Participants
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The participants were all given a design, which strangely looked uniformly like vans with dual large-bore projectiles front. The arena, the Spaghetti Junction Duellodrome, can be seen in several pictures below. The goal was to cross through the center area, with the winner being the first to do so five times. There was a 30MPH rolling start, with everyone starting in one of the loops with their back to the center.
Much squawking about the low Handling Class of Vans was heard as the cars raced around the first major turn to return to the center. Erin lost control several times, but only managed to fishtail or skid in the most useful direction. Aaron slowed down so as to be the last one through the center. His strategy backfired as Homayoun came directly toward him, guns blazing!
At this point, everyone discovered that their van was more than met the eye. Homayoun fired at Aaron, and found out that he was toting 5 linked recoilless rifles and some unidentified rear weaponry. Aaron fired at Erin and suddenly his van began gushing mines, flaming oil, and flame clouds. Erin wanted to know what hers had in store, and fired into the audience, revealing three linked rocket weapons and a button labelled "Death Blossom".
Erin was nearly across the center as Homayoun fired at Aaron again early in the next turn, penetrating his armor, rupturing his gas tank (which didn't empty entirely), and destroying a staggering 6 dropped weapons before putting a dent in the opposite armor! Against the advice of the target (sigh), Homayoun went on to T-Bone Aaron, passing through one stack of dropped nasties on his way. Though he managed to cripple Aaron's engine and avoid setting off the mines, he took moderate damage (and fire modifiers!) from the flaming oil and cloud.
Before this mess was over, the pair exhanged one more round of fire. Aaron sprayed Homayoun with his front-mounted flamethrower, setting Homayoun on fire (no extinguisher? what a shame!). Homayoun, in turn, popped a Flame Cloud Discharger on Aaron, which proved to be the final straw as his injured driver toasted in his seat.
As Erin rounded the next corner to prepare for her second pass, Homayoun's driver fled his burning vehicle, and barely reached safety before it exploded. With victory assured, Erin parked in front of Aaron and decided to try out her Death Blossom. Fortunately for Aaron, only 23 of the 30 Incendiary Mini Rockets hit, and the confetti rule was not invoked. However, Erin managed to roll under 23 on two 6-sided dice, and Aaron's vehicle was also set on fire. It shortly followed it's driver into oblivion.
Erin: 1st place (1 crossing)
Aaron & Homayoun: Tie for 2nd place (0 crossings)
Here are three shots of the arena. The dice are standing in for Aaron's wreckage, while the small counters are Homayoun's.
And here are the winners! Notice that Homayoun's counters have been replaced by a strategic wad of tape. Also observe the condition of Aaron's driver in the last shot.
Check out the other events!
Last Modified on April 11, 1999.