Disclaimer - i own nothing.

Fuel

Lucille Tracy had died in an avalanche on the 18th of June almost 11 years ago. The Tracy family were devastated and still mourned her every year. That's where this story starts because it seemed every older Tracy forgot what the 18th of June meant to the youngest Thunderbird.

It was getting close to that time of year again for everyone at Wharton, Summer was approaching too slow but for Alan it was going way too fast. Two more days till the Summer holidays started on the 14th but Alan didn't want to go home this year, he didn't see the point. Every year since he was 5 it was the same, at the start of Summer he got in trouble over little thing like leaving toys lying around or not doing his chores properly. And as he got older it was for not doing well enough in school or talking back to his dad or brothers.

Every year his father and brothers mourned a woman he couldn't remember. But that wasn't the problem for Alan he missed his mother as well even if he didn't remember her. It was the fact she had died on his birthday all those years ago.

After Spring break Alan had decided things where going to change. The hood had changed his relationship with his family for the better. Alan had decided this year he wouldn't be grounded on his birthday for something so stupid as grades or talking back. He worked hard in class getting all his marks up to A's or B's, but then about a week ago he realised it wouldn't matter. Nothing he could do would make a difference.

His oldest brother Scott had video called him about a letter that had been sent home. He told Alan that he thought his behaviour would have changed, he was disappointed with him and how could he do this to their dad. Someone had vandalised a statue and Alan was the prime suspect, but Scott didn't even let Alan tell his side of the story. Then two days ago the real culprit had been caught in the act. Alan had yet to hear back from Scott or anyone in his family. He knew the headmaster had called and apologised but nothing so far.

So it was by pure accident that he happened to stumble across a Summer project in his Shop class. Shop was Alan's favourite class, the only one he didn't have to try hard in to get good grades. They built cars, looked at engines and fuel pumps - anything to do with cars and Alan loved it. He talked to Mr. Garrison, the head of the workshop, he told him he was having 'family problems' and they wouldn't let him stay for the summer. After a little arm bending Alan's A+ was changed to a D- meaning as far as his father was concerned he'd have to stay in summer school to work for a better grade. Although as far the headmaster was concerned Alan was there by choice not for a failing grade.

That's all how the racing started. Who knew one little summer project could turn into something as big as this.