FALL 2005 - EXODUS-TABLELAND SERIES RD5: DULCES Pre Race WEATHER: Temperature: 19 Cs/66 Fs. Wind Factor: 7. Overall: Sunny. Dulces is a dry, windy nation to the Northwest of the Tableland of The Tableland. The country is separated with two distinct topographical regions. The northern area, towards the capital city of Guadalupe the land is quite flat, almost desert like. However, the city is entirely house inside a giant Cathedral which has stood for many thousands of years and has been added to each year. The Cathedral is home to more than 53 million Dulcienos, roughly 10% of the nation's population. The lowest 3 levels have been marked off for the race and the road width varies from broad to very narrow inside the walls of the Cathedral. Continuing to the central area of Dulces are the Southern Mountains. They are jagged, treacherous, and extremely high. Do not be surprised if snow flurries interfere with the race. A series of 7 large peaks will lead the drivers around the range and to the Southern Rivers Farthest to the south of the country is the river region. Two larges rivers flow south from the Central Mountains, and make the southern region of Dulces a vast grassland. The race will go along El Rio del Sol and El Rio de la Luna. The rivers are winding and narrow with varying currents and rapids. Upon completion of the river leg, the drivers head east to the lone La Montaņa mountain. At the southeast end of the nation is La Montaņa mountain. The race will go from the southern end of her to the peak and down the famed Rio de la Plata, the silver river. The path is narrow, but straight, with the race finishing at the shores of Lago de la Plata. Conditions are swinging wildly in favour of Oodgtastic Racing, once more, but we may yet see challenges from an impetuous and determined Rio Racing. 2 Wheeler Could a Dulcieno be the first driver to win a FMR GP on homesoil? Its a possibility, as Alejo Zaragoza holds the smallest of leads in a very slow opening leg. Jos Oxford wants to keep his points streak going, following but seconds behind into the transition. Then came the favourites. Hot on Oxford's heels were Rio Racing's Other Guy and Drivey McDriver, occupying third and fifth respectively, creating an Oodgtastic Racing sandwich with Frankie Nit-problem's 2 wheeler handling excellently in the windy conditions. Top five at the conclusion of the 2x leg: 1. Alejo Zaragoza (El Equipo de Dulces) 2. Jos Oxford (Liamist Racing Tech) 3. Other Guy (Rio Racing) 4. Frankie Nit-problem (Oodgtastic Racing) 5. Drivey McDriver (Rio Racing) 4 Wheeler Shonna Carafella (Cascadian Geoduck Racing) and Sandy Duneby (Ancient Speed Demons) were fighting a fierce tussle on the peaks of the Dulcieno Southern Mountains. Duneby was late braking into a sharp bend and skidded off the edge of the peak. At the time, Carafella had been leading and was carried away in a pile of twisted metal over the edge. Luckily, the fall was a mere 250m and both drivers survived with the massively reinforced monocoques in 4 wheelers now. Hans Furenheimer (Meadowbank Boy Racers) has really failed to impress anyone at this point in the season, at least partly responsible for his team's dismal efforts. It has all been compounded now as his team failed again to even make the simple effort of putting fuel into his racer. A litre only goes so far and at the end of said short distance, Furenheimer rolled to a halt. Justin Sane (Strongbadian Fist Dragon) had to also succumb to a DNF as his nanofibre chassis was completely annihilated after a freak gust of wind blew him into a wall. Misamoto Kanapono has taken the lead after storming through the top end