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Wondering if these weekly lobbies will also go away?
Why is there no separate EU lobby?The results of last week's SPC, the Behemoth Bash Time Trial, are in!
8:39.870 7:50.902
Congrats once again to Vic! Maybe he's the only one that doesn't find the layout to be utterly cursed...
And this is it, folks! We're on our last regularly scheduled car of GT7 COTW, and the choice has been given to @Obelisk , whose birthday was just yesterday. Our bunny–loving Kei enthusiast has chosen perhaps the most hotly anticipated returnees of Spec III, the Renault Espace F1 '95!
(Yes, this is literally how my PS App shows me videos. Don't ask why.)
The Renault Espace F1 is perhaps the peak representation of just what made the 90s such a great time to be in: Renault, like so many other carmakers, went crazy, dumping their Constructors' Championship–winning V10 Formula 1 engine into the back of their Espace minivan. Why? Because they can, I guess! And as if kindred souls, the Espace F1 found its way into Gran Turismo 2, a game fondly remembered for featuring so many obscure and off–kilter cars, becoming perhaps the best representation of the weird and quirky that made GT2 so great.
Was it good? Did it drive well? Does it matter?
You're welcome to join us in our Single–Player Challenge and Weekly Lobbies to see (and hear!) for yourself!
Join Our Weekly Lobbies!
Our weekly lobbies are ongoing as usual, and anyone (not a dick) is welcome to join us in racing Espaces under BoP conditions!
Click on the hyperlinks to convert the times to your time zone, and feel free to add the hosts as friends on PSN to make searching for the lobbies easier!
The Americas Lobby
- Tuesday. 30th December, 10 P.M. CST
- Host: Victory_Reign93
The Asia/Oceania also kinda European Lobby
BoP/Settings Disabled: On (Cars will temporarily be reverted to stock settings, WIDE BODIED AND/OR ENGINE SWAPPED CARS WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE!)
- Saturday, 3rd January, 4 P.M. Singapore Time
- Host: XSquareStickIt
Tracks: Randomly selected by lobby participants (~5 mins practice, ~7 mins sprint)
PP Limit: 767PP
Car: No Limit
Tyres: Racing Medium
~Single–Player Challenge!~
I see someone is still sore about the NOS exploit back when we featured the Suzuki Carry
No winners or losers; just try to eke out a purpose and place for the Espace F1!
And now that we have our last car feature of the year, I'm also taking votes for the COTW Car of the Year Awards!
Regulars can vote for any of the cars we've featured from 2025 (Week 90: Ford Escort Cosworth '92 to Week 141: Renault Espace F1 '95) for the categories listed below.
For a full list of cars we've featured in 2025, check out the first post of this thread!
The awards are:
- The Best Looking Car
- The Worst Looking Car
- The Most American Car
- Beater of the Year
- Car of the Year
Votes can be cast either by replying to this thread directly, or contacting me via Private Messaging.
Which car will drive away with our last Car of the Year awards? Time will tell... 😎
You take care of you! We'll always be here for you if needed, my prayers to you and to your health and homelife.Unfortunately, yesMy declining health means I just can't commit the time to COTW anymore. I'm so sorry.
B R A V OView attachment 1502787
there was going to be a new picture with those words on the whambulance itself, but let's be frank: I'm already putting way more effort than any of you probably would
Best Looking Car
We nominated the likes of the 2000GT, the two Ford GTs, the Valkyrie and also a classic Lancia.. I'd be lying if I said I was sweating with choice, as this year's turning out to be a much more tough bunch to pick apart.
I'm not going to detail the why and the how, but the what?
But my pick is Week 139's Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta. It's a one of a kind in the game. Nope, there's no way I can find an argument against.. except for the fact it's my nomination. But that means nothing, I tells you!
Worst Looking Car
This one's actually easier in compare to the topic above.
If you didn't say it was Week 104's Renault Kangoo 1.4, I refuse to believe you. And that's honest: because it's a panel van. It's not made to be pretty, but practical. It's still an eligible choice here. Its brethren Avantime, and neighborly co-worker Unimog too were for contention, but that's more of a pair of honorable mentions. Looks is what you sacrifice if you're something made for utility.. unless you're a Transit.
Most American Car
There were a lot of American this year that's nice for this award. I mean, there's quite a few Corvettes and both Ford GTs, plus the SRII Viper..
