G'Day fellow tuxers……. Its your interim host here once again…….. Its a raining Saturday here right now…….…… Its been a crappy raining week here again……. There have been a lot of games played because of the rain……. A lot more games than usual……. Not really a lot else to do because of said rain…… So its been gaming time for me……. Ive been hitting the PS1 racing games hard this week…..

I did managed to cut back that tree in between the rain……

And since I know Pengling will ask……. I left the blade in the tree as a monument to the Tree Lopper lost in active duty.......
*salutes* Semper fi.…

The steam sale started yesterday and My disappointment was immeasurable...... and my day was ruined....... The main game I wanted to get in the sale was not on any sort of discounted sale…… So I will have to think about what if anything I will get this sale…...

[+..••] As for gaming this week in Emulationville I played [+..••]

Arcade

GunForce II (1994 Irem) - Run and Gun


Console

Colin McRae Rally (1998 Codemasters) - Sony PlayStation - Sports (Racing)
Colin McRae Rally 2.0 (2000 Codemasters) - Sony PlayStation - Sports (Racing)
Formula One 99 (1999 Psygnosis) - Sony PlayStation - Sports (Racing)
Formula One 2000 (2000 Midway) - Sony PlayStation - Sports (Racing)
Formula One 2001 (2001 Sony) - Sony PlayStation - Sports (Racing)
Future Cop: LAPD (1998 EA) - Sony PlayStation - Action
IndyCar Series 2005 (2005 Codemasters) - Microsoft Xbox - Sports (Racing)
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (2003 Nintendo) - Nintendo GameCube - Sports (Golf)
NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona (2002 Infogrames) - Sony PlayStation 2 - Sports (Racing)
NBA Jam Tournament Edition (1995 Acclaim) - Sega Mega Drive - Sports (Basketball)
NFL Blitz (1998 Midway) - Nintendo 64 - Sports (Football)
TOCA 2 Touring Car Championship (1998 Codemasters) - SonyPlayStation - Sports (Racing)
TOCA Touring Car Championship (1997 Codemasters) - SonyPlayStation - Sports (Racing)


PC

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004 Rockstar) - Steam - Action
Micro Mages (2019 Morphcat Games) - Steam - Platformer
NASCAR Heat 5 (2020 Motorsport Games) - Steam - Sports (Racing)
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun (2023 Focus Entertainment) - Steam – First Person Shooter


The Dick Trickles Racing Career: Part 21
NASCAR Dirt to Daytona: Part 21
Weekly Dirt Racing Series Season 2: Race 10

Intro music…... Hello and welcome to Left Turn Heaven..... Im Murray Eastlake and today im going to be bringing you all the action from the 2003 Weekly Dirt Racing Series: Round 10 of 10 here at Baxter Fairgrounds Speedway...…



Baxter Fairgrounds Speedway

Baxter Fairgrounds Speedway is 0.500 miles long with 8 degrees of banking…. One of the biggest tracks in the Weekly Dirt Racing Series This track requires a lot of horsepower…… While also requiring a good handling car as it is almost a complete circle meaning the car is constantly turning…… It is also a very wide track with lots of room to work with……

Last week……….. The season long domination from Dick Trickle continued…….. Getting a win from the unlikely David Brandt who drove a great race to get his first top five finish of the season….

Josh Ginter, Matthew Kato and Ted Finger all had days forget finishing way down the order……. In tenth, eleventh and twelfth…… With the three of them having major problems……. Second, third and fourth in the championship are still up for grabs between them…….

Can they bounce back and finish the season on a high???…… Can David Brandt repeat the success he had last week???……

Can one of the other hungry drivers end the season with a good result….. Sponsors are needing to be pleased to keep them for next year so there is pride and sponsorship money on the line……. So these drivers wont be easing off at all……

The biggest question of all though is…… Can Dick Trickle keep his up his winning ways and go the entire season undefeated???……. He is one win away from achieving that feat and no other man in the history of the series has ever gone undefeated……

I spoke to Dick Trickle after he rolled the Infogrames Flaming Dick Machine off the trailer…… I asked him how he was feeling as he stands on the precipice of creating an beatable record “Quite frankly….. Im very nervous…. I have worked extremely hard all off season and all this season to get to this point…… Its been on my mind all week Murray…..”

