Part Four:Golden State
AN:Sorry to make you wait all this time, but I've been sidelined. By what? Check the Cannonball Run section to find out. (This is a plug.)
"Okay, people." said a race official. "It's been fifteen years since we last did this. So, we're not going to make you wait another minute. It's time for the race to start." The crowd cheered. "You all know the rules." announced the official. "You leave this hotel and race for the Egg in Albany and the driver with the shortest time wins. You simply take your time card, you punch in when you start, and you punch out when you finish. However, every second I talk is a second you're not racing. So, let's get it on!"
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Bob had finished tuning up the Viper and he and Richard were taking it out first. On their way to the starting line, they stopped short of a collision with a blue Jaguar XKR driven by Alec. In the Jaguar, Alec and Vic stared at the guys in the Viper.
"What's your problem?" asked Richard. "Haven't you ever seen a Mexican in a Viper before?"
Bob drove around the Jag and headed for the starting line.
"Alec, wasn't that..." asked Vic.
"Yes, it was." said Alec.
Bob handed the race official his time card and had it punched. A second later, the official announced "First to leave: In the Viper, Bob Murray."
"Do you think his new passenger knows?" asked Vic.
"I doubt it." said Alec.
Bob put the Viper in gear and drove out of the parking lot. Meanwhile, Richard shot his fist into the air and yelled "East L.A!"
"Looks like things are gonna get dicey for him." said Vic.
As Bob hit the street, a yellow NSX pulled up to the start. "In the NSX, Scott Meyer."
Several cars drove around looking to get into line.
"In the Porsche Turbo, Dallas Cage."
A few more teams got into their cars and started them.
"In the GTO, Mark Vincent."
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In the Ford GT, Chris quickly read through the manual.
"In the BMW, Charles Cronin."
"Chris, are you just about done yet?" asked Peter.
"Almost." said Chris. He then tossed the manual at Peter. "Your turn." he said.
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Alec pulled up to the start in his Jaguar.
"In the Jaguar XKR, our previous winner, Alec Stewart."
Avery pulled up to the start and looked over at Tara doing the same. She returned the glare of discontent.
"In the black Gallardo, Avery Watkins. In the TVR, Tara Roberts."
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"I bet you wish you were going too." said Leo.
"Not really." said Mark. "I mean, three thousand miles? Speeds over a hundred miles an hour? That's crazy!"
"Yeah, I know." said Leo. "Ain't it cool?"
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Chris pulled up to the starting line in the GT and handed the time card to the official.
"In the Ford GT, Chris Donatelli."
The official handed the card back to Chris and he quickly threw the gearshift into neutral.
"I've been waiting to do this for years." he said as he revved the engine.
"You're gonna launch it?" asked Peter.
"Brace yourself." said Chris. He threw the gearshift into first and squealed out of the parking lot.
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Just after the start, the cars tore through the streets of L.A. People standing on the Hollywood Walk of Fame applauded and cheered as the Lamborghini raced by.
So, tell me, do you think it'd be alright,
if I could just crash here tonight?
The Viper and Ford raced around a corner and attempted to pass a Lotus Elise.
You can see I'm in no shape for driving.
Anyway, I've got no place to go.
The TVR and Lamborghini jockeyed for position as they passed Mann's Chinese Theater.
And you know it might not be that bad.
You were the best I'd ever had.
The BMW and Porsche raced down a street and turned down a hill. The two cars raced down the hill, catching air at every rise. The Jaguar followed and it too went flying.
If I hadn't blown the whole thing years ago,
I might not be alone.
The Viper raced down another street in the suburbs. The traffic light at the next intersection suddenly went from green to yellow.
Tomorrow, we can drive around this town,
and let the cops chase us around.
"You're not gonna make it. You're not gonna make it. You're not gonna make it." muttered Richard.
"Watch me." said Bob. He tore through the intersection just as the light turned red.
The past is gone, but something might be found
to take its place.
Hey, Jealousy.
-"Hey, Jealousy" by the Gin Blossoms
Behind him, brakes squealed.
"Oh, hell no!" yelled Avery as he slammed on the brakes. The Lamborghini, TVR, and Porsche slid to a halt at the stop line.
"Whoa!" yelled Chris as he did the same. The Ford GT came to a stop right behind the TVR. The NSX next to him wasn't able to stop in time and rear-ended the Porsche.
At the back of the pack, Charlie saw the mass of brake lights and panicked, just like fifteen years earlier. He swerved to avoid a collision and steered into a lot where a crew was putting up a modular house.
"Don't worry!" he yelled. "I got it! I got it!"
Beverley screamed as Charlie steered towards the house. Workers ran out of the way as Charlie careened towards a pile of dirt.
Charlie let out a terrified scream of his own as the BMW hit the pile of dirt and flew into the open side of the module being set into place. The car smashed through the picture window on the other side and hit the ground hard. Charlie steered back onto the street and returned to the race.
The Viper raced by the jailhouse and Richard yelled "Free Spencer!"
Spencer looked out at them and said "Good luck, you two."
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At the hotel, Dayton was just getting ready to leave for Albany.
"The car is on its way, Mr. Albany." he said into his cel phone. "There's been a slight change of plans. Our normal delivery driver, Cali, was arrested for a fight and we had to use our getaway driver, Dallas."
His client asked him a question.
"Well, we needed aliases and I thought the names of our hometowns would work best." explained Dayton. "Dallas, of course is from Dallas. Our con man, Cisco, is from San Francisco. Cali is also from San Francisco, so we called him Cali after California."
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"Just a second." said Dayton. He went to the door and opened it. He was forced onto the bed by a group of police officers.
