Get your motor runnin’
Song: Born to be Wild by Steppenwolf, 1968
Head out on the highway
Lookin’ for adventure
And whatever comes our way
Yeah Darlin’ go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space
I like smoke and lightning
Heavy metal thunder
Racin’ with the wind
And the feelin’ that I’m under
Yeah Darlin’ go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space
Like a true nature’s child
We were born, born to be wild
We can climb so high
I never wanna die
Born to be wild
Born to be wild
Get your motor runnin’
Head out on the highway
Lookin’ for adventure
And whatever comes our way
Yeah Darlin’ go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space
Like a true nature’s child
We were born, born to be wild
We can climb so high
I never wanna die
Born to be wild
Born to be wild
Written by Mars Bonfire
At the conclusion of Turn 2 the leaderboard looked like this:
12 = Gelato Division
10 = Baguette Bakers, Ghost Reapers, X-treme Hazard, Scurvy Dogs
9 = The Fist
8 = Big Damn Heroes, Deadbeats
7 = Archmage Engines
4 = Hazleton Mountaineers
Turn three’s racing was every bit as furious as the previous two turns with the added tension that everyone was looking for the opportunity to shut down the Gelato Division’s cars before one could cross the finish line and end the race. The first chance was in the crossover where Andrew “High-Voltage” Current (AWC) was forced into his teammate Cannen Rock (CRS) causing heavy damage to both cars and ending Rock’s day just before he could cross the finish line and secure the victory for st. mo and the Gelato Division.
Three cars dashed desperately across the finish line:
- 67 – The Fist – Francois “Gentil” Petitclerc (3rd)
- MDB – Scurvy Dogs – Mad Dash Cash (3rd)
- 138 – The Fist – “Flawless” (1st)
Running Tally
12 = Gelato Division
11 = Scurvy Dogs, The Fist
10 = Baguette Bakers, Ghost Reapers, X-treme Hazard
8 = Big Damn Heroes, Deadbeats
7 = Archmage Engines
4 = Hazleton Mountaineers
In that brutal 1st turn where cars have been set up and knocked down repeatedly today, Arender (25) of the Deadbeats was lined up and targeted by both Scrappy Kent (808) of the Baguette Bakers and Federico “Vetinari” Galeotti (777) of the Ghost Reapers. Remarkably after the dissipation of the Fireball and flying debris, Arender’s car was still moving and in fact, pulling away from his pursuers. Apparently some of the broken and battered cars that are now littering that section of the track took the brunt of that blow. Galeotti, however, turned out to be the hunted and not the hunter. As he flashed past the flaming debris his missile strike created, Nickie “Irish Lass” Kilpatrick lined him up for a perfect salvo from her auto cannon, ending his day and pushing The Fist up to a tie for the lead at 12 points.
With the crossover becoming congested with rolled and pulverized cars, more and more cars are falling victim to the blind spots that have been created. The Big Damn Heroes Kaylee Washburne (28) plowed into RE-T33KS “Fur Machine” YL-IME (99e) as he was looking for that elusive 13th point and a victory for the Gelato Division. For those of you playing the home game, that’s three cars from the Gelato Division that have ended their day in the crossover in just the last few seconds.
Jonn Rock (JR3) of the Ghost Reapers managed to wind his way through the crossover debris and dart across the finish line all by himself.
That brings the running score to:
12 = Gelato Division, The Fist
11 = Scurvy Dogs, Ghost Reapers
10 = Baguette Bakers, X-treme Hazard
8 = Big Damn Heroes, Deadbeats
7 = Archmage Engines
4 = Hazleton Mountaineers
Every driver is desperate to either make that clinching score or to prevent one of the lead teams from hoisting the cup. Fred “Baba Booey” Mund (143) of the Gelato Division popped out of the chute with his finger on the trigger and proceeded to blast the Scurvy Dog’s Anne Bonny (97) with a direct hit savagely mauling her car but not knocking it out of the race.
At the crossover again, Archmage Engine’s Ole Tubli (OLE) lined up Arender (25) of the Deadbeats with a solid perpendicular engine to engine collision. Both cars were eliminated but Tubli was awarded the point for initiating the contact, giving Archmage Engines their 8th point. Meanwhile, Kaylee Washburne (28) of the big Damn Heroes took a shot of opportunity at a weaving “Lead Jacket” Jeff Pattison (HMX) of X-treme Hazard, causing just enough damage to send him flying over the wall and into the dirt beyond.
