Team Bakewell Bălțata
Prelude
Somewhere in a garage in Derbyshire late at night the quiet sounds of tinkering were disturbed by the sound of paper sliding on contrete under a metal door and the the sound of tyre squeal as a car left the car park outside the garage.
Kyle Carter who’s shaggy blonde hair had now gone was alone in the workshop catching up on some late work, got out from under the bonnet of a Maesima Exestis that was undergoing major engine and suspension upgrades and walked over to the envelope that was in the middle of the floor by a frontendless Keika Kaiken and opened the letter addressed to Kyle and Francesca Carter.
DEAR PREVIOUS PARTICIPANTS,
AS PREVIOUS RACERS IN OUR COMPETITION WE CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR PREVIOUS EFFORTS AND INVITE YOU TO PARTAKE IN THE SECOND GAR EVENT, THIS TIME YOU ARE GOING TO BOLIVIA FOLLOWING THE PATH THAT BOTTOM GEAR TOOK IN 2009 IN THEIR BOLIVIA SPECIAL.
SPEND NO MORE THAN £18,000 ON YOUR VEHICLE AND YOU’RE IN,WE ADVISE TO KEEP SOME FUNDS AS SPARE TO PAY FOR OTHER POSSIBLE EXPENSES, REGULATIONS ARE ENCLOSED IN THE OTHER LETTER WITHIN THIS ENVELOPE AS WELL AS A MAP OF THE ROUTE.
OFCOURSE WE AREN’T GOING TO SEND YOU THROUGH THE JUNGLE WITHOUT AN INCENTIVE, AS BEFITS THE THEME OF GAR A LARGE PRIZE IS UP FOR GRABS 3 MILLION POUNDS TO BE EXACT BUT ONLY IF YOU WIN.
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU IN BOLIVIA READY FOR ANOTHER RACE.
Also please note that this is an illegal race and due to the route we ask racers to note that there may be a possibility of death, if you do no wish to participate burn all contents of this letter immediately.
Kyle headed quickly into the office where Francesca sat filing through mountains of invoices still looking young for her age with the only mark being her slightly greying hair. After quite a lengthy discussion and a phone call to Mandy the conclusion came to a sensible ‘no’ the risk of death and the feasibility of taking time away from the business was the end of it despite their daughters plea.
In typical coincidental fashion the youngest of the two Carter siblings Johnny walked into the office to collect the keys to Mandy’s Quasar in preparation for his usual nighttime burn up on the country roads and glanced and then stared straight at the bold print of the letter. Francesca and Kyle both shot knowing glances at eachother in preparation.
“I’ll go I don’t care if you ain’t i’ll go” blurted Johnny frantically his mind was set and there was no hope of either of his parents changing his mind.
“I’ve worked on cars before and I’m not doing anything at school at the moment and I’ve always wanted to do a big race pleaaaase” begged Johnny flapping his arms in emphasis.
The conclusion came [after a few arguments] that Kyle would aid in the sourcing of specific parts and that the shop would help build the car with Johnny in a couple of their spare hours but it was on Johnny and whoever he brings with him to find the vehicle and manage the finances.
Part 2 Coming Soon