In an unknown location, a man sits in front of a bank of monitors, each showing a different view of a wild race.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HERE YOU HAVE YOUR INAUGURAL JOECUSTOMS RAMJET SUPERMOTOENDURO WINNERS
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING, GET YOUR COMMEMORATIVE PIN YOUR WAY OUT, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU AT HOME ... THANKS FOR THE AIRTIME AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT RACE!!
FOR JOECUSTOMS MOTORSPORTS, I'M J-sskkkktt *click*
The screens suddenly shift and combine to show a single image, a 3D wireframe schematic rotating on its axis, specifications and diagnostics trickling and scrolling along the edges. This mysterious stranger rises from his seat, pauses for a moment to admire the image before him. He turns to face the group of men and women behind him with a slight smirk. "Let's get to work."
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... A short time later ...
He stands on a catwalk overlooking a cavernous space that is part workshop, part garage. State of the art computer monitors hang in contrast above work benches covered in simple hand tools. Technicians and mechanics work side by side at various workstations scattered throughout the facility. On the opposite wall from the catwalk a large multi-screen display shows readouts from instruments, results from virtual tests, footage from an insane airbike race and above all this a simple countdown timer, ticking away until the next event.
His attention is grabbed by spinning yellow warning lights and siren beeps coming from the far end of the space below. A sliver of daylight appears as a hangar door slides open allowing a large power loader to enter. In its hydraulic grips is a cargo container, no markings indicating its contents. The loader moves to the center of the chamber and sets the container down, then turns and heads to its docking station as the hangar door bangs to a close.
A smile appears on his face as he watches the technicians open and unload the containers contents. Seated inside, held in place by bracing straps, is a late 20th century motorcycle. The techs carefully wheel the bike out of the container and onto a raised platform in the center of the chamber. They waste no time taking measurements and documenting the vehicle. Its olive green paint is marred by scrapes and scratches and there are a few rust spots showing its age. One of the mechanics, a woman, climbs onto the seat, inserts a key in the ignition and turns it. After a slight hesitant coughing fit from the exhaust the engine roars to life, gaining the attention of everyone. She revs the motor as she leans down onto the bike as though driving it, shifting her body weight to the right and left simulating taking sharp turns. After a moment of this she sits up, revs the motor one more time and then shuts it down. The mechanic dismounts the bike and does a slow walk around it, admiring the lines, pointing out and mentioning things to the surrounding techs. As she approaches the front of the bike, she runs her hand along the front faring, tracing a finger down the faded red, white and blue logo painted on the side. She stands at the front of the bike and looks up at the man on the catwalk above. Flipping the hair out of her eyes she nods and gives him a thumbs up. He nods in reply, a smile on his face as he turns and steps back to the large workstation behind him. Sitting at the desk he taps a few keys on his keyboard. On the screen directly in front of him an e-mail appears. He clicks reply and types just two words, "Thanks Joe", and hits send.
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I'll be trying to post story updates as I work on my jetbike. I got a kick in the pants to get working on mine when jm70 forced me to take one of the vintage RAMs he had collected at JoeCon. So that's where this part of the story comes from. I'd post a picture but its a RAM. We all know what they look like. Coming soon... actual progress?
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JM70!