Car of the Week | Alpine A220 Race Car '68 (2024)

Trial Mountain Circuit
Sierra Nevada, Nevada
Morning

Car of the Week | Alpine A220 Race Car '68 (1)

Today, in this long lasting circuit spanning generations in the deep forests of Nevada, crisis isn't quite what's the plan.

Car of the Week | Alpine A220 Race Car '68 (2)

Within one of the garages of the semi-packed venue, a little lady discusses with a group of rag tag mechanics, listening to their leader..

"Good news: the parts are salvageable. My crew's got some spares a couple hours away, and we can the show on the road. Bad news? If I can call it that, that is. Well, you're going to have to wait until.. past midday before you can drive it."

Candy: "WHAT?!"

Exclaimed the little racer in distraught.

She then decides not to stress herself in a foreign land, and continued the discussion rationally, reassuring..

Candy: "Ughh, I must remain calm. Are you positive there's no way you can get it ready by, I don't know.. just before noon? Because.. you know what I'm doing then.."

"I'm afraid that's not possible, Miss Candy. Besides.."

Candy: "It's fine.. I'll have to see if there's someone else's mid engined sports car I can borrow for the opening event."


She turned her back, hiding her weakened sad face from these professionals.

They knew she'd be emotional considering what's happened, as they reply..

"Well, best of luck, darling. We'll get things going here."

Candy: "Umm, thanks. I'll be back to check soon."

Car of the Week | Alpine A220 Race Car '68 (3)

Car of the Week | Alpine A220 Race Car '68 (4)


As a golden Citroen comes over to settle itself by the just-opening bar, the lone patron of the store slumps by the bar counter, watching the arrival of a well made iced Picon Punch stop by her.

Candy: "Ready to drink your worries away, Candy? Uhh, what a terrible day to have a curse."


Holding on to the cold glass, she then rambles on.

Candy: "Another day to test my abnormal tolerance for alcohol, huh? I guess drinking my worries isn't what's going to help me with this crisis. But nobody's here to judge me, so.."


Just as she was ready to take the first sip, she then notices the door behind her ring its bell, seeing a familiar fellow come in, and instantly greets..

Kirk: "Hola, Miss Candy."

Candy: "Hola.. who can that be.."

Having not seen him in a while, she then realizes the plump man entering is someone she knows, as she inquires..

Candy: "This looks like Sonny's best bro. Kirk? Tell me it's you?"

With a thought developing on those words, she realized, slapped her moping face silly, and clarified in a slight daze..

Candy: "That's you, alright. Why am I even.. I haven't even had a sip."

He kept quiet until reaching the seat besides her.

Now comfortable by the bar counter, he then finds himself getting asked..

Candy: "You here to get wasted, or.."

Kirk: "Naww. Later maybe.."

Candy: "I see.. well, unless you have something for me, I suggest you back off before I get violent and drunk."

Kirk: "Matter of fact, I do. Let me pay your tab first, then you come along now."


Leaving a ten dollar note at the untouched drink, Kirk then gets off and leaves.

As Candy gazes on momentarily, the little racer decides now isn't the time for a drink, and leaves the drink alone, following the man outside.

Noting the presence of a golden Citroen, she immediately questions with an assertion..

Candy: "This isn't your A70, or your supermod Camaro.. alright: Where's that pompous ass Sonny?"

Kirk: "He be coming. Just that, he's using the skies again, you know what I mean?"


The idea that he's skydiving on track again develops, as she calmly replies.

Candy: "That.. I do. You went to the airfield next to Nessie's, right?"

Kirk: "Right. That's where he took skydiving classes by the way. And that was an hour ago, so I reckon he be coming over any sec.."


He's not Sonny who's a pioneer with timing, but for that moment, he is, as the small public presence hears the speakers roar with a recurring theme song, and thus began to chant Sonny again and again.

The pair then looks towards the sun, noticing the man parachuting in the scene.

She's not one for tricks today, but she eventually asks..

Candy: "And I say that's him?"

Kirk: "Who else could it be at this time?"

Replied Kirk with a rhetorical question as this man lands on his feet.

Said man, now unpacking his skydiving gear, gladly wipes a sweat as he speaks to his right hand bro..

Sonny: "Phew. Hey, Kirk, my prompt jum-bro."

Kirk: "Yo."

Sonny: "Least this time hiring a crew to clear out the chute is working to your advantage lah."

Kirk: "Yup."

Sonny: "You can thank me later, lard man."

And after a quick deep breath, he reveals, brimming with optimism..

Sonny: "And I smell.. no hint of tobacco. That hag of hags is not present today! Yessir, I know it's going to be a good day!"

Kirk: "Absolutely."

Sonny: "Well, what'd you think? My Citroen all ready, I bet?"

Kirk: "You bet! Had a quick final check and I say you owe it a race."

