We stayed in town for another couple days, seeing Todd and making sure he was going to be ok. Once they removed the breathing tube, he was able to talk, and after playing 20 questions with Nige and me, we had to return home. That was a difficult task, knowing that he will eventually be fine, but leaving him there, in the hospital bed.

After saying our goodbyes to everyone, we took a tame drive home, only hitting 100mph once in a while. Trading off driving chores at every gas stop, we got home sooner than we figured. It was nice to have company on a long drive, makes the time fly faster it seems. Finally getting home in the early evening, we got unpacked, attacked the fridge then settled on the couch, ending a semi-busy day.

******************** 

It's Sunday again. Normally, we wouldn't do much, but I go with Nige to JPT to check over the last few days, and see what is coming in and what still needed to be done. While we were there, it was decided that we could tackle a few of the easier ones today, and parts were on the shelf, if needed. I had to play catch-up from last week. We spent a good share of the day getting things done and prepping for Monday so he wouldn't have a big mess to walk into first thing.

We were whipped by the time we got home, so, it was an easy dinner and quiet time staring at the TV. We ended up watching another one of those 'build a better beater' shows groaning because they cut a very cool car up to end up smashing at the end of the show.

"Nige, when you want to bring the Vette and Bimmer to the track, see who's is faster?"

"Like I said, you ain't got a snowall’s chance in hades in beating me."

I start playing with him now. "What are you scared of? Want me to give ya a head start, make it even?"

"Ok, heads up race, what's the bet?"

Oops, he threw me there, what am I gonna bet, to make it interesting?

"Lets see, if you win, I'll do the dishes for a month."

"Nope, not good enough, if I win, you mow the yard, with the mower my grandfather had."

"Huh? That push, spinning reel one?"

"Yup"

"Fine, what are you putting up?"

He's thinking now.

"How about, if you win, I mow the yard, with the same mower?"

"Are we going best two out of three?"

"Yeah sure, anything to embarrass you."

Getting to work, I got a bunch of last weeks stuff sorted out, then I had a thought 'I'm gonna need an edge against the ‘Vette. So, I start looking at various nitrous oxide kits. The fuel system has already been modified, so this won't tax anything, other than my wallet. After finding the proper system, I get it ordered so I can get it on before the weekend. My plan was, the first pass will be a checkout run, see where I'll be against Nigel. After that, I'll use it as I need it. My only problem is going to be putting the system in without him knowing.

Wednesday rolls around, and I have my kit on my desk. Now, I just have to put it on the car and check if it works right. Once I was home and settled in, I get dinner started when Nige walks in looking like death.

"What happened to you? You look like hell."

"Just the day from hell. There were a couple jobs that had to be done today, and I kept getting the wrong damn parts, it screwed the whole day up. Enough about my day, what did you accomplish?"

"Eh, not a lot, just talking to people and getting stuff." Nigel then went up to clean up and get into something a bit more comfy while I finished dinner up.

Sometime during dinner, Nige says, right out of the blue, "So, did you get the nitrous yet?"

I about gagged on the noodle I was working on. Was he on to me already? "Ummm, what makes you ask that?"

He does a eyeroll and says "You were talking about that a while back, and since we modified the fuel system when we put the engine in, it was only natural"

"Ok, you got me, it's in my office. Is a 500hp fogger system good enough?" Nige almost falls off his chair as I said that.

"Your shitting me, you didn't get THAT system, did you?"

I bat my eyelashes at him and smile, and say, "I wanna see you mow, get all sweaty, all worked up."

"Well, if you’re gonna use all of it, I'll be watching YOU mow, because the car won't tolerate it."

"Ok, I surrender. I only got a small system, just to see what it'll do." "Ok, I can breathe again. When you wanna put in on?"

"How does Friday after work sound? I still want to go to the strip and see what it'll do, with and without the nitrous."

"Sounds good, just remind me on Friday."

