Speed Racer: Racers
[Intro Music]
Chapter I: The Derby
"Pops, do you need help?" Speed knocked on the garage door.
"Everything is okay, Speed! Sparky and I are doing well, don't worry!" Pops answered through the garage door.
"Okay, just tell me if you need anything!" Speed said as he walked away, "Pops has been in the garage for almost a week straight aside from dinner and sleep." Speed thought as he went outside where Spritle was playing with Chim Chim. "Hey, Spritle! Whatcha doin'?" Speed greeted.
"Hi, Speedy!" Spritle replied, revealing a Mach 5 toy, "Chim Chim and I are working on a project!"
"Oh yeah?" Speed looked over and saw crude blueprints that Spritle drew with colored pencils and crayons, "What this?" Speed asked.
"Well, I know you've been busy, but there's a soap-box race that I want to enter and I wanna build the Mach 5." Spritle said.
"Oh? What race is it, I didn't hear about a derby?"
"It's the 38th Annual Snow Cap Derby, did you race in it?"
Speed was filled with nostalgia and smiled, "I forgot about the Snow Cap Derby, I've been so focused on my professional career that it left my mind. I won two of the three I entered. Slick crashed me out on my second one because I won my first derby by a couple of inches."
"So, can you help me, Speed? The derby is in a week and I really want to enter." Spritle pleaded.
"Well, my soapbox car should be in the garage. If we can get this done in time, you should consider yourself lucky." Speed knelt down and picked up Spritle's blueprints, "But why the Mach 5? Most soap box derby cars are small open wheelers." Speed asked.
"It would still be one seat, but the Mach 5's front-end is so big that it would give me a weight advantage going downhill. The only problem would be the corner." Spritle explained.
"I'm surprised you thought this out so much." Speed patted his brother on the head.
"Thanks." Spritle accepted, sheepishly.
Speed examined the blueprints, "Maybe we could remedy the handling around the corners. I'll have to see, though. But right now, I'm gonna head in the garage and get my derby car so we can get it cleaned up."
"Alright, Speed! Thanks for helping me." Spritle hugged Speed.
"You got it Spritle, I'm up for anything as long as it isn't you causing trouble." Speed laughed as he went to the garage door and knocked again.
"Yes, Speed?" Pops asked.
"Hey Pops, I gotta break out my Snow Cap Derby car."
"What on Earth for?"
"Spritle wants to race in the derby."
Heavy footsteps came closer and closer as Pops poked his head through the door, "Are you sure that it isn't some scam, Speed? Your brother has a habit of causing trouble."
"It seems sincere to me, look at these." Speed handed Pops the blueprints.
"Well, I'll be. Do you want some help with this? I could build this wooden shell in no-time."
"Are you sure, Pops? You seem busy."
"I could use a break." Pops smiled, "Hold on." Pops went back into the garage to cover up whatever he was working on before opening the garage door.
"Wow!" Spritle exclaimed as Pops rolled out Speed's old derby car, it was open-wheeled and cylindrical, it was painted white with a red "5" painted on the side, as well as the essential "M" logo on the front.
"Well, let's see what we're working with." Pops said, as he unclipped the ultra-light body of the car and lifted it, revealing the wooden skeleton of the derby car. Pops stroked his mustache, "Well if we're gonna make a Mach 5 version, we gotta connect the new body to the chassis."
"Can you do it, Pops?" Spritle asked hands clasped, praying that it could be done.
Pops leaned down to his son's level and smiled, "I build the best racing cars in the world, a Snow Cap Derby car isn't gonna bring your ol' Pops down!"
"Yay!" Spritle cheered as Speed went back inside to ask his mom if his old gear was still around. As Speed walked passed the garage, he saw Pops' project and the biggest thing he noticed was two massive rear wings holding the tarp up as he went inside of the house.
Moments later, Speed walked out with denim overalls, brown leather gloves, and kid-sized racing boots, "Here you go, Spritle." Speed said, handing Spritle the clothes, "These are what I wore back when I was in the derby. Now it's your turn." he said as he also revealed a white helmet with a red stripe going down it and leather goggles.
Spritle's eyes widened as he took the helmet and goggles, holding them close to him, "I'll make you proud, Speed. I promise!" Spritle said as the sun started to go down and the Racers retired for the night.
