Here it comes…
So I was a bit nervous yesterday because it rained all day long and when I looked the weather channel, things didn’t look all that optimistic. I woke up this morning and thankfully, it wasn’t raining anymore yet it was very cloudy still.
Thankfully, after calling the drag strip owner, he confirmed me it would be open since the weather appeared to be clear past 11am (they open at noon). All good so far. The car is close to be empty fuel wise. I have just enough to get there. Before I leave, I make sure to unplug the battery for a good 10-12 minutes, just to be sure the ECU starts from fresh.
Eventually I arrived there. It’s 11h45am. The weather isn’t all that great. There are droplets in my windshield. They start prepping the track, removing as much debris and water as they can. I take the time to pour in 5 gallons of 96. First set of passes for literally everyone are insane. As an example, during my first pass I simply wasn’t able to grip whatsoever for the first 2 gears. Felt like ice. I had to reduced pressure on the pedal just to stay straight. It was awful. Still, I managed a 12.7x. After maybe 15 minutes, the organizers deided to stop and try to further dry the track. They drive on the strip with a truck using some sort of device that generate a bunch of friction. Eventually we have the green light to keep going. This time it’s actually much better. I beat my times over and over. Getting accustomed to the brake snip mod little by little.
At this point I’m just having such a good time. I go on for hours. The track is closing at 5pm. We’re close to 4pm. I’m in the chilling zone, with the hood wide open, cooling the engine. Suddenly, I hear a familiar sound over the little cab where you stop and pay your entry. I look at it and I see a grey car. Sure looks like a G20 BMW. Sure looks like his god damn car. I’m borderline praying its him. Problem is, the car doesn’t move from the little cabin. I keep looking and wait. Finally, after 5 minutes or so, the car finally starts moving. It approaches and as it comes closer to my position, I keep hoping it’s him.
Nick: “Sup dude!“
Me: “Hey Nick! I’m gla—“
Him: “Listen I’m just here to come kick your ass so that you understand what that 10% means”
I’m like thinking “why is he such a douche”. I also notice his colleague buddy, Colleague B is there along with him.
Me: “Whatever. Let’s just do it so we’re done.”
Him: “Oh I’ll be done alright”
me: “….Yes you will”
Him: *looks at me dead in the eyes, engine roaring, brake torquing* “Yes. I. Will”
Colleague B: “can’t wait to see the race”
Him: “lol a race ok listen buddy I’m just going to do a pass alone here to warm my tires. Let’s do it right after aight?”
Me: “By all means“
So he‘s doing the line-up while I’m watching along with his colleague. We chat a bit about the job, etc then I ask him a question.
Me: “Hey what’s up with Nick? He told me he wouldn’t be here today but suddenly you guys are there an hour before the track closes.”
Colleague B: “He thought he couldn’t have his racechip installed in time”
Me: “Wait what?!? He has a racechip? He told me all he has in an exhaust and a pedal tuner.”
Colleague B: “Yeah well he’s planned to install it for a long time”.
Me: “He never told me that…”
Colleague B: “Not surprising he wants to win badly”.
Me: “Can I assume he didn’t show up last week because he didn’t have his racechip?”
Colleague B: “Don’t assume. It’s a straight fact he choked specifically for this reason”.
Me: “Ok……And why are you saying all of this me? Don’t he want all of this to be a s——“
Colleague B: “I f*cking hate him. Beat him.”
*moment of silence*
Me: “Is that why you said you were eager to see the race last week when I joined you guys during the break?”
Colleague B: “Yep”
We both start laughing out loud and then Nick arrives at the starting line. We both notice something unfortunate though. It started raining a bit earlier, momentarily, but due to the state of the track and the time it need to prep it, only one side with stay open until the end. That means no more head 2 head races….
No matter, off he goes. Bad reaction time, but a good launch still. 60ft below 2 seconds, 1/8 below 8 seconds, bam finish line. 12.26s
Colleague B: “Was that better than your previous best from when we talked?”
Me: “Yes I did 12.29s”
Colleague B: “Do you think you can do better?”
Me; “Yes I think I can”
Eventually Nick arrives near us.
Him: ”Looks like I beat your PB on my first pass heh?”
Me: “….Yes….”
Him: “I told you you stan—-“
Me: “from last week anyway….’
Him: “Huh, you mean, wait, what did you do this week?”
Me: “Please do another run at the very least, your tire will probably stick better this time”
*Nick looks at Colleague B with a surprised face while Colleague B replies to him with a shrug”
He returns to the line. As the track closes soon, the line-up is borderline nonexistent. Off he goes. Still shit reaction time, but this time this is about as good of a run as it can be. Great 60ft, great 1/8. Paff, crosses the line. 12.05s
Colleague B: “Shit that’s much better”.
Me: “Yup. About what I expected.“
Colleague B: “Aren’t you a bit frightened? If you lose he’ll come at you for months”
Me: “Oh that won’t happen. I already beat him. I did 11.91s on my second pass”
Coleague B: “LOL are you kidding? OMG yessssss”
Nick arrives near us, huge smile on his face.
Him: “Sup dude! How about that, huh?”
Me: “Yeah dude, how about that indeed. Is that the best you can do?”
Him: “What do you mean, it’s like much better than what you did last week”
Me: “Have a look at my slip from my second pass”
I show him the slip he takes a good look at it.
Him: “Bull f*cking shit. That’s not your slip”.
Me: “Look at the f*cking number on the slip and the number on my car. They’re the same aren’t they?”
Him: “f*ck that, you obviously faked it. I bet you retagged your car to have the same number as someone else”.
Me: “Wow do you seriously want to take that road?”
Colleague B: “Nick come on”
Him: “What, “come on”? He’s clearly faking this. I have a racechip for god’s sake.”
Me: “Ok fine. You know what? Stay there and let me show you something“.
I get in my car, go to the starting line, and launch. Bam. 11.83s. I’m yelling in my car “f*ck you Niiiiiiiiiiiii” as I decelerate. He has no choice but to see it live on the huge board. I come close to him and yell “Do you want moooooooore?” I do a second pass. Bam. Another run in 11.8X seconds. I arrive near them once more: “How about one more for the road huh?”
I do one last pass. Another one in the 11.8X seconds. At this point I just come close, wave at them then go home.
Nothing like comments from the late comers crowd.
