#insert monty python “it's only a model” here

[aelfheimerandrobots]

Finally. I have The boy.

Don't get too excited seeing this. It was way cheaper than you think. I still have to put him together.

[stormy-boy]

Have you read Struck By Lightning? If so, how do you think people would react to Carl showing up out of the blue, especially Lightning? Fillmore, Sarge, and Mater already know what he did to Lightning, but how would the rest of the residents of RS feel about him after finding out? Cruz and the Next-gens? I feel like Lightning would have had at least five more years of racing had he won that race Carl sabotaged... On a lighter note, everyone discovering Lightning's actual name is Monty?

Yes, I have read it! It’s a pretty fun read—in terms of both the camping trip and Lightning’s backstory. Ah, these are a lot of questions, so I guess I’ll put together a short summary for each:

How would Lightning react to Carl showing up?

I think initially, Lightning would feel kind of bitter and resentful. After all, Carl was the guy who betrayed him at the racing academy. The two of them used to be peas in a pod—and Lightning trusted him. But he clearly misplaced his trust when Carl’s pitties loosened his lug nuts instead of tightening them. From that point on, Lightning doesn’t trust anyone, and takes it upon himself to work independently on racing (this could be the author’s explanation of why Lightning “works alone” in the first movie).

But Lightning’s grown a lot since then, so he would probably stop these feelings before they snowball. After all, it all worked out for Lightning in the end. The past is the past. And perhaps the reason why Carl came to RS in the first place is to apologize to Lightning. I think Carl got a sponsorship after that race (it’s been awhile since I’ve read the book and I’m too lazy to check). So he probably went on to race in the Piston Cup. But to my knowledge, Carl never shows up in the Piston Cup when Lightning himself starts racing. So perhaps things didn’t work out for Carl? Maybe Carl had trouble competing in the big leagues. So he got caught cheating and committing other questionable acts, because he just wasn’t good enough to race adequately on his own. I don’t know how it works in NASCAR, but I’m assuming Carl got kicked out of racing. And then he didn’t really know what to do with his life. He does a little soul-searching, realizes the errors of his ways, and decides to apologize to the people he’s wronged…. Wow, did I just create this whole tragic backstory for a character in a side-novel that only appears for a few pages?… Great! XD

ANYWAY, I think Lightning would probably forgive him. They might not be what you’d call “friends”, but perhaps they’d be on better terms with each other. Maybe they’d have a little (fair) race at Willy’s Butte (Lightning wins… obviously).

How would the rest of the residents of RS feel about Carl?

Generally speaking, I’d think they would all be pretty suspicious of Carl once they found out what he did to their beloved Lightning. After all, the RS folks love their little red race car! They’d hate to imagine anything bad happening to him. Even after Carl apologizes, I think some of them would forgive him, but others still not trust him.

Cruz and the Next Gens’ reaction to Carl?

Cruz - Since I think Cruz is the type of person to give people another chance, she would probably forgive him.

Bubba, Ryan, Danny, Tim -They don’t know Lightning as well as the others do, so as a whole, I think they’d be pretty indifferent. Perhaps some of them had heard about Carl before, and are intrigued about him. Again, I think most of them would be willing to think Carl is reformed.

Chase - But for Chase, he might be extra offended, because I remember @whipplefilter‘s (sorry for tagging you again, lol) post from a while back that mentioned how Chase Elliot (Racelott’s NASCAR counterpart) likes to play by the rules, and generally doesn’t like it when people play dirty. I actually base my depiction of Chase a lot on that alone!

Jackson - Since Jackson’s the type of person who likes to rely on his own abilities to win races (most of the time), he’d perceive Carl as pretty pathetic. He’d think the mental image of Lightning’s wheels flying off before he can even cross the starting line is funny. But he might feel a little bad for him deep down.

Everybody’s (sans Fillmore, Sarge, and Mater) reaction to “Monty”:

Cruz - “Pfft! Monty?” (Insert Monty Python and the Holy [Grille] jokes here)

Jackson - (practically dies from laughing so hard)

Sally - “I didn’t know you had another nickname besides ‘Stickers’… and ‘Stinky’.” (tries in vain to suppress a giggle)

Ramone - Thinks it’s funny at first, but then starts to like it. Refers to him as Monty for the rest of the week.

Flo - Also thinks it’s funny. Kind of warms up to the name as well.

Sheriff - “Monty? Ha! I had a grandfather named Monty.”

Red - Doesn’t say anything, but thinks it’s cute.

Lizzie - “Ahh, Monty. I dated a Model A named Monty once…”

Luigi - Hates it. Thinks it doesn’t suit a fast race car like Lightning McQueen.

Guido - (“I don’t like it” in Italian)

Doc (if he were still alive) - Probably takes it upon himself to call him that at every chance he gets, just to bug the hell out of Lightning.