1 - Rookie Sensation

HUDSON HORNET

CHAMPION

1951

The young rookie held the shining gold cup high in the air, as the crowd cheered. They had never seen anything like this. They had never seen such a fast racer. They had never seen a rookie come in and sweep the competition as fast as Hudson and his race car had. The rookie hopped down from the pedestal, trophy in hand, as his trainer and mentor, Smokey, wrapped an arm around him, playfully shaking him around. "Congrats kid!" Smokey exclaimed, as he led the charming young racer away from the crowds and back to the pits.

"Nice job today, Hudson. This first season has been amazing, and you're doing great. Now, you keep it up and I reckon you'll win the next season too."

"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for your training!" Hudson gave Smokey a playful push, but Smokey stopped him and turned the young man to face him. The mentor took off Hudson's goggles, and unclipped his helmet, pulling it off.

Hudson thanked him and unbuttoned his collar on his racing jacket and then ran a hand through his dark, sweaty hair. "You're right, Smokey, today was a great race. And a good end to the season, I must say," he held up the piston-shaped trophy cup again. Smokey took a good look at the trophy and its engraving, then set it down next to Hudson's gear.

"You did good, kid. Don't go around being a show-off now. You-"

Hudson interrupted, "-you better be humble, be thankful, yadda-yadda I know all that."

"I'm serious kid, you gotta watch yourself around the press. They'll get ahold of anything you say and make a big deal out of it. I know you're new to this, but you gotta watch out," Smokey warned.

"Alright," Hudson said softly. He elbowed Smokey. "I'll watch it, old man."

"I'm only ten years older than you, Hudson," Smokey replied, in a corrective tone.

The race was over now, and the pit crew rolled the shiny blue Hudson Hornet into the temporary garage-tent. Its blue paint was dusted lightly in the red-brown dirt from the racetrack. Hudson loved that sight. Sure, the clean, blue Hornet was a beautiful sight, but seeing coated in the fine dirt, where it belonged, was even more spectacular. It looked strong, and resilient, which made Hudson even more confident that he would win every single race in the years to come.

"There she is!" Yelled a voice from behind the mentor and racer as the car was rolled into the garage. It was Glenn, Hudson's manager. He gave the car a pat on the roof and then turned to face Hudson and Smokey. "There he is, my winner," he said, shaking Hudson's hand firmly. "Congratulations, kid, I knew you had it in ya'," he said in a confident manner.

Hudson politely thanked him and nodded his head towards the trophy, gesturing to his new prize. "Got you a little somethin' to make you happy," Hudson joked to his manager. The man laughed, putting a hand on Hudson's shoulder.

"We're gonna make you big, kid, how does that sound? Your name will be known all over the country. You're gonna be famous, and the fastest racer around, you wait and see. Sound like a plan?" He asked. Glenn was the type of man who got down to business. He did not waste time talking about things that did not matter. Hudson liked that about him. Hudson just smiled and nodded.

"Yes, sir. As long as you call me... The Fabulous Hudson Hornet," he said in a sneaky tone. Glenn just smiled, ran a hand through his slicked and gelled hair, chuckling deeply

"You better keep this up, kiddo, I can see it now. You're going to be something big, I'll tell you that."