Amateur Night - Action Report

[Glenn Jupp]

Please forgive my use of the third-person self-reference in the following report.

ACTION REPORT - CAR WARS, AMATEUR NIGHT

FCLife Autoduel Centre

London, Ontario

19th January, 2058

This FCLife Autoduel Centre is laid out as a rectangle with rounded corners. Each corner has a series of low, curving walls making five "chutes," with the inner chutes forcing tighter turns.

For this event, a checkpoint was marked at the midway point of each chute. Only the first car to reach a checkpoint could claim it. Victory was determined by Prestige points, and claiming the most checkpoints counted for two Prestige. The vehicles used are detailed at the end of this message.

The competetors were JC Locke (aka "ShotGun Jolly"), Meng Tan, and Glenn Jupp.

Just out of the gates "ShotGun" cut hard to the right, going for turn one's chute number four and its' checkpoint. Glenn gently angled toward turn two chute one, but had to drift and swerve to get through it clean. Meng held straight, building speed, before makine a sharp bend toward turn one chute one. On his way there, Meng laid the first spikes for the night.

In the same breath each driver had claimed a checkpoint. Though Meng didn't clear the chute without losing his driver side mirror brushing against the corner of the wall. Flooring the accelerator, drove off to claim more checkpoints in corners four and three. Behind him, "ShotGun" and Glenn got into the first tangle of the night.

Clearing the gate, "ShotGun" set his spike dropper on auto. Glenn fired and missed with a micro-missile. Both stomped a foot down, "ShotGun" looking to get clear and Glenn looking to catch him and have a word about their previous Challenge Night. The MML wasn't hitting "ShotGun" so Glenn used the whole car, crunching into "ShotGun's" rear quarter. Had to eat spikes to do it though, and Glenn's back end swung right as his left tire blew. Slowly, Glenn crawled away from the spikes.

Too late, "ShotGun" saw the collision had pointed him straight at the end of a dividing wall. He tried drifting to the outside chute, but jerked the wheel too hard, spun sideways, and started to roll. Just as he was about to tip onto his side "ShotGun" slammed into the wall. All four wheels were firmly driven back onto the ground, and the last of his side armour sloughed away in jagged sheets. With the left side already soft the crash would surely have been fatal. Here the arena management's decision to mandate roll cages and safety seats kept "ShotGun" alive, though slightly battered.

Shifting into reverse, "ShotGun" swung his nose around for a point blank shot on Glenn's tires. The missile hit, blowing off the front left wheel. Spinning right, Glenn was left sideswiping both the outer wall and "ShotGun's" front end before grinding to a final stop. After waiting for half a second to catch his breath, Glenn sprayed the concrete under "ShotGun" with spikes. "Shotgun" picked up a few, but not enough to blow a tire.

Having started into the chute in reverse "ShotGun" decided to go all the way, the first to make that claim in this arena. He claimed his second checkpoint. Meng had already claimed three, having been free and clear to work the other side of the arena. As "ShotGun" was reaching the end of his chute Meng was there waiting with micro-missile fire. Aiming for "ShotGun's" bald left quarter, the tiny rockets flew astray. Meng stood on the brakes, and "ShotGun" steered for another collision.

The contact at low speeds barely bent the fenders. Meng was stopped cold, but loosed another missile that found "ShotGun's" rear left tire. The tire held. "ShotGun" pushed Meng back into the arena wall, then braked and thumbed his spikes to autofire. Both drivers accelerated forward. Meng weaved through "ShotGun's" spikes, fired at the flapping rear tire, and missed. Both pivoted around each other, catching spikes. "ShotGun's" abused rear left tire gave out. Meng launched a missile at its' right side mate, and scored! With two tires gone, "ShotGun" ground to a stop. Meng braked before shredding more rubber, and threatened to blast through "ShotGun's" rear quarter. "ShotGun" conceeded the kill.

And that ended the first Amateur Night at the FCLife Autoduel Centre. Meng was the victor, with two points from a kill, two for claiming the most checkpoints, and one for entering. "ShotGun" had a kill on Glenn, but lost those points for being a vehicle kill and surviving with injury, leaving him with one for attending. Glenn came up zilch (entering combat +1, vehicle killed -1).

[/ThirdPersonSelfReferenceEnds]

I want to thank everyone who showed up for this great fight. We had as many spectators as competitors! And a big thanks to "ShotGun Jolly" for his extensive work on the Vassal module and extensions that made this game possible.

I expect my future events will be mostly in the FACADe-League, and run on Vassal v3.0. However I'll still throw an Amateur Night every now and then, for new players or "new-again" autoduellists.

Still driving offensively,

Glenn Jupp

AMATEUR NIGHT VEHICLE

Mid-size, standard chassis, heavy suspension, large power plant, heavy duty tires, driver, 60 points standard armour (10 per facing), micromissile launcher forward with extra magazine and 20 shots, spikedropper back with 10 shots, fire extinguisher, roll cage, safety seat. Value $7060, Total Weight 3745 lbs. HC 3, Accel. 5, Top Speed 97.5

The fire extinguisher + roll cage + safety seat combination is mandatory in most of the leagues with events scheduled at the 'Flac.' In addition to the protective fittings in the car, drivers are required to wear a fireproof suit and at least standard body armour. This level of concern for the well being of the competitors may seem odd to those familiar with AADA safety regulations. However, the smaller leagues and venues simply can't make the same backroom deals the AADA has with Gold Cross. This has mandated the use of technologies more prosaic than cloning to keep the competitors coming back.

[Glenn Jupp]

You can be there, sort of. I've got the Vassal save and log files. You can go through it step by step. Gasp in shock at the thrilling calculations of a collision! Be astonished at the amazing off-topic chatter! Scream at your monitor "GO LEFT, YOU IDIOT!"

Anyway, it's yours for the asking...

[Vulcan Stev]

That is a first rate piece of reporting. Wish I could've been there.