 

**********************************

 

Friday rolls in, and everything moves right along. When quitting time comes, I'm in the parking lot and remember the kit is still in my office, so, I trot back in and get that, then I'm back on the road. On the way, I remember to call Nigel and see what is going on there. It's a lot better than Wednesday by a long shot. I finally arrive after I stop for a little take-out and get the car inside so Nige can play mad scientist.

It was easy for the most part, mounting the tank, running lines. Wiring is where I usually draw the line, but that was handled. After everything was done and shop tested, it was time to try it on the street. Let’s see...a pair of 150 foot tracks that use to be on my tires is a good thing. Burnouts just got more fun. I just hope they have a refill station at work for my tank.

We got up early, so we can take the cars to the dragstrip which is about 50 miles away. Get in cheap for the test-and-tune session and hopefully, bragging rights. After paying the gate fee and getting parked in the pits, we roam around until they call the first round of time trials. The staging lanes open, so we get the cars lined up, and let the guy pulling the cars from the lanes that we're racing each other, AKA a grudge run. Finally, it’s our turn to play. We turn onto the track, and put the rear wheels in a trough called the burnbox, it's where you heat the tires up. And heat, we did. Once we got to the starting line and got staged, the yellow lights came down until the green light flashed, and we were gone. Since my car could rev further, I could hold my shifts longer, damn the car feels good. I take a sideways glance, and see the Vette almost even with me, or just a fuzz ahead. Finally, we cross the finish line and back off until we reach the turnoff, then get our time slips. I look at mine on the way to the pits to park and, holy cow, I ran a 12.93 to Nigels 12.81, the bastard beat me. But, we do have two more passes, and I didn't know if he was playing with me, or he was really on it.

After we got parked, we compared notes and to see who was bluffing and who was not.

Nige starts off, "The car felt good, like a drive in the park."

"Yeah, but you don't go though the park at 110mph either."

"True, next pass, I'll let it out a little then, give ya something to chase for your last pass."

"You do that. I'll just turn my little equalizer on then, and maybe, I'll turn it on anyway, just to embarrass you."

The banter went on for a bit longer, and then a trip to the concession stand was in order. I needed a steaming hot dog on a bun.

"To tell the truth, the BMW felt good, I need to get out here more often."

"Cool, it is addicting, isn't it?"

"No kidding, I do want to hit the bottle on the next run though." "I was taking it easy on ya, not by much though."

"Cool, let’s get ready for the next round."

We look the cars over good, and I turn the bottle on while Nige is looking at the Vette. I don't think he'll be surprised though. Making idle chat till we have to go back in the staging lanes, he takes a quick look around, and gives me a peck on the cheek and he says It's for luck. I wanted more and started whining, that just earned me a punch on the shoulder and a big smile.

Finally, our time trial class is called and we get the cars in the lanes, then let the guy pulling the cars know that we're running together. He said it wasn’t a problem. It takes a while, because of the volume of cars there, but we finally make it to the track. After killer burnouts by both of us, we go to stage and wait for the green light. GREEN! And we're off like a shot from a gun. He has me through second gear, but I start stretching my shifts until it's time to hit the magic button for the giggle gas. I glance to my side to see where Nigel is, and damnnit, he’s right on my bumper. Ok, as I shift to forth gear, I hit the button and get a killer surge of power that ultimately gives me the win light.

Picking up our time slips, I see that I ran a 12.02 to Nigel’s 12.80. I guess he wasn't playing, but maybe he wanted me to get a win light so we could run once more. Don't matter to me, we're having fun, and it isn't costing much to do. We find our spots in the pits again and get parked.

As we get out of our cars, I dash to Nigel and give him a huge hug and tell him, "You let me win, but I don't care! I'm having more fun with you here today than I have ever had."

"Oh yeah, this is great! We have to do this more often."

We broke apart and went to the concession stand again. I needed a couple more hotdogs and a coke to wash it all down with. Sitting at one of the picnic tables there, we talked about our last run, what we did, and what we could modify for the last run later. I told him that I only hit the button in fourth gear. He said that he could tell, and it was odd, something pulling away from him that fast.

