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

[Mythrin]

Team Bakewell Tart

---

The Ditane is stopped for fueling at OKQ8 Arjeplog , Mandy buying bags of crisps, chocolate and some drinks whilst Connor is fueling up the car.

Mandy finishes paying in the fuel station shop and starts to hear the faint screaming of an approaching 4 cylinder as the Pink Caliban of The Shitbox Brothers hurtles past the petrol station she catches a glimpse of a smug face in the window looking at the Ditane as the SC shot past and disapeared into the distance.

After realizing what had happened Connor starts the car and jumps into the passenger seat only to be hit by a shower of crisp packets and Loka bottled water through the window Mandy jumped into the drivers seat and gave a bootfull to the accelerator peddle leaving a cloud of tire smoke behind and causing the rear heavy Ditane to rear up and give maximum rear grip.

“Shit shit shit did anyone else pass us Connor ?” said Mandy frantically.

“No just the Caliban” replied Connor gripping on for grim death.

“Good that means those bastards in that Keika are still behind us they must’ve been delayed” said Mandy quickly changing gear and still climbing in speed.

“Serve’s em right it’s just us and the Caliban then” said Connor who was now gripping the seat tighlty.

“Let’s real them in then” replied Mandy.

…and with that fat-bottomed Ditane sped off into the distance in search of the Caliban.

[Knugcab]

NOON - 3PM
Some vehicles have passed the checkpoint in Dorotea and is now on the third leg of the course, Dorotea-Härjedalen.

324 km of mostly open and free country roads. The weather is getting a bit cloudier and the worst heat is cooling down. No rain though.
CB range is about 10 km if you want to contact other teams.

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

---

Team Hillbilly rollers / Knugcab
Noon - 1 PM
Notes: None
Distance: 616 km
1 PM - 2 PM
Notes: None
Distance: 725 km
2 PM - 3 PM
Notes: None
Distance: 834 km

Fuel: 16 litres
Money: $1978.01
Fatigue: 45%

Team V6 Vandals / @Madrias
Noon - 1 PM
Notes: None
Distance: 703 km
1 PM - 2 PM
Notes: None
Distance: 815 km
2PM - 3PM
Notes:CHECKPOINT PASSED: Dorotea
Distance: 926 km

Fuel: 12 litres
Money: $1310
Fatigue: 34%

Team Thunderstruck / @Fayeding_Spray
Noon - 1 PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED: Arjeplog
Team stopped for buying a new distributor cap ($44) at OKQ8 Arjeplog, took some hot dogs at the same time.
Distance: 562 km
1PM - 2PM
Notes: None
Distance: 670 km
2PM - 3PM
Notes: Team members is suffering from fatigue, stopping to rest and take a look at the scenery at the lake of Kåtaträsk.
Distance: 670 km

Fuel: 11 litres
Money: $4818.35
Fatigue: >100%

Team Harcourt-Entwhistle / @Jaimz
Noon - 1PM
Notes: None
Distance: 682 km
1PM - 2PM
Notes: None
Distance: 791 km
2PM - 3PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED: Dorotea
Distance: 913 km

Fuel: 23 litres
Money: $4299.91
Fatigue: 45%

Team New Life / @VicVictory
Noon - 1PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED: Arjeplog
Team is stopping for some hot dogs at OKQ8 Arjeplog
Distance: 564 km
1PM - 2PM
Notes: None
Distance: 670 km
2PM - 3PM
Notes: Team is refuelling at QStar, Kattisavan.
Distance: 750 km

Fuel: 46 litres
Money: $4145
Fatigue: 45%

Team Mountain pass / @HighOctaneLove
Noon - 1PM
Notes: None
Distance: 602 km
1PM - 2PM
Notes: None
Distance: 699 km
2PM - 3PM
Notes: None
Distance: 796 km

Fuel: 15 litres
Money: $6999.36
Fatigue: 68%

Team Off Constantly / @Obfuscious
Noon - 1PM
Notes: None
Distance: 584 km
1PM - 2PM
Notes: None
Distance: 681 km
2PM-3PM
Notes: Moose was crossing the road. Panic braking caused the rear wheels to lock up, making the car skid around 180 degrees and end up against the traffic on the wrong side of the road. No damage to anything.
Distance: 754 km

