This is not a car challenge, this is a writing challenge. While you may submit .cars for Phase 1, this is not required, and I won’t be looking at them. Your actual entry is to be a piece of writing, which will be reviewed in detail, scored by a given framework, and ultimately ranked among others by a simple criterion: how boring was it to read? Did it make me laugh? Did it make me cry? Did it make me want to commit crimes against humanity? Follow the prompt or don’t, trash the cars or exhalt them, anything goes. Creative and unexpected are good things here. The least boring entry wins.
I intend this competition to be extremely flexible and liberal regarding rules. I want inspired pieces, whether the inspiration is the one provided or not. One suggested format is a ~1000-word short story set in the Scenario described below, comparing two or more cars. However, feel free to ignore everything suggested, or modify it as much as your imagination allows. That includes the length; whether you write a five-act play in iambic pentameter, or a five-line limerick, whatever entertains me most wins.
The hard rules:
- Must be about or prominently feature at least one of the host .car(s) given. Other cars may feature as well, but not your own.
- Writing, primarily, though graphic novel/comic strip style could be ok. Songs and videos… let’s save those for another time.
- Modern English. The odd foreign word or phrase is ok.
The (suggested) Scenario: it’s 1982. You arrive in Hetvesia to begin a week-long vacation to visit castles, national parks, and have some fun on the unrestricted-speed highways and sparesly-populated mountain roads in between. In the airport’s rental hall, you find your arranged company’s booth wrapped in police tape, with a pasted note to the effect that all their vehicles are impounded and the staff arrested, with no further explanation. The only other agency in the airport is Norðwagen, who, among other things, prominently advertise hassle-free exchanges at any of their numerous offices around the country. Outside of the airport are of course other agencies.
The cars:
Skaði T-4x2, compact standard
Norðwagen_Skaði_-_T-4x2.car (232.2 KB)
Skaði S-6x4, compact sport
Norðwagen_Skaði_-_S-6x4.car (237.1 KB)
Týr GT-12x4, personal luxury coupe
Norðwagen_Týr_-_GT_12x4.car (299.0 KB)
Fenrir GT-6, personal luxury wagon
Norðwagen_Fenrir_-_GT-6.car (2.1 MB)
Oðin T-6x4, large standard
Norðwagen_Oðin_-_T_6x4.car (1.4 MB)
Oðin GS-12x4, large sport
Norðwagen_Oðin_-_GS_12x4.car (1.4 MB)
Oðin L-12, large luxury
Norðwagen_Oðin_-_L_12.car (1.5 MB)
Scoring: entertainment value is ultimately all that matters. I will assign scores for several factors, but they won’t formally count, and for some formats simply not apply. Wordplay, Creativity, Immersiveness, Detail (regarding the car(s)). I won’t be scoring grammar and spelling as such, and for non-native English speakers, will definitely cut slack in those regards.
Phase 1 (optional): Post in this thread an advert for your rental agency, including one or more .car files uploaded. Stylistic realism is expected at a 4/5; mechanical, perhaps 3/5. The cars should be plausible rentals; I would like to see a mix of 4-figure shitboxes as well as 6-figure exotics, but no fire trucks, F1 cars, or aircraft carriers, please. Your QFC29, JOC3C, and JOC4 entries will do just fine.
Phase 2: car and ad subs close. You will then have three weeks to DM me your written work. Do NOT post it in the thread.
Phase 3: I will review the works, and post them along with my comments and rankings. Winner hosts the next one as usual.
Rules discussion until 10/23. Phase 1 from 10/29 to 11/5. Phase 2 11/6-11/27
Introducing the 1978 VAM Compact Rear Wheel Drive Liftback! 
Key Features:
Unleash the Spirit of Adventure:
Feel the Power:
Where Will You Take It?