"James Reynolds of Dayton, Ohio?" asked the inspector at the back of the pack. "This is Inspector Clifton of the LAPD! You're under arrest for multiple counts of grand theft auto and conspiracy to commit!"
"How did you find me?" asked Dayton, shocked and bewildered.
"We recognized your partner's face from the Porsche dealership's security camera." explained Clifton. "After realizing we had him in our custody, we checked his story and thought it was worth a try. He had the key to this room, so we knew where to go. As I was saying, you have the right to remain silent..."
"Okay, but if I'm going down, I'm not going alone." said Dayton.
"Meaning?" asked Clifton.
"You're gonna faint." said Dayton.
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Outside the city, a Mercedes SL600 raced through a turn while a Corvette slipped past it.
I'm gonna get free.
I'm gonna get free.
I'm gonna get free.
Ride into the sun.
On another highway, a Ferrari 360 Modena made quick work of an Aston Martin DB7.
She never loved me.
She never loved me.
She never loved me.
Why should anyone?
-"Get Free" by the Vines
On yet another highway, a Nissan Skyline was holding a solid race position until the TVR obliterated it.
"Ha! So much for the street racer set." said Karen.
"You're right, this is a worthwhile diversion." said Tara.
"So, why do you want to beat this guy so badly?" asked Karen.
"Because I drove over three thousand kilometers to make this deal and I'm not going to let him get one over on me." said Tara. "What does he think? He can short-change me just because I'm from Canada? Come on, we're not all MacKenzie Brothers."
"Or sisters." said Karen. "I think they're jealous because we invented hockey."
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"Why do you want to beat this chick so badly?" asked Toby.
"Because I drove over two thousand miles to make this deal and I'm not going to let her get one over on me." said Avery. "What does she think? She can overcharge me just because I'm from the U.S? Come on, we're not all potential Fear Factor contestants."
"I think they're jealous because we invented baseball." said Toby.
"Which they're kicking our butts at." said Avery.
"Oh yeah." said Toby. "Good point."
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On Interstate 15 in the Cajon Canyon, the BMW raced along.
"So you're the guy who stole Leo's girl." said Beverley.
"Well, I wouldn't say stole." said Charlie. "Three-thousand miles is a long time together. You tend to form friendships well."
"Look, whatever it was you did to Tiffany, don't try it." said Beverley. "I'm not in the mood."
"Boy, you're a barrel of laughs, aren't you?" said Charlie.
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Beverley.
"Oh, oh, nothing." stammered Charlie.
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Somewhere in the Mojave Desert, the Porsche's turbocharged flat-six broke the early morning silence.
"So, how bad was the bumper?" asked Pippa.
"Badly dented, but holding on." said Dallas. "That Acura really wacked us."
"Think that's going to be a problem with our client?" asked Pippa.
"It shouldn't." said Dallas. "I mean how much can it cost to fix a Porsche?"
"Have you ever actually BOUGHT a car?" asked Pippa.
The Porsche's engine roar was joined by the roar of a V-10 as the Viper pulled alongside. Bob honked the horn and attracted Dallas' attention.
"Hey, why doncha take a taxi?" asked Richard. "You'll get there faster!"
"You gonna take that from him?" asked Pippa.
"Nope." said Dallas as he slammed the Porsche into its next gear.
The Porsche surged into action and began to pass the Viper. Bob responded by flooring the accelerator.
The battle between the German and American road rockets continued up to one hundred and eighty miles per hour.
The Viper started to take a lead as a turn came up. "Watch this turn." warned Richard.
The Viper careened through the turn as the rear tires chirped. The Porsche flew into the turn and immediately started to spin. Dallas tried feverishly to correct.
The Viper raced past a billboard just past the turn. Little did Bob realize, a California State Trooper was hiding behind the billboard with a radar gun. He clocked the Viper at a hundred and eighty-four.
"Better call a roadblock." said the Trooper as he picked up his radio. "No way I'm catching up with him."
Dallas managed to correct the Porsche's spin and straighten the car out. Unfortunately, he sent the car racing towards the billboard.
The Trooper looked in the direction of the Porsche's engine roar and his jaw dropped.
The Porsche slammed into the billboard, knocking it down. While the Porsche plowed nose-first into the ground, the billboard fell over onto the patrol car.
The Porsche raced back onto the highway as the Trooper crawled from the wreckage of his cruiser.
"I'll tell you one thing for sure." said Pippa. "We now have a front bumper to match the rear one."
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The Jaguar cruised along I-40 out of Needles.
"Alec, would you quit your whining?" growled Vic.
"Why did you make us go this way?" asked Alec.
"It's the more direct way." said Vic. "What's wrong with it?"
"The other way goes through Vegas." said Alec.
"We're not in this race to do some gambling." said Vic. "We're here to win again."
Just then, a loud roar sounded as the Ford GT raced past them.
"What was that? What was that?" squealed Alec.
"Competition!" yelled Vic. "Waste 'em!"
Alec floored his accelerator and tried to pass the Ford.
"Chrisman, we've got company." said Peter.
"No problem, we work for the company." said Chris as he poured it on.
Alec continued to floor it in his passing attempt.
"Keep it going! Keep it going, Alec!" ordered Vic. When they were next to the Ford, Vic rolled down his window and yelled "Jaguar owns this road!"
"And Ford owns Jaguar!" retorted Chris.
Vic rolled up his window as Alec made one last attempt to pass the Ford.
"Come on, Alec!" yelled Vic. "He's on the ropes!"
"Nightie night!" yelled Chris as he upshifted and left the Jaguar in the proverbial dust.
"Alec!" yelled Vic. "You had him!"
"Vic?" said Alec as he crossed the Arizona state line. "Shut up!"
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AN:As always, I invite you to leave a review.