Chapter II: Pops Racer's New Project
The next day, Speed, Pops, and Spritle, dressed in his hand-me-down racing gear went outside and brought the derby car with them. It was a very productive day, as Spritle was fitted for a seat, and as Pops got materials to fabricate the new body and frame according to the Snow Cap Derby regulations, Speed, Trixie, and Spritle went atop the hill with the car to test it out. "Welcome to Snow Cap Hill, Spritle. The last time you were here, you were only a baby." Speed said as Spritle peered down the hill that got steeper and steeper before going into a right turn.
"Boy, Speed, are you sure it's safe?" Spritle said, not realizing how steep Snow Cap Hill really was.
"I'm sure, especially when I'm around. You got your lucky socks?" Speed asked and Spritle lifted his pant leg to show is bright red socks, "Good. You'll be fine. Trixie is down there, she set up cones that represent the right and left chicane that the race will have this weekend and she'll wave the checkers when you finish." Speed smiled.
"Okay…" Spritle got into the derby car and Speed closed a hatch on him, leaving only his head sticking out.
Speed knelt down to his brother's level, "Everything in the car was changed this morning, okay? New brakes, new wheels, new steering rack, everything. Trust the car, trust the team and trust yourself. That's how I win, and that's how you'll win." Speed said, tightening Spritle's helmet properly. "My advice for the corner is, don't slam the brakes, only go firm on the brakes and turn into the corner, let off of the brakes and let the gravity carry you out of the corner. Once you are, you'll reach the chicane, according to the map, you won't need to touch your brakes, just don't whip the steering wheel around and you'll be fine to the finish."
"Okay, Speed. I'm ready." Spritle said as Speed pushed the derby car down the hill. It felt like a rollercoaster dive as the car picked up speed, going down the hill. Spritle's heart beat faster and faster the more speed he picked up, but as he approached the corner, his fear overcame him and all of the advice Speed gave went out the window as Spritle jammed the brakes and flung the wooden car into the corner!
"Oh no!" Speed winced as Spritle spun out off of the road and into the grass which turned the derby car on its side. Speed and Trixie ran up to Spritle as he clambered out of the derby car, "Are you okay, Spritle?"
Spritle looked at Speed with tears welling up in his eyes, "I'm sorry, Speed. I got scared and panicked."
"That's fine, Spritle. We all get scared, especially when it's your first time going fast like that." Speed went to the soapbox car and put it on its wheels, "Come on. You're gonna try again until you don't feel scared anymore."
"Are you sure, Speed? It's one thing to be scared, it's another to crash on your first time." Trixie said.
"We've got to, or else we won't be able to enter the race. Spritle will never be able to race, period if he can't get over his fear of going fast." Speed returned, lifting the front of the car, "Let's go, Spritle." he said as he and Spritle walked back up the hill.
Throughout the day and into the evening, Spritle faced trials and tribulations as he tried as hard as he could to control the car going downhill. He just had a problem with the first corner, braking too early or too hard being chief among his problems; sending him into spins or going into the turn too slowly. But going into the chicane he went left and right without a problem, but his times weren't up to par. At this rate, Spritle wouldn't be able to make it to the final.
When they got home, the Racers had dinner where Speed have Spritle more tips about driving and then he went to put the derby car back in the garage where to his surprise, Pops was waiting for him, "Pops?" Speed asked, putting the car down.
"So, you were pretty hard on Spritle today, huh, Speed?"
"He wants to win, you have to be tough to win races."
"I guess I should expect as much from a son of mine… and as a son of mine, I assume you're curious about my secret project and are itching to investigate it." Speed didn't know what exactly to say as Pops walked over to the tarp and pulled it revealing a car that sent shivers down Speed's spine. It had a shorter front than the Mach 5, but still had the trademark triple prongs on the front, it had a skinny mid-section with a single seat fitted in the middle of the car, and had a massive rear end with huge tail-wings. The stance of the car was super-aggressive, the wheels and tires were perfectly flush with the wheel wells. There were two huge air intakes in front of the rear wheels for brake cooling, two big intakes above those for the assumably massive mid-mounted engine, and there were bizarre, yellow-painted rectangular areas on the skirts of the car. "I call her the Mach 5-X. The ultimate expression of speed, the ultimate expression of racing." Pops announced.
"Pops… what on Earth is this for? This can't be legal in endurance and rally, the WRL barely wants to accept the Mach 5 as it is!"