Fuel: 31 litres
Money: $5966.17
Fatigue: 68%

Team Two lone wolves / @Aaron.W
Noon-1PM
Notes: None
Distance: 721 km
1PM - 2PM
Notes: None
Distance: 845 km
2PM - 3PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED: Dorotea
Team stopped for refuelling at OKQ8 Dorotea
Distance: 966 km

Fuel: 33 litres
Money: $1993.69
Fatigue: 77%

Team Kansei Dorifto / @Watermelon3878
Noon - 1PM
Notes: None
Distance: 719 km
1PM - 2PM
Notes: Car got hit from behind by a lady in a white early 90s Saab 900, who escaped from the scene. Team had to put some straps to hold the mangled bootlid in the closed position
Distance: 812 km
2PM - 3PM
Notes: Team is suffering from fatigue and is taking a rest enjoying the scenery at the lake of Baksjön.
Distance: 812 km

Fuel: 27 litres
Money: $2933.07
Fatigue: >100%

Team Redneck / @Zabhawkin
Noon - 1PM
Notes: None
Distance: 724 km
1PM - 2PM
Notes: None
Distance: 840 km
2 PM - 3 PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED: Dorotea
Distance: 967 km

Fuel: 14 litres
Money: $2098.04
Fatigue: 68%

Team MV Design / @Marcus_gt500
Noon - 1 PM
Notes: None
Distance: 672 km
1 PM - 2 PM
Notes: None
Distance: 775 km
2 PM - 3 PM
Notes: Norwegian tourist in a DAAG Campervan was distracted by his kids fighting in the back of the van, failing to notice the car of the team when making a left turn, vehicles hit each other corner to corner. Since both vehicles only suffered cosmetical damage, both parts changed phone numbers and agreed to solve this later.
Distance: 852 km

Fuel: 23 litres
Money: $9655.48
Fatigue: 68%

Team Shitbox / @Mr.Computah
Noon - 1PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED: Dorotea
Team refuelled and took some hot dogs at OKQ8 Dorotea
Distance: 862 km
1 PM - 2 PM
Notes: None
Distance: 946 km
2 PM - 3 PM
Notes: None
Distance: 1094 km

Fuel: 38 litres
Money: $3024.07
Fatigue: 95%

Team Stm316 / @stm316
Noon - 1PM
Notes: None
Distance: 741 km
1 PM - 2 PM
Notes: None
Distance: 850 km
2PM - 3PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT PASSED: Dorotea
Team stopped for refuelling at OKQ8 Dorotea
Distance: 883 km

Fuel: 47 litres
Money: $3159.80
Fatigue: 45%

Team Green Gunners / @abg7
Noon - 1PM
Notes: None
Distance: 780 km
1PM - 2PM
Notes: Team has stopped for hot dogs and refuelling at OKQ8 Vilhelmina
Distance: 811 km
2PM - 3PM
Notes: When coming back to the car from the gas station, someone had reversed into it and left the scene. The rear bumper was hanging to the ground and had to be duct taped in place.
CHECKPOINT PASSED: Dorotea
Distance: 889 km

Fuel: 48 litres
Money: $2048.31
Fatigue: 68%

Team Supreme Cream / @Awildgermanappears

Noon - 1PM
Notes: Check engine light is lit.
Distance: 750 km
1PM - 2PM
Notes: Car comes to a stop and is impossible to start. It later turned out that the ECU for the engine management system was completely toast. Due to the rarity of the vehicle in Sweden getting an used one was out of the question, and a new one had to be shipped from Italy, which would take a week. Not a realistic option to continue the race.

