5
A TIMELY RACE
The next morning Speed drove the Mach 5 across town to see his best friend, Sparky. Sparky was the same age as Speed, but he was one of the best auto mechanics around. He could tear an engine apart and put it back together in his sleep.
Speed found Sparky working underneath a classic car. Sparky spent most of his time with a wrench in his hand.
“Hiya, Sparky,” Speed said.
Sparky wheeled out from underneath the car. He wore a red cap over his light brown hair. A yellow T-shirt hung loosely on his skinny frame. He wiped his greasy hands on a rag.
“Oh, hi, Speed,” Sparky said. “This is a great Jeep, isn’t it?”
“Yeah,” Speed said glumly. Normally he would have been excited about the old car, but today he had too much on his mind.
“The engine in there is a V8 with double overhead cams,” Sparky went on. Then he noticed Speed’s mood. “Hey, what’s the matter? What are you looking so sad about?”
“I’m not going to try to become a pro racer,” Speed said. He leaned against an oil drum and rested his chin in his hand. “I’ve got to find some other job.”
“I know your dad’s against it, but he’ll come around,” Sparky told him. “Don’t give up.”
“It’s not that, Sparky. It’s just that I need money, fast,” Speed replied.
Sparky looked concerned. “You need money? What’s going on?”
“I’m going to give it to Pops so he can build a super engine for the Mach 5,” Speed explained.
Sparky nodded. The word about Pops quitting the factory had gotten around fast.
“I get it, Speed. But they told him at the factory that the engine wouldn’t work,” Sparky pointed out. “Anyway, read this before you do anything.”
Sparky took a folded newspaper from his back pocket and gave it to Speed.
Speed read aloud from the paper. “A trial race across Sword Mountain. Five thousand bucks to the winner.”
Speed raised an eyebrow. Five thousand dollars would definitely help Pops build the engine.
“So why don’t you enter it?” Sparky asked.
Speed frowned. “Pops would be furious if I did.”
“But he’s sure to forgive you when he realizes why you did it,” Sparky pointed out. “Those five thousand clams should put a smile on his face.”
Speed nodded. “You’re right. I’ll enter!”
Sparky grinned. “Now you’re being smart, Speed. But Sword Mountain is going to be a tough course to drive. I’ll fix the Mach 5 for climbing mountains.”
“That’ll be great,” Speed said. “Thanks!”
Speed felt better already. All he had to do was win that race at Sword Mountain, and Pops’s problems would be solved!
