Debutant. Chapter 16. On the benefits of bad habits. Part 1

This novel is fictional; there is no need to look for intersections with historical events. This is a continuation of “Debutant” by Nikita Savelyev, the first readers of which were readers of F1News.ru…

Chapter 16. On the benefits of bad habits. Part One

Having received a coveted invitation from Monetti to test sports prototypes, Henry approached the important test extremely responsibly – he walked the entire circuit, noted the braking points, spent the night tinkering with the engine, studied a textbook on racing skills in the library and studied the car’s specifications from cover to cover. Somewhere in a parallel universe, another responsible Henry would certainly have done this: but his library was in a nice Italian restaurant, and school books were replaced by a voluminous carafe of red wine.

– Did I tell you about my second husband? – Emma Tomasi asked, lightly slurping her tongue.

– Which racer? – Henry tried to remember honestly.

“You got everything mixed up,” Emma slapped Henry on the palm. – This is the third husband. And he wasn’t a racer, he just liked expensive cars. My second husband couldn’t drive at all. He was a stockbroker and always did a good job after work, regardless of the helm. Didn’t I tell you… Now. Just pour some more.

Henry obediently took the decanter of bloody scarlet liquid. Naturally, he spent the evening with the venerable lady, not at all out of a desire to listen to her stories about his stormy youth, but for purely practical reasons. The grumpy Mario kept his word and after a fiasco at his home track, he flatly refused Carlo Rinaldo for educational purposes. He said that although there are theoretical world title chances, it is better to focus on those. In total, the Italians planned to send three crews to Florida: two were already fully equipped and the third had a vacant seat for the co-pilot. That’s what Henry was aiming for. Unfortunately for him, Monetti was invited to submit no fewer than four candidates to the tests. To give them credit, they acted fairly: they gave everyone exactly one hour of driving time.

Henry was urgently catching up on his half-forgotten skills in driving sports prototypes today. His best lap time was ultimately only third out of five: he stayed ahead of certain Giuseppe and Lucas. Not bad for the first time, I even got praise from the senior engineer, he liked the way Henry handled the tires and brakes. But is this enough? There is only one coveted seat in the red car. The decisive second day is approaching and depending on the results, Senor Bruno will make a choice. Who knows what considerations he will be guided by? Will he simply choose the one who will complete the fastest lap, or will he look at a combination of several factors: stability, ability to take care of the equipment, driving style. Who would have told me?

Cautious interrogation of the engineers has led nowhere – they are small people, the engineers have also not proposed anything meaningful – their job is to record all the data, and decisions are the job of the big bosses. Henry tried to make contact with their crew’s first pilot, the taciturn Brit Stephen. He was himself an engineer by training, occasionally emulating Monetti in open wheels, but he achieved greatest success in the field of car bodies. Henry spoke enthusiastically about his alleged experience with American racing and his excellent knowledge of the Florida track. But even here he was disappointed.

“Boy, leave me alone,” Stephen muttered. – We race for days. During this time, any idiot will learn the route. Personally, I don’t really care who comes with me, I won’t speak for anyone. If you feel like going to the race, jump out of your pants and show the best time. Then I think they’ll accept it.

Henry left the straightforward pilot alone and tried to play his last trump card: the glorious Senora Tomasi, she would dedicate the evening to her protégé. The senora lived up to expectations and accepted the invitation to dinner, but so far the benefit of that meeting is not a penny. And the clock is ticking, if Emma doesn’t help, it’s better to go to the room early and get some sleep. It’s unlikely, of course, but suddenly it will add at least a few hundredths to the round.

“Still, I’m very worried about tomorrow,” Henry finally interrupted the stream of speeches from the talkative senora.

“Poor boy, you’re going to have a hard time,” Emma agreed.

– Do you think I have a chance? – Henry decided to act ahead.

“Of course, but…” Henry didn’t like this hesitation at all.

– What is the “but”?

– You see, I’m sincere with you and really want you to get the spot…

– I am very satisfied.

– And you made a good impression today, confident laps, almost without mistakes…

– Señora Tomasi, don’t worry. I’m not a boy.

– But you’re only the third, you understand.

– Not everything is limited to pure speed, especially since we have to participate in a marathon every day, where the main thing is to save the car. You never know who will be fast in one lap. Senor Bruno cannot help understanding this.

– Believe me, he’s aware of it.

– But you don’t tell me anything…

– So be it, I’ll tell you, we’re friends…

– Don’t waste away!