RACE OVER!
Covered distance: 805 km

Team Letto / @LordLetto
Noon - 1 PM
Notes: None
Distance: 649 km
1PM - 2 PM
Notes: Instrument panel and climate control dead, fuses had to be changed.
Distance: 723 km
2 PM - 3 PM
Notes: None
Distance: 822 km

Fuel: 25 litres
Money: $8235
Fatigue: 45%

Team Bakewell Tart / @Mythrin
Noon - 1PM
Notes: Team is stopping for pizza at Lilla Fjället, Vilhelmina
Distance: 807 km
1PM - 2PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT 2 PASSED (Dorotea)
Distance: 951 km
2PM - 3PM
Notes: None
Distance: 1104 km

Fuel: 15 litres
Money: $2864.55
Fatigue: 68%

Team REE / @Detsikeulii
Noon - 1PM
Notes: None
Distance: 809 km
1PM - 2PM
Notes: Team stopped at OKQ8 Vilhelmina for refuelling and some hot dogs
Distance: 822 km
2PM-3PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT 2 PASSED (Dorotea)
Distance: 923 km

Fuel: 36 litres
Money: $2957.32
Fatigue: 45%

Team Operation BIRD / @Elizipeazie
Noon - 1PM
Notes: None
Distance: 660 km
1 PM - 2 PM
Notes: None
Distance: 764 km
2 PM - 3 PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT 2 PASSED (Dorotea)
Distance: 870 km

Fuel: 10 litres
Money: $5529
Fatigue: 45%

Team Bunnysquad / @Mikonp7
Noon - 1PM
Notes: None
Distance: 666 km
1 PM - 2 PM
Notes: None
Distance: 802 km
2PM - 3 PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT 2 PASSED (Dorotea)
Distance: 900 km

Fuel: 9 litres
Money: $2656.56
Fatigue: 52%

Team Getaway Plan / @BoostandEthanol
Noon - 1PM
Notes: Team has stopped for refuelling and some hot dogs at OKQ8 Vilhelmina
Distance: 822 km
1PM - 2PM
Notes:CHECKPOINT 2 PASSED (Dorotea)
Distance: 920 km
2PM - 3PM
Notes: None
Distance: 1070 km

Fuel: 40 litres
Money: $1643.46
Fatigue: 68%

Team Sippppp / @TheElt
Noon - 1PM
Notes: None
Distance: 727 km
1PM - 2PM
Notes: None
Distance: 837 km
2PM - 3PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT 2 PASSED ( Dorotea)
Distance: 962 km

Fuel: 33 litres
Money: $2057
Fatigue: 68%

Team Dust Devils / @DukeOFhazards
Noon - 1PM
Notes: None
Distance: 668 km
1PM - 2PM
Notes: None
Distance: 779 km
2PM - 3 PM
Notes: CHECKPOINT 2 PASSED (Dorotea)
Distance: 894 km

Fuel: 6 litres
Money: $5057
Fatigue: 45%

[Jaimz]

Gran: I have to say, I really do enjoy these trips we’ve started to partake in. Reminds me of the 1966 Great Archanian Trek I took with your grandfather. We left your father and aunt with some relatives and took off in an old army vehicle my dear George had rebuilt. We also did a trip around Europe, for our honeymoon. Those were glorious days.

Spanners: So, Mrs E, you’ve done a lot of touring?

Gran: Well, not so much after the children arrived, but we did go away on a lot of holidays….mostly to places within a couple of hours from George’s army base.

Mopey: I like these trips too Gran. I’ve decided that I want to leave the 6th form and go to college after the holidays.

Gran: Really? And what do you want to study? Economics? Politics? Accountancy?

Mopey: Engineering.

Gran: Ah, just like your grandfather.

Mopey: Automotive engineering………

Gran: Oh, what branch of engineering is that then dear?

Spanners: He wants to be a mechanic Mrs E.

Gran: A WHAT??? I most assuredly know that that is NOT going to happen!!! Do you know what sort of people become mechanics??? Neanderthals! That’s who….

Spanners: Erm, Mrs E, I’m a mechanic.

Gran: Yes dear, I understand. George Harcourt-Entwhistle the third, you are NOT becoming a mechanic!

Mopey: But Spanners has said that I can work for him when I am learning….

Gran: DAVID???

Spanners: Erm……well……it was something we were discussing but I did say we’d have to speak to his parents……and you!

Gran: Really??? But it’s all been arranged hasn’t it?

Mopey: Well, not really……I’ve spoken to the college……and the school……and Spanners…….and…erm……I haven’t really thought past that point.

