Free Selby's Stardom by Duncan Ball Page B

andsome juice. Stand back because he’s about to make one last pit stop.’
    â€˜Oh, this is sooooooooo exciting!’ Selby thought. ‘I’ll get to see Petrol-Head in the flesh! I’ve only ever seen him on TV.’
    Just then the Team Tigertail’s lead car screeched into the pit. The tiny driver’s seat was open at the top, with a roll-bar behind the driver’s head. All Selby could see of Petrol-Head was a red helmet. The helmet turned and the driver lifted his goggles to the top of his helmet, showing his eyes and nose.
    â€˜It’s him!’ Selby thought. ‘It’s Petrol-Head Pancho!’
    The team manager stood with a stopwatch in hand as the crew started changing the tires and filling the petrol tank.
    â€˜I just got word that Awful Knoffle isn’t going to make a pit stop!’ the manager yelled above the noise.
    â€˜Awful Knoffle?’ Mrs Trifle said. ‘I think I’ve heard that name before.’
    â€˜What?!’ Petrol-Head screamed. ‘I just got out in front and now I’ll have to catch him again!’
    â€˜You’ll get him, P-H,’ the manager said. ‘I’ve got faith in you.’
    â€˜Forget the faith, I need luck,’ said Petrol-Head, suddenly noticing Selby. ‘Bring that dog over here.’
    â€˜P-H! Four seconds and we’ll have you out of here!’
    â€˜I don’t move till I touch the dog!’
    â€˜Mrs Trifle,’ the manager said, ‘could you bring your dog over here? — Quickly!’
    Mrs Trifle snatched Selby up in her arms and raced to the side of the car.
    â€˜Put him on the bonnet!’ Petrol-Head yelled.
    Mrs Trifle put Selby down just in front of the car’s tiny windscreen. P-H stood up in his seat and patted Selby.
    â€˜Can I get a photo for luck?’ the driver asked.
    Two of the crew snapped pictures of the smiling driver with his hand on Selby’s head.
    â€˜Thanks, doggie,’ the driver said. ‘I’m going to win this one for you.’
    â€˜Now get out there, P-H, or you’ll lose the race!’ the manager screamed. ‘Go! Go! Go!’
    â€˜Get the dog off the bonnet!’ Petrol-Head yelled as he slammed his foot down on the accelerator.
    Mrs Trifle reached for Selby but the car moved too quickly and sped off with Selby balancing dangerously just in front of the windscreen. P-H was looking sideways out the window as he merged into the traffic on the track and it wasn’t until he turned his head forward again that he noticed Selby.
    â€˜Hey! You’re blocking my view!’ P-H yelled as he craned his neck to see around Selby. ‘Get off there!’
    â€˜I can’t just get off!’ Selby screamed in his brain. ‘We’re already going three hundred kilometres an hour! If the fall didn’t kill me every car on the track would run over me! I’d be as flat as pancake! Flatter!’
    â€˜Off, dog! Off!’ P-H yelled as he pushed the gas pedal flat to the floor.
    The force of the car shooting forward sent Selby tumbling backwards over the windscreen.
    â€˜Good, I can see now,’ Petrol-Head said. ‘Hey! What’s that heavy thing on my helmet?! Oh, no! Get off me, doggie!’
    Selby’s body stretched out backwards behind the driver. His front claws were just barely gripping the sides of P-H’s helmet.

    â€˜Dog, you’ve got to get off me!’ P-H yelled. ‘I’ll never win this race with you on my head!’
    P-H let go of the wheel with one hand and pulled one of Selby’s paws loose.
    â€˜Hey, what’s he doing?!’ Selby thought. ‘I’m not letting go now! I’m sorry but I’m not!’
    P-H’s car sped into the next straight with Awful Knoffle just ahead. P-H gripped the wheel again and roared up to the back of Knoffle’s car. He pulled to the side to overtake the lead car but Knoffle jerked his car to the side, sheering