It'd be in consideration if it weren't for the almighty Greening Auto Company Maverick from Week 112. This is one of those cars that's eligible for another nomination later on, but I feel there's nothing more American than an extreme representation of what you can fit under the bonnet of a classic muscle car, and put all that power on the rear tires.
Beater of The Year
This year sees a good chunk of Beaters too. I've no plans to list them, since fortunately for this year, it's also a very easy choice.
That choice: why, Week 92's Porsche Mission X, of course.
Undrivable, untunable, just generally undesirable. Least we're breaking that repeat performance of Toyota hybrids.. from my end, that is.
Bonus points if you hear Solar Eclipses playing in the background.
Car of The Year
The award that encompasses all other awards. And from me: there's a process.
To nominate a Car of The Year, I'm using the tried and tested SPD method, which is simply to take all of this year's Top Sleepers, and put 'em in a pile. This be the rank of the super exceptional attained by exceptional breaking of expectations. I wrote none of the cars that got this award, but 2 of them were drafted.
Since y'all don't even see this list from me anymore. I'll just state it: there were 4 Top Sleepers this year. 1 more than it was in 2025.
Lucky enough for choice purposes, 2 of them had Mark of Zen classifications, meaning goodbye to the likes of the ones who didn't have it, being..
Daiki Kasho - Day To Live
A fun and driver friendly GT, but unquestionably quick and competitive..
The signature car of Gran Turismo 5 that is the Mercedes-AMG SLS AMG.
And..
Altered Images - See Those Eyes
An easy going, nippy classic Japanese sports hero that can do anything it wants..
A Nissan that's not a Skyline nor a Z, but a Silvia.. why of course, you DOKE for the Zenki Nissan Silvia S13 K's Dia Selection!
Now for the pair in contention..
Axus - When I Fall In Love (Strike Acid Dub)
One was the first car of the year: the Escort Cossie.
With the Zen award on The Glen, putting yourself behind the wheel gives you thorough understanding why it's a cult classic among lovers of hot hatchback heroes.
Quick, nimble, easy to drive, easy to master.. the kind of handiwork STIs and Evos fanboys need to take a note from.
However the one that won this coveted award wasn't the Cossie.. I really wanted it to be so, but it didn't happen.. why?
Well, that car's also a Ford, but an American one, and it being RWD means it's automatically better.
To boot, it got that lovely Zen classification on the Nordschliefe.
And it made me enjoy it way more than I thought it should, especially when in this game series, I call it it's worst representation yet. Even worse than say.. Need For Speed Hot Pursuit 2010 and Need For Speed Rivals.
Of course, I must say it: cue the Ronnie.
Metallica - Ronnie
That car is the Signature Car of Gran Turismo 4.. and original SPD hero car: the Ford GT '06 of Week 114. And no bias was hinted in this decision. Nope. Nada. No siree.
It played its role perfect as this.. speed demon that's both got a classic taste of performance while keeping relevance in the modern day.
Not to mention a car without driver aids.. but with power that's easy to manage, and a handling profile as smooth as putting your [insert penis joke here].
I've had sleepless nights making unnecessary calculations in my head.. the solution that came from these is that this car is nothing short of amazing.
There's a reason the car's in Gion.. it's how his story started.
Now, it's time for the more interesting awards. I mean.. you clicked that spoiler button. You're getting more from me, so SIT DOWN!
And with everyone settled, let me present to you..
The SPD Awards
Thank you, thank you. You think I was done? No sir.
Here's the awards for things I do, and things I notice.. the me awards. That's why they're called the SPD awards, why does it need clarification, you tell me.
Most overrated car
Simply put: the car that performed the worst against its rivals in the week it's nominated. It's not that the car sucks, it's more like the hand it deals isn't the greatest for a general in game balance outlook.
Now, while an underdeveloped FF car in the 400-530 PP regions or the KTM X-BOW R can suit this well, I'm putting this declaration towards the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo from Week 133. Any comparison car just blows it out of the water. I am seriously confident it cannot compete with its rivals, not to mention a Valkyrie on slicks. Maybe it has a good endurance performance? Usually cars with bloated PP ratings have good fuel economy to boot, see the aforementioned X-BOW.
Most underrated car
It's the direct opposite of that title above.
This one's easy. When you race in the low 400PP ranges, das nicht der BMW i3 der Woche 118.
In it's niche, it would need a car that's about 60 PP above to match with. And if not for that niche, it's imperative I have to make a quick honorable mention.