"Well, Speed. I haven't told you since you've been helping Spritle, but a man named, Sal Diamond invited us, and many other teams to race in an experimental race called the Diamond Super Prix. The track is under construction as we speak, and it involves racing we've never dreamed of before, loops, corkscrews, it's like driving on a massive toy car track and only a car like the Mach 5-X can take the stress."
"But Pops, for a car to navigate a track like that… it would have to be faster than the GRX!"
"Well, let me explain why people fainted behind the wheel of that car. It was all in the torque, it pulled almost infinitely and the G-forces were so intense that they would cause the driver to faint. Yes, the car was fast, but it had no curve so it spiked and kept pulling until the engine couldn't go any faster. In the Mach 5-X, despite the top speed being 555 mph, possibly faster, it won't constantly pull you, and it has special safety features installed like a jet so you won't be overwhelmed with g's."
"Why would you agree to enter me into such a race, though?"
"Because Speed… if you win that race, our family is financially secure forever. The winnings are huge, bigger than any other race in history."
"But I've been winning consistently over the season! We're in contention to be world champions again, we don't have to race in something that dangerous!"
"Son, I'd never ask you to race in a race like this if it wasn't important. Besides, look over here…" Pops led Speed over to look in the cockpit of the car, "...I'm installing safety abilities in the 5-X, just like the Mach 5. I'd never let you race without a safety net, Speed."
"I dunno, Pops. I'm sure you thought this would be an instant hit with me and you went through all the trouble, but I wasn't involved in the construction, you and Sparky didn't tell me anything and this is something big to spring on someone. I dunno, Pops... I have to think about this."
"Alright, Speed. We'll install the new body and frame on Spritle's car tomorrow. Have a good rest." Pops sighed as Speed went back to his room.
Chapter III: Spritle's Mach 6?
The next morning, Spritle woke up to the sight of Pops and Speed putting the new body on the car. It turned out sleeker than he had expected, but he didn't mind one bit as he ran to his new car, "Wow, I can't believe it! This is amazing!" Spritle jeered.
Speed laughed, "Isn't it great? Even I'm impressed."
"I wanna go to Snow Cap Hill right now and test it out!"
"Not before breakfast, boys." Mom Racer said, gleefully watching the three get excited over the completion of Spritle's car.
As they ate, Speed asked, "What color are you gonna paint it?"
"I'm not." Spritle answered.
"You're not?" Speed responded, surprised.
"No. I don't want to add any more weight than there has to be, so I'm just gonna paint a number."
"You sound like some kind of engineer, Spritle. Not wanting to paint the car to save weight." Pops said.
"I read about it working for some people, that they polished the raw surface of the car and that helped make it faster!" Spritle defended.
"Alright, so we'll paint on your number and polish the rest." Speed said as they continued to eat until they could go work on the car again.
In the garage, Pops handed Speed and Spritle masks, templates, and spray paint, "Whatever you want, Spritle." he said.
Spritle looked at the templates and paint. He took the red paint and blue paint and placed a circle template on the hood of the car and painted it red, then painting a bright blue "6" over it. He did the same to the sides, and left it at that, "Perfect." Spritle said as Pops got sanding materials and polish, making the wood surface as smooth as humanly possible.
"I think it should be ready to test." Pops said as he and Speed loaded the car up on a truck and left to Snow Cap Hill.
When there, they set up at the top of the hill, "Alright, Spritle, I meddled with your brakes again, they shouldn't lay on as heavy as they did yesterday and remember my pointers." Spritle nodded, this time with confidence as Speed pushed him down the hill. Spritle felt that familiar feeling in his gut as he went down and gathered a ton of speed. This time, he accelerated faster thanks to the added weight by the new body of the car and the smooth polish of the wood. When he came to that difficult corner, he lightly pressed the brakes and turned in best he could, but the car broke loose and spun sideways. Speed placed his hands on his hips and sighed as Spritle made his way back up.
Luckily, his brother did in fact, improve upon his times from the previous day by a considerable amount. When he was able to keep the car on the track, he was totally fine, even possibly able to make it into the final… but something still felt off about the car. When the Racers packed up for the day and went home, Spritle remembered how he's seen Speed be so assertive with Pops and Sparky when it came to the Mach 5 so he tried his hand at leading. "Something still makes me uncomfortable with the car." Spritle said.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Well, the car is having trouble in the hairpin, it's too tight for a car this heavy to complete the turn. I might need more downforce."
