Team Oxracers, Ep. 15: Rolling into empty pits
Except when Michael passes the well-lit pit area on the short s/f straight, it is pitch dark around him, the guardrails around the track keeping a lot of light that the other cars emit confined to other parts of the track. Their lights only appear as some flicker in the nearer or farther distance, depending on where he is on the track. The two well-used H3 bulbs in the Kando’s headlights do not help much either to illuminate the area in front of him, especially at the speeds he is going at. To an extent, driving becomes easier when he can follow another car as their rear and brake lights then serve as another means for orientation. This usually only lasts for a short while though until he has to judge the best point of passing them.
He already hit the guardrail once, misjudging the brake spot while being distracted by an orange car in front of him misjudging the corner itself. ‘Normally, I would now cheat and increase the screen brightness - but that doesn’t work here, obviously’, he thinks for himself. He has also lost track of the time - while the Kando originally had a small LCD clock in the centre console, that console now rests in a pile together with other Kando interior parts somewhere behind the pit area.
Suddenly, the Kando veers to the left under braking, whether it’s something with the Kando’s steering or some oil or debris on the track Michael is unable to tell. The switch to ultra-wide tyres have made its handling somewhat unpredictable anyway.
Without fancy amenities such as ABS, all he can do is watch the Kando skid into the guardrail - luckily just for some light contact. He still notes an unhealthy scraping noise, once he resumes driving. He presses the push-to-talk button. “Michael to pits, I have to come in. I think some bodywork may be in contact with my left front tyre.”
He continues slowly for two more corners but does not hear any response. He waves a slowing Bricksley by, clearly the most illuminated car on track, and he is happy to have the distraction out of his rear view mirrors when he tries to contact the pits again.
“Hello? Anyone home?” Again, no response from the pit lane. Michael wonders whether the latest crash might have broken Jane’s improvised push-to-talk set-up in the Kando. He doubts it though since the impact was not that severe. He enters the pit lane, comes to stop in the designated Oxracers area and sees noone around.
Annoyed he gets out of the car, only to find all other Oxracers half or full-asleep in various unflattering poses in chairs or leaning against something. Corazon snores.
He wakes Jane who rises with a groan and clearly needs a moment to orient herself, especially as she spots the unusual sight of Takaraya from the Shift Happens crew standing between Michael and the battered Kando, waving with something gleaming in the irregular light of the pitlane. Michael quickly explains the situation to her. Mary meanwhile wakes as well from the commotion and quickly regains her senses.
“What’s up with you guys?” Michael asks. “At least one person should be on the radio at all times.”
Mary nods groggily. With newfound enthusiasm, Jane grabs her biggest hammer and Takaraya offers assistance, motioning with his metallic hands. @Madrias Together they make quick work of the damaged area of the Kando, ripping out even more of the already haphazardly cut back wheel well of the damaged fender in the process. Jane is thoroughly intrigued by Takarayas handiwork. “That’s… practical”, she comments.
“Like Deus Ex”, Mary comments appreciatingly and silently mumbles “but it’s Animal Crossing.” while Michael quickly gets behind the wheel again. On Mary’s signal after Jane indicates ‘all clear’ with a thumbs-up, Michael drives off again with skidding front tyres, almost hitting the guardrail again on pit exit.
Soo goood…”, he mutters under his breath inbetween bites.