Said mention goes to the Suzuki Cappuccino (EA11R). Yes, teh (intentionally mispelled 'the') gigaccinno: a car that's 3 seconds ahead of its competition, needing a divide ahead that's 45 PP wide to break even with.
Grouped Car of The Year
Another easy award to describe: it's the best car with a grouped category embedded onto them.
There's only 5 cars, but without hesitation only one car deserves this award by a landslide.
That car is the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO from Week 119. GT Sport's undisputable joke of Group 1 became a viable, actually potent competitor after a certain patch update came to fix it's hybrid system. It's still ugly, understeery and long, but it really got an upgrade that would pale every other car that would've been chosen for this award should the future be different.
Song of The Year
We first got Song of The Week, and now it's Song of The Year.
To the uninitiated: I put a song, be it new or old, in a playlist every week for all the weeks we've been around.
One important rule for this award is that the song in particular has to be introduced to me through this association. Which means any song I frequent or have reserved on the car for longer than a year or know very well to its tune.. a lot of songs, well they are automatically disqualified. Things like the aforementioned Ronnie. What else, well, only I know that answer.
It's like every year, where we have cars and their songs contested with hit after hit, but one song stood out for me this year. It's Megadeth - Police Truck for the Chevrolet Corvette C7 ZR1 on Week 120.
There's also this shortlist of other songs that nearly won it.. you know: honorable mentions. These would be..
David Bowie - Pablo Picasso for the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
Matt Willis - Up All Night for the Renault Avantime
Stratovarius - The Game Never Ends for the Nissan GT-R T-Spec
In Case of Fire - This Time We Stand for the Pagani Zonda R
Put away this restriction, and there are some obvious winners.. way too much to list, really.
Mean Machine/SPD Schadenfreude award
In some weeks, there are cars that cause great skill issues.
There is no car more difficult to drive than what I usually get behind the wheel of in this game. Those cars are the Lamborghini Miura and the Shelby Cobra.. the robbing of nomination of the former still gives me nasty giggles inside to this day.. it's perhaps an award by itself.. the FAFO award, I'd say.
But don't take it the wrong way: we're all driving these things together. Usually in these weeks I just tell myself: who's going to the shadow realm today?
This year, I saw tears of salt coming from the TVR Tuscan Speed 6 of Week 117. I managed to live in that car in heavy downpour, get a clean race, with good finishing position, use no assists, and get ABSOLUTELY no recognition for it. I know; tis all just complete utter nonsense.
Say I'm not a saint about it, and you can say I'm actually still livid about it.. to a degree, of course. I have integrity (and manly bits), y'know? Fortunately, I've moved on, y'know y'know?
Most memorable lobby shenanigan
An obvious title for a self explanatory award. This award selection, funnily, is also obvious.
This is the award that shows the lobbies we do every week are far from the norm. But for this award, it's the one that convinces me (and perhaps the lot of you): how can these guys live without me, and my frightening genius, ehh?
Easily to fill this gap is what I call: SPD uses the pits to cheat in an uphill climbing Unimog Type 411 on Week 98, Saturday.
But we can't go without some honorable mentions: There's..
The Gigaccino being WAY too dominant (relevant weeks where the Cappuccino is an alotted rival),
Forgetting to turn off mandatory pit stop causing a big win to a big loss (Week 137, Saturday),
Webster trying to take the number 1 spot on the Blacklist, although sadly missing out on Razor (Week 132, Tuesday),
The parity between Group 1 and the best of Group 2 is smaller than we thought (Week 119, Tuesday),
SPD turning every car into the BMW M3 GTR (relevant weeks where Nine Thou Superstars Remix says hello),
Beauty and The Beasts with the 8C Competizione and Maserati GranTurismo (Week 126, Tuesday).
The Mustangs in Mini Mexico award
Mustangs in where now?
Despite the name, this isn't an award for a Mustang of any form..
Yeah.. with that, I can see your flabbergasted little face that you see this one's not quite obvious.
The whole time I wrote for Forza Horizon 5's COTW, we never seem to have touched anything that's named a Mustang. No, the Hoonicorn didn't count. Now to explain it further: that game's known for carrying a LOT of Mustangs, so it's incredible that we didn't even touch that car.
Perhaps this is just a fancy way of saying a car I want to nominate that's not the 5 cars I mentioned earlier, but didn't get to this year.. or in this case the rest of time. I was going to say any of the classic American muscles of the 60s, but this award actually goes to..