“I just need to do what I have been all season long…… focus on the track and the car…… Hit my marks and have a good practice session and follow it up with a pole position…….. And then run away and hide in the race…… Ive done all that so well this season and I dont see why I cant do that again today……. Unless I follow in my wife Pussy Galores footsteps and choke at a critical moment…..”

Well….. Ahhhh….. There you have it folks…… The colourful words of Dick Trickle…….

With records, pride and sponsorships on the line…… Dont touch the sets...... Dont touch the dials...... You wont want to miss a single moment of the 2003 Weekly Dirt Racing Series action....… Practice and qualifying are coming up right now…...


Dick Trickle at the track ready to race.…

Qualifying might have helped Dick settle his nerves…… As he was very quick and able to find a rhythm on this big track……. He looked very happy getting out of the Infogrames Flaming Dick Machine after practice…….

Qualifying proved just how quick he was…… Setting a blisteringly fast time of 20.725…… to be .4 of a second faster than Erik Truet in second place…..

Mark Hunter with a good performance to snag third with 21.362 while Matthew Kato was fourth with a time of 22.193…….. And John Rafter rounded out the top five with a time of 22.478……

Currently sitting second in the championship Ted Finger could only manage the tenth fastest time with a 24.484……. As he just had no answers for the track conditions tonight at Baxter…. Looking totally lost during practice and qualifying…..

Josh Ginter had an even worse time as he sits way down the order in thirteenth place……. Only managing a 25.575 to be a full 5 seconds off Dick Trickles lap time…….. He needs to find some speed and find it fast……. As Heat 1 is up next…...


Qualifying Results........

The green flag waved to start the 5 lap Heat 1 race……. Dick Trickle got off to a good start….. But so did Mark Hunter who was not going to give up easily……

Dick Trickle had the lead exiting turn two but Mark was right behind him……. That was until Hunter ran wide in turns one and two on lap 3 and lost a bunch of time……. And he was never able to gain it back……. Ending up having to settle for second place…….. 2.772 seconds behind Dick Trickle…...

Josh Ginter climbed his way up through the pack to get a solid third placed finish…… Al Grimstead started fourth and thats where he finished……. And last weeks surprise package David Brandt rounded out the top five with a fifth place finish….. Just sneaking into the A Main……

Everyone else will need to race in the B Main and hopefully transfer to the A……

That includes John Rafter….. Who started third but submarined his way to an eighth place finish…...


Heat 1 Results....…



Dick Trickle lined up ready to start the A Main......

As the green flag dropped for the 75 lap A Main Final…….. Dick Trickle and Erik Truet were door handle to door handle through turns one and two neither one wanting to surrender……. As they rubbed against each other exiting turn two Truet finally had to surrender and give up the lead to Dick Trickle…….

Truet slowly but surly slid down the order to fifth…… As he just had no answers for Dick Trickle and co on the long run…….

David Brandt was repeating last weeks performance…. As he was climbing his way up the running order……. Getting into second place….. With a recovering Ted Finger right behind him…… The two were having a good battle as they were constantly swapping positions……

While that was happening Josh Ginter was tumbling back down the order…… Running in ninth place and slower than a wet week……. his season was the stuff of nightmares and he will be glad to get to the chequered flag and try to regroup over the off season ……

Matthew Kato was not fairing any better…… Down in eleventh…… He was in danger of losing third place in the championship to Ginter at this rate…….

Ted Finger who dropped a few seconds behind David Brandt was in a comfortable third place and looked to have second place all sewn up in the championship when disaster struck……. With 29 laps to go…….. Ted Fingers engine impersonated a grenade as it blew up…… All Finger could do was pull off to the side of the track with smoke bellowing from the car and contemplate what had happened…… After a season that started so positively for Finger……. Fell apart like a cheap suit during the back half of the year…..

