Showdown at Suzuka – 3rd Heat

Hazel:

Welcome to the 3rd Heat!

Fisher:

This Showdown at Sukuka series has been a real scorcher too! We’ve seen so many losses of control already!

Hazel:

Thankfully no injuries though.

Fisher:

None YET!

Hazel:

Are you trying to jinx us?

Fisher:

Not intentionally, but as this is the last Heat, we’ve got a very special guest star…

EVENT RULES

• GUMBALL MACHINE: Racers were determined by random pulls, and are using their listed Racer Roster specs.
• HEATED WHEELS: All racers go FLAT OUT each turn but gain no Focus. Course trajectory is laid out after the roll is made, and caution results are still observed.
• NON-ALCOHOLIC: This race is for fun and not meant to be too serious. Rules judgement and enforcement is relaxed accordingly.
• SEASONED FRIES: This event is worth Season Points, based on placement at the end of the race.

STARTING POSITIONS

1. Moses ‘Martyr’ Buksh in the green Aston Martin V8 Vantage (GT6/RX – Team Challenge)
2. Cedric ‘Three-Teeth’ Driscoll in the blue Venturi 400 GT (GT5)
3. Todd, a Gyoza Poky 2.4 Liter Inline 4 (#GKG39, Unlimited)

Hazel:

Do you mean Todd?

Fisher:

I do! When he’s not acting in movies or delivering pizza, he also gets his tires dirty in demolition derbies!

Hazel:

I don’t know if I would call a series of cameos acting, but I’m sure in California in counts.

Fisher:

It does here too! And because of that hand-tossed experience, Todd has the ability “Oh Dough You Didn’t” which means when he pulls damage tokens, he gets to draw one extra and choose which gets discarded.

Hazel:

Are you suggesting he’s going to try and play greasy?

Fisher:

I’m saying he’s not afraid to give you a pizza his planet.

Hazel:

Uh huh. Well, he is lacking that 5th gear his competitors both have, but he has one more Boost die, so that should keep the ball pit lively.

Fisher:

That’s the spirit!

CANDLEKEEP COVE RACEWAY – SUZUKA (CIRCUT)

Round 1

Hazel:

We’re off to a much smoother start than last race, with no one ending up in the grass immediately. Martyr started us off with an incredibly safe move.

Fisher:

Clearly Moses wasn’t aware he’s up against a man who was kicked out of hockey for being too violent.

Hazel:

Is that where Cedric Driscoll got the nickname “Three-Teeth?”

Fisher:

Yeah, he only has three of his original set left…

Hazel:

He’s Kickin’ Assphalt’s co-founder, isn’t he?

Fisher:

He is, and emphasis on the first part, he’s more about kicking than driving.

Hazel:

Hopefully our special guest doesn’t catch any kickback, bringing up the rear!

Round 2

Fisher:

Todd must not be taking any chances, as he got right out from behind there. Having to stick to the outside edge though, it was pretty easy for Driscoll to keep even with him.

Hazel:

Moses the Martyr must be even more nervous though, as through a careful application of the brake and turbo has woven himself out to the lead!

Round 3

Fisher:

Martyr’s gonna be struggling to hold that lead as Three-Teeth and right behind him.

Hazel:

And in a higher gear, so high Todd can’t even pull up beside him.

Round 4

Fisher:

The corners’ tighten up close to the bridge making our racers slow down, which let’s Todd keep up and force Three-Teeth to concede that short lead!

Hazel:

This is your favorite part, bro, holding you breath?

Fisher:

*Nods enthusiastically.*

Round 5

Hazel:

Martyr and Todd clear the bridge easily!

Fisher:

Three-Teeth not so much; Martyr and Todd braked hard to and gunned it, but Driscoll’s dice showed too many cautions for that so he had to settle for coasting and he has the fewest dice there.

Round 6

Hazel:

Martyr being in the pole position, he nails the hairpin and makes some great distance. Three-Teeth attempts to hold down Corner 9 to prevent Todd from clearing it…

Fisher:

I guess Driscoll didn’t know Todd’s had Space Ranger training!

