“Herbie Goes Street Legal”
Chapter 1: Giselle’s return
By: MonteCarloBoy

Herbie loved the smell of burnt rubber at the Nopi Supershow in Atlanta, Georgia. Maggie had given him to her dousing, Sean, who had just gotten his driver’s license.

Sean thought Maggie was nuts when she told him the bug had a mind of his own. ‘Did she just refer to a car as a he?’ Sean thought.

The drag races had finished for the day and they were about to leave when Sean heard something… screeching tires and engines revving past their redline. ‘I thought the drag races were over and done with’ Sean thought confused. Herbie stopped at a closed off section of the parking lot and watched.

An announcement came on the loud speakers, “Local Team Majestic D would like to debut their newest Italian acquisition.” They wheeled out a car with a tarp on it.

Herbie immediately recognized the shape and jacked up his front end to see over the railing. They pulled the tarp off and Herbie started shaking. It was her! He hadn’t seen her since the Monte Carlo Rally in France in 1977. It was Giselle, a powder blue 1976 Lancia (pronounced Lon-cha) Scorpion with yellow and white racing stripes and the racing number “7”.

Another announcement came on, “Anyone willing to take on this Italian exotic in drifting should come into the drifting arena now” That was all Herbie needed to hear. He took off into the arena, sending Sean into the back of his seat.

“What the hell is wrong with this car?!” Sean screamed as the bug took off. Herbie parked in the arena next to the luscious Lancia. She flipped her headlights open and flashed them menacingly as if saying “What the hell are you doing here?”

“We have a challenger! And a little pest at that!” the announcer blared. Herbie revved his engine at that. Herbie had no idea what drifting was, but he wasn’t gonna take an insult like that parked!

The green flag dropped and Giselle took off. Herbie was startled as he heard the whistle of a turbocharger from under her hood. Herbie wanted to do a wheelie, but there wasn’t enough room. Herbie took off leaving a trail of smoke and tire marks to the crowds’ amazement. Herbie decided to watch her before attempting anything.

He watched her style and concluded it was a simple e-brake maneuver. Sean was scared out of his wits. The cars pedals were moving by themselves and the car was shifting gears by itself. Maybe Maggie was telling the truth, or maybe he was going nuts.

Giselle slid gracefully around the arena with smoke coming out of her rear wheel wells. Herbie attempted to do the same, but he held the e-brake too long and spun out, coming to a screeching halt.

“It’s all over! Team Majestic D has taken out the newcomer!” the announcer blared. Giselle slid to a stop and the driver got out. Sean gaped when the driver took off her helmet and long blonde hair flopped out. It was Katie from school! Sean had a crush on Katie for the longest time.

‘What’s Katie doing here? I thought she hated racecars!’ Sean thought to himself. Sean got out of Herbie, still shaking and quivering from the impromptu race. Sean proceeded to stumble towards Katie.

“Hey Katie. G-g-g-good r-rrrace.” Sean said, still obviously shaken.

“Sean?” asked Katie who then ran up and hugged Sean. “What are you doing here? I haven’t seen you since the field trip to Washington DC! How are you?”

“I’m getting by…” Sean blurted out as he shot a dirty look at Herbie, who was too busy ogling the Lancia to notice. “…Barely.”

“KATIE!” a voice rang out. Sean turned to see the voice belonged to a guy sitting on the hood of a white ’95 Chevy Monte Carlo Z34 with painted rims.

“I gotta go, Brad’s calling me” sang Katie.

“Who’s Brad?” asked Sean.

“My boyfriend!” yelled Katie. Sean’s heart broke at that comment.

Katie got into Giselle and sped off.

End Chapter.