After chowing down on our tubesteaks, and nursing our Cokes, we go to the grandstand to watch the racing some more. I see a lot of cars out there that I never noticed before. Cars that never really did anything for me were doing something for me then. Who knew that an old Buick Opel could look so bad, and go so fast? There were even imports racing, and doing well. It's got me thinking about tricking Nige's Honda out and seeing what it can do out here, but, no wings or that tacky add-on crap that does nothing for performance.

Looking to our cars down in the pits, we spot some people looking them over, so we decide to go down there and talk with them for a while. One guy is looking at the Vette, asks Nigel if it is a real aluminum headed car. Nige says "Yup" The guy looked offended, and looked at the car, then Nigel.

"Why are you racing it? It should be in a museum."

Nige counters with, "Why a museum? It's my dad’s car, and I'm doing with it what he would have wanted. It's not a showpiece. It was meant to be driven-hard."

The guy knew he couldn't win this one.

"It's cool, it just took my by surprise. It does go like a scalded dog though doesn’t it?"  

"Your damn straight,” Nige said with a wide grin.

I ended up having a younger kid looking at my car, going "You hardly see these cars out anymore, this is nice" I was surprised.

"You get into these things?"

"Oh yeah, this body style is the bomb."

That got a chuckle from me.

"I don't know about the bomb part, but I do have to light the fuse in it once in a while."  

"Cool, good luck on the next run," the kid replied.

"Thanks"

"Well, that was interesting, huh Nige?"

"Oh yeah, some of those purists can be a real pain in the ass."

"Oh yeah, my car is the bomb, according to the kid I was talking too."

"Bomb huh? He obviously has never seen you on the highway. Bomb is an understatement."

I knew it was the truth though. I tend to have a heavy foot in this car.

"Yeah, yeah, just don't spread the word. I have a rep to protect."

"A rep? When did you get one of those? Are they stocking those in the warehouse now?"

"Nah, I had to special order it."

"You know, if we keep this up, we'll miss our last race."

"Oh, tempting, either I hand your ass to you on the track, or we baste each other here, what is a guy to do?"

"Screw it, toss your ass in the car, we will see who hands whose ass to whom."

I couldn't handle it any longer, so I busted a gut right there, laughing my ass off, and Nige just stands there, shaking his head.

Finally, our class is called again, and we roll the cars to the lanes, for the last time tonight. I want to see Nigel mow the yard. As we push the cars through staging, we see the people we were talking to earlier and wave. I take a quick look over the car and check the nitrous pressure to see how much was left, I want to hit it harder this run. I look forward, and see were getting close to running, so we climb in our cars and put our game faces on.

Ok, one bitchin’ burnout-check. The staging sequence initiated-check. Pre-stage, staged, now wait for the green, or actually, the last yellow for the best reaction time. GREEN! Hammer down, shift, more throttle and then the button, winding the shifts again, third gear and the button, I'm going like a bat outta hell. I don't even dare to glance to the side to see where Nige is. Focused on the run, I get tunnel vision, wringing the ever-lovin’ wee out of the car. Fourth gear, and still have the button pushed, the finish line is fast approaching.

That's all I remember...

 

********************************************

 

Nigel’s point of view.

I can't believe how fast my car is going, and then have Darren pass me like I was parked. He was about four car-lengths ahead of me when the finish line was coming up. I seen a puff of smoke, and then his car went sideways, doing about 130mph. My worst fears were realized that day. In his slide, one of the tires caught, and flipped the car over and over. I'm trying my damnedest to control my car and get it stopped as soon as I can so I can be there when Darren’s car stops. His car was barrel rolling, then went over on its end, finally coming to a stop…on its roof.

I got my car stopped, and ran over to his, screaming at the top of my lungs, “Darren!"

 

To Be Continued...

My first cliffhanger, what do you think? Opinions, good, bad or otherwise are welcome.

Lugnutz