– While Bruno leans towards Lucas.

-Lucas?! After all, he is only the second.

– You see, Lucas is a distant relative of a member of the board of directors of a serious automotive concern.

– Oh, that’s what it’s all about? Then why all this window dressing?!

– Don’t get angry, Henry. Better yet, pour some more for the lady. Obviously no one is promoting Lucas because in racing, talent comes first, not connections. Yes, the boy has money, but he goes out alone and would never allow anyone to ask about him. Lucas is a capable man. He even went to Oxford on purpose so that no one in Italy would be embarrassed by his position. He studies economics. And besides, he has so many problems in his studies because of these races.

– This is extremely moving, but why on earth is Bruno planning to give him priority?

– Bruno is also a living person. It’s one thing to include an untalented racer in the team, and another to give a promising young man a boost. He himself said that the time in one lap is not the most important thing.

– That is to say, tomorrow’s check-in is an empty formality.

– Not at all. Bruno takes Lucas along when he understands that he can handle nerves well and will be just as stable tomorrow. The boy is a good pilot, but too impressionable. He worries too much about his studies, he wants to keep up with everything, but he can’t. The eternal problem of children from whom their parents expected too much in childhood. For example, they only demanded one thing from me: get married as quickly as possible and not get in the way.

Henry drank his glass in frustration. His father and mother also once said that Henry should study well and definitely go to college. And then, of course, everything fell apart. When his parents died, he gave up all thoughts of studying. I wonder if they would appreciate their son becoming one of the top twenty pilots in the world, albeit in a questionable way.

But more discussion later. What about Lucas? Maybe I should just come out and say, “Boy, sooner or later you’re going to make it through this miserable marathon, but I only have that chance once in my life”? When he’s so impressionable, he gets emotional. What if the desire to meet parental expectations takes over? Most likely the second. And once again, fortune is on the wrong side of the field.

– Suppose Lucas gets nervous, and I go first, but I stay second, behind Giuseppe. Can they hire me in this case? – asked Henry.

‘That’s hard to say,’ Emma thought. – On the one hand you are a beginner and you can unexpectedly jump into the race, it will be an interesting experiment, on the other hand Joseph will certainly not underperform.

– Joseph? What kind of Joseph?

-Yes Giuseppe! I’m so used to calling him the old fashioned way. He is English. After moving to Italy, he started calling himself Giuseppe. Great original.

“Stop,” it dawned on Henry. – Isn’t this the same Joseph who spoke for Baker? Heavy drinker? Boys have so many stories about him.

“He wasn’t just speaking for Baker,” Emma grinned. – Joseph is a legendary person in his own way. Admittedly, not so much for on-track performances. As soon as he touched the bottle, he became unpredictable. In the morning in the paddock, instead of listening to the radio, they listened to Joseph playing tricks in the evening. Although he is an excellent driver. Unfortunately, not every team leader wanted to deal with him; a few years ago he was insulted by everyone and moved to the body. They say he doesn’t even drink. Almost. At least in season.

“Who would have thought it was him?” He looks like an ordinary old man. Dejected.

“You didn’t see him again after a few drinks – the most social person in the world.” Someone even claimed that he drives better when he’s hungover than when he’s sober. Liars of course.

Hangover? At that moment, Henry felt like Archimedes, struck by a statement. But unlike the ancient Greek, Henry did not rush anywhere and certainly did not start shouting loudly, but thought about the unexpected idea for half a minute and politely said:

– Señora Tomasi, it’s late and tomorrow is a big day. The wine is gone, dinner is eaten. I’ll take you to the hotel.

“Wow, I thought it was sinful that you decided to bother old Aunt Emma.” “What can’t you do for the sake of the place,” said Tomasi, half-jokingly, but Henry noticed that the senora was moved. Or maybe she’s disappointed. Who will understand?

– Let’s go, okay? – Henry said plaintively.

– Know that I will be for you and only you. That’s what I’ll say to Bruno. Just try to be the first tomorrow.

They will give you better results even without your protection. But of course thank you for your concern; a word from an influential lady would be helpful. Only now we have to add something to it, and for this we have to quickly go to the hotel.

“No change needed,” Henry tossed the bills in front of the waiter with a broad gesture.

“There are other real gentlemen,” his companion cooed. Yes of course. Hurry, señora, I beg you. Time is more valuable than ever.

== To be continued…