Let me get into my 'words you can hear' moment for a sec..
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THEY SAY!
I WON'T ACCEPT IT IN ANY SINGLE WAY-AH!
THROUGH THE FLOORS, AND UH, THROUGH THE CABLING!
THEY'RE PERMEATING IN THROUGH EVERY SINGLE DAY!
BUT I WON'T BE CONFINED BY THEIR REGIMENTED BORDERS!
WE'VE GOT THE STRENGTH OF OVER 50000 SOLDIERS!
AND WE'RE NOT DUTY BOUND TO ANYBODY'S ORDERS!
COME ON EVERYBODY NOW: DON'T LET 'EM RUN YOU!
.. my favorite Group 3 racer.. the longboi that is the Peugeot VGT Gr.3. A car that serves as a prime example of Group 3's 'so bad, it's good'.
The replica livery of it is one of my most celebrated liveries in GT Sport, after all. Even to commemorate that era of the game, you can even see I even have a theme song for it that's in that game: The Qemists - Run You.
And it's a long time running as my rival car to the Mustang Gr.3 we nominated that time.
Mark of Zen superstar
OH GOD MORE SPD LINGO??
The entire idea is simple: all Mark of Zen demands is for the car to really want me to feel what gives it the allure, and push it to the limit on a venue chosen by the lobby host. And not only feel that, but feel spectactularly high and forget the world around me while giving it all I got.
Unlike in Mini Mexico, the Mark of Zen in Gran Turismo is significantly stricter. Hot lapping in this game easily gives you that desire that I seem to struggle to get in Horizon 5.
There were 3 cars. You can say it's a repeat award, but.. it's a separate award, okay?
The winner is obviously Week 114's Ford GT '06 on the Nurburgring Nordschliefe. If you want to know the other 2, it's the Cossie on Glen, and the Avantime at Tsukuba.
The Week 34 Award
Here's an award I'm sure you're wondering what it's for, since it involves a trio of words relating to me that I've made sure someone says in story.. it's 90% Candy, by the way.
Well? What is it?
That's the not too clear part. Well, this is the award of a car I wanted to nominate, but OOPS, fate said screw you SPD, and you don't get the car under your name. Thus the Blue MINI JCW Countryman meme was born, and takes on the name of that award.
Unsurprisingly it happened a few times over the whole lifetime of this whole racing together shenanigan. While the Miura would've won last year, this year it's..
Obviously the Ford GT '06 of Week 114. I'm not hiding the fact. Perhaps I have to mark it with shoutycaps: 'ORIGINAL SPD HERO CAR'.
I like how Jake gets both his Signature Car and Signature Racecar settled this year alone. Though.. his more domestic Mustang Boss should've been nominated, this year, y'know? Or the Camaro Z28 I hint waayy too much.
Speaking of story..
SPD story Signature Car of the year
Among a list of 60 cars is a shortlist of Signature Cars: a roster that's been given to the cast of my story that signifies that it's their main car.
There's an ill wind that blew and that wind is the third that the Ford GT '06 of Week 114 gets this award.
Damn it, Jake, come back down here again..
Why of course I must make honorable mentions to the other remarkable Signatures: namely the Mercedes-AMG SLS AMG, Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (C6), and Subaru Impreza 22B-STi.
This dear-to-SPD car sure wins a lot of awards. Maybe you can see how intentional it was I put 3 awards with it winning back to back.
Speaking of which, how about.. should the car actually win Car of The Year, I will release it's writeup. It will be redacted of analysis, but hey: it's the least I can do.
What are the 5 cars that could've brought me back to writing the COTW tales?
You can probably tell I drafted this section before I wrote the Honda N-ONE RS's entry. Well, there's your confession.
Honestly, I'm still a bit sad these cars didn't get a nomination.. legends in my heart that should get a run.
It's not an award, but just a bunch of machines that ended up in the 'oh well' category, if anything.
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI MK1
Story title:
Sim Gear Presents: We Celebrate An Automotive Red Hot Chilli Pepper
Song of The Week:
Alphaville - Fallen Angel
And it's a random car? No, it's the classic sports compact that really nailed Volkswagen onto racing relevance to.. maybe not that long ago.
I wrote an entire Top Gear styled caper for this car. You really want to see how I fit the Wolfpack in this episode.. particularly Sonny who in the whole episode has a penchant to spam Tao of The Machine (Scott Humphrey remix), as you can see up front in the sprint race that serves as the part for Tuner's.