Hazel:

Or at least a course in crash landing!

Fisher:

They are both going to pull damage tokens for that, and with Todd’s “Oh Dough You Didn’t!” he gets to draw an extra and pick which to keep.

Hazel:

Gee, which will Todd keep?

Fisher:

He’s chosen the Green Flag!

Hazel:

That means technically, neither car is taking damage, however, Three-Teeth did draw a Weather Change token…

Fisher:

That should make things interesting! Todd pushes Three-Teeth forward one space and continues his own movement to move past.

Hazel:

Was that a Ka-Chow I just heard? I didn’t see McQueen, but that was definitely lightning…

Round 7

Fisher:

The storm clouds have rolled in and the track condition is now WET. Racers are going to be using their Wet conditions now, and will have to decide if they are pulling over to switch to Rain Tires. Something Todd didn’t bring with him…

Hazel:

So, Martyr loses 1 Brake die and his 3 Coast are now 3 Leader dice which are slightly more dangerous, Three-Teeth loses 2 Brake dice, and Todd loses one Brake die and one Turbo die.

Fisher:

Correct, and to change tires, a car needs to be in a clear space in Gear 1. They can then switch Tires/Dashboards and start their next turn in Gear 0.

Hazel:

No one opting to change tires; not exactly a surprise. We are coming up on that straightaway though…

Round 8

Fisher:

Three-Teeth tried to muscle his way forward through Corner 10 but wasn’t able to make a significant push. Todd just sailed through though. Not having high-tuned performance tires turns out to be an advantage for the street car.

Hazel:

Come rain or shine, Pizza Planet always delivers!

Fisher:

If he can’t catch up to Martyr and take first does that mean the pizza is free?

Hazel:

You… You don’t think he’s mid-delivery right now, do you?

Fisher:

It’s as reasonable as anything else going on in this race!

Round 9

Hazel:

Three-Teeth puts that Venturi to the test, proving he’s still in this. He could still catch up to Todd without too much trouble.

Fisher:

I don’t which is more worrisome, Kickin’ Assphalt putting a boot in Todd’s rear fender, or the buzz cut he might get from that low bridge clearance…

Hazel:

Maybe he always dreamed of being a convertible so he can enjoy that Cali sun? 路‍♀️

Round 10

Fisher:

Good news/bad news. Yes, Todd can get under the bridge, however he can’t catch up to Driscoll’s higher top gear, so he won’t be able to clear the bridge this turn.

Hazel:

With Martyr dropping down to Gear 1, that gap between racers sure is shrinking!

Round 11

Fisher:

Unfortunately, too little too late. Afraid of the competition bearing down on him, Moses “Martyr” Buksh in the green Aston Martin V8 Vantage parts the seas and crossings the finish line!

Round 12

Hazel:

Todd absolutely botches his roll, and spends his SISU token to ignore all the caution results to avoid crashing into B.J. and the stage.

Fisher:

Has it been thirty minutes? I think his delivery is going to be late…

Hazel:

Do we need to start packing raceday snacks so you can focus?

Fisher:

OR we could get a concession stand! Mini corn dogs for minicar races? Maybe a food truck that serves tacos?

Round 13

Hazel:

Closer than I thought, but Cedric “Three-Teeth” Driscoll in the blue Venturi 400 GT takes 2nd place, and Todd, who uh, IS a Gyoza Poky 2.4 Liter Inline 4, finishes in third.

Fisher:

I’m going to go check on the piz… Todd to make sure he’s okay.

WINNERS CIRCLE

1. Moses ‘Martyr’ Buksh in the green Aston Martin V8 Vantage (GT6/RX – Team Challenge)
2. Cedric ‘Three-Teeth’ Driscoll in the blue Venturi 400 GT (GT5)
3. Todd, a Gyoza Poky 2.4 Liter Inline 4 (#GKG39, Unlimited)

Hazel:

They finished in starting order, that seems… odd.

Fisher:

I mean, mathematically I’m sure it has happened before.

Hazel:

Either way, this means Moses moves forward to the final round, which is up next!