4 - Crash
The season in '54 had been off to a great start and Hudson was still as fast as ever. He hadn't let his guard down and had been working hard to win every race he could. Of course, he didn't win every single one, but he had come quite close.
Today, Hudson was excited. The season was coming to a close, and Hudson only had one more race in the Piston Cup Championship. The race was only a half an hour away, but Hudson didn't feel too nervous. He was ready. He zipped up his dark blue racing suit, still dusty-brown from the last race back at Thomasville. He walked around the pits, looking for his misplaced racing gloves in the pits. He was running out of time and trying to get all his things together as quickly as he could. As he searched along the floor, he bumped into someone. Hudson slowly looked up. It was Smokey, holding the gloves in his hand, with a warm smile on his face.
"You better pull yourself together and get ready for today," he warned, but in a lighthearted way. Hudson took the gloves and thanked him kindly, sliding them onto his hands.
"I'm ready, I promise you, I've never been more ready for this." He gave Smokey a shove and then turned to find his cap and helmet to go over it.
As Hudson grabbed the rest of his gear, Louise, River, and Junior came in. The group of friends had started the tradition of wishing each other luck before the races. They had grown to know each other quite well over the years they had been racing together.
"Stay safe out there, you guys," Hudson said, shaking hands with the boys, and embracing Lou kindly.
"We always do," Junior said. River nodded in agreement.
Lou came over and buckled Hudson's helmet. "Don't get too ambitious," she joked, knowing he would probably pull some crazy stunts again like he always did.
"I'll play it safe," he reminded Lou, flashing her a warm and reassuring smile.
Louise huffed and straightened her jacket. "Good." She pecked his cheek with a quick kiss through the open-faced helmet and then ran off to catch up with Junior and River.
"Good luck!" The group yelled at each other as they scattered out to get in their cars. Smokey pulled Hudson in for a quick side-hug, but Hudson quickly pulled away and headed out to his car, as the pit crew called him. Smokey sighed and put his hands on his hips. He couldn't help but feel proud as he watched Hudson get into his car.
They helped the young racer into the shiny blue Hornet. The car looked just as ready as Hudson did. Its stance was low and fierce, and its shape was smooth and streamlined. It looked as if it was ready to charge out of the pits at any moment. The crew had recently repainted the outside, making the white and yellow letters seemed brighter and more powerful than ever before.
Young Hudson crawled through the window and plopped into the cabin, getting settled in his seat. No, he did not have a seatbelt. None of the racers did. It didn't seem necessary. He looked in front of him. Junior slid into his car and gave his pit crew a thumbs up. They smiled at Junior and stepped back as the racer drove out of the pits. Hudson turned the key and the Hornet's engine sputtered and gurgled to life. The deep rumble shook the ground below it. Anyone standing near the car could feel the rumble in their chest. It was powerful and wonderful. Hudson slowly stepped on the pedal and followed behind him, followed by Lou, River, and the other racers. They prepared themselves by getting into position, engines revving, gurgling, and popping with excitement. This was it. It was time. The anticipation built with every second.
The few moments before the flag seemed like forever to the racers. It seemed like centuries to Hudson. He revved the engine, feeling its power as it rumbled and vibrated his gauges and steering wheel. Finally, a young man raised his hand in the air, waving the bright green flag back and forth. With that, the racers were off. Sand blew everywhere as the tires spun violently, trying to catch their grip and get up to a racing speed. A sudden blast of engine sounds blew down the raceway as all the cars darted off at once. Hudson took the beginning cautiously and anticipated every turn and corner carefully. A few racers passed him. He sat in the middle of the pack. He had a plan. It wouldn't be long before he'd pick a turn to pass them up. The crowd watched in amusement and excitement. People paid a fortune to come and see The Fabulous Hudson Hornet race against the others. The announcers were just as excited, saying everything with such enthusiasm and concern. The races were being televised across the country, on TV and radio. It wasn't just the people at the track that were watching. The whole country was watching. That didn't scare Hudson. It made him want to work harder and push to win each race.
"As they enter the final lap the number six and number twelve cars are still fighting it out for the lead!" The announced exclaimed, speaking with such excitement and passion. It made the crowd feel even more exhilarated. They watched as the cars zipped through the turn. Fine grains of sand flew everywhere, into eyes and mouths, but nobody cared. Everything was so exciting, and there was so much going on. Everyone was loving it.
Hudson pushed for the lead. At the next turn, he would try to pull a move to pass. He was confident it would work.
"But wait! Here he comes! It's The Fabulous Hudson Hornet knocking at their door! What's he got up his sleeve today?"
Hudson smirked and made a sharp turn with the track. He gripped the steering wheel as hard as he could. As he felt to begin to feel his car turn sideways, he turned the wheel the other way. His car drifted smoothly on the inside of the turn, passing the others in what seemed like slow motion. The Hornet's engine revved with passion as Hudson pulled out of the turn, straightening his car once again.