David Brandt saw the stricken Ted Finger on the side of the track next time round……. Brandt was already 2 laps behind Dick at that stage…… And with a comfortable second place on offer……. He eased off a little to save the car…… bringing it home in second place…….. 3 laps behind Dick Trickle….. But 2 laps ahead of third place….. Thats another amazing A Main drive from Brandt this season…… He will be hoping to take this momentum into next season…...

Erik Truet moved up to fourth after Ted Fingers engine exploded…….. But only 10 laps later…… He had joined Finger on the side of the track…… His season had also ended in a cloud of smoke as his engine had also bit the dust……

The Two DNFs had moved Josh Ginter to seventh and Matthew Kato to ninth…… But they were unable to move any further up the running order…… As they both ended their seasons in disappointed….. And now Josh Ginter is officially no longer the champion……. He will be looking forward to the off season after what was a very lacklustre title defence…….

This means that Ted Finger does indeed keep second place in the championship….. Matthew Kato just hangs onto third over Josh Ginter…...

They were both separated on track by Mark Hunter who had started the race in third place……. He had no pace in the race and found himself free falling down the order……. To come home is a very unspectacular eighth place…..

Alan Anderson had a very quiet and uneventful race…… Bring the car home in an unassuming third place….. A solid drive but overall nowhere near the place to challenge either David Brandt or Dick Trickle…….. As he was 2 laps behind Brandt and a massive 5 laps behind Dick……

Sam Peterson and Al Grimstead rounded out the top five……. Both of them were having almost anonymous drives….. Only time they were seen was when Dick Trickle was lapping them…… Which happened a lot……. As they were 6 and 7 laps behind respectively……….

But the man everyone came to see and the man all eyes were on this weekend was Dick Trickle as he lead the entire 75 lap A Main Final…… Dick didnt put a wheel wrong as he ran a faultless race…… Not a scratch on the car……. In what was another total Dick domination on the field……. Winning by three laps…… Dick Trickle created three new records and set himself in the Weekly Dirt Racing Series history books……

Dick Trickle becomes the first man ever to go the entire Weekly Dirt Racing Series season undefeated…… And although he tied his own winning margin record in terms of laps……. Because Baxter Fairgrounds Speedway is tied for the longest track on the calendar at half a mile long…… He actually did set a new winning margin record of over 1.5 miles……. He also set the largest championship winning margin of 445 points over second place Ted Finger…..

Dick Trickle celebrated his victory…… Waving to the crowed as he did a Polish Victory Lap…... His smile is so big I can see it clearly all the way from here……. This is a very popular race win and a very popular championship win as well…… The crowed has really started to love Dick……

Dick finishes his victory lap with some very dirty donuts in front of the main grandstand…… The crowed is going wild as Dick sprays clay and mud into the grandstand as he performs the donuts……..

Dick Trickle finally brings the Inforgrames Flaming Dick Machine into victory lane for the tenth time this season…….. Before I can get an interview with him his wife Pussy Galore runs over and gives him a big hug and a kiss as she congratulates her husband…….


A Main Results..…

After a few more minutes I was finally able to speak to Dick…… I congratulated him on his his perfect season….. And of course congratulated him on now officially becoming the 2003 Weekly Dirt Racing Series Champion…….

“Thanks very much Murray…… OH HELL YEAH!…….. IM NOW A CHAMPION DICK!!!!……. Its been a long journey……. But first I need to thank my sponsors…… Infogrames, Togo Building Supply, Greenwitch Haulers And Steves Quick Mart….. They have been great to me this season and its been a real pleasure having their logos on my car……”

“I also need to thank my wife Pussy Galore……. Shes gonna feel a championship Dick tonight thats for sure…….”

“I also need to thank the millions and millions of Dicks fans who have come out and supported me this year…… Both in person at the track like here at Baxter Fairgrounds Speedway….. And also on social media sending me messages of congratulations and support…… Without the fans there is no Weekly Dirt Racing Series……. And then I wouldnt have this sweet arse job if it wasnt for them…..”

“Twelve months ago at this very track I won the race but lost the championship and it felt like Josh Ginter kicked me in the balls…….. Well this year ive been the one kicking everyone in the ball……. AND ITS THE GREATEST FEELING IN THE WORLD MURRAY!!!…...”

