TEAM BAKEWELL BAGUETTE
Part 0 : Give Me a Break
Connor and Mandy pull into a side turn just off of a motorway truckstop
Mandy: ''So this is where J said to meet him? ‘’ Mandy said opening the door of their rental Salon Amigo.
Connor: ‘‘Supposedly so, look he’s sharing his location with me live’’ Connor spun his phone around to Mandy’s view
Mandy: ''I can’t believe we’re doing this again, it’s been three years since the last one, and we finished last!"
Connor: ‘‘Second to last actually’’
Mandy: ‘‘Whatever it was still a poor bloody performance, I’d never thought 24 hours could take so long’’ Mandy ushered at Connor who was staring at Johnny’s blip on the map ‘‘and besides, I still can’t believe that we let Johnny pick the car again, that J.E.S.A was a dog egg wrapped in blue paint’’
Connor: ‘‘yes I know…’’ he said still staring at his phone
Johhny approached from around the bend of the road gesticulating towards a jauntily parked estate car
Mandy: ‘‘Oh for fucks sake’’
Connor: ‘‘My grandad used to have one of those I sure of it’’
Mandy: ‘‘Connor… it’s bright blue and from the 70’s again isn’t it’’ Mandy stared at the car in a blended state of laughter, exasperation and bewilderment
Connor: ‘‘Wait it’s not the same car again is it?’’
Mandy turned to her friend
Mandy: ‘‘No it isn’t, but it’s the same type of car… obscure, European family car that looks rough as 100-grit’’
Mandy and Connor began walking quickly towards the vehicle
Johnny: “Right before you two start shouting at me” Johnny said frantically skipping infront of his approachers ‘‘It’s actually suprisingly solid underneath and it goes very well’’
Mandy: ‘‘Johnny, if this has got the fourteen-hundred engine… I’m going to skin you’’ she brandished her fist in a semi-humorous way
THE CAR
Ferdon 318 GTS - Break 5 Vitesse
The car itself is a 1980 Ferdon 318 estate or break as the french called it. The 318 was a strong car in its day and was a dependable family car. This particular model is a GTS…
Mandy: ‘‘Why does it say GTL on the boot John’’ Mandy said scornfully
Johnny: ‘‘It’s actually a GTS it just got a replacement boot lid and door … it’s even the high output model with 92 alledged horsepower’’
Connor: ‘‘What’s that on the grille?’’
Johnny: ‘‘Period correct cold-climate wind shroud that is’’ he said smuggly banging the bonnet of the car, as a mass of brown rusty dust fell from the undertray
Mandy: ‘‘Christ almighty…’’
… as I was saying, the GTS model, and particularly the GTS models made from 1980-1983 had 92hp from their 1657cc OHV inline 4’s. The engine was particularly refined for the age and sent power longitudinally to the front wheels, through as noted, via a 5 speed transmission.
Johnny had purchased this 318 from a French car garagiste and salvager named Gunter who had been using the car daily as a yard workhorse, ferrying parts around and towing trailers. Johnny had been assured that while this car had been abused the little Ferdon had been fastidiously maintained and preserved to the highest standard (see below).
Summary of Cars Condition
Regardless of whether Johnny had assumed the car was in good condition, it was not in the tidiest of states. Apart from the visual rust and body panel damage the Ferdon was starting to show signs of it’s age and years of usage. The blue velour interior was largely torn, scuffed, damaged and stained and despite the high-tide mark of sprayed on tar up the side of the car, deep rooted rust within the door sills was starting to burst through.
Replacement boot, rear seats, LH rear door from a red 318 GTL
Bent, twisted bumpers and wing panels
Smashed headlight
Slightly blowing exhaust
Trouble hot starting, though the engine is pulling strongly
Engine fan seems to come on quickly once car is stationary
CB radio fitted
Rust holes appearing on the chassis and bubbling under the new paint
Body panels, though original and steel were starting to rust and paint was beginning to thin and crack with age and extreme temperature.
Cheap make PhuKing Chinese tyres on all four rusted wheels
Window rubbers going damp and mossy
Maintenance manual and booby magazine left in glove box.
Now fitted with racing numbers.
The Team Members
Mandy Carter - 27 years old : Mandy was born with petrol in her blood her parents married after a successful showing in some mythical 90s trans-European street race. Having mostly recovered from a poor showing at the 2020 TrafikJournalen24HR. and after having taken a step back from the crazy racing post Covid she has now been dragged on by Johnny to Sweden for the 2023 TrafikJournalen 24HR race again to hopefully regain some of the spark she lost.
Connor Johnson - 28 years old : Connor has been a life long childhood friend of Mandy, he’s now quit his awful teaching job to run accounts for the track driving school that Johhny and Mandy set up with the inheritance left to them by their grandmother. Connor isn’t really a driver but has come to appreciate the metal that has transported him his whole life, and has become even more handy at the wheel since particularly since America.
Johnny Carter - 25 years old : Johnny is Mandy’s younger kid brother, he’s a bit of an excitable idiot but he’s taken on a more mature streak since the last 24HR race, and has brushed up on his mechanical sympathy and knowledge. While being more level headed in the past years, Johnny doesn’t always make the right decision… this one, well, we’ll have to wait and see.
