that pass one more time. It was too much load for my now 11 year old vehicle. I could run it down one more pass and I chose to run it down my turf, Angel Hills.
After re-perfecting my E46 and testing it I looked for another car to use, Steve�s Viper wasn�t enough, Grey�s GT was too much, Jenna�s Ram wouldn�t turn and Travis would be using his Carrera. I had one option left, and it was another GTR, Brian�s R33. The moment I drove it, it felt insanely familiar, my E46 M3 GTR was almost the same as a Skyline R33, from the handling to the feel of the car itself.
I tuned Brian�s Skyline to make it feel almost exactly my M3. I wasn�t that successful but it was good enough to help me run Fortuna. I would test it night and day at Angel Hills. Racing blood was pumping in my veins all over again, breaking my 4:25:33 record by 6:30 making it 4:19:03. After these trial runs down Angel Hill, I was ready. I wasn�t gonna hold back, I wasn�t gonna let the fact that the first run will be on her turf faze me.
It was just 3 days before the race, my blood was pumping, my crew was just as pumped and my car was ready. The R33 was gonna be used in Fortuna because my M3 just can�t run anywhere else. Crow showed up at the shop to tell us the conditions: Japanese Togue Rules would be followed at Fortuna. We were told that we could set any rules or conditions for the race at Angel Hills, and it just so happened that I had a few in mind.
Part 4: Race Stipulations
4.1: Double Duct-Tape Race
         It�s as simple as this: one hand is taped to the steering wheel and the other taped to the shift stick. It�s really complicated because it�s hard to get the counter steer you need. The complication is just one thing; the danger is the real problem. If you can�t turn, you�ll fall of Angel hills and well, die. I learned to do this after racing when my hand was in cast after an accident. I used my casted right hand to shift. I won that race and I decided to do it more often.
        Racing with one hand taped to the wheel is hard enough, but with the other taped to the stick, its gonna be interesting to find out. I�ve never raced with my hand taped to the shifter but I have raced with my hand taped to the wheel, and it�s not easy. I was told that I could put any stipulation me and my team would agree on, they didn�t agree to this but this is still one of my number one choices.
4.2: Half-Blind, Half Pass
         This one was rather harsh. One eye is blindfolded and the away racer will choose which half they will run. First half is from the top to the end of the 3 consecutive Hairpins; the second half is from the end of the 3 hairpins to the bottom. The second half is harder because it has a bunch of V-turns and hairpins. The first half has more high-speed turns and the only difficult part is the 3 hairpins.
        Because the division of the pass was unfair, this was not the best stipulation because I�m almost sure that Tracie will pick the first half. It was a lot easier and it was the best half to chose. Not really thinking about it, I crossed this out of my options.
4.3: Pass Play
         Racers take turns on running a pass scoring the downhill time. The first to finish faster than their opponent twice, wins. It was easy because Angel Hills was my territory, I could finish faster than anyone.
        I know that Crow said any stipulation will be accepted but this is not fair for Tracie. She�s a big backstabber, but not really an enemy, just the competition. I like to play fair and not give handicaps to other people.

4.4: Double Lace
        Racers will run with their wingman and the wingmen can do anything to prevent the opposing team from winning. It�s a simple process, say Crow was Tracie�s wingman, Crow can run in front of me and slow down so that Tracie can finish first. Or perhaps Travis can run in front of me to lessen wind resistance and Slipstream.
        This is a good option because Travis was an expert in these kinds of races. If the wingman crosses the finish line first, the team mate would win.
4.5: Uphill Death Match
        It�s an uphill run, the first to reach the top wins. It�s more complicated than it seems, there will be more load on the front tires and less grip. Racers will run up the pass and if one can maintain the lead for more than half the pass, they�ll win.
These were five stipulations that I can use to my advantage at Angel Hills against Tracie. I was retired and this is just a grudge run against an old rival. If I could I�d apply these stipulations to certain events at Angel Hills. I�d love to manage the races, the stipulations, the dates and the racers. If I could come out of retirement and race again I would, but I know that my time is done, its some other kid�s turn now, and I think I know who it is.