The car's song is also Song of The Year material.. too late for that.
TOYOTA GR YARIS RZ "HIGH PERFORMANCE"
Story title:
Candy's Ballad
Song of The Week:
Kelly Wright - Live In Tokyo
As I've teased the last time I wrote, this is the main character's Signature Car.
It's also a rear happy, all purposes intense, fun little sports hatch that found me only disappointed that it can't go too far ahead in terms of power.. it did get a Demon swap recently, but let's not dwell there.
The story is pretty much a flashback.. things that'll flesh out the little lady for future endeavors.
CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28
Story title:
Brothers In Arms
Song of The Week:
Rush - Out Of The Cradle (Remixed)
Sonny Meng, being a literal exaggeration of myself, has the added perk of being the only guy who gets two Signature Cars. I already dealt with the first car ages back (Dodge Viper GTS [ZX] on Week 36).
The second car would be, surprise surprise, my favorite pony car of all time, even though I'm a Mustang freak as well.
It would also be the most amazing car to ever grace my list of attainable dream cars.. now if only it was feasible in terms of maintainence, safety, and not cost me an arm, a leg.. or both..
Story wise.. ehh.. I'm not too inspired, just a deep delve on how Sonny got the car by the end days of his high school years.
Yawn, it's another flashback story.. but unlike Candy's one, it's been planned for years.
There are scenes that include how he knows the Ross family, making mince meat of a bunch of tuners.. and now with Candy at the sidelines.. even if you don't know what I'm talking about, what comes of it is touted to be fun.
FERRARI 288 GTO
Story title:
Ghostdancing
Song of The Week:
Judas Priest - The Sentinel
Another Sonny Meng car. Where is that punchable smile..
View attachment 1502790
So.. anyone who's been around in the early days of me playing Gran Turismo 6, and even browsed through Media will know from my standpoint, would know Nemesis is an old friend.
Nemesis is also an amazingly dangerous foe.
Not only is it the my favorite Ferrari of all time, it's also presented to the world as this car that's not afraid to burn rubber, both in and out of the virtual space.
It's also incredibly quick for its PP level, but requires such a finesse that makes the lot of you cry when you put yourself behind the wheel.. too bad I'm not able to see such a scene.
Ghostdancing is a very important script for the development of Sonny, as he faces off some stiff competition against the ever so hateful Nirvana's amazon brigade of all women street racers.. you can figure out where I can insert Candy in this.
The Simple Minds song gets a shout out as it was the song that I had an endless obsession to hearing when I drafted this.
LEXUS LFA
Story title:
Your Latest Trick (COTW Ver)
Song of The Week:
Muse - Uprising
The V10 fan favorite who has a 9 year old script awaiting in my head, titled "Your Latest Trick".
Plus it's a Signature Car. To who? Well, her in story name is 'big sis', and she's a frequent customer with custom made carbon fibre bladed rollerblades, as well as her phone always being taken by a certain race driver. That's as much as I'm willing to give.
Seriously, Rin-san has been a fixture in my writing.. to what degree, well, my long awaited script for this nomination doesn't even feature her so much.
It is a certified funny filler episode I'm guilty for not releasing for about a decade.. the only thing I will do, aside rewrite the whole "Sonny Meng once became a spokesperson for an underwear brand" themed piece of hilarity is insert Candy, and make sure Keith plays a different video game on his Playstation.. the game on the initial draft is Borderlands 2, and that game is ages old.
What's next?
The grand finale of me writing for COTW, of course! It's.. how shall I put it.. ghastly!
I'm just a simple little SPD, so I'll just title it as The Final Lap, and the only hint.. for anyone who actually follows my ramblings of another worlds:
The eyes see all..
Expect it in 3 to 4 weeks.. with of course the Renault Espace's other tidbits I will reveal through analysis.
Toodles!
Replay uploaded, no CRB, and placed in 2nd..~Single–Player Challenge!~
I see someone is still sore about the NOS exploit back when we featured the Suzuki Carry
No winners or losers; just try to eke out a purpose and place for the Espace F1!
)But every once in a while, a car comes along that turns heads and ages gracefully for future enthusiasts.
Three different regulars, three different votes for three extremely different cars. Our nominees are...
