Race :: Round 23 - Sweden Hits the Boards

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Sweden's Alfa Romeo Monza race car careens forward to the right as Rutger Hägglund struggles with the wheel. Despite his best effort, the car flips onto its side and slides into the wattle sideboards at Paillon. The Shark leaps clear, somehow uninjured amidst the debris and damage. Behind, Norway's Megane Omalie cuts left and shifts down to avoid the accident. Finland's Tavho Myrsky also cuts hard to the left to take the inside line, close on the heels of Omalie. Belgium flies forward to close the gap, taking the outside line as all watch the Swedish car come to grief against the wattle-backed sideboards, strangely still in the lead position, but only figuratively so as the Monza is clearly out of the race now.

Farther back, the Czech driver, Vitez Rychly, cruises smoothly into the curve at Jardin Albert 1er, while Britain and Germany fight for the lead into the curve. Hegkman's white Bugatti once again overtakes John Milk's Amilcar to come alongside the Czech driver! Yet the three take no notice of each other as they look to see what is happening at the pits.

They can see glimpses of the security man, Orlince Strazny, as he bypasses the fires at the Monaco garage and cuts to the rear of the buildings. Quickly maneuvering past trees and across the grass, he leaps from the red motorbike to slide feet first into the doorway of the flaming Czech garage. A flick of his wrist reveals a small gun suddenly in his hand. Mon Dieu!! A shot rings out!! The Czech pit crew dives aside as a second explosion takes the back of the garage area and Strazny disappears inside. What is happening in our beautiful race!!

But we must report the Grand Prix! There, at Place Masséna, France's Aristide La Fontaine shifts up as Italy's Sebi Orsi, in his red Maserati, presses forward. Both cars skid out of the curve with Italy barely in the lead. Coming out of Avenue de la Victoire at the rear, Switzerland presses forward into the curve yet is stunned to see Spain's Teide Sorolla explode once again out of the back to overtake, carrying speed deep into Place Masséna! Is this the return of the "Volcán legend", now suddenly taking his advantage to challenge those ahead?

And what will become of the pits -- are they even usable with all this damage? Our fair jardin! Our fair jardin all aflame!!