Southern Knights
Ok last time I did one of very few building chapters I have ever written. Takumi, Ryosuke, and Keisuke watched videos of Kenneth's races back in SC on his home course.
Kenneth then warned Takumi about the race. But now it is time for to legends to face off on the downhill.
Chapter 23: Legends Collide
The Members of the Southern Knights sat waiting at the summit of Mount Akina as the crowds built up. Richard stood next to his gold 1967 Chevelle Malibu SS prepping for the race against Ryosuke Akagi's White Comet.
"You ready Richard?" asked Brandon as he leaned against his black 1967 Camaro RS.
"I'm Fine but what about you are you ready for the uphill against Keisuke?" asked Richard as he patted the hood of the Chevelle.
Kenneth sat on a bench with Salina as she held Kizuna. Kenneth then looked up at the 1970 Porsche 914/4 that he had gotten shipped over that week. Salina was worried but Kenneth was infact calmed by the presents of the 914/4.
The sound of Project D heading up the pass was almost a fear tactic to most racers but to the Southern knights it was instinctive for the race.
As Project D pull up Kenneth's Racing aura became stronger. "It is time…" said Kenneth as he stood and greeted Project D. The 86 was going to have to wait just like the 914 first to race would be Richard and the Chevelle vs. Ryosuke and the FC3S.
The Chevelle roared to life as the 454ci LS-6 V8 revved and pulled to the line followed by the FC.
The count down was short and sweet.
"5!"
"4!"
"3!"
"2!"
"1!"
"GO!"
The two cars tore off the start with the Chevelle using its torque to pull ahead before the first turn. As the Chevelle entered the turn in a powerful out-in-out style drift the FC held back and watched as the Chevelle moved though the pass with on room for error.
The Chevelle accelerated out of the corner as the FC used its light weight to stay with the monstrous American classis muscle car. Richard was pushing the Chevelle to the limits of control in his defensive drift style but if he got passed by going to slow he would never regain the lead.
Realizing this Richard's Block style became much more of an aggressive run than a calm block. The 454ci V8 was pushed to within an inch of its life as Richard dived in to corner after corner with the FC right on his tail.
Inside the FC Ryosuke was calmly drifting through the turns holding the Chevelle in his sights.
Turn after turn Richard pushed as he forced the heavy metal body of the Chevelle around the turns the tires began to suffer.
The Chevelle braked hard as it entered the first set of S turns using a full grip style and the torque in the hand build LS-6 454ci V8 to shoot out of the corner while the FC kept up speed thought the turn.
The powerful Chevelle's weakness was showing badly.
"This early in the race and you tires are already starting to loose grip that's a shame." Said Ryosuke as he followed the Chevelle into the next tight right. The Chevelle slide wider but was still showing that it could be pushed harder.
As the two cars ran the high speed section the Chevelle began to play into a trap set by Ryosuke as soon as he saw the tires wear down really fast.
Richard was pushing his Chevelle as hard as he dared as he entered the U turn at the end of the high speed section. The Chevelle slide out to wide to corner safely. But the 454 roared at full bore. Richard knew one thing. that this was his time to shin his time to show everything he had. Suddenly the tension left Richards body as his movements became very smooth but fast. As the Chevelle entered the first hairpin the revs suddenly rose as Richard downshifted and forced the car to slide and fall into the gutter.
The curb weight of 2025kg of the Chevelle was forcing Richard to drive like a surgeon very carefully while the worn tires forced him to race like his roots in rally with a 1970 Dodge Charger 440 R/T. the Chevelle wasn't loosing speed infact it was gaining speed around every turn…
The Chevelle had managed to keep its lead through Akina's deadly hairpins. But it was not smooth in any since of the word. The heavy Chevelle was not built for the pass not built for taking turns at the speeds that Richard pushed it through the turns.
As the Two cars Exited onto the short straight-away near the end of the downhill the Chevelle shot forward as an insane 175mph….
The FC couldn't stay with the Chevelle on the strait but when the Chevelle entered the next turn the FC made its move.
The Chevelle slide to wide to block the FC from passing on the inside. The FC slid through with no room for error while the Chevelle powered wide exiting the turn even with the FC.
Richard then used a counter attack maneuver to regain the lead on then exit bend.
"Come on! Just hold on!" Yelled Richard as he pushed into the next turn the rear of the Chevelle sliding out back into a defensive style. All Richard had to do was block him for the next two turn and he would win.
The Chevelle slide in hard again but this time it was very smooth. Ryosuke was struggling to find a place to pass. "Only one more turn…" said Ryosuke as he saw the Chevelle Make a vital error.
Richard had pushed the tires to hard and the Chevelle under steered. Richard hit the brakes hard and corrected but it was to late the FC had passed him and already took off for the win.
The Chevelle pulled up behind the FC and the 454 LS-6 V8 died out the Sound of another 13B and a 350cl V8 could be heard cranking.
Richard exited his car and walked up to Ryosuke.
"Well that was by far the hardest race I have had in a long time." Said Richard as he shook Ryosuke's hand.
"Well I must admit you're not a push over yourself. But one question. Why did you Push so hard in an aggressive style instead or blocking?" asked Ryosuke.
