Race With a Heart
Chapter 72: Right Before the Second Grand Prix

Chapter 72: Right Before the Second Grand Prix

Due to a terrible downpour and a windstorm, the four men working in Teddy’s auto repair shop decided not to go to the bar and watch the second grand prix race in Teddy’s apartment, which was in the same building as the garage, only upstairs. Martin was here for the first time and he had to admit it was quite a cozy place. The TV did not have a screen as large as the one in the bar, but the couch in front of it was really comfortable and easily accommodated all four men. The table in front of them had a good supply of beer and other drinks, popcorn and chips, so Martin felt a bit like when he and his father used to sit at home in front of the TV to watch the racing together.

There was also a family atmosphere here. Martin was surprised how his idea of ​​Sid moving in with Teddy was quick and well-received.

Teddy, as he had warned Martin, informed the boys the next day that he will be going to the hospital for eye surgery. His eyesight will improve after surgery, but he may have problems for a few days. Therefore, the workshop will be left under the leadership of Martin, who is the oldest and most experienced mechanic, but would be grateful if Sid could live with him for a while. The boy was surprised, but agreed without reservation. After all, he will not leave the man who has provided him physical and mental shelter for so many years. Of course, he didn’t say it outright, but his eyes were full of determination and resolve to repay the help he had received earlier.

Dave was surprised too and turned to Martin aloof.

"Is this your doing?"

"I spoke to a professor who said it would be difficult to put Sid’s father in jail. We must have evidence, testimony from witnesses and the victim. Sid didn’t look ready to report to the police ... "

"One boy at our school did just that. He complained to the teacher and together they reported the matter to the police. "

"And what?"

"After a week he came with a bandaged hand but insisted on getting his fingers caught in the door himself. He didn’t notice that they were closing. "

"God!"

"It’s him, that professor, gave you the idea that Sid should live with Teddy?"

"He gave me the idea that Sid is almost grown up and can live alone. But he can also live with his family. Teddy’s kind of like family to Sid, don’t you think? A bit like grandpa. "

"For both of us," admitted Dave. "I can’t believe you really found the solution," he shook his head in admiration.

"I’m not as stupid as I look like, am I? Right? Hehehe. Who knows, maybe I’ll also find a way to help you somehow? "

"Me? No kidding! " Dave snorted.

"I’m not kidding. I really want to help you," Martin assured him.

"Do you think you are so powerful?"

"No, I don’t think so. But I think if several people think about solving a problem, they will solve it faster than if one person did it. Especially idiots like us. "

"Speak for yourself."

Martin laughed.

"I hear that you are pretty smart and with your brain you could easily get into college, so yes, I speak for myself. But you know what, if you were to be, I don’t know how smart, you don’t know everything anyway. "

"Are you gonna boast you solved Sid’s problem?"

"No, because I didn’t do it myself and I don’t know if I really solved it. But I think you should also give yourself a chance. "

"Maybe. We’ll see later."

"But for sure?" Martin insisted.

"Maybe. Later."

Sid moved in with Teddy that same day. It was necessary to clean the room and the boy should know the apartment well and where the various items are to be able to help the elderly man. They both liked the move so much that the very next morning, despite the massive age difference, they were laughing like best friends.

Martin had only seen Sid so excited and exhilarated when Jack had visited their workshop.

However, Sid was not positive about Martin. He avoided him as if he wanted to avoid talking about his father. Martin did not mind. He was sure that sooner or later they would make up. After all, Sid was a good boy, and working together they would have no choice but to start chatting. The most important thing was that the boy was safe, at least for the time being.

"This front weather is shifting across the continent," Teddy announces melancholically as Martin returns to the present. "It’s raining here, but how will it be over the track?"

It was actually a big question mark. The mechanics selected tires depending on the surface humidity. Yesterday the track was wet during training, but already dry in qualifying, so they switched from intermediate to slick, but today there were clouds over the track, so probably everyone will be under the pressure of the threat of rain.

"How are Lambert and Paxton dealing with intermediates?" asked Dave sitting on the couch next to Martin. Sid, who was just carrying a plate of crisps, paused to listen.

"You know, I’ve never seen them train in the rain," admitted Martin himself, a bit surprised by this fact. "The last two months have been surprisingly dry."

"So you didn’t even have time to test the new tires?" Teddy asked.

"No, no, we tested these before. Then we didn’t experiment. "

The TV operator often showed the leaden sky above the track and the movement among the mechanics of the various stables. It might rain at any time, but it might not rain until after the race, or not at all. There have been races in the history of races, where drivers literally had to slowly go to the pitches after a lap or two, because they had tires on dry surfaces and when it rained the cars had almost no grip. There were also races where drivers lost seconds on a lap driving on wet tires, intermediates, when the rain stubbornly refused to fall, and even weaker drivers who took the risk and chose slicks took the lead. There were also races where drivers because of yellow flag rode behind the safety car from the middle of the race, because visibility due to rain was too limited for the competition to be held safely. And there were also some where the black or red flag appeared.

In any sport, the weather gave an element of lottery. Only in GP2 or F1 races this lottery was particularly spectacular.

Abe Allen, caught by one of the camera operators, was looking at the sky thoughtfully.

"What do you think they will choose?" Teddy asked. He did not have to specify his question.

"Slicks" announced Martin looking at the sky shown on the screen. "They will choose slicks."

"What would you choose?"

"Also slick," he decided. "The track is currently dry. Jack and Steve have great starting positions so they can get away quickly. Most will choose slicks, so even if it rains at some point, they too will have to pull down to change their tires. There is more to gain than to lose. "

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Teddy nod happily.

"You have a good eye," said the old man. "Why did Allen let such a talent out of his hands?" He could raise a successor. "

The compliment pleased but also intimidated the young mechanic. Become Allen’s successor? Martin did not even dare to dream of such a daring dream.

He, on the other hand, knew perfectly well why he was not employed permanently. He knew the stable had to tighten his belts. Jack attracted many sponsors, but they were not financial tycoons, because he was no longer a fresh driver with a lot of potential, but a veteran without any spectacular achievements. He was respected but did not have star status. Steve was a star, but his personality definitely didn’t make it easy to get a really big sponsor to the stable. Paradoxically, their biggest sponsor at the moment was the brewery supporting Don Alston. It was just sad.

But he couldn’t be spreading that Fergus’s Stable was in financial trouble. It’s good to be loyal to your new employer, but it’s not good to reveal the secrets of your old one.

"Who said he didn’t want to keep me?" Martin tilted his head up too high. "Maybe I didn’t want to stay? Maybe I wanted to have more adventures and experiences before I become permanently connected with one place? "

"Yes, maybe" Dave snorted, amused. Sid chuckled.

Martin smiled too, though it wasn’t really a joke. Allen offered him that he could secure a permanent contract for him. Jack also offered to take him to his team. Even a few days ago, he asked Martin how he would react to the possibility of returning to the Fergus Stables? It was also true that working in this little Teddy’s workshop was an interesting challenge for Martin.

He still believed that he could be more useful here.

"You don’t appreciate me at all," Martin shook his head disapprovingly. "At all. You people of small heart have no idea what a treasure you have in me. "