"Little girl," said Vag, "don't run away as I shall not bother to chase you." The young lady in question started at Vag, as he sat behind the wheel of his sports car, and then she cautiously approached.

"What do you want?" she said hesitantly.

Vag raised his eyebrow (disdainfully) and inquired, "Would you be so kind as to tell me how to get to Mount Belknap?"

"Are you going to the sports car race?"

Vag looked about the countryside, at the farm houses and the billboards, and replied, "Why else would I come to this section of the country?"

The young lady raised her eyebrows and said, "Go down the road for a few miles and turn right at the sign."

A few minutes later Vag arrived at the foot of the mountain where the contestants for the Fourth Annual Belknap Hill Climb were gathered. Vag downshifted to decrease speed and increase noise as he drove past the M.G.'s, the Austin Healey's, and the Porsches. He finally parked his car between an Aceca Bristol and a Veloce. After a cursory glance at his surroundings, Vag strode over to a group of drivers. They were listening to a young man in a blue coverall who was standing atop a blue Porsche.

"This race is sanctioned," said the young man, "by the Intercollegiate Sports Car Authority. It will probably be the determining factor in the New England Collegiate Championships. We have had no fatalities in this race. We don't intend to. If one driver rolls his car, that's all. If a driver spins out or has four wheels off the track, he will be disqualified. Drivers will go up the course one at a time. They will be timed automatically. The best time wins." He looked at the drivers. "Any questions?"

The drivers dispersed. Vag strode over to the young man in blue and said, "I should like to enter the hill climbing event."

"You want to compete?"

"I should like to participate. I never compete."

"Oh. Has your car passed the technical inspection?"

"My car is in perfect condition. Moreover, it is untouched by American hands."

"Well, we'll check it anyhow. In the meantime, here's a map of the track. You go up the hill, around the circle on top twice, and then finish on this straight-away. Your number is 56."

Vag then passed the technical inspection by removing his hub caps and proving that his brakes worked evenly and immediately on all four wheels. He also taped up his headlights. After the inspection, he went back to his parking space to tape the number 56 on his car. Shortly, another driver joined him.