- 237
This goes with the car maker from my garage, check out the link in my sig. I'll be doing month-by-month updates as I go.
January
They say most startups fail within their first few months. From what we've seen, Aquendwato Motors is not going to be one of those companies. We started designs for our first model year two summers ago. By that Christmas our entire initial production run had been pre-sold. Of course, we didn't have the funds to produce the entire spectrum that we desired, but that wasn't going to hamper us. With the money we earned from those sales we were not only able to produce a second run that year, but also able to work on our first purpose built race car. Using our luxury sports sedan, the S1, as a base we put together a package to compete in that fall's 24 Hours of Nurburgring. Admittedly our expectations were not great, but as we tested more and more throughout the summer our confidence level skyrocketed. By the time we took to the track in September we actually had reasonable hope of a victory, and a day later we were rewarded with our first major victory.
On the heels of our victory money seemed to pour in. The S1R that won at Nurburgring had suitors wanting to take it full-time on the JGTC to compete in the GT500 class. People wanted to race the X1 in the Japan Sports Car Championship, others the C1 in small town rallies. Others thought the S1 would make a powerful off road rally car. All this in addition to introducing at least one new model, it was going to be a busy year. And so to do all this the company expanded rapidly. Our payroll practically doubled as we struggled to keep up with all the new opportunities presented to us. For now there are three main teams. The first and largest is the R&D team, lacking a cool name with a title sponsor, in charge of expanding our product line. The second is Team S1R, the team who would be taking our prized racer to Japan this summer. The third and final is Team Aquendwato Sport, handling all the racing duties of the C1 and X1.
R&D Team
Despite our desire to expand each of our product lines at once, we lack the funds and manpower to do that, so instead we decide to focus on one. Naturally, we pick the one with the most profit potential, the X-series. The X1 was a very fast sports car, but the X2 would be an even faster version of it. As our first order of business, we start to search for the ideal base model. This search leads us all around the world, weighing the pros and cons of each. In fact, the month is almost over by the time we make our final decision: the Chevrolet Corvette Z06.
Team S1R
Initial interest in our team was high, however nobody was willing to front the money to make our vision a reality. Halfway through the month we're faced with a difficult decision: suspend the team until a sponsor can be found, or continue preparing in hopes that a title sponsor comes soon. We decide to continue testing in hopes that eventually a sponsor will like what they see. Our lap times were competitive with the others, but tire life was still proving difficult to optimize. Eventually we received two calls from possible sponsors: Steelback Brewery and Motorola. Steelback's offer was good, but not enough to compete in every race. However, our second meeting with Motorola was a success, we they offered to be our title sponsor and cover any costs we might incur. With money in hand, we unveiled our new livery at a press conference on the 31st.
Team Aquendwato Sport
For us, the off season is quite brief. The first race event of our year, an ice race in BC, was scheduled for the third weekend of January. The race efforts of the C1 and X1 were put on hold while we got the S1 ready for it's big debut. Our first test was well, disastrous. The car just didn't want to stay straight. Further tests helped, and by the time the race came around we were almost on pace with last year's winner. All we needed was to get in front and victory would be likely.
Come race day that was exactly what we couldn't do. The Mitsubishi we seemed wider than the track and we ended up a disappointing second and a half behind. Still we received invites to more more race events; the Capri Rally for the C1 and the Tour de Tahiti with the S1. Racing development for the X1 would remain at a halt for some time, it's series not opening until July.
February
R&D Team
We got the base specs of the Corvette in late January and tore into it as quickly as we could. We began, as we usually do, with the engine. Most of the parts were replaced by lighter materials. We increased the compression ratio of the engine to offer higher horespower. To cope with the higher compression the air intake and exhaust systems had to be expanded as well. The car's suspension system was overhauled with a much harder setup. Finally we tackled the interior of the car; redesigning the entire cabin to have high-class, sporty feel to it. Ultimately we our most powerful engine yet, even more than the S1R, as well as a total weight over 100kg lighter than what we started with.
Our first prototype was ready on the 27th. It arrived at Grand Valley Speedway the next day for our first test. Our test driver since the company started, Scott Bell, would be the first to test this new car. At the end of the day he tells us that he car's engine is divine, but the brakes are lacking and the car tends to understeer, especially at low speeds. The best hotlap of the day had a time of 2'04.
Team Motorola S1R
(No action this month)
Team Aquendwato Sport
The lose in Whistler stung, but we didn't have time to worry about that. Getting the car to Tahiti was no easy task. A ship would not arrive on time, so we had to pay an exorbitant amount to get in a spot on a cargo plane bringing it in. The shipping cost a small fortune and put immense pressure on us to win and recoup some of our expenses. But when our race came up it was evident that the big guns of rally racing, the Evos and Imprezas, were simply faster than our S1. After another defeat and with a depleted budget, the S1 rally program was put on indefinite hold.
At Amalfi we suffered another crushing defeat at the hands of a Subaru Impreza. Despite competitive lap times the two second gap we started with proved insurmountable and the 5 sec penalty rule made it impossible to pass on this tight, narrow course. After this latest disappointment word came down from corporate that we wouldn't be entering another race until the Japan Championship in five months.
