The 2018 Meatball run - Day 2 4PM-7PM

[Obfuscious]

Team Off Constantly

Danielle: “Moose ahead on the road shoulder.”

Melissa: “I see it.” She gave the horn two quick taps, hoping to alert the moose to their presence. The moose lifted its head and gazed in their direction, ears perked. “It sees us. We’re good.” She gave the horn a long blast, intending to let the beast know she meant business. With a gleam in its eye, the moose trotted out into the road, headed straight for the Tazio. “Holy Wah!!” She hammered the brakes hard, but as the moose advanced, it was clear they wouldn’t stop in time. “Shit shit shit!!!” She sawed the wheel right, then left in a “flick” type maneuver, spinning the car and coming to rest facing backwards in the oncoming lane. The back of the car settled, then began to bounce.

D: “What the…” Danielle turned around and saw moose drool dripping down the rear window, and the largest package she’d ever seen thumping against the rear of the car. She screamed. Melissa gunned the engine and dumped the clutch. Tires screeching, she swung it back into the correct lane and rocketed away. The moose bellowed as the car went out from under it, sprawling in the road. Both women spent the next several minutes in silent shock.

D: “Were we just…?”
M: “Not a word. Not. A. Word.”

[Watermelon3878]

I officially hate you and everything you will ever write

[Knugcab]

What have I done now???

[Watermelon3878]

Meant to be a reply to… ehem, @Obfuscious

[strop]

That was ballsy.

I’ll see myself out now.

[HighOctaneLove]

Team Mountain Pass

Previous Post

Day One: Noon - 3PM
I bet when you turned to this article you were expecting adventure, excitement and disaster, right? Well my friend, you are wrong! Nothing happened at all. Nil. Nada. Nothing to see here, move along…

I saw trees, listened to scratchy Country music thanks to the shit Bogliq beancounters and reflected on just how little of long distance driving is actually all that exciting… I was also annoyed at Pierre a little bit because his strategy was working; the commuter spec Bogliq was running like a remarkably well fitted together knock-off of a Swiss watch!

Well… I suggest tuning in tomorrow to see whether we’re still going strong or if I’m writing this via the bus home to the Australian Consulate!

Stats:
Distance travelled - 796Km
Fuel used - 54 litres
Money remaining - $6,999.36
Fatigue level - 68%

[Elizipeazie]

12:47; early afternoon

State of team:
Redwood: Excited; currently driving; Focused on road
Tonsom: Bored of long-distance driving; passenger seat
Connor: “passive mode/ hibernation” -> staring at Tonsom’s headrest; Rear right seat

Tonsom: “Well… anyone got some interesting stories?”
[Connor exits hibernation; then pulls out a coin and does some fancy ass tricks with it on the rear seat]
Redwood: [having noticed about one third of these coin tricks] “Whoah… Can you teach me some of them later?”
Tonsom: “What was that even for?”
[Connor looks at Redwood in the interior mirror reflection]
Connor: “If we have time, maybe.”
[Connor turns to Tonsom]
Connor: “What else should i do when we are not working on our mission? You are the head of team.”
Tonsom: “Fuck… THAT mission we had… well… if someone is in range, call them.”
[Tonsom hands the CB handle to Connor]

[Connor starts transmitting]

“This is Charlie from Operation BIRD to any Team Vehicle within range. Please report if anyone can hear us. We would like having a little chat.”

[Connor stops transmitting, waiting for an answer]

Tonsom: “We´ll se if there is anyone there…”

---

OOC:
@Mikonp7 you are the only player within range
somehow we missed each other at the pizza place lol

[Mythrin]

Team Bakewell Tart

---

Mandy accelerates out of the corner and in the distance is the unmistakably pink Caliban SC, Mandy pins the throttle to the floor and gases it to the Shitbox Brothers.

Connor turns on the CB radio and sends a quick “Look behind you” over the channel as the Ditane gains distance on the other team, closing the gap until the windows were side by side.

Through the window Ana of the Shitbox Brothers was fully accelerating but Mandy pressed her foot fully down yet again and the Ditane roared past the infuriated Ana and Alejandro.

“Back in first yet again” said Connor to a grinning Mandy with an equally wide smile across his face then looking back at the slowly dropping back SC.

Mandy then grabbed the mic and gives the other team a taunting “See ya” as they disappear around the next bend. This was followed by a rather fustrated reply from the Caliban.