Ahh well, real world problems, amirite? If anything, it just helps me appreciate that the car never breaks down in GT7, and that getting in and out of it is no hassle at all, because...
Cheers!
Seven Haven Bar, 8:30PM
The usual noise & commotion of Seven Haven Bar disappears behind the door to the rented out rooftop bar as another guest shows up for the quiet celebration of COTW’s latest public story, a 45% stake in the company being acquired by a consortium of folks with really deep pockets.
Vic: ”Well it finally happened, we got paid a lot of money to (BEEP) off.” He said with his trademark grin.
Many laughs break out from the crowd.
Vic: “But not quite, even though they bought 45% and had terms we agreed to, one (among a few) non-negotiable(s) we had was that you guys could come back and write whenever you want, no mandates, just come and go as you please.”
Cheers and applause from the regulars with raised glasses.
Vic: “While COTW as we know it is winding down, We’re not shutting the doors…” He pauses, taking a moment to steady his voice.
He continues, tone notably softer
Vic “But at the same time, it’s gonna feel weird not doing this every week, I’ve been doing this for over 11 years, some of you guys were here even before me.” Nods from Baron and Racer.
Vic: “We’ve had ups and downs over the years, but with the people i’ve met, raced and become good friends with, I wouldn’t change it for anything and if I had to go back and do it all again, I would, in a heartbeat.” He finishes up while holding back tears.
Loud applause from everyone
“Vic: It’s been a hell of a ride and I’m honoured to have been part of it.” he hands the mic over to Square and heads off to a private room.
He’s barely holding it together, he prided himself on never letting himself bleed in front of an audience, he’s so occupied on not buckling he doesn’t hear the door close behind him.
But he DOES hear the voice, soft and filled with concern.
Esh: “That was a honest speech Vic, you ok?”
Vic: (Please not her, of all people to see me like this.) his mind screams as he turns around.
Vic: “Do I look ok?!” He says not with anger, but fear, fear of finally falling apart around someone he greatly respects and likes.
Esh: “To borrow a phrase from someone I know well, you look like you could use a hug.” she says gently while slowly opening hers arms out.
Recognition flashes across his face, his own words from when she broke down at the office, his final shred of control disappears.
He then silently walks over and accepts the embrace and the shoulder to cry on.
Esh knew this was coming, she knew what this meant to Vic and she knew how good of a brave face he’d being putting on in the run-up to the deal being finalised.
Especially after both of them fought like hell in the negotiation phase.
(Few months ago at one heated meeting)
8 buyers, legal counsel, Esh and myself, all around a long table trying to hash out specific clauses for the agreement.
Unfortunately, one said buyer took it upon themselves to try and lead for the buyers.
Vic: Do you seriously think we’ll let AI replace our guys & gals doing the write ups?
Esh: With respect AB, Ai is a no go for this deal.
Arrogant Buyer: You’ve been leaving money on the table this whole time without AI to streamline write ups for more profit.
Vic: That goes against the whole point of what we do, there’s no honesty in AI, because AI still has to have a human creating code for it to learn, a human who might be “encouraged” to code the AI to write what amounts to a paid review.”
Esh: “Something that COTW highly discourages.”
AB: “You don’t get it, AI doesn’t get tired, it just works and works..Vic: “Terribly” he interrupts. AB: “It can do better than you and whatever that sick CEO could ever do.”
Dead silence
The 7 others buyers shifted very uncomfortably because they were aware of Square’s health issues and they knew that AB had just crossed over a very dangerous line.
Esh looks over at Vic and sees him slowly cock his head to the side and smile, not a pleasant smile either.
For the first time since she met him, She couldn’t reconcile the Vic she knows with the Vic she was currently seeing.
Vic: “Does he speak for all you?” he says almost deathly quiet and never breaking eye contact with AB.
The 7 buyers all shake their heads in disagreement.
Vic slowly rises from his chair.
Vic: “I’m gonna count to 3 AB, if you haven’t left this room by the time I get there, it won’t just be your part in this deal that you’ll lose.”
AB: “Without me this deal dies, the others can’t match the £50 million I bring to the table.”
Vic: “Who says they have too? One.” Vic says coldly as he slowly makes his way round the table.
Esh: “AB please leave, he gets to Three, your safety is no longer guaranteed.”
The 7 buyers, not wanting to be witnesses to a legally questionable, but morally justified beating also start telling him to leave.
Vic: “Two” still moving slowly round the table and still not breaking eye contact with AB.