January
They say most startups fail within their first few months. From what we've seen, Aquendwato Motors is not going to be one of those companies. We started designs for our first model year two summers ago. By that Christmas our entire initial production run had been pre-sold. Of course, we didn't have the funds to produce the entire spectrum that we desired, but that wasn't going to hamper us. With the money we earned from those sales we were not only able to produce a second run that year, but also able to work on our first purpose built race car. Using our luxury sports sedan, the S1, as a base we put together a package to compete in that fall's 24 Hours of Nurburgring. Admittedly our expectations were not great, but as we tested more and more throughout the summer our confidence level skyrocketed. By the time we took to the track in September we actually had reasonable hope of a victory, and a day later we were rewarded with our first major victory.
On the heels of our victory money seemed to pour in. The S1R that won at Nurburgring had suitors wanting to take it full-time on the JGTC to compete in the GT500 class. People wanted to race the X1 in the Japan Sports Car Championship, others the C1 in small town rallies. Others thought the S1 would make a powerful off road rally car. All this in addition to introducing at least one new model, it was going to be a busy year. And so to do all this the company expanded rapidly. Our payroll practically doubled as we struggled to keep up with all the new opportunities presented to us. For now there are three main teams. The first and largest is the R&D team, lacking a cool name with a title sponsor, in charge of expanding our product line. The second is Team S1R, the team who would be taking our prized racer to Japan this summer. The third and final is Team Aquendwato Sport, handling all the racing duties of the C1 and X1.
R&D Team
Despite our desire to expand each of our product lines at once, we lack the funds and manpower to do that, so instead we decide to focus on one. Naturally, we pick the one with the most profit potential, the X-series. The X1 was a very fast sports car, but the X2 would be an even faster version of it. As our first order of business, we start to search for the ideal base model. This search leads us all around the world, weighing the pros and cons of each. In fact, the month is almost over by the time we make our final decision: the Chevrolet Corvette Z06.
Team S1R
Initial interest in our team was high, however nobody was willing to front the money to make our vision a reality. Halfway through the month we're faced with a difficult decision: suspend the team until a sponsor can be found, or continue preparing in hopes that a title sponsor comes soon. We decide to continue testing in hopes that eventually a sponsor will like what they see. Our lap times were competitive with the others, but tire life was still proving difficult to optimize. Eventually we received two calls from possible sponsors: Steelback Brewery and Motorola. Steelback's offer was good, but not enough to compete in every race. However, our second meeting with Motorola was a success, we they offered to be our title sponsor and cover any costs we might incur. With money in hand, we unveiled our new livery at a press conference on the 31st.
Team Aquendwato Sport
For us, the off season is quite brief. The first race event of our year, an ice race in BC, was scheduled for the third weekend of January. The race efforts of the C1 and X1 were put on hold while we got the S1 ready for it's big debut. Our first test was well, disastrous. The car just didn't want to stay straight. Further tests helped, and by the time the race came around we were almost on pace with last year's winner. All we needed was to get in front and victory would be likely.
Come race day that was exactly what we couldn't do. The Mitsubishi we seemed wider than the track and we ended up a disappointing second and a half behind. Still we received invites to more more race events; the Capri Rally for the C1 and the Tour de Tahiti with the S1. Racing development for the X1 would remain at a halt for some time, it's series not opening until July.
February
R&D Team
We got the base specs of the Corvette in late January and tore into it as quickly as we could. We began, as we usually do, with the engine. Most of the parts were replaced by lighter materials. We increased the compression ratio of the engine to offer higher horespower. To cope with the higher compression the air intake and exhaust systems had to be expanded as well. The car's suspension system was overhauled with a much harder setup. Finally we tackled the interior of the car; redesigning the entire cabin to have high-class, sporty feel to it. Ultimately we our most powerful engine yet, even more than the S1R, as well as a total weight over 100kg lighter than what we started with.
Our first prototype was ready on the 27th. It arrived at Grand Valley Speedway the next day for our first test. Our test driver since the company started, Scott Bell, would be the first to test this new car. At the end of the day he tells us that he car's engine is divine, but the brakes are lacking and the car tends to understeer, especially at low speeds. The best hotlap of the day had a time of 2'04.
Team Motorola S1R
(No action this month)
Team Aquendwato Sport
The lose in Whistler stung, but we didn't have time to worry about that. Getting the car to Tahiti was no easy task. A ship would not arrive on time, so we had to pay an exorbitant amount to get in a spot on a cargo plane bringing it in. The shipping cost a small fortune and put immense pressure on us to win and recoup some of our expenses. But when our race came up it was evident that the big guns of rally racing, the Evos and Imprezas, were simply faster than our S1. After another defeat and with a depleted budget, the S1 rally program was put on indefinite hold.
At Amalfi we suffered another crushing defeat at the hands of a Subaru Impreza. Despite competitive lap times the two second gap we started with proved insurmountable and the 5 sec penalty rule made it impossible to pass on this tight, narrow course. After this latest disappointment word came down from corporate that we wouldn't be entering another race until the Japan Championship in five months.