Spanners: Ooh, look we’re coming to Dorotea.

Gran: WHO GIVES A DAMN ABOUT DOROTEA!!!

Mopey: We’re making good time and it’s quite a nice count……

Gran: We’ll be talking about this when we get home……

---

Silence ensues……

[Knugcab]

TEAM HILLBILLY ROLLERS

Now playing: Bourbon Boys - Dust and diesel smoke

The team is coming close to Team Letto, that seems to have some electrical problems, since the car is parked at the side of the road with the fuse box open…

JANNE: Hahaha, finally we are passing that little crapmobile at least, let’s honour the team in the only worthy way!

(A LOUD HONK OF THE DIXIE HORN!)

MARIE: HAHA, look, he dropped the whole package with fuses to the ground, I guess he has to change his pants now too!

(a rather uneventful hour later)
ANDREAS: Do you see that tow truck in front of us?
MARIE: Of course I can see a big tow truck, do you think that I’m blind?
ANDREAS: Oh, you’re so stupid! Look at the SUV thing on the tow truck, didn’t we see it at the starting line?
JANNE: Oh yes, we did, one less competitor then! Let’s honour him in the only worthy way then!

(ANOTHER VERY LOUD HONK OF THE DIXIE HORN!)

And so, a black IP was passing a red and yellow Volvo FL6 tow truck like a rocket, with a raspy roar from its exhaust pipes, if it had been a book it would have been driving into the sunset, but in the summertime there is hardly any sunsets in the land of the midnight sun…

@LordLetto @Awildgermanappears

[Marcus_gt500]

[Mikonp7]

Team #BunnySquad

A bassboosted EDM Intro starts to play

The intro fades to black an we see Kevin standing outside
"ELLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOO EVERYBUNNY. Here is the man, the only, BunnBrother, still live from the Meatball. And a lot of people asked me ‘Oi BunnBro, what does your engine look like?’. Too which i can say that not only will we take a look at the engine on this thing but also learn how to replace a radiator hose! Because it seems like the previous owner didnt do a good job with that…

Oh yeah on my side today: LizzyBunny! Say hi!"

the cam pans to Lizzy and Carla sitting on the sidewalk drinking some coffee
Both of them do a sleepy wave while drinking there coffee

“Good enough. So yeah. For this you dont need a lot of tool…”

---

In the car after everything has been repaired

“So you think its gonna hold?” Carla askes

“We will see. I just try not to instantly break it again. Just some smooth driving”

“At least now we got some content for the daily upload!”

[Madrias]

Team V6 Vandals

(Even though I know it’s nice, I’m gonna stop with the previous post linkbacks for this challenge.)

---

Cody had his foot to the floor, and the Sinistra Swift’s 3.9 liter V6 roared angrily down the road as team V6 Vandals tried to make a bit more progress.

“How’s it going up there?” Jake asked.

“My ass is soaked with motor oil, but at least the engine’s not going ticky-ticky-boom on us. A little rattly, but, well, it’s an old Sinistra. Of course it’s full o’ squeaks and rattles. You’re readin’ the engine, how’s it doing?” Cody replied.

“About as expected. Nothing out of range yet, and she’s adjusting fuel trims to match the new style of driving.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, it’s never been driven with the throttle pinned to the floor before, so it’s lost throttle calibration. Says you’ve got the throttle open 112 percent.” Jake said.

“So, is that good or bad?” Amy asked, looking over the seat back.

“Depends on how Old Man Sinistra calibrated it. I’d guess, more likely than not, it’ll do what any of our Storm cars would do, and next calibration cycle, which it runs about once every hour, it’ll set that 112% to 100% and be done with it. That’s my guess because that’s what it seems to be doing right now, running 100% values despite the throttle reading being off.”

After a few minutes, Jake confirmed with, “Yep, 100% throttle now. Guess you really did buy it from an old lady, Cody.”

“Well, it was cheap. Well, cheap-ish. And it ran well, so I didn’t feel we’d be getting a lemon.” Cody replied.

“Yeah, not sure what kind of lemonade we could make with this car if it went bad.” Luke said, getting a laugh out of everyone.

[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.