FALL 2005 - TOUR DE ILE DE FRANCE RD5: LEAF COUNTRY Pre Race WEATHER: Temperature: 33 Cs/91 Fs. Wind Factor: 6. Overall: Rain. Today's race is the penultimate of the Tour de Ile de France. At noon, racers will kick off their campaign in Leaf Country, the first time FMR has hit this nation. Racers will follow a sharp and bendy course around the LC city of Misty Bridge, noted for the large fog covered bridge in the middle of the city which provides a precarious obstacle for racers to cross with only just enough room for two 2 wheelers side by side. After conquering the city, racers will head off to the Desert Base, a military base (surprise, surprise) is in the middle of the desert. Extreme heat will play a role and no doubt push engines and tyres to their maximum, which is especially dangerous with today’s wet weather. Leaving the Desert Base behind, and hopefully not finding any of the explosives Leaf Country is renowned for, drivers will head a short distance to the beautiful Wake Lake and racers will head cover the circumference of the lake several times before they peel off and head to the base of Hokage Mountain, where the rally will take over and take racers up the side of the mountain to conclude the race in Leaf Village, Hokage Mountain. 2 Wheeler The Other Guy is out. That’s the name of Rio Racing’s third driver and he has taken his team to the infamous title of Least Reliable. He made the rather mysterious mistake of coming up onto the Misty Bridge too fast and missing it completely. He slid down into the canyon, hitting a craggy ledge very hard, stopping his vehicle, his fall and his race. Bad news for the Seine-Saint-Denis team, who are already struggling. At the front, today’s similar weather conditions to last weeks grand prix in Rhellis, means that the successful from last week will more than likely be successful again this week. As if to prove this, Oodgtastic Racing has again taken the race with a chokehold. Miss Piggy is leading with nearly a minute’s lead on second place runner Alya Baisar from Timesplitter’s Strongbadian Fist Dragon. The Rhellis National Racing drivers of Sleepy Justice, Kurt Fluke and Fish Goti all hold positions in the races top ten, including third and fourth place, riding those Modeni engines hard. And in an attempt to undo Other Guys rather stupid mistake, Sublime Sophie is waving the Rio Racing flag at the front in fifth. Top ten at the conclusion of the 2x leg: 1. Miss Piggy (Oodgtastic Racing) 2. Alya Baisar (Strongbadian Fist Dragon) 3. Sleepy Justice (Rhellis National Racing) 4. Kurt Fluke (Rhellis National Racing) 5. Sublime Sophie (Rio Racing) 6. Hornet (Snake's Coil Racing) 7. Fish Goti (Rhellis National Racing) 8. Pete (Salaxia International) 9. Slayer (MIF-Ardent Antagonists) 10. Ralphmy (Kingtown National Raceworks) 4 Wheeler Carnage describes the second leg of the Leaf Country grand prix. Four drivers failed to get into their 0 wheeler. Jeffrey Berkes (El Equipo de Dulces) and Spia (St Heliers Sykers) came together hard on the Desert Base track.  After making a move down the inside of Berkes, Spia was trapped between the apex of the corner and Berkes vehicle. Choosing the racing line rather than safety, Spia was hit by Berkes, who had his front wing bent at an odd angle, puncturing Spia’s tyre. Spia ploughed on, unable to steer correctly and taking Berkes with her. Both were carried into the Marmalitter and unable to get back onto the track. Kingtown GP winner, Louis Brogard, had his fortunes turned around and was unable to complete his leg when his Donha engine broke down, spewing white smoke everywhere. Regionmate and Knights of Avolon driver, Oberon, came to grief after his suspension was sliced in two after a short cross country trip across some more of the tougher Leaf Country rocks. Miss Piggy still holds the lead, extending