"And there it is! With one incredible move, he's passed them! The Hornet takes a decisive lead!"
"YES!" Hudson exclaimed, slapping his steering wheel as he pulled into the straightaway. A successful move, once again, though it was risky, he made it. He always did.
"He's left the pack behind, his crew chief Smokey is loving it! It's unbelievable!"
Hudson stepped on his pedal and charged across the straightaway, parallel with the beach now. So close. So close, he whispered to himself. This was the last straightaway. His victory was approaching rapidly. Hudson tried to maintain control of his car. The sand was soft, but it didn't slow him down. He plowed forward, as the Hornet's engine roared and choked deeply. He had a good lead now… So close, so close, he told himself again...Suddenly, he felt the front tires of his machine sink slowly into the sand. The right tire caught, sunk into the sand, and Hudson felt himself lose control. The steering wheel took control, sliding, and spinning in the direction of the tires, which threw Hudson's hands off. The car started to sway and rock.
"Oh no! He's in trouble!"
The car pulled to the left, bringing it sideways, the right side facing in the forward direction of the track. It was over. He had lost control. Hudson didn't know what to do.
"The Hudson Hornet has lost control!"
With a few moments of the car being completely sideways, it finally kicked and flipped over, gaining momentum.
The Hudson Hornet has lost control!"
Each time it rolled, it plunged into the sand, then gained more air and momentum, flipping over and over, before rocking to a stop in the sand. Everything was completely still. A pit member waved a red flag in the air. The race cars slowed to a stop, as the drivers watched. Some of them got out of their cars to get a better look. Lou pulled herself out of her car, watching the scene from a distance. She couldn't catch her breath.
"Oh my God," she said heavily, as tears started to leak down her cheeks. "Help him!" She yelled, as River came over and wrapped his arms around her, to turn her away from the sight.
The crowd didn't even gasp. Everything fell silent. Eyes were wide and fearful. The faint and lighthearted looked away, cringing at the sight that lay before them. The shiny blue Hornet now lay in the sand, scraped, and dirtied, words barely visible across the sides. A light smoke was leaking from the edges of the hood. The roof was dented in from the violent flipping, and the trunk of the race car had popped open, no longer fitting into the dented car's metal body. It looked as if there was no movement from the inside. For ten seconds, it seemed as if the whole country stood still.
But Hudson was conscious and struggled, trying to climb out of the window. He needed to get out. Adrenaline pumped through his veins, he was barely able to breathe, but at this point, it didn't matter anymore.
Smokey watched from the pits, unable to even speak. That was Hud. His friend. Somebody help him. Somebody save him. Do something. "HELP HIM!" Smokey screamed from the pits, running as close as he could to the wreck before a few men stopped him. Sirens could be heard in the distance. Hudson pulled himself out of the window, dropping into the sand below the car. Smokey's heart sank. "SOMEBODY HELP THE BOY," he yelled as the ambulances came around the corner. "His adrenaline, he's trying to get out! Don't let him get out! He's hurt, he's…!" Smokey stopped, hopping over the fence, running for Hud. "DON'T MOVE, HUDSON!" He yelled.
The injured and shocked racer pulled himself up, walking towards Smokey, trying to get away from the car. He took about eight shaky steps before he collapsed into the sand, face down. A small dribbling trail of blood followed his steps, leading right to his body on the ground. His arms were thrown out to his sides. Hudson had tried hard to get away, but he couldn't go any further. He finally gave up. His breathing was heavy and labored. The ambulances and medics pulled up around him, pushing Smokey to the side.
"What should have been a scene of jubilation has turned tragic here today folks." The announcer said, in a serious and guarded tone. "We await news on the Hudson Hornet's condition."
Smokey watched as the medics assessed the young racer. "Hud?! Hud can you hear me, boy?!" Smokey tried to yell, from a distance away. As a medic moved, he caught sight of the boy. He writhed for a few seconds, before falling limply into a medic's arms. His face was bloodied and bruised, and Smokey could already see him getting swollen. They took his helmet and his cap off, then ripped his jacket apart. Hudson started to groan in pain, but the medics reassured him he was alright. He wasn't alright. He was struggling, and he was in pain. Smokey hoped they could do their job and take care of him. He wanted to be there, to comfort him and hold his hand, but they wouldn't let him. They pushed Smokey away and transferred the injured racer onto a stretcher, then ushered it into the back of an open ambulance. The car raced off, sirens blaring. Smokey stood there, with Junior, River, and Lou for a few moments, before they were ushered off to a car they could follow into the hospital. All was quiet again. The last words of the announcer rang in Smokey's head again and again…
"…After such a devastating crash, we can only hope that this race today wasn't his last."