Free Selby's Stardom by Duncan Ball Page A

game.
    But the last car was driven by no ordinary driver. The Phantom Warrior’s long orange hair billowed behind him like the flames from his exhaust pipes. His car weaved from side to side and Selby glimpsed the pasty-white of a demon’s face and the red glint of his eyes.
    â€˜Move over and let me by,’ Selby muttered. ‘Don’t mess with me or I’ll take you out.’
    Selby moved to the inside lane and then quickly changed to the outside but no matter how quickly he did it, the Phantom’s car was always there, blocking his way.
    â€˜I’ll teach you to toy with me,’ Selby muttered.
    He jammed his foot on the accelerator and flicked the handbrake up, then released it just as quickly. Selby’s car lurched to the left, then launched into a controlled spin so he could shoot up beside the black car.
    â€˜I’ve got you now!’ Selby screamed over at the other driver. ‘I’ll show you who’s boss!’
    The Phantom Warrior smiled his evil smile, showing his broken teeth and the pink velvet of his pointed tongue. Then, all in one motion, he rammed his car into a lower gear, sending a blast of black smoke and oil sideways to cover Selby’s windscreen.
    â€˜I’m driving blind!’ Selby squealed. ‘I’ve got to find the Screen-Clear lever and clean this guck off before I crash!’
    Selby pulled a lever on the console. There was a spray of liquid and then wipers cleared away the oil on his windscreen. Selby quickly corrected the car’s course, narrowly missing a crashed car by the side of the road.
    But it was too late and Selby could only watch as the black car streaked across the finish line ahead of him.
    â€˜Three thousand, four hundred and fifty three points! Wow!’ Selby said. ‘That’s the best I’ve ever done. I’m getting pretty good at this. Now it’s a grudge fight between me and the Phantom. I’ll get him next time. He’s got to run out of tricks sooner or later.’
    Selby took off the helmet and turned off the machine.
    â€˜That Dr Trifle is such a clever guy,’ Selby thought. ‘This racing-car trainer is just what every Formula Three team needs to train their drivers. It’s safe, it’s much cheaper than racing a real Formula Three racer and it’s almost as good as the real thing.’
    Selby turned out the lights in the workroom and quietly closed the door.
    â€˜I can’t wait till the Trifles deliver it to Team Tigertail next week. I can’t wait to see those guys in person, especially their star driver, Petrol-Head Pancho. Now there’s one crazy guy. I saw a TV show about him. He loves dogs. He’s got a greyhound painted on the side of his racing car to bring him luck.’

    A week later Selby was in the back seat of the Trifles’ car while Mrs Trifle directed Dr Trifle on the long drive to Team Tigertail’s racetrack.
    â€˜Oh boy, oh boy,’ thought Selby. ‘I’m soooooo glad the Trifles brought me along. I can’t wait to see Team Tigertail win the race! That Petrol-Head Pancho is such a great driver. And if he wins today, he’ll be the world Formula Three champion.’
    â€˜There seems to be a race on,’ the somewhat forgetful Dr Trifle said. ‘This probably isn’t a good time to deliver my ERSATZ machine.’
    â€˜Is that what you call it?’ Mrs Trifle asks.
    â€˜Well, yes. It stands for Extra Realistic Simulator And Training Zoom machine. Team Tigertail wanted it to give their drivers practice without wearing out a lot of cars.’
    The Trifles and Selby made their way through the tunnel to the pit area. There the Tigertail crew was working furiously as cars sped around the track.
    â€˜Blinky!’ the team captain called out, using Dr Trifle’s old nickname. ‘Great to see you! The race is almost over and our guy, Petrol-Head, is leading. But he needs a new set of treads