Sonny: "Course I do! [teeth shines]"

However, these men did leave someone in a bad mood standing idle..

Candy: "[clears throat]"

Sonny: "Wa-hey! I see you're here already, Candy baby. Don't get mad now, but One Step Ahead right now tells me you're in a bit of a bind right now, lor.."

Candy: "I'm already past that part where I would break every single bone in you for insisting. Too bad I'm not Lulu."

Sonny: "Yeah, sure. Kirk has something in his pocket; now it's not the solution you ever wanted, but we got something to show you, ain't that so, fatguy?"

As if he rehearsed, the chubby right hand man takes out a piece of paper off his jeans pocket and hands it straight to Candy.

Kirk: "Yes sir, we do. Here you go."


She's not so keen to play along, however, looking at it with intrigue instead.

The handsome rogue however clarifies impatiently..

Sonny: "Well, what are you waiting for, sis? Go and read it.."

Following those orders, she reads..

Candy: "Umm.. some say he's earned victory royales in every game he's played with a melee weapon, and that the reason truffles are so rare is because he found them before the pigs. All we know is.. he's called The Guts!"

Before she knew it, a cargo plane flies high above the track and shadows the three.

They don't quite see it, but a blackened figure jumps out the rear hatch and dives down.

While clouds cover the sky, it provides a background for the sudden fireworks exploding in the sky.

Candy: "Now what's going on?"

As the sky fills up with these distractions, and an iconic song plays, the man that jumped out is clearly sighted, wearing a special suit made of some tough metal.

With a trail of heat from his hands and legs, this man flies down, dodging the exploding fireworks on his way towards Trial Mountain.

Those standing under make noise in excitement, and the three specifically comment as he makes his way down..

Candy: "Well, alright. Calling The Guts was indeed gratifying to a degree."

Sonny: "You thought I was a showoff, well take a lookie here, people! I don't want to imagine the budget."

Candy: "Yeah.. any chance I'm getting my power armor back anytime soon?"

Sonny: "Not a chance, slick."

Candy: "Darn it."


And before they knew it, he performs a superhero landing at an emptied area, surrounded by sparkling explosions, lights flashing, and women dancing about infront of a giant screen, with words THE GUTS presented in an electrifying fashion.

As the figure then opens his arms wide, his flight suit then gets dismantled by some high tech robot arms and claws, revealing the tamed racing animal's return to the story after a LONG hiatus.

The little racer didn't take long to walk through the perceptive mess and reaches out her burner phone specifically for The Guts.

Candy: "Been a while, huh? Here."


And while that happens, Sonny instructs towards his bro..

Sonny: "Bro, might I suggest you go get it? Our nice little surprise, it's in truck number 3.."

Kirk: "Was thinking about it, too.. well, I'll be right back."


As Kirk leaves, Sonny steps up and comes together to this uncanny group of top scoring Group 3 racers.

He then reveals, with interest..

Sonny: "You know that these days, Gutseroni here hasn't had an ambassador out and about with him? I know, it's strange."

Candy: "From me, it's rather sweet. Can't you say he's developing or something? Be independent, oh fellow top tier racing mystery!"


The Guts however didn't budge much aside his crossed arms.

However, the other man in the scene inspected the little racer, revealing..

Sonny: "Actually, give it to me."

Candy: "Give what?"

Sonny: "Sis, I can tell from a mile away you're being a sour gummy lah. Don't hold back, baby. I can take a hit, just so you know."

She can't help but fill her head with so much doubt on how that was figured so soon, but she has no reason to hide, expressing..

Candy: "Well, it's my car for today. My NA2 NSX. I suspect.. on the way here, some debris ended up in the engine, clogged the cooling, and first thing I knew, it blew on me."

And without warning, Kirk appears, and relates with an..

Kirk: "Ouch.."

Sonny: "Well, aren't you fast? Correct me, but.. at best, that's a day's work, right?"

Kirk: "Half a day, considering stock outta the nearest GT Auto.."

Sonny: "Yeahh.. knew I recognized that small squad over there. Those kick-ass lot aren't miracle workers, but you tell them to fix something, they WILL fix it. Puts Kirk's handiwork to shame sometimes."

Kirk: "Sure."


Kirk's unsure reaction was followed with The Guts standing with his shoulders up, and a fist raised up to his chest, and then shaken.

The charming man got the memo, replying..

Sonny: "Oh, look. I know what you mean, inverse stug."

Candy: "What?"

Sonny: "Guts here got something to show you. Our little surprise from Blue Moon. It's right here, is it?"

Kirk: "Right behind you, little miss."

Hearing, she complied, turned about and notices a familiar face..

Car of the Week | Alpine A220 Race Car '68 (5)


It's not her car, but she registers its presence like an old friend..

Candy: "Hooo! Pinky!"

..and swiftly heads over to comfort herself with the car, rubbing it as she mumbles..

