Inertial Drift

Inertia drift is a killer move. It allows a driver to overtake any nearby competitors in a matter of seconds on a sharp turn. But it comes with a deadly flaw—one small mistake, and you could lose control, sending both driver and car flying off the track, leading to catastrophic consequences.

The day before the race, Chandler heard that Elton had woken up. He decided to visit his old friend, but when he arrived at Elton's small courtyard, he was disappointed not to find him there. Instead, he met Aria, who pointed him towards the mountain road where Ethan often trained. Following her directions, Chandler waited at a lookout point along the winding road. Soon enough, Ethan and Elton's car appeared. Chandler, overjoyed, raised his hand in greeting. Ethan saw him and slowed down, bringing the car to a stop at a marked point.

Elton spotted Chandler and a rare smile crept across his face. The two old friends exchanged glances, their expressions softening with the warmth of long-lost familiarity. It was a moment of silent understanding, the kind that only comes from years of friendship. As they started catching up, their conversation carried a gentle mix of nostalgia and affection. Meanwhile, Ethan remained focused, diving back into his training, practicing inertia drift repeatedly as Elton had instructed him the night before.

"Are you teaching him inertia drift?" Chandler suddenly realized what Ethan was working on, his voice tinged with disbelief as he turned to Elton. His eyes were filled with doubt and concern.

"Yes," Elton replied calmly, his gaze never leaving Ethan. He whistled softly, occasionally signaling Ethan to adjust his technique.

"Are you out of your mind, Elton?" Chandler's voice rose sharply, his face reflecting growing anxiety.

"The race is in just two days! It took you a whole year to master this technique, even back in the day. And you know how dangerous it is—one mistake could be fatal. You're putting Ethan's life on the line!"

Inertia drift, a highly advanced racing technique, is often referred to as a "killer move." It's a skill reserved for top-tier drivers, used to overtake opponents in tight situations or to maintain speed on extreme turns. But its danger is just as pronounced. The slightest misstep could result in a disastrous accident, sending the car careening off the track, potentially leading to a life-threatening crash.

The essence of inertia drift lies in temporarily breaking the grip between the tires and the road, allowing the car to slide. This maneuver needs to be executed within a fraction of a second, demanding extraordinary reaction time and precise control from the driver. During this process, the car almost enters a state of "controlled chaos," where the driver must rely on sharp instincts and experience to steer through the turn without losing speed.

However, the sudden loss of traction means the driver is essentially battling with the forces of a near-out-of-control vehicle. Any hesitation or misjudgment could lead to a complete loss of control, causing the car to veer off the track or even flip over. The psychological pressure on the driver during this time is immense, as even the smallest mistake could prove fatal.

Elton remained composed, his eyes fixed on Ethan in the distance, as if he were reassuring both himself and Chandler. "Of course, I want Ethan to be safe, but I believe he can handle it."

Chandler stared at Elton in disbelief, his voice filled with worry and unease. "But this is inertia drift! It's not a game. Are you really sure about this?"

Elton's tone carried a mix of confidence and pride.

"Ethan is a natural-born racer. Do you remember when we first met him? He was just a clueless kid. I gave him one night, and he memorized the entire racing rulebook. Then I taught him to catch flies with two thin sticks—flies, Chandler! They're nearly impossible to catch, but now he can do it in one try. His reaction speed is beyond anything I've seen."

Though Elton rarely praised Ethan out loud, deep down, he believed that Ethan was a racing prodigy, even surpassing his own abilities from back in the day. But teaching Ethan inertia drift was a risky move. Inertia drift, after all, was a gamble with fate!

Ethan continued practicing under Elton's guidance, smoothly maneuvering along a snake-like route on a straight section of the track. Midway through, he suddenly accelerated along the left side of the road. The roar of the engine filled the air as the car veered sharply to the right, followed by an immediate turn of the steering wheel to the left. Elton and Chandler leaned forward, peering down the winding mountain road, watching as Ethan's Vortex-R8 snaked through the turns with precision.

Ethan quickly adapted to the serpentine movement, his R8's rear end swinging out under the effect of inertia. He swiftly countersteered while the rear wheels slid, harnessing the power of the rear-wheel drive to maintain control. Ethan pushed the throttle harder, keeping the revs and power consistent as he exited the bend. With intense focus, he glanced at the tachometer and saw the needle approaching 360km/h .

"This is so awesome!" Ethan shouted with excitement from the car, his voice brimming with joy and exhilaration.

After completing the lap, Ethan returned to Elton and Chandler. He unbuckled his seatbelt, his movements relaxed but triumphant, his face alight with satisfaction. He excitedly told Elton, "Elton, it felt like I was flying!"

"7 minutes and 58 seconds—two seconds faster than before, but still not good enough," Elton said, pretending to be stern as he kept a straight face.

Chandler, noticing Elton's performance, remained silent, but a subtle smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. He knew exactly what Elton was up to. Without a word, Chandler walked over to the Vortex-R8, his mind already turning over the adjustments needed. With Ethan's first qualifying race just two days away, Chandler understood that the car had to be flawless. He guided the R8 back into the garage and swiftly changed into his coveralls, standing before the car in deep thought.

"To achieve perfect inertia drift, it's not just about the engine. The engine needs to be high-revving, and for that, the flywheel has to be light and small. This R8's engine—I went through hell to find it, and there's no issue there. Ethan's speed has already maxed out, so it's not just the engine I need to look at; it's the transmission system connected to it. When shifting gears, the engine RPM needs to stay in the high range. That means we need to change the transmission, increase the gear ratio," Chandler thought to himself.

With a clear plan in mind, Chandler began modifying the transmission. The quiet of the late-night garage was soon filled with the rhythmic clanging of tools, a symphony of mechanical precision that drowned out the soft ticking of the old pocket watch in Chandler's jacket. Time slipped by unnoticed, and before he realized it, the first light of dawn began to filter into the workshop. Chandler tightened the final screw.

"Ethan, give it another try," Chandler said as he handed the keys to Ethan.

He removed his coveralls, then reached for a damp towel to wipe his face. Chandler walked over to the makeshift rest area, opened a drawer, and pulled out a piece of paper. Without a word, he handed it to Ethan, his expression as composed as ever.

The paper was a simple doodle—a race car crossing the finish line first. On the left side, in wobbly handwriting, were the words: "Go, Uncle Ethan!"

"This is from my daughter," Chandler said, his tone steady as he began methodically organizing the tools on the workbench, his back to Ethan. "She wanted you to have it."

Ethan carefully started to roll up the paper, making sure the edges wouldn't crease or tear. He slipped it into his jacket pocket, right next to his heart. He didn't say anything more to Chandler, just gave a slight nod.