Chapter 7
BIG Dog Racers Now
It was safe to say that Monarch and Icky were friends now. Bizzare indeed how such a confrontation could lead to such a budding friendship but it did. Both gentlemen accepted their punishment honorably and apologized to each other and their fans on national TV. Still neither would elaborate on what really lead to the altercation, that was, the ordeals with their mothers. Rightfully so they both felt it was none of the public's business. They merely stuck to the farce that Monarch bumped the Late Model on purpose and everyone outside their close knit circle fell for it. Icky placed second in the Piston Cup Final, first such Piston race. The good news didn't end there. The world's largest race sponsor and one of the biggest corporations in the world had been watching both him and Monarch. To their pleasant surprise, Dinoco had approached both rookies with a proposition to make both of them their faces for Dinoco. It was not a common move but it was not unheard of for any sponsor to sometimes take more than one racer at a time. Most simply couldn't afford it. Dinoco on the other hand was another story. Super powerful and super rich, a multi-billion dollar entity, Dinoco could more than afford more to sponsor more than one race car. It could sponsor several at once if it chose to. The tradition was to sponsor justone at a time, to make the image of that particular car the official figurehead racee for Dinoco, thus that car became associated with the company until he retired from racing, which would be a decade or more.
Once a car was with this company, he was certain to stay sponsored until he left the sport or got killed, Chrysler forbid. Being the powerhouse player that it was Dinoco decided to sponsor two racers this time, and possibly even a third if it felt like it. The most Dinoco had sponsored at once were six race cars, four American, and two European- a Dutchman and an Italian racer. And one of the American ones was in fact from Congo immigrating to America as a child and taking up racing early. All six won titles. All four U.S. Dinoco racers won at least one Piston Cup and the two European ones won a Le Mans. One of those six was Rex Maxter, the first and so far only Lamborghini racer ever in the sport's long history. He was a 1988 Lamborghini Countach, proving once and for all that Lamborghinis could be racers if they worked at it. Most didn't wish to do it but this Southern boy from Alabama was an exception. And he was damn good, one of the best ever in the Piston Cup. Fifteen titles...ten back to back. Well-loved, he reminded many of The King. He was forced to retire early 4 years ago from racing due to an injury that never fully healed but he remained very active on the Piston scene, he was now a racing commentator.
The other five Dinoco racers stayed on four retiring while one was tragically killed during a live race, but Dinoco could sponsor as many racers as it chose. It could afford to. When the gracious Tex Dinoco founded his oil company in 1959, Dinoco quickly gained notoriety as a prestigious firm in the way it did business, how well it treated all of its employees down to even its janitors to how it stressed the importance of good manners over greed and fame. In 1964 Dinoco entered the Piston Cup scene as a major sponsor, as well as a big player of Le Mans - the European version of Piston Cup. It was a huge honor for a racer to be picked up by Dinoco, American or European. The company admitted decades ago that the first racer it would have sponsored was Doc Hudson. But like everyone else, it was under the impression that the Fabulous Hudson Hornet simply quit racing after his terrible accident in '54. He simply dropped from the public eye, it was widely believed, to pursue other avenues in life as an average joe as he was tired of the fame. Had Tex known the truth he would have taken Doc up as a Dinoco member in a heartbeat. Even if he could no longer race. Dinoco would have put him to use somehow. No matter...they had his kid now to represent him. Monarch was just as good. As was his pal Icky.
Racers who had the privilege of calling Dinoco saw up close how Tex cared for those who worked for him, how those under him cared for him. It was a huge family; Dinoco employed nearly 200,000 vehicles world wide in some 86 countries. Its main headquarters was set up in Austin, Texas which was Tex's hometown and had a secondary one overseas in Paris which oversaw all of the European races. Dinoco was the big dog on top and as the one who supplied most of the world's oil, was one of the wealthiest beings on the planet. With no children of his own as his wife was unable to have any, he entrusted his massive company into the wheels of one of his former race champs Strip Weathers. The King had proven to be every bit as capable a leader and as down-to-earth as Tex did, so when Tex retired from the empire he built he passed the torch on to the King, who really could call himself "King". In keeping with the Dinoco tradition Strip Weathers traded in his once-blue coloring with a mellow goldish paint finish, much like Tex. So like Tex, there was no mistaking who was the Boss of Dinoco's empire when he was around. Long retired from racing, The King also had his headlights reinstalled as well as his horn. He was once again a "normal car", as the saying went. From the get go he had a strong liking for both Icky and Monarch and after witnessing their brawl in the field was convinced that the two rookies would be perfect for Dinoco's image. He even consulted Tex on it and Tex told him it was his company now, he made the decision. He reckoned the two fighters were a good bet, he told King, but it was his call now. Not that he needed Tex's blessings but he went for it and sealed the deal with the two. There were some in the circuit who did question Dinoco's decision to sponsor the two after their display on the field, but many more lauded it. Dinoco stood for sportsmanship and compassion as well. Everyone deserved a second chance.
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After all if Chick Hicks ended up working for them, then anyone could prove to be a great team player. King and Chick had met in private shortly after King left racing and Chick had vented his regrets for what he had done. Neither would speak publicly about what was said in their meeting but King only told the press that what was said between them was private and that it was not up for discussion. And that he had forgiven was it. Chick disappeared for several years from the spotlight altogether and when he showed up again almost ten years later, the stadium was surprised to find him at the Dinoco pit in the company's blue, helping King scout for a new face. As they did with The Hudson Hornet when he suddenly reappeared after 50 years, the throng of spectators welcomed Chick Back with a huge ovation. He didn't expect this kind of welcome but was still grateful. He was a track bully and what he did to King was foul, but he was still Chick Hicks. Lightning had even made amends with him who too also worked under King. Now he was the lead crew chief and temporary scout. The previous Dinoco idol was dropped after embarrassing pictures of him surfaced on the internet in compromising positions for an internet porn site, pictures he claimed never should have been made public. What one did when off the track Dinoco didn't care but still a certain image was expected to be upheld for anyone representing Dinoco. The pictures were not what really did the unlucky car in; what really got him cut was pictures of him drinking an illegal substance that subsequently was found in his oil when he was tested. Plus a drunk driving conviction shortly after. Dinoco had had enough and
decided to terminate his contract. The guy got the sponsor of a lifetime and blew it.
Monarch and Icky were not about to be that stupid Commonly the pit crew with that car followed them to Dinoco so both kept their forklifts. Each car would still have his own pit; he would have to. Both could hardly contain their excitement at being simultaneously chosen to represent Dinoco. Life couldn't get any better as Monarch admired his newly toy-blue painted body. Icky was completely covered in stickers. He had them everywhere with Dinoco's emblem on his spoiler. Monarch chose a not-so-emblazoned look, but payed homage to his three favorite race cars of all time. The names of his father, The King, Lightning and Chick Hicks, wearing their numbers and names exactly as they wore theirs in their hey days. "We're Big Dog racers now dude." he told Icky. "Oh yeah." the Late Model was quick to agree. Now, if Monarch could just get that sexy Le Mans style Jane pace car to look at him. He had a plan. Also, next chapter will go up this Saturday.