Candy: "You beautiful beautiful thing, you. I don't know why, but ohh I missed you so."


The men watching left her to rub the car like a giant cat, but Sonny whispered nearby, counting..

Sonny: "Psst, 3.. 2.. 1.. aaand.."

Candy: "Hold on a minute: why's Pinky here?"


Realized Candy with wonder, to which Sonny did the talking..

Sonny: "Yeah, see? You see, sis, it's for The Guts to drive for our little event later."

Candy: "You know I'm about to ask how he got ahold of Pinky."

Sonny: "Course I do! Well.. you remember Sophia? She actually bought the car not long ago.."


The words describing this helpful Italian racing therapist slash advisor did give Candy some concern..

Candy: "Sophia.. uhh, lady has to pay off an Assassin's Contract, and here she goes spending on other unwanted devices.. so, isn't she not the ambassador anymore?"

Sonny: "Nope. But! But but but.. Clark told me she wanted to make peace with SimGear, and this is what that offering comes in the form of. And today's the perfect day for it to get some miles in.. in style."

The little lady notices The Guts in great agreement with speedy nods, then comments..

Candy: "Nods of approval. Those indeed are the right words."

Hearing this all go down, Kirk then queries..

Kirk: "Excuse me as I ask, but.. I know we have Supercar Festival on and all, but what's the special event this time?"

Candy: "Select invitees come over in rear powered mid-engined cars only. Which is why I don't mind if I had to borrow some local's McLaren or something."

Sonny: "That plan's gone to s[BLEEP]t since Candy's not quite hot around here, no offense, baby."

Candy: "You're fine."

And in his noggin, he wonders further..

Kirk: "Don't think we can get Nemesis over in time?"

Sonny: "Here back to the penthouse is 3-4 hours.. add in traffic and.. honestly, you're not going to make it."

Candy: "Thanks for counting. Guess unless Bon has a backup, I'm not racing."

In such dire straits, the pompous ass steps in with a side that isn't all him to show..

Sonny: "Haiyaa, such a shame.. I mean, this is like the moment, baby. THE moment the top seeding Group 3 racers are on track again, though in midships, rear powered sports cars. You sure you're going to retire?"

Candy: "No, no. No need. It's my choice. Guess I'll have no car until after the opening ceremony. Talk about the worst luck of the week.."

Those words however gave her an idea, as she faced the charming Asian to ask..

Candy: "Actually, can I ask??"

Sonny: "Go for it, baby. What's on your mind?"

Candy: "Dimma Scott told me of the existence of this.. Car Of The Week bunch. Think you have a clue who these people are?"

Kirk: "Wager the sticker on Pinky's what she on about."

Sonny: "I can see that, lard knight. Means these guys have a following of some form. But.. who they are, no.. tell you what, I think I have seen these punks once."

Candy: "Boastful.. This'll be good."


Stretching his neck with sideways head motions, the pompous ass then explained briefly..

Sonny: "They had a quick Group 3 race in Daytona. Was there for practice, and I was like.. what the hell, I give it a go, bro."

Candy: "And.."

Sonny: "I won; what did you think was gonna happen? But not because I was fast or something, though me at that time was like.. 'so easy ma' like always. I keep telling myself, sis: no way I can say that in their faces, even though we're top scoring in Group 3. Here: something from my unofficial fan club I have every right to steal from.."


Browsing his special smart phone, he then scrolls to the gallery, showing to the group a picture..

Car of the Week | Alpine A220 Race Car '68 (6)

While The Guts isn't one to react, Candy shows a sweetened response, eyes open as she spoke out with excitement..

Candy: "Wow. Sweet new livery! Really got the SRT groove in those colors.."

Sonny: "Thanks, baby. By the way, I notice they have the same car, like all of them. Must mean money's not a problem for these cats, lor."


And with the phone done, he puts it in his leather jeans, explaining his thoughts..

Sonny: "Soo, from what I wager, the name means there's a car they test every week, then they just share their opinions on the darkest side of the web."

Candy: "No social media presence is exactly how that story is going to go."


He nods, then follows with his cheeky smile..

Sonny: "Agreed. By the way.. you know I don't have a social media?"

Candy: "The fact that I looked up your name on the web and found archived posts and only fan pages does tell me something."

Sonny: "It tells you it's a mistake, especially with guys like me!"

Back to cheering up the little lady, the charming Asian then asked..

Sonny: "By the way, are you hungry sis?"

Candy: "Good day or not, I'm always hungry. You can say I have 7 other stomachs in me."

Sonny: "Wanna put that to the test? I hear Nessie's brought a food truck over to cater hungry racers. Since you're in such a downer, I belanja you, OK?"


And as the men move on, Candy, left behind and puzzled, then asked..

Candy: "Hey! Umm.. what's 'belanja'?"

Car of the Week | Alpine A220 Race Car '68 (2024)
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