Starting day one, William and Robert looked towards the competition. Both were eager to get going, although;
“Are they removing their radio?!”
“Yes”
“They’re mad.”
“Also yes”
At the start line, the two formed a plan for victory – go slow and avoid making any costly mistakes. This lasted all of three minutes, with the inaugral ‘who-can-make-the-biggest-noise-as-they-leave’ contest getting on the nerves of the two Yorkshiremen. “Alright Will, 5, 4, 3, 2, wait, 1, FLOOR IT!”
“That showed them!”
“Pardon?”
“What?”
“No hearing!” Gestured Robert to his ears, the Flint’s V12 giving the 47-year old’s hearing a serious hammering.
“WHAT?” Clearly, the V12 had also done a number on William, although it didn’t slow him down. They shot through the city and out into the desert, both internally preying that the Flint didn’t just beak apart. Luckily it held, and the two ran up and round the caldera like a mountain goat. On the way down though, the goat seemed to become lame. There was no shade on this side of the volcano, and with very few modifications to the cooling system, the inevitable happened.
“Soooooo, been here often?” The 22-year old driver of the Flint asked the Italians of the Ponni ‘next door’. Stopping next to the punctured Weekend proved a blessing in disguise – the Flint was low on fuel, and with a few trades, the tank was refilled again. While Will tried to further Anglo-Italian relations, Robert was fiddling with the Flint’s radiator, making sure no leaks had appeared. After the engine had cooled down, the two set off again, a bit more cautious until the shade returned. Another overheating problem, caused by the thermostat wire breaking, was fixed easily enough, and soon the finish line was in sight.
“No fuel” commented Robert, a fact made painfully obvious by the sudden cut out of the Watchmaker. Despite Will’s best efforts, the two stopped just a few metres before the line, and with the two finishing on their feet (well, Will did, Robert collapsed after pushing it through the gate), the Bramble had made it.
That night the two celebrated as the 11th placed car - although it was really for just arriving in one piece. Barring a few mishaps, they believed that, come tomorrow, a higher place was on the cards. The car hadn’t suffered too badly throughout the day, even if Robert’s experience in the Royal Engineers proved invaluable, although they did remind themselves to thank the Ponni team for their generosity at an appropriate time.
On a completly different note, this is the third (of four) events I've taken part in where I'm right behind a Bogliq. I'm starting to feel a bit.....blue.....
I’m not sorry