---

@Mr.Computah you’re up

[Radster]

Team Shitbox Brothers

---

The Brothers had relaxed their pace, knowing they were in the lead, not wanting to put too much stress on the engine. This would change, however, when their radio beeped, receiving a brief yet concise message from Bakewell Tart: “Look behind you”. Ana looked at her rear view mirror, seeing the dreaded sports car quickly approach them. Ana floored it after dropping a gear, trying to get these sweet ratios for maximum acceleration; Bakewell Tart had way too much momentum, however, making it impossible for the SC to recover.

Mandy: “See ya!”

Ana grabbed the microphone, her voice tone slightly frustrated.

Ana: “See ya? More like we’ll see about that.”

A laugh came from the other side of the radio, seconds before Mandy replied again.

Mandy: “Alright, bring it.”

Alejandro: “We sure will. Get ready, boys.”

Increasing their pace, the Shitbox Brothers dissappeared in the horizon once again, now in second place. Will they recover their first place? Will Bakewell Tart manage to keep the Brothers at bay? Only time will tell…and as they did so, the next song in Alejandro’s playlist popped up.

CJ Burnett - Joy Ride

---

@Mythrin and back to you

[Mythrin]

Team Bakewell Tart

---

After recieving Alejandros reply over the CB the race, at the front atleast, was really starting to heat up and become a proper competition.

“Let’s fucking go” said Mandy not taking her eyes off the road “Connor turn on my playlist will ya” she said turning briefly to her passenger and gave a nod to the stereo.

As the music fired up the two teams started to battle it out for kilometre after kilometre with the Ditane quicker on the straight bits but with it’s front end lift Mandy had to let of the gas on higher speed corners allowing the mid-engined Caliban to overtake and pull out a lead.

As the Shitbox Brothers overtook around a high speed corner once more a message came through on the CB, “Like the look of our tailights do you?” said Alejandro provokingly.

“Just you wait, the road opens up in a minute we’ll get past you don’t worry” replied Connor.

“You wish” fired back Alejandro.

“Whatever you say” said Connor back through the mic.

And with that the back and forth position changing ensued until the straight bits of road became longer and the rest less twisty and with that team Bakewell Tart got passed the pink SC for the last time in this leg and with a quick flash of the hazard lights were on their way, passing the 2nd checkpoint at Dorotea just ahead of the other team with just enough space to finally let off a little but will it all have been for nothing…

[abg7]

Team Green Gunners, Part 3

The Green Gunners were covering a lot of ground thanks to the GST-30’s turbocharged thrust. Tom and Bob were contented as usual, and soon made plans to have lunch and refuel at the exact same place and time - specifically, at OKQ8 Vilhelmina. “That should give us some time to clear our heads”, Bob remarked as the car pulled into the petrol station forecourt.

As Bob returned to his car after refueling, he discovered that the rear bumper had somehow come loose. Fortunately he had some duct tape handy and reattached it in a matter of seconds. “There, that should keep it secure for the time being at least”, he muttered to himself. Soon the Green Gunners were back on the road and bound for the next checkpoint - which they crossed without incident.

“Hmm, I wonder what happened to Supreme Cream?” he asked Tom.

His reply was short and to the point. “They’ve already dropped out of the race. Rumors are rife that it was caused by a mechanical failure, and they couldn’t find a replacement part in time.”

“That leaves us with one fewer opponent to deal with, then…”

With that, the Green Gunners continued to motor on towards the horizon, as confident as ever of a decent result.

[Awildgermanappears]

Minding their business…

K: Observation: Car appears to start struggling on uphill sections. Clogged Air filter perhaps? Throttle body misfunction?

U: Just keep going for now, given the price we paid it should be fine for now.

11 minutes later…

U: Why are you slowing down? There is nothing around. Number two?

K: I am not slowing down, in fact I am increasing throttle input to stay moving. There is something wrong with the car. Also the check engine light has turned on

U: Scheise.

K: Lets pull over and try to find the issue, maybe its only a minor thing.

Car comes to a stop, K turns off the engine. U opens the bonnet, and both commence to check for possible faults. Half an hour passes.

K: Ok we’ve checked and tinkered with just about any part that could cause the issue, I’ll try to start it.

K proceeds to turn the starter key, the engine turns but it doesn’t fire up.

K: Does it have spark?

U: No.

K: How about fuel?

U: No.

K: Dreck. Spaghettimülleimer.

Yet more time inspecting relays and control modules passes, when finally…

K: Kommalher, ich glaub ich habs.

U: What is this?

K: It’s the Engine Management Module. I took it apart, and behold somehow it managed to short itself and destroyed several circuits. Even if we were able to find an overnight replacement, the price will put us well over budget.

U: Damnit. Of course the italian car dies first. It’s like this rallye was run by a round master with absolutely no creativity, who chose the biggest cliché as his first victim.