"How do you know anything about aerodynamics?" Pops scoffed.
"By watching you guys for so long. I don't know anything, but I think if we bridge the gap between the rear fins and make them into a spoiler, I can slow the car down sooner, and even take that corner faster."
Speed and Pops looked at each other in surprise, then looked back at Spritle, "How long have you known about this kind of engineering, Spritle?" Speed asked.
"Oh, a long time. Ever since Speed started racing professionally." Spritle answered.
"It's only been a little over a year…" Speed thought, "...Okay, we'll try that." Speed said as they went home and unloaded the car.
"Alright, Spritle, time to take a bath and have dinner." Pops said as Spritle ran into the house, greeted by Chim Chim.
"Pops… I think Spritle is much more than he lets on."
"I agree, Speed. Your younger brother may just turn out to be an engineer." Pops said the thought of Spritle as an accomplished engineer made him proud, but he shook it off since Spritle was still just a kid, "Come on Speed. Let's add a spoiler." Pops said, grabbing a grinder. They ground the fins flat, and made them low-profile, then taking a plank and rounding the front, and thinning it out at the back, optimizing the piece of wood as much as possible before sanding and polishing it and placing it at the rear of the car. Pops and Speed rubbed the sweat from their brows and smiled, "She's ready." Pops said looking upon Spritle's "Mach 6".
Chapter IV: The 38th Annual Snow Cap Derby
The excitement in the morning was palpable as Spritle Racer got up extra early in the morning and got ready for the big Snow Cap Derby that was only a few hours away. As he ran to the kitchen, his family was waiting for him, "Spritle, you're up already?" Speed questioned in surprise.
"Yep! I'm all ready for my first race!" Spritle announced proudly.
"Winners aren't ready without breakfast, Spritle." Mom laughed, patting Spritle on the head as she went to prepare a meal for them before the race.
"We're definitely gonna win, right Chim Chim?" Spritle asked the pet chimpanzee who clapped in hand gleefully.
"Spritle, while mom gets breakfast ready, why don't I show you the modification to your car?" Pops said, leading Spritle into the garage and flicking the light on. There it was, Spritle's 'Mach 6' complete with a brand new rear wing. Spritle walked to the rear of his derby car and inspected the new aerodynamic piece, looking at how it thinned out and wept back, he smiled and gave Pops a thumb up, indicating that it was ready for action.
"Hey Spritle, come here, I've gotta talk with you about something very important."
"What is it, Speed?" Spritle asked, leaving the garage.
"Well, you've gotta learn the bracket structure of the race." Speed said, patting a spot next to him on the couch, opening the Snow Cap Derby manual, "Alright, Spritle, this year 20 cars have entered the derby. The bracket is quite simple, 4 sets of 5 cars will go down the hill in heat races. The top 3 of each heat will move on to a 6-car semi-final, where the top 2 of the semi-finals will face off in the 4-car final." Speed illustrated, drawing an interpretation on a sticky note.
"Wow, the first races are gonna be hard with so many cars." Spritle said.
"That's right, it'll get crowded around the hairpin for sure. Just be careful and make sure you hit your marks. The new rear wing will help you in the hairpin for sure, so I don't want to hear that you got scared." Speed coached.
"I won't be scared, Speed. I'll win!" Spritle exclaimed.
"Boys? Breakfast!" Mom called as the Racers all had a breakfast together before packing into the truck and leaving for the hill.
As they arrived, they saw that Trixie and Sparky were waiting for them, "Hey, Spritle! Ready to race?" Sparky asked.
"You bet, Sparky, I'm gonna win the race for sure!" Spritle said as they unloaded his car.
"Speed told us you had a lot of input in the design." Trixie joined.
"I did, I wanted the car to be as smooth as possible for sped, but the wing will help me slow down since I'm already heavier than most of the cars here." Spritle expounded.
"Wow, you really were paying attention when you watched me and Pops work on the Mach 5, huh?" Sparky marveled.
Spritle smiled as Trixie added, "Well, win or lose, we're all very proud of you, Spritle."
"Thanks." Spritle said sheepishly, not being used to any praise whatsoever.
"Racers to the starting line for heat 1! Cars #1-5!" The announcer said.