it out to a massive three and a half minute lead. Hornet for SCR has made her way through the pack to second place and has cleared third place Ralphmy of Kingtown National Raceworks by four-fifths of a minute. Back almost another minute, Samual has made ZoomTamamara’s first appearance in the top ten, duking it out with a determined James Pimpanzee, who wishes to reclaim his place at the top of FMR. Top ten at the conclusion of the 4x leg: 1. Miss Piggy (Oodgtastic Racing) 2. Hornet (Snake's Coil Racing) 3. Ralphmy (Kingtown National Raceworks) 4. Samual (ZoomTamamara) 5. James Pimpanzee (Meadowbank Boy Racers) 6. Bellong Turuss (Strongbadian Fist Dragons) 7. Nakisha (ZoomTamamara) 8. Nirvana McGee (8 Fold Path) 9. Great Nathan (Island Racing Squad) 10. Alya Baisar (Strongbadian Fist Dragon) 0 Wheeler In a pretty piss poor day for the Knights of Avolon, their second driver has recorded a DNF. Franklin Roosevelt, with a vehicle constantly hammered by rain, must have had some water logged circuitry that sizzled out of existence. This was particularly evident when his 0 wheeler began to tilt toward to the surface of Wake Lake. Roosevelt’s vehicle smashed against the surface tension and sent him flying onto the shore. Roosevelt was only slightly injured and will be ok. Edward from Salaxia International also had problems with a brake failure and his resulting momentum, carrying him into a tree. The top ten pretty much remains the same, with drivers taking a conservative approach to this leg. Miss Piggy relaxed so much that Hornet is in a decent position to wrest the lead from her, come the rally leg. Top ten at the conclusion of the 0x leg: 1. Miss Piggy (Oodgtastic Racing) 2. Hornet (Snake's Coil Racing) 3. Ralphmy (Kingtown National Raceworks) 4. Samual (ZoomTamamara) 5. Bellong Turuss (Strongbadian Fist Dragons) 6. Delia Kovach (Negamegendonites) 7. Jos Oxford (Liamist Racing Tech) 8. Martina Salvidor (Team Muhji) 9. James Pimpanzee (Meadowbank Boy Racers) 10. Nirvana McGee (8 Fold Path) R Wheeler It was no surprise that Miss Piggy came first. In charge of the whole race, she took the thirty points. On the final straight, heading down the main drag of Leaf Village, Hornet had to relent in the face of massive pressure from behind from Ralphmy, who floored it and slammed down across the line, ahead of a sick sounding Wreno SCR engine, snatching second place. Fourth place was enough for Deliva Kovach who is now the top driver in FMR. Bellong Turuss, Strongbadian Fist Dragon, built on last weeks eighth place to improve to a fifth. Just three more drivers failed to make it up Hokage Mountain. Viper’s Wreno engine, usually alternating between strength and crappiness, blew up under the strain of pushing his R wheeler up the mountain. Atilla Snitvanburg put a small damper on Negamegendonites parade with a gearbox failure. Stuck in top gear, Snitvanburg couldn’t push the vehicle up over the ridges and was unable to gear down to make it easier. With one of the better reliability records in FMR, MIF-Ardent Antagonists Arch Rival had a tyre blowout, puncturing it on a sharp rock. Without a spare, Rival had to throw in the towel. Top ten at the conclusion of  the Rx leg and the grand prix: 1. Miss Piggy (Oodgtastic Racing) - 30 points 2. Ralphmy (Kingtown National Raceworks) - 25 points 3. Hornet (Snake's Coil Racing) - 20 points 4. Delia Kovach (Negamegendonites) - 15 points 5. Bellong Turuss (Strongbadian Fist Dragons) - 10 points 6. Samual (ZoomTamamara) - 7 points 7. Roberto Juan Hosera (Team Muhji) - 5 points 8. Nirvana McGee (8 Fold Path) - 3 points 9. Sleepy Justice (Rhellis National Racing) - 2 points 10. Martina Salvidor (Team Muhji) - 1 point Post Race From start to finish, Miss Piggy led the race, giving Oodgtastic Racing its first win and perhaps signaling a true power shift to