"Simple I knew that if I didn't run aggressively you would have passed me and I would never have caught up to you." Said Richard as he leaned against the Chevelle and watched as the black 1967 RS Camaro pull up next to the yellow RX-7 FD3S at the starting line for the uphill.
Richard walked up to the RS Camaro, looked in at Brandon and said, "You ready?"
Brandon simply nodded and revved the 350 V8 in the RS. Next to him Keisuke was mentally prepping himself for the Race. A member of Project D walked out between the cars and began the countdown.
"5!"
"4!"
"3!"
"2!"
"1!"
"GO!"
The rear tires of both the FD and the RS lit up as the cars tore off into the first turn. The RS Camaro taking the lead with ease do to a better start and the acceleration out of the first turn.
The Two cars Roared up the hill with the RS Camaro showing little weaknesses other than the age of the car. The 67 still had Steel for most of the car but the body panels were carbon fiber. The RS was pulling away on every turn with a grip style.
As the RS hit the strait it showed the power of the 350 as it sprinted forward at near 185mph. The Rear of the RS became lighter as the Suspension and brakes took over for the tight hairpin.
As the FD closed in on the RS during the short area between the end of the short strait and the hairpins. As the two cars entered the first hairpin the parallel drifted exiting with the RS still in the lead. Through the hairpins the RS held the lead but only barely.
Back at the summit…
"Well it seems that Keisuke is having problems passing the RS on the uphill." Said Takumi.
"well if the RS is still in the lead when they reach the Skate Strait we might as well stop the race cause the RS has the power advantage from then on." Said Ryosuke with a sigh.
Back on the pass…
The RS used its power to hold the high speed section of the course while the FD fell behind once again. The two cars were amazing but the RS was just plain faster than the FD.
The Rear of the RS suddenly swung hard as the RS began drifting and gaining even more speed. Inside the RS Brandon was calm as normal while he drifted through turn after turn until he reached Skate Strait.
On the strait Brandon let up so the FD could catch him. "Come on it is boring without an opponent." Said Brandon before getting back on the throttle when the FD appeared in his rear view mirror.
The Two cars slid hard into the next set of turns with the FD struggling to keep up with the RS. Around every turn the RS got further and further away from the FD until the final strait where the RS powered forward leaving the FD far behind…
"Well Kenneth it is time…" said Takumi before getting into the AE86 and cranking the 4A-GEU engine.
"Kenneth you be careful." Said Salina as she gave him a good luck kiss.
Kenneth got into the 914/4 and cranked the 1.8L EC 4 cylinder Boxer and pulled up to the line next to the AE86.
The two Cars lined up for the deciding run in Akina.
Down on final turn stood the Blak Nites.
"Well it would seem it is again up to Kenneth on this one." Said Mei
"Well I doubt anyone could beat Kenneth." Said Al
"Well I'm not so sure about that." Said Nik
"I don't think ether of them have an advantage. Kenneth's 914/4 and Takumi's AE86 have about the same power." Said Daylan.
Back at the summit the Countdown on the Race of Akina's legends had began…
"5!"
"4!"
"3!"
"2!"
"1!"
"GO!"
Both the 914 and the 86 shot off the line using the light weight of the cars to the fullest.
As they headed down the initial Strait both cars were neck and neck as they were being pushed to the limit.
The first hard left was coming up fast. The 914 slid into the turn just after the AE86 began its drift. The 914 was using the drift itself to drop speed as he slid. As soon as the 914 hit the apex it pulled along side the AE86 and exited even with it on the strait.
Both Kenneth and Takumi were pushing their cars hard using every advantage that they had. The 914 was using its amazing cornering ability to hold a very tight line around every turn.
Turn after turn the 914 and the 86 would be side by side upon exit. Soon the two amazing cars where on the Skate Strait and pushing hard for the lead. As they entered the next turn Takumi slid in and took the lead but the 914 was still on his tail.
Kenneth and Takumi blasted through the high speed section and toward Akina's Five Deadly hairpins.
The 914 was able to corner faster than the AE86 through the hairpins but not able to pass until the final hairpin.
Kenneth slid with the Drift brake and passed Takumi on the outside with no room for error. As the two cars Exited the 914 had the clear advantage as the two cars hit the short straight-away.
The 914 had gained about a car length as they entered the next turn while the AE86 was loosing speed the 914 was gaining it.
Last turn. Thought both Kenneth and Takumi in unison. Kenneth used the Drift brake again while Takumi used Groove driving #2 and exited even with the 914.
Both cars roared full throttle toward the Finish line ending in a Dead tie. B0th cars Came to a stop and were informed about the exact tie.
"Well Takumi it would seem this will all be settled in SC." Said Kenneth before heading back to the summit.
When he arrived he was approached by Ryosuke about the Next race.
"Kenneth I'm hoping that when we go to SC you don't hold back. I want to see what you are really capable of." said Ryosuke before returning to the FC and driving away with the rest of project D on his tail.
Well there is Chapter 23 next time will be the race in SC I'm currently trying to get a map of the course for the next chapter so it will be easier to understand…
Till next time…