of the field. Rumours swirl at the moment as to how much Oodgtastic drivers are being paid. Some put the figure at millions. With a successful pay negotiation, it may not be surprising that she wants to show management she was worth it. Drivey McDriver, now having matured, has well and truly burnt that wooden spoon from last season, cementing himself as a force to be reckoned with, hold second place against the onslaught of Josef Detlaff of Team Muhji. We haven't heard much from Salaxia International since their late debut on the FMR scene this season. The team's second driver, Fred, looks like he may well hold on and get some much needed points for his team. Veteran champion Fluffy, Naginii Racing Group, is also poised to strike in the second half of the race, in fifth place. Top five at the conclusion of the 4x leg: 1. Misamoto Kanapono (Oodgtastic Racing) 2. Drivey McDriver (Rio Racing) 3. Josef Detlaff (Team Muhji) 4. Fred (Salaxia International) 5. Fluffy (Naginii Racing Group) 0 Wheeler For such a new team as Chicanada TroutCo Racing to have already racked up their second DNF in just two races is a poor indication indeed. Regardless, they have more points this season already than the Ancient Speed Demons despite Fedak's indiscretion. Fedak decided now was a good time to test how well 0 wheelers hold up against a river. The answer is: not very. Kanapono has the grand prix all but won now with a reasonable lead over the others. Fred has improved his standing, finding another two places with some fairly sharp driving. Josef Detlaff has remained fairly stable, maintaining his third place in the grand prix, although losing some 0.3 minutes to the leader. Kik Marmington is in fine form, taking an accelerating approach to the lead, possibly looking to make some jumps forward when the frontrunners aren't looking. Sublime Sophie, who has had a pretty crappy Tour so far, has moved herself onto Marmington's gearbox and may well leapfrog her. The Liamist driver will have to be wary. Top five at the conclusion of the 0x leg: 1. Misamoto Kanapono (Oodgtastic Racing) 2. Fred (Salaxia International) 3. Josef Detlaff (Team Muhji) 4. Kik Marmington (Liamist Racing Tech) 5. Sublime Sophie (Rio Racing) R Wheeler Top twenty at the conclusion of the Rx leg and the grand prix: 1. Misamoto Kanapono (Oodgtastic Racing) - 60 pts 2. Great Nathan (Island Racing Squad) - 55 pts 3. Josef Detlaff (Team Muhji) - 50 pts 4. Sublime Sophie (Rio Racing) - 45 pts 5. Drivey McDriver (Rio Racing) - 40 pts 6. Kik Marmington (Liamist Racing Tech) - 35 pts 7. Frankie Nit-problem (Oodgtastic Racing) - 30 pts 8. Carlotte White (Swiss Mix) - 25 pts 9. Silent Monk (8 Fold Path) - 20 pts 10. Fred (Salaxia International) - 18 pts 11. Other Guy (Rio Racing) - 15 pts 12. Adalicia Carillo-Rodriguez - 12 pts 13. Fluffy (Naginii Racing Group) - 10 pts 14. Edward (Salaxia International) - 8 pts 15. Flo Knellinger (Island Racing Squad) - 6 pts 16. Pooder (Naginii Racing Group) - 5 pts 17. Jos Oxford (Liamist Racing Tech) - 4 pts 18. Loralee Bogin (Chicanada TroutCo Racing) - 3 pts 19. Viper (Snakes Coil Racing) - 2pts 20. Milo Breidigan (Cascadian Geoduck Racing) - 1 pt Post Race Another Oodges-dominated grand prix passes, although Rio Racing may have walked away with the better half of the deal with a flat 100 points gained from today's race, which is more than some teams have accumulated all season. And despite Detlaff's fine performance today, next week may well be the last we see of the Krakatou outfit, as their nation, along with Floreustae and Negamegedon, comes very close to collapsing on itself and ceasing to exist. Moving on and we take a