Chapter 11 – Dreaming of Speed

Alan had always craved speed and the open road.

When he was first learning how to drive, Gordon had helped by finding some open fields to allow him to work on his technique and skills. Alan learned the basic skills needed (along with doing a few laps and spinouts in the process). He did have a chance to work on cars before with his brothers, but it was another matter altogether when you were in the drivers seat feeling the acceleration through the seat of your pants. It wasn't quite as much of a rush as flying in Thunderbird one or three, but it did rank up there.

Putting the helmet on, Alan got in behind the wheel of the car that he had been caring for these past few weeks and took a calming breath.

OK, get a hold of yourself, if you really want this gig you are going to have to focus.

He secured the safety restraints across his body and pressed a button on the dash, smiling in satisfaction as the car roared to life. Alan put the car into gear and sped off down the dirt track.

The adrenaline rush was instantaneous.

Alan whooped with joy as he sped into each turn letting off of the gas and using his momentum to power through the turns. Everything about his run was feeling neat and tight, but the only thing that mattered was the time on Mr. Edwards's stopwatch when all was said and done. Alan shifted gears, allowing his speed to pickup in the far lane and after handing the turn just as well as he did the first. He crossed the designated finish line and stopped the car with a flourish, spinning the car until it finally stopped perpendicular to the track.

As the dust settled, Alan eagerly took off his helmet and undid his safety restraints. Once he was out of the car, he found Mr. Edwards at the side of the track staring at his stopwatch.

He walked over to Mr. Edwards eagerly, doing his best to keep his curiosity in check.

After a few minutes, Mr. Edwards looked up at him with a neutral expression. "Well, Mister Tracy, showing off in the classroom like that would have cost you some time in detention, but in this case your technique saved the day. You shaved off thirty seconds off of Derrick's time. Congratulations, you are my backup driver."

--

On his way back from the track, Alan had picked up some Chinese food, and it wasn't until later that evening when he sat on a barstool at the kitchen counter relaying the story to Fermat did he fully celebrate. Between bites of Kung Pao chicken, Alan finished his story. "-And Mr. Edwards told me that he will put me in the rotation after the next major race!"

Fermat grinned as he took another egg roll from one of the takeout containers. "Congratulations Alan, I-I knew you would do it one way or another. Meanwhile I have to find a way to get some extra credit in my physics class."

Alan raised an eyebrow. "You?"

Fermat shrugged his shoulders. "I got a B in a presentation for the class. Our Professor apparently wanted to discount some of the stuff I presented. My dad was able to put some of these theories to use, so I don't see why it would have been such a big problem."

Alan grinned. "Fermat my friend, you have encountered what is called professional jealousy. Your dad is a well respected man in his field, isn't he?"

"Y-Yeah, so?"

"They see you as a protégée, learning stuff way beyond anything those stuffed shirts could possibly address," Alan pointed out as he pushed back his plate of food, "Now when I go to college, I am definitely going to be taking physics and aeronautics. When I become a famous race car driver, I want to be able to fly myself to the different venues. Monaco, Italy, Daytona, there's a bunch of race courses I would like to lay waste to, plus flying in the open air with nothing around you for miles can be amazing."

"Y-You have proven that to me more than once, Alan," Fermat replied with a grin. "Promise me a front row seat when you get your chance to race?"

"Fermat, I thought you were not that interested in racing?"

"Well, considering the real world applications of watching race cars in action, combined with watching one of my best friends race, I think I can make the time to watch. Besides, if I play my cards right, I can get extra credit for my physics class if I turn in a report on the mechanics of racing."

Groaning, Alan retorted. "I resent being a guinea pig so you better make sure and quote me in your report."

--

The next day started off like normal, and Alan soon found himself helping Derrick and Stanton clean their pit area. Later while the others were checking over the engines and gauges, he went under the car to double check everything was secure with an oil change he had performed.

His mind was wandering, so Alan hadn't noticed how the pit area had grown quiet. When he heard new voices though, he couldn't help but notice them.

One of them sounded like Mr. Edwards for sure- but the other sounded like the Hood.