K: You might just be correct, considering that Galmarini has a fairly solid DAAC (Deutscher Automation Automobil Club) breakdown record, we have probably been ripped off. Well at least we can sell it in bits as spares and perhaps even get our money back.

Several weeks and many long nights working in U’s garage later…

Post-Race Balance:
Trans-Europe transport back to germany: -$1,504,56
3.0L Twin Turbo Flat 6, engine good, no ECU: sold for $3,400
6-speed manual AWD Transmission, including clutch: sold for $2,600
20" Alloy Wheels on Tyrelli PM0058A Tyres (60% thread left): sold for $650 the set
Multiple interior parts, overall condition good: sold for $4,900 the lot
Multiple painted body parts, detailed for $50: sold for $1,200

Account balance: $13,324,30

Epilogue:

K: So, what car do we chose for the next event?

U: Something that isn’t bound by cliché to break down immediately.

K: Gotta be interesting though

U: Old IMP Diesel?

K: Fully mechanical Diesel engine, possibly naturally aspirated? Pre-chamber injection with inline pump? Straight six probably? We’ll definetely come last on speed alone but at least we’ll be driving a near unstoppable tank.

U: Exactly. Should WW3 break out on the way our car will at least survive a few nuclear strikes.

[Knugcab]

You were just unlucky. Even after the randomized modifiers, your car had far from the worst reliability. The one that wins the lemon prize is still on the road…but I’m just waiting for it to break down.

[Elizipeazie]

is it okay for other teams to pick up broken down participants?

[Knugcab]

If you want to do it for the sake of RPing, then fine, but they will not be put into the calculations.

[Elizipeazie]

it´s okay
just wanna ship them to the next major town

[Elizipeazie]

Operation BIRD

1:53 pm; early afternoon

state of team:
Redwood: lost his driving excitement, now neutral; focused on road; Driver seat
Tonsom: bored of long-distance driving; Co-Driver seat
Connor: in hibernation; somewhere between rear right and rear center.

[They are listening to the radio, as Tonsom notices a broken SUV by the side of the road?]

Tonsom: “Wait! Are those Meatballers?”
Connor: “It is possible, but not certain.”
Redwood: “Erm… shall i stop for them?”
Connor: "Stopping for two participants would not be helpf…
Tonsom: [shouting to the rear bench] “YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP! They have information.” [turns over to Redwood] “We gonna stop!”

[the team pulls up behind the SUV; Tonsom rolls down the window; he has to shout because Redwood stopped like 25 metres short of the SUV]

Tonsom: “HEY! BROKEN DOWN OR WHAT? YOU NEED A LIFT? STILL HAVE SPACE FOR TWO, IF YOU WANT! BUT EITHER NOW OR NEVER, WE DO NOT HAVE TIME FOREVER!”

[Tonsom turns over to Connor]

Tonsom: “That is how sportsmanship works, you piece of crap…”
Redwood: [in slight confusion] “Why are you always mad at Connor? He has done nothing wrong?”
Tonsom: [slightly aggressive] “I have my reasons, okay?”
Redwood: [quietly] “Don´t need to be mad at me either…”

---

@Awildgermanappears

If you want a lift

A red Commuter Sedan is sitting behind you

[Knugcab]

3PM-6PM
Some vehicles have passed the checkpoint in Härjedalen. That means that they are on the fourth leg of the course, Härjedalen-Ludvika

385 km of quite small country roads, traffic intensifies in some parts, it will go through both some smaller and larger municipalities as well as through no mans land at some parts. Weather is still cloudy and it’s getting hot, feels like there is thunder and rain in the air but it never seems to come.

CB range is about 10 km if you want to contact other teams. Teams are now placed in order by their covered distance, the longer the distance the further down in the list.

All results are written as integers to make it easier to read. Though I am of course using decimals when calculating the results.

---

Team Thunderstruck / @Fayeding_Spray
3PM-4PM
Notes: Refuelling at the Qstar station in Kattisavan
Distance: 751 km
4PM-5PM
Notes: Team is stopping for dinner at Daikun Thai food, Vilhelmina
Distance: 812 km
2PM - 3PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED:Dorotea
Distance: 942 km

Fuel: 24 litres
Money: $4723.16
Fatigue: 87.5%

Team Off Constantly / @Obfuscious
3PM-4PM
Notes: Team is pulled over by the cops. Speeding ticket of $300.
Distance: 827 km
4PM-5PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED: Dorotea
Team is having pizza at Ankis Bar, Dorotea.
Distance: 862 km
5PM-6PM
Notes: None
Distance: 959 km