AB: “Fine, you wanna kill this deal? I’m going.” he quickly jumps up, grabs his case and folders and bolts out the room.
Vic’s eyes track him as he leaves and after the doors close, he lets out a breath and cools his rage.
Esh: “I hate to say it Vic, but he’s right, his 50 million was a good portion of the money.”
Vic looks at Esh, then at the 7 remaining buyers and their legal counsel.
Vic: “What you would you say to me putting up the 50 million?” he says calmly
Shock registered on everyone’s faces, including Esh’s.
The legal counsel speaks up
LC: “You want to put up 50 million for us to buy 45% of the company you’re in?”
Vic: “Yes, I’ll put up the money, upon the deal being finalised, those 50 million’s worth of shares will be surrendered to you guys and divided equally, you get the agreed 45%, you don’t pay extra and you get a little extra for yourselves.”
LC: “You don’t make an offer like that without asking for a few big things, what’s the catch?”
Esh regains her focus and interjects
Esh: “First off, as is obvious to us all, No AI reviews are to be used, COTW has always been about what we see and feel driving these cars, No AI can ever properly offer that human connection to the readers.
LC: “Done”
Vic: “Second off” Vic says as he sits back down “Our guys get permanent consulting roles, flexible hours, but they can come back anytime and write for COTW and bill you for the hours they do at market rates.”
LC: “Looking after your own, Done.”
Vic: “Esh is retained as COTW Lead Legal Counsel with a bump up to her retainer fee, you can bring in your own lawyers, but she has the final say on what suit gets filed and when.
LC: “We’ve seen her retainer, it’s rather pricy.”
Vic: “Yep, but take it from me, She’s worthy every penny and then some.” A gentle warm smile appears on his face as he glanced over to Esh.
LC: “Consider it done.”
Vic: “Lastly, Esh, Square and myself get seats at the board WITH veto powers, any major changes to COTW structure has to go past us and any one of us could put the brakes on it if there’s something we don’t like about it.”
LC: “You drive a very hard bargain Mr Reigns, but given the circumstances, we’ll allow it.”
Vic: “Thank you, Esh will get the revised deal and terms sent over to your legal team.”
Vic rises up from his chair and goes to shake the buyers hands.
Vic: “Pleasure doing business with you all, I look forward to our future efforts.”
The buyers slowly file out and the legal counsel whispers in Vic’s ear.
LC: “Remind me to never piss you off.” he says with a chuckle.
Vic: “As long as you don’t do what he did, you’re golden.” he replies with a smile.
The room emptied out until Esh and Vic were left.
Silence crept between both of them, Esh then broke it.
Esh: “Did you seriously just commit 50 million of your OWN money to this deal?!”
Vic: “Spite is a powerful motivator Esh, plus no-one takes a shot like that at my friends and expects me to let it slide.”
Esh: “Do you even have that kinda money on hand?”
Vic: “Let’s just say all those teams who hired me for Le Mans, Sardegna and Tokyo made sure my talents and effort were generously compensated.”
Esh: “You’re…you’re really something you know that Vic?” She smiles as the implications of everything click into place.
Vic: “You’re not so bad yourself Esh.” he smiles back
They both share a laugh.
Vic: “Well, let’s get the revised terms sent over and then wait for the deal to go through, but let’s keep that 50 million part between us and the buyers ok Esh?”
Esh: “Understood”
(Back at the party)
Vic’s cried out the last of his tears into Esh’s shoulder.
Vic: “Thank you Esh” his voice sounding broken
Esh: “You saw me at my most vulnerable Vic, it’s only fitting I’d be here for you too.”
He sniffles and starts to get himself straightened out.
Vic: “I’ve… Always looked up to you Esh.”
Esh blinks
Esh: “Me? Why?”
Vic: “Esh, you’ve never given up on your brother after all these years, each day waking up and wondering if this is the day he wakes up or the day his body gives out on him, Yet you never give up when it would be so easy to do so, that.. that takes strength Esh.”
Esh: “Vic, you know i’m not great at taking complements like that.”
Vic: “Well that’s tough (beep), you deserve all the praise.” his trademark grin coming back.
That got them chuckling together, only to be interrupted by Esh’s phone ringing.
Esh answers it.
Esh: “Esh speaking, what?!, When?, I’ll be right there.”