"Alright, Spritle, get in your car, we're loading the next heat as soon as the first race goes." Speed said, ushering Spritle over to the start gate, "Now watch." Speed instructed as the gate opened, releasing 5 derby cars down the steep hill! Two of the five cars got far ahead, but applied their brakes too late, causing them to hit the curb on the outside of the hairpin, disabling their cars as the remaining 3 didn't fight to win and rolled smoothly across the finish.
"Cars 1,3, and 4 make it to the Semi-final! Cars 6-10 please line up!"
Spritle gulped as his car was pushed right against the gate, "You got your socks on?" Speed asked.
Spritle looked up at his big brother, whom he idolized and gave a smile and a thumb up as the flagman readied the green flag, then waving it, the gates shot open fast like in a horse race, unleashing the derby cars! Spritle accelerated fastest because of the weight advantage going downhill, but the wing slowed him down more than he expected, allowing the others to gain ground! The 7 and 10 cars passed him up, but it was okay since he was still in contention to get through. As they approached the hairpin, though, Spritle was able to brake later than everyone and gain a lot of ground as the number 8 spun behind him! As they began their final descent, the 9 car passed him, putting Spritle's #6 out of contention! But Spritle got lucky because as they approached hay bales that were being used to indicate the chicane, the #9 cut the turn too close causing his right front wheel to collide with the hay, snapping it off and allowing Spritle to pass him and remain in the race!
"Cars 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 10 make it to the big semi-final round!" the announcer said as Spritle got out of his car.
"That was something else, Speed!" Spritle said.
"It was! Good job, Spritle! But now comes the toughest heat of the race, only 2 of six cars from your semi-final will make it, so we gotta find out a new plan."
"New plan?" Spritle asked as he and Speed brought the car back up to the hilltop.
"Well, if the 9 didn't make that mistake you would've lost. You broke too hard into the turn."
"So what do I do, Speed?" Spritle asked as the next ten cars had their races.
"Well, the wing gives you more leverage, it's basically using the air to slow you down, you know that. So just be lighter on the brakes before you hit the corner and then just let gravity do the rest." Speed said as they made it to the top of the hill with the six remaining racers from the first group.
"Hey, Spritle!" One kid called out.
Spritle looked over and sighed, "What is it, Summer?" Spritle asked. Summer Kidd was a nasty girl in Spritle's class who regularly picked on him, she drove the #1 car in the derby.
"How is your car not illegal?" she asked, pointing at the derby car.
"We really pushed the boundaries with the rules. We didn't break any, though. Maybe it's because my Pops and Speed are just better than you and your dad at building cars!" Spritle boasted.
"That may be true, but are you a better driver than me?" Summer taunted.
"You bet I am!" Spritle protested, "I drove Prince Jam's junior formula car last year in a big race, and I have the best coach in the world!"
"I heard you crashed Prince Jam's car. Although, I'll take note that the World Champion has been coaching you." Summer said as she walked back to her #1 car, "Oh, Spritle!" she added, turning back to look at him with a smirk, "Try not to crash into me with that lumbering car, would you?"
"Oh, you bet, I'll smash you." Spritle growled under gritted teeth.
Speed put his hand on Spritle's shoulder, "She's messing with you. It's all mind games, she wants you to get mad and make a mistake, don't let that happen."
"Alright, I'll try not to be angry." Spritle said.
"Cars 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, and 20 make it to the second semi-final! Cars 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 10 please line up at the gate!" The announcer said as all of the cars lined up in numerical order. The crowd comprised mostly of families cheered as the cars were locked in.
"Remember, don't give in, and brake lighter and later. Use the wing to your advantage." Speed said, helping Spritle buckle up.
"You got it, brother." Spritle said as his Mach 6 was lined up at the start. The flagman dropped the flag and the gates went down, the pack was almost even, but Spritle's weight pushed him way ahead again.
Speed ran down the hill, watching the race, but he saw something bad about to happen, four of the six cars were really bunching up, which could've ended up badly for Spritle and as the four cars passed Spritle as the hill began to flatten Speed shouted, "Spritle, brake now!"
"Huh?" Spritle was barely able to hear, but he heard Speed yelling 'brake' and when Spritle hit the brakes, cars 3, 4, 7, and 10 went four abreast into the corner and smashed together in the tight hairpin in spectacular fashion! Summer had no problems finishing first after that, and when Spritle saw a small gap, the Mach 6 derby car rolled slowly around the wreckage before catching the dip of the next hill. "Darn! I haven't been able to win a race yet without being lucky!" Spritle thought to himself as he went through the fast left and right turns around the hay and through to the final.