Fuel: 14 litres
Money: $5652.17
Fatigue: 90%

Team New Life / @VicVictory
3PM-4PM
Notes: None
Distance: 856 km
4PM-5PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED: Dorotea
Team is having pizza at Ankis Bar, Dorotea
Distance: 916 km
5PM-6PM
Notes: None
Distance: 1037 km

Fuel: 3 litres
Money: $4124.95
Fatigue: 60%

Team Mountain pass / @HighOctaneLove
3PM-4PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED:Dorotea
Distance: 898 km
4PM-5PM
Notes: Refuelling at Shell, Strömsund. Dinner at Pizza Annexet, Strömsund
Distance: 933 km
5PM-6PM
Notes: None
Distance: 1044 km

Fuel: 15 litres
Money: $6895.20
Fatigue: 90%

Team Kansei Dorifto / @Watermelon3878

3PM-4PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED: Dorotea
Distance: 968 km
4PM-5PM
Notes: Team stopped for refuelling at the Preem station in Häggenås
Distance: 1076 km
5PM-6PM
Notes: Team took corner with too high speed. Car went off the road and crashed into a big old spruce at the side of the road. Nobody injured, car is a total writeoff.
Final distance: 1094 km
RACE OVER!

Team Letto / @LordLetto
3PM-4PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED: Dorotea
Distance: 929 km
4PM-5PM
Notes: Team is having pizza at Blå huset, Hammerdal
Distance: 985 km
5PM-6PM
Notes: None
Distance: 1097 km

Fuel: 7 litres
Money: $8214.40
Fatigue: 60%

Team MV Design / @Marcus_gt500
3PM-4PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED: Dorotea
Team is having pizza at Ankis bar, Dorotea
Distance: 911 km
4PM-5PM
Notes: None
Distance: 1028 km
5PM-6PM
Notes: Team is refuelling at OKQ8 Östersund
Distance: 1116 km

Fuel: 43 litres
Money: $9559.52
Fatigue: 90%

Team Hillbilly rollers / Knugcab
3PM-4PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED:Dorotea
Team is stopping at OKQ8 Dorotea for refuelling and some hot dogs
Distance: 878 km
4PM-5PM
Notes: None
Distance: 1000 km
5PM-6PM
Notes: None
Distance: 1122 km

Fuel: 20 litres
Money: $1891.49
Fatigue: 60%

Team Operation BIRD / @Elizipeazie
3PM-4PM
Notes: Team has stopped for refuelling at the Preem station in Hoting.
Distance: 958 km
4PM-5PM
Notes: Team has stopped for food at McDonalds in Östersund
Distance: 1034
5PM-6PM
Notes: None
Distance: 1136 km

Fuel: 39 litres
Money: $5436.28
Fatigue: 60%

Team Stm316 / @stm316
3PM-4PM
Notes: None
Distance: 1010 km
4PM-5PM
Notes: Bonnet unlatched and flew open while driving fast. Crooked hinges and wrinkled bonnet afterwards. Had to be straightened out with some strategic punches and kicks to be able to close like it should again.
Distance: 1105 km
5PM-6PM
Notes: Team is refuelling at Macken, Åsarna, and then having some pizza at Mama Rosa, Åsarna.
Distance: 1137 km

Fuel: 65 litres
Money: $3257.77
Fatigue: 60%

Team Dust Devils / @DukeOFhazards
3PM-4PM
Notes: Team has stopped for refuelling at Shell in Strömsund
Distance: 990 km
4PM-5PM
Notes: Team has stopped for food at McDonalds, Östersund
Distance: 1058 km
2PM - 3 PM
Notes: None
Distance: 1181 km

Fuel: 61 litres
Money: $4950.23
Fatigue: 60%

Team Bunnysquad / @Mikonp7
3PM-4PM
Notes: Team is refuelling at the Shell station in Strömsund
Distance: 999 km
4PM-5PM
Notes: Team is stopping for dinner at McDonalds in Östersund
Distance: 1066 km
5PM-6PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED: Härjedalen
Distance: 1193 km

Fuel: 25 litres
Money: $2462.94
Fatigue: 70%

Team Green Gunners / @abg7
3PM-4PM
Notes: Low oil level again. Still some oil left to fill up with in the car, no need to buy more.
Distance: 1091 km
4PM-5PM
Notes: None
Distance: 1127 km
5PM-6PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED:Härjedalen
Team is having some burgers at Sibylla, Vemdalen
Distance: 1195 km