look at the Championships. With only one round to go in the Exodus-Tableland Series, the Tour Driver standings are very tight. Drivey McDriver has a handy lead of nearly 30 points, leaving him favourite for the title. Great Nathan is second, only seven points clear of Frankie Nit-problem and Jos Oxford. Overall Drivers and its a familiar story: Frankie Nit-problem takes the double century of points with 200 and only two points separating him from Drivey McDriver, who is now eligible for this season's MarmaCup. Third, and a small way off, is Misamoto Kanapono on 180 points. Over in the Teams and the two Tour titans, Rio Racing and Oodgtastic Racing, are holding the top spots now with only five points separating them, making the final round very important. Liamist Racing Tech are also in with a shot, some thirty points behind but will probably require a win to come close. Oodgtastic's win this weekend has blown out their Overall Teams lead, with 142 points separating them and Liamist Racing Tech who may not have to worry a great deal about Team Muhji, who are nearest to them, six points behind. Next week is the decider for this Tour: the Ancient Burtorr GP. SPLIT TIMES Car No 2x 4x 0x Rx 1 58.066 115.461 177.895 236.081 2 60.606 116.392 177.105 240.911 3 61.525 118.981 177.983 236.491 4 60.608 117.994 173.367 233.020 5 60.059 122.384 180.947 240.210 6 56.324 117.399 175.946 236.735 7 60.593 124.300 184.617 249.076 8 57.664 119.875 180.475 238.387 9 61.936 124.422 186.614 247.365 10 64.231 127.625 190.432 248.455 11 61.716 123.226 183.518 242.011 12 59.299 DNF 16 62.741 125.154 185.754 245.934 17 58.287 117.605 182.206 241.839 18 59.921 DNF 19 57.232 116.095 173.457 232.431 20 56.787 114.922 173.689 232.547 21 56.549 118.286 175.112 235.433 22 58.492 122.607 187.421 245.727 23 58.932 122.733 180.135 DNF 24 59.669 120.195 181.983 242.606 25 58.791 117.778 174.301 231.193 26 62.622 124.514 186.763 243.396 27 57.183 117.791 176.642 236.388 31 64.780 122.630 182.682 243.270 32 63.101 122.519 179.844 242.640 33 63.001 120.014 177.821 240.191 34 62.517 123.260 187.606 252.044 35 61.479 125.861 189.504 253.468 36 62.867 124.765 185.375 243.460 37 56.888 117.620 174.863 237.072 38 62.498 122.459 182.873 243.459 39 62.177 121.092 179.731 237.569 40 59.995 121.941 178.559 240.908 41 61.504 119.686 176.038 238.900 42 60.405 122.745 184.442 243.016 43 62.353 123.343 177.998 235.779 44 56.313 117.784 177.251 239.884 45 60.783 116.850 177.397 DNF 46 60.015 120.765 180.622 241.686 47 57.741 116.440 174.995 238.777 48 57.627 116.709 175.970 238.725 49 57.702 120.748 177.705 240.524 50 61.255 124.860 186.806 249.637 51 57.301 120.811 179.855 240.110 52 56.776 116.610 176.736 233.521 53 60.566 120.254 176.976 237.566 54 59.064 114.435 171.812 227.977 55 62.934 126.204 190.580 249.888 56 60.439 124.860 186.138 243.056 57 64.510 125.041 188.584 247.226 58 58.123 117.648 178.300 237.289 59 64.179 123.783 185.042 249.249 60 59.572 119.774 179.920 242.711 61 60.058 118.377 177.957 237.604 62 61.415 116.837 176.578 234.263 63 60.578 118.535 180.793 240.019 64 61.756 124.548 184.404 247.369 65 60.474 123.719 184.438 245.996 66 57.791 116.327 173.676 234.467 67 60.404 DNF 61.266 61.697 68 62.911 122.608 186.248 246.226 69 59.895 119.650 181.619 240.820 70 61.272 121.528 185.436 249.209 71 57.454 115.089 172.275 234.966 72 57.703 117.971 176.110 236.084 73 60.303 121.980 180.394 241.735 74 58.357 115.027 172.654 231.409 75 61.157 123.861 186.708 243.187 76 58.699 118.781 179.990 237.224 77 63.405 124.032 185.593 DNF 78 59.535 DNF 60.165 59.980 79 62.233 123.237 DNF 80 60.521 124.186 180.566 236.749 81 60.636 120.276 179.353 241.288