"The #1 and #6 cars move on to the four-car final!" The announcer said.
"Lucky finish, Spritle. You're also lucky Speed was there to help you, or you woulda crashed." Summer boasted, walking up to Spritle and Speed.
"Just you watch, Summer. There's one more left for us to go, and it's the only one I gotta win." Spritle said as he and Sped reset again. "Thanks, Speedy." Spritle appreciated.
"No problem, Spritle. But now, you know what you've gotta do, and that Summer girl is gonna race you real hard, I can tell. How'd you meet her anyway?"
"Well, it was kinda my fault, to be honest." Spritle admitted.
"Your fault?"
"Yeah. Chim Chim threw a 'cookie' in her hair and instead of saying sorry, I laughed at her. She's been pretty sore at me ever since."
Speed facepalmed, "Oh, Spritle."
"Look, she's been really mean to me since that day, so I don't feel like saying sorry!"
"You should, though. Trust me, enemies aren't worth it... especially when they're committed to making your life difficult."
"I guess… but not until after the race is over."
"Alright, just promise me that you will, okay?"
"I promise."
"Good boy." Speed smirked.
The announcer rang out again, "Cars 13 and 16 will move on the final race against cars 1 and 6! Who will win the 38th Annual Snow Cap Derby! You'll just have to wait and find out after the intermission!"
Chapter V: The Final
As the Racers ate lunch during the intermission, Sparky motioned to Speed and Trixie over by a tree next to the derby tracks, "So, about the Mach 5-X…" he started, but Speed interrupted.
"I don't know, Sparky. Seriously, I don't know. The Stunt Car Grand Prix sounds too dangerous."
"Stunt Car Grand Prix?" Trixie butted into the conversation.
"Yeah, Pops and Sparky built a Mach 5 faster than the GRX so it can hit loops, corkscrews, and big jumps."
"What? That sounds too dangerous!" Trixie said.
"Whoa, it's not that simple! The winnings from this race will cover everyone for a very, very long time, and Speed is the only one with enough talent to control a car like the 5-X! Besides, we added special safety features so you don't get hurt and can escape trouble!"
Speed put his hands on his hips and looked to the ground in thought, "I don't you, you guys. I don't know. I'd have to drive the 5-X first to get a feel for how it is, and I'd have to see the track." Speed said.
"The Final Race begins in 5 minutes, drivers to the gate, please!" the announcer said.
"I've got a lot of thinking to do, Sparky. That's all I can say right now."
"Okay, Speed. I understand." Sparky sighed as they made their way back to the hilltop where the race officials set up a ramp, escalating the slots in order to launch the cars faster. Further down the hill, past the left/right chicane, they set up a small ramp to try and get cars airborne before the finish.
Speed helped Spritle walk to Mach 6 up the ramp, "Golly, Speed, I didn't expect the ramp and the jump at the bottom." Spritle said nervously.
"Don't worry about it Spritle… maybe the wing will help even more now, we'll have to see. Just remember what I said about the hairpin, get through that and you'll be just fine." Speed said as he and Spritle looked over at Summer's car, "It's so light, I wonder if it can handle the jump at the end." Speed thought as the Mach 6 was locked into the starting gate. Spritle let out a deep breath, "I know that feeling…" Speed chuckled, "...just keep your head in the game and you'll win, Spritle. Show these kids what the Racers are made of." he encouraged before leaving the ramp and joining the crowd below.
"Welcome to the end of the 38th Annual Snow Cap Derby! Your finalists are Summer Kidd in the #1, she's the reigning champion of this race and she's not gonna start backing down now! Spritle Racer in the #6, Spritle is the 3rd of Pops Racer's sons to enter the Derby, will he also be the 3rd son to win the race? #13 of Burt Wheeler jr., Burt's father races in GTE Le Mans Series competition and is here to make his father proud! Last but not least is #16 driven by Maddy Fast, Maddy has never had any family in racing and plans to be her family's first generation driver! Alright, drivers, are you ready?" The flagman raised the green flag, "3...2...1…...GO!" the announcer called as the gate dropped, releasing the finalists!