Fuel: 6 litres
Money: $2034.31
Fatigue: 90%

Team Harcourt-Entwhistle / @Jaimz
3PM-4PM
Notes: None
Distance: 1036 km
4PM-5PM
Notes: Team stopped for refuelling and some hot dogs at the Gulf station in Brunflo.
Distance: 1088 km
5PM-6PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED: Härjedalen
Distance: 1210 km

Fuel: 37 litres
Money: $4209.09
Fatigue: 60%

Team Two lone wolves / @Aaron.W
3PM-4PM
Notes: None
Distance: 1111 km
4PM-5PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED: Härjedalen
Team is refuelling at the Preem station in Klövsjö
Distance: 1215 km
5PM-6PM
Notes: Team is suffering from fatigue and is taking a break at the lake of Stavsjön.
Distance:1215 km

Fuel: 43 litres
Money: $1922.54
Fatigue: >100%

Team Redneck / @Zabhawkin
3PM-4PM
Notes: Team is refuelling at the Preem station in Häggenås
Distance: 1069 km
4PM-5PM
Notes: Team is stopping for food at Strömbacka Kvarn in Hackås
Distance: 1136 km
5PM-6PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED: Härjedalen
Distance: 1223 km

Fuel: 24 litres
Money: $2003.88
Fatigue: 90%

Team V6 Vandals / @Madrias
3PM-4PM
Notes: Team stopped in Strömsund for refuelling at the Shell station and then food at Pizza Annexet.
Distance: 1002 km
4PM-5PM
Notes: None
Distance: 1100 km
5PM-6PM
Notes:CHECKPOINT PASSED: Härjedalen
Distance: 1224 km

Fuel: 20 litres
Money: $1198
Fatigue: 44%

Team Sippppp / @TheElt
3PM-4PM
Notes: None
Distance: 1090 km
4PM-5PM
Notes: Team is stopping for food at Kungs grill & thai wok, Svenstavik
Distance: 1154 km
5PM-6PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED (Härjedalen)
Distance: 1264 km

Fuel: 27 litres
Money: $2043
Fatigue: 90%

Team Shitbox / @Mr.Computah
3PM-4PM
Notes: Team is suffering from fatigue and is taking a rest in Svenstavik at the lake of Storsjön, hoping to see the sea monster (Storsjöodjuret) that is living in the lake according to rumours. No luck with that.
Distance: 1094 km
4PM-5PM
Notes: Team is having dinner at Kungs grill & thai wok, Svenstavik
Distance: 1168 km
5PM-6PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED: Härjedalen
Distance: 1298 km

Fuel: 27 litres
Money: $3010.07
Fatigue: 60.5%

Team REE / @Detsikeulii
3PM-4PM
Notes: None
Distance: 1069 km
4PM-5PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED: Härjedalen
Team stopped at OKQ8 Svenstavik for refuelling.
Distance: 1187 km
5PM-6PM
Notes: None
Distance: 1313 km

Fuel: 23 litres
Money: $2889.43
Fatigue: 60%

Team Bakewell Tart / @Mythrin
3PM-4PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED:Härjedalen
Distance: 1202 km
4PM-5PM
Notes: Team is stopping in Linsell for refuelling at Linsells skoter & motor and for having dinner at Linsellbaren
Distance: 1239 km
5PM-6PM
Notes: None
Distance: 1365 km

Fuel: 41 litres
Money: $2771.26
Fatigue: 90%

Team Getaway Plan / @BoostandEthanol
3PM-4PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED: Härjedalen
Distance: 1209 km
4PM-5PM
The left rear wheel starts wobbling like crazy, for some reason the lug nuts are loose. Team stopping to tighten them.
Distance: 1306 km
5PM-6PM
Notes: Team is stopping for dinner at Camp Noppikoski, Noppikoski.
Distance: 1371 km

Fuel: 36 litres
Money: $1629.46
Fatigue: 90%

[Knugcab]

(Sigh…I hope I have sorted out all the faults now)

[VicVictory]

Team New Life

“I’m scared,” Fuzz chirped only half-mockingly. “I mean, what exactly do they put on pizza here in Sweden?”
Hank glanced over the menu, then looked up a couple terms in his translator. “A lot of shrimp, apparently.”
Kyle and Fuzz twisted their expressions in a display of disgust. “Oh, man that sounds gross,” Fuzz replied.
“I mean, I love shrimp, but on pizza?” Kyle added.
Hank continued on. “Doesn’t look like they ALL have it. Here we go. Mamma Mia. Pretty close to a Supreme back home.”
It was easy for them to agree on something so familiar.