Vic: “What’s the story?” he said with slight concern
Esh: “It’s my brother, he’s woke up.” she says gently
Vic doesn’t hesitate
Vic: “I’m Driving.”
(10 minutes later)
Vic & Esh are blasting up the Expressway to the hospital, Esh has relaxed, but is still nervous about seeing her brother awake after all this time.
Esh: “What if he doesn’t recognise me?” she fretted
Vic: “He will Esh, he will.” he says as he grabs another gear from the 7 speed gearbox in his modified 911 “GT2.3 RS”
Short time later, They pull into the hospital parking lot.
Vic: “You ready for this?”
Esh: “I don’t know.”
Vic: “You’re ready.” he says with a sincere smile.
Esh: “You not coming in?”
Vic: “This is your brother Esh, This is important to you, I don’t wanna ruin your long overdue reunion.”
Esh: “You’re not gonna stay in the parking lot are you?” she says with a half smile.
Vic: “Nah, I’ll be heading out for a drive, After everything I need to take some time to make peace with everything.”
She nods in understanding, then asks him a question.
Esh: “What do you drive for Vic?”
Vic: “What do I drive for?” he ponders for a moment.
Vic: “Honestly couldn’t tell you Esh, I’ve never really asked myself that question.”
She accepts that, but decides to encourage him to think about it on his drive.
Esh: “Thats fair, it’s something my farther used to ask my brother while we were growing up, he always asked him that when he went for a drive.”
Vic nods in understanding.
She goes to open the door, pauses, looks back to Vic who’s looking out his side.
Then she decides to surprise herself.
She quickly leans over and before Vic can react, pops a small kiss on his cheek.
His eyes go wide in shock.
Vic: “Esh?!”
Esh: “Something for you to think about on your drive.” she says with a cheeky grin as she gets out the car, her face slowly going red from realising what she did.
Vic: (Damn, Well played Esh.) he chuckles to himself, “Guess that old saying is true, When one door closes, another one opens.” he says to himself as he fires up the engine and leaves the parking lot.
(5 mins later)
That question she asked kept bowling around in his head, but he tried to quieten it down as he headed on to the expressway and settled into a smooth rhythm.
Vic: (If these expressway roads could talk, the stories they could tell us all.) he thought to himself, he checks the time on the radio and then that’s when it happened.
A set of headlights appear in his rear view mirror on high beams, then his radio station drops out and this song plays out.
Then a message plays out on the radio screen.
“What Do You Drive For?
Vic’s blood runs cold, he instantly looks back at the car behind him and sees it.
A highly modified Mitsubishi GTO with the front end clip from a C4 Vette, a sparkling aura surrounding the car and most worryingly…
No driver.
He heard story’s that mentioned phantom cars cruising the expressway at night time, witnesses accounts of these showing up behind them from out of nowhere, blasting past them and then disappearing before their very eyes.
None of those accounts ever mentioned a question being asked.
Vic: “Get ahold of yourself Vic.” the question Esh asked now directly at the forefront of his mind.
“What Do I Drive For?”
And then it clicked, for the first time in a long time, Vic could answer it.
Vic: “What do I drive for?”
I drive for my friends
I drive for my family
I drive for a past to be honoured
I drive for a future to be chased
I drive for a greater today and an even better tomorrow
(He hits the hazard lights to accept the challenge)
I drive for a chance to be a better version of myself
(He tightens his belts and drops down two gears.)
But tonight?
I drive
(3)
For
(2)
Myself
(1)
.
.
.
.
.
And I have no intention of slowing down.
(Go!)
(Annnd Cut! 🎞️That’s a wrap folks)
Well, yeah.
Here we are, after 11 years for me.
I’m not gonna pretend this didn’t hurt, but at the same time, I don’t regret it.
The races i’ve had, the battles I’ve fought, the friends i’ve made, the opportunity’s that came from the folks I’ve raced with, all of it can be traced back to COTW.
The club I joined on a whim back in 2014, back when @McClarenDesign was running the show.
To everyone who’s ever joined us, it’s been a blast to have you and for me to host the main meets.
This isn’t goodbye for COTW, far from it, the future is unknown to us all after all, but COTW as we’ve been doing it for all these years is as the thread title states, On Hiatus.
And now for the same thing I did for the regulars in the PSN Chat, because damn it I won’t be the only one shedding tears over this.
(Skip to 3:05 and let the feelings play out.)
To those I’d consider good friends, thank you, be safe and above all else, have fun out there. 😄👍
