1960
“So, Luke, what’s this “savage project” you’ve been keeping under wraps?” Mark Jasper asked during a design meeting.
“Something the world isn’t quite ready for, and we aren’t ready to build, either. I’m thinking, '65, we build and show the concept to the world, release the car in '66. It’ll fit better then, I’m sure of it.” Luke replied.
“So, what’s the plan for '61?”
“The Senator. We’ll need the 5.2 liter V8 for other things eventually, and the 3.9 liter V6, well, we can derive that from the V8. There’s a dirty trick to doing that, makes for a rough-running V6, but… We’ll need the parts in the 80’s at some point.”
“Wait, you’re talking about cutting V8’s in half, lopping two cylinders off one side, and welding the whole mess back together, aren’t you?” Mark asked, with more than a hint of skepticism.
“Precisely. Believe me, it’ll work. Yes, we could derive the V6 from that V12 you made, but it’d require a crankshaft we’re not quite ready to design. This buys us time.” Luke said.
“So, what’s the plan for the warehouse full of ‘spare’ cylinders?”
“Focus on building the engines for now. Leave my plans for the future to be learned later, when they’re more appropriate. If word got out about my plan for those cut cylinders, believe me, it’d cause all sorts of mayhem. People like to think in twos, threes, and fours. A motorcycle might have two cylinders, and no one minds that. Complete shitbox cars might have a three-cylinder engine. Four cylinder cars are becoming somewhat popular, and everyone knows the inline 6 is just three twos, or two threes. V6, well, it’s two threes. V8 is two fours. V12 is four threes or two sixes. So, believe me when I say the world isn’t ready yet for an engine made of two fives.”
Andrea Wright looked at the ad she’d made for the new car. She’d been with the company for a month now, and had found she could hold her own against the Engine Team’s pranks. However, she felt the new ad was… Maybe it was too angular, or too bold. Maybe there was too much information, or was there just not enough? She stood outside Luke Sinistra’s office, trying to get up the nerve to push the door open, to walk in and set the ad on Luke’s desk and ask for his approval.
She didn’t get the chance. Luke opened the door and nearly walked into Andrea. “My apologies… Andrea, is it? Those damned assholes in the Engine Design team stole my coffee beans again.” Andrea looked to the coffee mug in Luke’s right hand, and the cane in his left, then smiled.
“Was about to ask your approval for this ad.” Andrea said, offering Luke the thin page. She watched as Luke tucked the cane under his right arm, holding her ad in his left hand.
“I think it looks good. Gives enough information about the other engine option, without mentioning the dreadful ‘Low Cost’ versions. Keeps the image up. Consider it approved.”
“Thank you!” Andrea said, smiling.
“Out of curiosity, Andrea, what do you currently drive?”
“A 10-year old Bogliq Mutineer. Why?”
Luke tossed Andrea a set of keys. “Parking lot three, fifth space from the building, third row. Midnight Moonlight, Senator, LX 5200 with all the paperwork filled out. Welcome to the company, Andrea. Consider it a bonus for the quick turn-around on the advertisement. And for putting Mark Jasper’s hat inside the oil pan of his Raider. Yeah, I heard about that. Said he didn’t think you’d actually do it.”
“I got tired of him thinking I couldn’t work on engines. My father ran a farm, I was more interested in the tractors than my brothers. They went off to study law, I stuck around until the harvest was done. Could fix that stupid tractor with my eyes closed, cars ain’t that different.” Andrea said.
Luke smiled. “That’s why you’re part of the team. We do some races now and then, could use a good mechanic, a crew chief, if you will. Might drop some jaws on the other teams to find out a lady can change tires faster than they can.”
“What’s the catch?”
“No catch. Participation in the Sinistra Performance Division is completely voluntary. Just, you get to see new technology being applied and tested at the track. That, and you’ve got to be willing to get your hands dirty, but you’ve had no problems with that so far. But, I’ll let you think on that on your own time. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got an Engine Team meeting to crash, and coffee to make.”
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