“The Infogrames Flaming Dick Machine has been awesome all year long and truly a pleasure to drive…… As my results show….. This big Dick might be talented but the car has a lot to do with it too……. And no matter what happens I will not be selling it…..”

I then asked Dick about his plans for next year……. “There are already pieces falling into place for next year but I cannot say anything until all the pieces are actually in place and the paper work is finalised…… But you will find out during the off season what will be happening with Dick Trickle in 2004……”

Dick Trickle then posed for photos by the championship trophy…… Surrounded by his family and friends……. The champagne is popping as the big Dick starts spraying…….. Hes going to have a good night tonight by the sounds of it….. And if his interview is anything to go by….. So will his wife……

So there you have it The 2003 Weekly Dirt Series Championship is done and dusted…… A season full of ups and downs…… A season full of heartbreak and tears…… A season full of records and history that wont ever be beaten……. If you missed it you will be kicking yourself in the future…. Those that have joined me and witnessed it will be able to say they saw something very special in 2003…...

Left Turn Heaven is not done either…… As we have a series of special off-season shows to keep you up to date on all the latest off-season news from the Weekly Dirt Racing Series……. Next week we will be having a sit down interview with the champion….. Dick Trickle…...

This is Murray Eastlake reporting for Left Turn Heaven……. Dick Trickle is your 2003 Weekly Dirt Racing Series Champion…… And until next time its goodbye from me….


Winnings.…



NASCAR Heat Weekly.…



2003 Weekly Dirt Racing Series Championship Standings after round 10 of 10.…







First lap A Main action....


Future Cop L.A.P.D.



Future Cop...... Present hall pass....

I only found out this game existed a week and a half ago……. And its actually really damn good….. Even if the mech has tank controls……

The graphics are really nice and detailed…… The use of colour is really good…… Showing a grimy and dirty crime riddled LA……. So not much different to todays LA……. Levels are quite large and open…… And a lot of work went into designing them……. The bosses looks rather cool too…..

Sounds are good……. Weapons sound nice……. Mechs stomp around….. Explosions and cries of pain sound really nice too….. Voice acting is really well done and so is the music…….

Controls…… There are tank controls….. Of course…… There are also strafe buttons and a jump button….. The controls are fine……. And once again the levels are designed really well to accommodate the controls used….. The only downside for me was that the jumping is a bit wonky…...

The storyline…. Well there is no over arching storyline……. Each mission is a self contain story…… You are a cop in a run down and crime ridden dystopian LA…… Again not much different to the real LA…… It all boils down to kill the bad guy…… and fee some of the April O’Neils that have been kidnapped……. Thats really about it……..

Gameplay is where this game really shines……. The mech is nice and fast….. Its not slow and cumbersome like in MechWarrior…… The mech can also transform into a hover car for even faster manoeuvrability…… Starting off with three weapons and as you progress through the missions more weapons are unlocked…… Flame throwers and mini guns and rockets and mortars….. And more are at your disposal……. You can only have three weapons at any one time and before each mission you are able to equip your mech with the three you want……

Overall this is a really great game that I had no idea existed…… Its fast paced action and rather tight controls make it great fun to play…… Its well worth looking for this game….. It was released on the PS1 (The version I played)…. Also on the PC and even the Mac OS……. I highly recommend playing it….. It totally holds up today…...

And as an added bonus this game has split screen co-op mode….. I dont have any friends so I was unable to test out co-op mode….. So make sure you get a friend and be Future Cops together…….


Future Cop L.A.P.D.


Next week…… Hopefully the rain will stop and I can get out for more walks……. Natasha is getting cabin fever……. She needs to get out on walks……. I swear when she looks at me she sees a chicken leg…….

As for gaming there will be more hardcore Dick Trickle racing action in NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona……. Killing bugs in NASCAR Heat 5…….. And a game involving bombs…..

Well thats it from me…… Hope all you tuxers have a good week……

Now for my bad joke of the week……
Man injured in bizarre peek-a-book accident..... Hes in ICU.....
*ba dum.... tssssh…...*

Last edited by StoneColdSpider on 30 June 2023 at 11:53 pm UTC