"Are you going to take your windshield off, it reduces drag considerably."
Vag stared at him for a moment and said, "It may reduce drag, but without the windshield dirt flies about my face and hands. The windshield remains where it is." Vag finished taping on the number.
"That used to be my number," the other driver said as Vag started to drive to the starting point for a trial run."
"Really?" said Vag.
"Yes," he said, "I wish you better luck with it than I had."
Vag ignored the last comment and shifted from first to second. At the starting line he tightened his seat belt, wiped his goggles, and fastened his helmet.
"Whenever you're ready," said the starter. "And don't try too hard, it's only your first run."
"I never try hard," said Vag as he released the clutch. He kept his gas pedal floored as he whirled his way from first to second and then to third gear. At the peak of the hill he downshifted and screeched into the first turn into the circle. Through the turn he went into third and then, entering the far turn, he downshifted again, waved to a photographer, smiled at the girl who waved the green flag, and screeched off. A few moments later he stepped out of the car and heard his time announced on the public address system, "One minute, fifty-seven seconds."
He stalked off up the mountainside to watch the races. At the first turn Vag seated himself upon a tree stump and watched a white Jaguar roar up the slope. The car was driven by a girl.
"She's all right in my book," said one fan, "she sure can drive."
"Does she own the car?" inquired Vag.
"Yes."
Vag watched her performance intently. The Alfa Romeos came next. The first came into the turn too quickly and hit the brakes. The right rear wheel locked and the Alfa blasted through the hay bales. No injury and no damage resulted. Vag watched the second Alfa, a white one, repeat the process.
"Hey, you, help us pull the car out."
Vag shrugged his shoulders, put on his gloves, and lifted the car back to the track. Then he checked his watch, and strode briskly down the hill for his turn.
The car behaved well and when he strode from the car his time was announced. "Hey," called someone, "you did better than that on your trial run. Weren't you trying?"
"Of course not," said Vag, as he began the drive home.