Spritle, in the front-heavy Mach 6 was down the ramp and onto the hill in no-time as the other soap-box cars needed more time to catch up. Being the all-around faster car, Summer reached Spritle in no-time! Spritle tried to block her as the turn was coming up, but she went to the left of him. "Now for my little secret." Summer grinned as she reached for a bar located beside her, it was a manual handbrake to help her turn faster, but she knew that if Spritle got his braking correct, he'd pass her regardless… that or they would both crash.
The four cars approached the turn, and Spritle got his braking exactly right, but he was pushed out of line by Summer who was able to pass below him, and as she made her turn, she used her handbrake, forcing her car to go slightly sideways, not allowing Spritle any chance to pass her up, as well as bunching Spritle up with Burt jr. and Maddy! Summer made sure she got her car straight on the exit and began to go down the last part of the hill, she thought she had it won, but Spritle was on her again as soon as gravity took over and his weight was an advantage again! Through the left/right chicane they went, Summer had to slightly apply brakes, but for Spritle, the wing was doing everything for him as he caught up with her and they approached the jump!
"Spritle and Summer are side-by-side coming to the jump! Look at how close they are, will they crash?!" The announcer hyped up the crowd but the families held their breath, Summer's wheel was almost touching the Mach 6, she got as close to Spritle as possible to rattle his cage, but Spritle was a tough kid, he's seen Speed race really dangerous people, and even he had fought fully grown men before and won; so Summer's attempt to intimidate him didn't work at all as they approached the jump! Spritle was just ahead to where Summer's front-right wheel was almost touching Spritle's left-rear until they hit the ramp! The suddenness in which they went airborne, jostled Summer's car too far to the right as it clipped Spritle's wing, cracking it loose and sending Summer's car out of control as it launched so far forward, that all of her car's wheels snapped upon landing! Thanks to Spritle's wing, he wasn't in the air for very long before landing with a *CLUD* and continuing unchallenged across the finish line followed by Burt and Maddy!
"He's done it, folks! Spritle Racer wins the Snow Cap Derby!" Spritle hit the brakes hard and swung the Mach 6 to the right, doing a Racer powerslide, something his brother and even Rex have done after big wins. He unbuckled his belt and there was Speed and company, Speed lifted Spritle in the air and placed him on his shoulders!
"Alright, Spritle! Go, Spritle!" they cheered as they brought Spritle over to the podium, where Spritle was awarded a gold medal and a trophy for his win in the Snow Cap Derby. Spritle looked over and saw Summer, dejected, dragging her derby car to a trailer with her father as they both left. This made the win more bittersweet than anything, but it didn't have to be that way, and Spritle was gonna fix it.
Chapter VI: The Hardest Part
After the group got home from having a celebratory dinner, Spritle looked over and said, "I'll be right back, everyone."
"But Spritle, it's late!" Mom said.
"I know, mom. But I'll be back, I promise!" he said.
Speed leaned over to his mom and whispered the reason in her ear and she smiled, "Well, alright. Just come home right after." she said.
"Thanks, mom!" Spritle acknowledged as he went down the street to Summer's house where the garage was open and he saw Summer sulking in front of her broken derby car.
She looked over and saw Spritle with his hands clasped in front of him she wiped away a tear, "Why're you here? To rub in your win? Go away!"
"No, I wanted to say that I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"I'm sorry for what Chim Chim did, and I'm sorry I didn't apologize sooner. I didn't mean to laugh at you when it happened, I was mean."
Shocked by the sudden apology, Summer thought of what to say, "It made me really mad that day. The other girls pushed me around for weeks afterward."
"I didn't know… I didn't think about that."
"But when I started to try and get revenge on you, you didn't even want to say sorry anymore, is that it?"
"Yeah… but Speed told me that if I didn't apologize soon, then nothing would ever get better."
"He's probably right." she said.
"Can I make it up to you in some way, I'm tired of arguing. I don't want any enemies, I don't think you do, either."
Summer thought again, "I wanna drive your Mach 6 down the hill, and I want you to help me redesign my car so it can do what yours could. It was so light, that there was no way it wasn't going to break upon landing."
Spritle's face lit up, "Sure!" then he looked over to Summer's car, "...and I think I know exactly what this needs." Summer got up and she and Spritle shook hands, agreeing upon a partnership, and maybe someday, even a friendship. But that's a story for another time. Right now, though, we have to question… what's Speed's decision going to be on the Mach 5-X and the Stunt Car Grand Prix? Find out in Part 1 of the next 2-part adventure of… Speed Racer!