Four more cars dodged their way through the crossover and crossed the finish line:
- Q – Big Damn Heroes – Hoban Serra (1st)
- J96 – Hazleton Mountaineers – Soonsin Lee (1st)
- LZ3 – Deadbeats – Laura Zyeraa (2nd)
- 8 – Ghost Reapers – Nick Le’Testu (1st)
Current Scores:
12 = Gelato Division, The Fist, Ghost Reapers
11 = Scurvy Dogs
10 = Baguette Bakers, X-treme Hazard, Big Damn Heroes
9 = Deadbeats
8 = Archmage Engines
5 = Hazleton Mountaineers
Wait a minute, the flagman is reaching down and yes, he’s waving the Jolly Roger. That indicates that the Race Bounty is now in place. The next four cars eliminated will be worth 2 points instead of just 1. This just became anyone’s race. Three teams trying desperately to get a car across the finish line and four teams looking to put any car out of the race.
Here comes the next pack approaching the finish line through the crossover. Cassie “Dirty” Murray (DM) of Archmage Engines is leading the group of four cars. She is followed closely by Gemma “Pinkthunder” Powell of the Big Damn Heroes, Zach “Dash” Dashall (Z88) of the Hazleton Mountaineers and the Ghost Reapers Mangle Williams (7). Knowing the score, “Pinkthunder” fires a wild, desperate missile shot at “Dirty” Murray. Honestly, if Murray hadn’t had so much previous damage, I doubt little would have come of it, but as the DM car was already on its last leg, the glancing missile shot broke a tire away from the car’s axle and ended her day just short of the finish. That scored 2 points for the bounty and with the finish line in sight put the Big Damn Heroes within shouting distance of the title.
Oh, how things can change in an instant. In a split second, Gemma “Pinkthunder” Powell found herself going from hero to goat. She over-revved her engine to line up that wild shot and clouds of black smoke are now pouring from under her hood and she’s bleeding off speed rapidly. Dashall and Williams both slipped up high on her and overtook her at the finish line giving Ghost Reapers the victory at the Essendarium.
Final Scores:
13 = Ghost Reapers
12 = Gelato Division, The Fist, Big Damn Heroes
11 = Scurvy Dogs
10 = Baguette Bakers, X-treme Hazard
9 = Deadbeats
8 = Archmage Engines
6 = Hazleton Mountaineers
That is the race and this series of articles is complete. I hope you enjoyed following the racing at The Essendarium.
Not only do we still have drivers and a few teams remaining to sponsor, but three of the tracks can also be named.
Track Naming Sponsorships are $50 and allow you to:
- Name one track
- Assign that track to a location
If you would like to sponsor the pink, light green or green team for $100 you would receive the following benefits.
- Naming Rights including Team Name, Owner Name, Team Location, Team Color and Logo Input.
- Driver Naming Rights allowing you to Name one driver and assign that driver a 1 to 3 digit ID.
There are many driver spots still available. If you are so inclined, for $20 you receive the following benefit.
- Driver Naming Rights allowing you to name one driver and assign that driver a 1 to 3 digit ID.
In the last week Linn Schifano sponsored the White Team and renamed it from Ghost Reapers to Vilas Rangers with a very cool orange and black logo. In addition Linn sponsored three other drivers. Carla & I thank him very much for his support.
If sponsorship interests you, please contact Jeff Horger at jagrcz68@aol.com and we can get the ball rolling. There are still also drivers available on many teams. Carla & I are happy to help all of you that want to be a part of the Thunderverse to get on to a team.
If you just want to play the game, we need your votes with your wallet on the GMT P500 right now. We’ve made the cut and sit at 524 orders right now, but there is absolutely no reason to not get your game reserved early. If you back it now the discount is pretty substantial ($72 down to $49) so now is the time to get in on the deal. https://www.gmtgames.com/p-623-apocalypse-road.aspx
Previous Article in this Series: Apocalypse Road: The Essendarium — Part 10
Author: Jeff Horger
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.