Oodgtastic Racing, looking to become a truly dominant team. Although, the same things were said about the My Imaginary Friend and Burtech Racing Inc teams last season. Before we look at next week, let's look at the Championships. Oodgtastic Racing has, obviously, extended its lead to over thirty points. If anyone wants to overtake them, they will need multiple point scorers in the last race. Liamist Racing Tech holds second with a decreasing lead over the likes of Team Muhji, Negamegendonites and Snake's Coil Racing (third, fourth and fifth respectively). Surprisingly in the Drivers Championship, Deliva Kovach of the Negamegendonites leads on forty points with a slim edge over Miss Piggy and Frankie Nit-problem. Roberto Juan Hosera follows into fourth place, leading out the race winners with no other points than their thirty. Next week, we head to the homeland of FMR champs, Naginii. Well, we expect to but the Naginiian government has yet to get in touch with the MSA concerning race facilities. If we don't hear from them, the race will be cancelled and the Tour will finish as it is. If we do hear from them, the race will go ahead and drivers will have a chance to dethrone Oodgtastic Racing for Tour honours. Of course, for Overall honours, we're going to have to wait a little longer to find that out. SPLIT TIMES Car No 2x 4x 0x Rx 1 60.301 120.989 181.631 242.113 2 61.162 122.596 187.278 247.093 3 61.442 119.453 179.457 241.175 4 61.582 124.310 185.070 243.995 5 63.326 126.716 189.265 249.759 6 60.796 120.970 173.950 235.643 7 58.920 119.083 178.667 DNF 8 58.203 121.527 182.304 241.739 9 59.111 124.952 187.656 247.006 10 63.809 127.431 189.049 250.928 11 60.383 121.707 187.620 249.892 12 62.814 125.095 187.636 249.439 13 57.132 120.119 184.005 245.080 14 56.332 117.285 176.122 232.891 15 56.612 122.263 184.184 247.170 16 61.622 123.987 184.405 245.090 17 60.270 114.882 173.992 233.285 18 62.334 123.794 185.900 245.688 19 56.973 118.051 180.751 241.816 20 60.380 120.886 182.093 243.264 21 DNF 22 62.993 122.369 179.809 240.678 23 59.988 121.814 188.562 251.345 24 62.058 124.662 189.181 249.520 25 58.853 116.014 177.196 235.231 26 60.142 125.680 190.688 255.664 27 60.839 119.708 181.852 239.603 28 66.310 124.773 188.794 252.490 29 58.715 114.814 172.046 230.905 30 58.577 115.345 177.748 242.138 31 58.382 113.890 170.868 228.478 32 61.845 123.060 183.662 245.745 33 63.500 129.868 190.704 257.027 34 58.503 116.239 173.279 228.803 35 63.205 125.676 182.513 241.506 36 62.051 125.010 185.478 DNF 37 59.705 119.892 179.669 DNF 38 57.036 113.059 167.642 228.536 39 59.854 124.310 188.819 251.671 40 60.918 120.646 181.550 239.362 41 65.025 125.221 189.132 254.399 42 60.371 120.174 180.997 241.039 43 60.071 121.203 179.410 237.248 44 59.415 123.903 185.426 247.525 45 61.310 DNF 46 65.424 124.482 184.876 250.936 47 60.162 120.989 182.233 244.041 48 61.199 DNF 49 61.896 124.205 186.898 251.441 50 58.841 122.734 185.656 246.097 51 64.961 131.212 192.547 257.958 52 59.451 118.462 178.499 241.586 53 54.572 109.549 166.870 224.787 54 62.630 127.377 189.241 251.216 55 66.267 DNF 56 62.464 127.902 191.425 251.358 57 64.169 126.525 186.674 245.715 58 62.590 DNF 59 62.742 118.099 180.600 238.269 60 66.212 128.577 DNF 61 59.599 123.471 185.251 249.859 62 60.973 118.915 182.105 246.251 63 63.331 126.335 186.020 248.862 64 62.299 125.811 190.814 250.530 65 59.478 115.877 175.012 231.137 66 64.361 123.572 187.890 249.900 67 58.594 123.033 187.500 250.996 68 55.496 116.032 177.065 234.887 69 58.961 114.953 172.626 230.262 70 58.137 118.742 183.254 241.592 71 59.343 121.033 181.302 243.814 72 59.816 124.578 DNF 73 58.521 118.956 175.792 231.004 74 62.917 125.834 189.501 249.382 75 60.526 117.648 173.975 232.994 76 64.414 122.998 180.056 238.478 77 60.465 123.365 184.234 245.546 78 61.488 116.906 177.499 236.342