Author's Note: Warning, this story contains OC's (Summer and Phyrrus Xiao-Long-Nikos, Yang and Pyrrha's kids). They're very minor characters here.

One Last Ride

It had been over two decades since Ruby had last driven a race car in anger, and even longer for Weiss, Pyrrha and Yang. Even if they never quite lost the itch to get back in the car, they had successfully resisted since their retirements. They still liked to think they still had the talent to do it if they so chose, but they could never race in F1 now. They were too old, their senses and reflexes surely dulled by the years. The young drivers of the day would surely eat them alive. Then, quite unexpectedly, a new door opened.

A group of businessmen got together and announced the foundation of GP Masters, a new racing series. Drivers had to be over 45 years old, former F1 competitors with a minimum of two full seasons of experience, and fully retired from all racing. The owners of the series were banking on it having the sort of success senior tours in other sports had seen. All would run identical cars - five year old Champ Cars with 600 horsepower V8 engines - to keep costs down and ensure a level playing field. It would be all about the drivers. There was tremendous interest from the fans and some serious interest from potential sponsors.

A few teams were formed and it looked as if the enterprise would take off. All it needed was drivers. That would not be an issue. There were almost too many drivers who wanted to join the series. Pyrrha, Yang, Weiss and Ruby all made the cut. It was easy for them. Pyrrha and Yang would be driving for Beacon GP Masters, a new division of the F1 team they already owned. Weiss and Ruby would drive for Schnee Automotive Masters, an offshoot of Weiss' operation. Sun also found a ride, as did Fox Alistair and Dew Gayl. The rest of the field was filled with drivers who had more recent experience, but none could match the prestige of the five classic champions.

The inaugural race would be held at Signalstone. It would be the only race of the series' first year, so race winner and champion would be one-in-the-same. Ruby and Yang felt confident. Though Signalstone had been extensively modified - to the point of being almost unrecognizable - since they had last raced, they had dominated the track in their day. Weiss and Pyrrha were feeling good too. They were both winners at the track in its past condition and felt that in any case their skills would carry the day. Sun was a bit more pessimistic about his chances. He knew there were drivers in the race who were almost twenty years younger, and they would have the physical edge.

Sun still rarely wore a shirt, but his once chiseled abs were now far less impressive. Pyrrha and Yang still kept in great shape, they had to just to keep up with one another, but Ruby and Weiss had let their physiques slip a bit over the years. At 57 years old, Yang's hair only remained blond with the help of dye, and at the same age Weiss' vision was starting to fade and she now wore glasses all the time. Pyrrha was the same age but the years had been very good to her, she looked like she could be 40. Ruby was no longer the little girl, but at 55 was now the still little old lady. Together with Sun and his six-flab they were a mildly comical sight, stuffed into racing suits employing technology that was lightyears ahead of what they had worn before. For all the aches and pains and good-natured teasing, it felt damn good to be back.

The first practice session would be a learning experience for all of them. The pre-season tests had all been carried out by others and they had not yet turned a lap in the car. They were shocked by its performance. The power was similar to the cars they had driven toward the end of their careers, but the grip! Twenty years on the aerodynamics were much improved and the cars produced enough downforce to drive on the ceiling at highway speeds. The tires were super grippy too, though that was nothing new. The transmission was something they had never experienced before. Gone was the old shift lever and clutch, replaced by paddles and a button on the steering wheel. On the whole it was an enjoyable experience, and they quickly adjusted.

With the race held during an F1 off weekend, many of the current F1 drivers attended. Pyrrhus was there to cheer on his parents. So was Summer. No matter how much she complained about her family, deep down she loved them. "How was it?" Pyrrhus asked as Yang got out of her car. After running a whole practice session she was drenched in sweat and out of breath. "These modern cars are a real handful right?"

Yang laughed. "I wish I was younger!" She exclaimed. "I'd wipe the floor with all of you! These modern cars practically drive themselves."

"You look pretty winded for having run a car that drives itself." Summer teased.

"You'll be old one day." Yang said. "Back in my day the steering was so heavy it was like driving a dump truck, and you didn't have all that downforce to help in the corners, and you actually had to shift! I'd like to see one of you kids try to drive an old car. You'd be lost."

"I think I'll stick with the modern machines." Pyrrhus said. "I don't like the idea of driving one of you rolling bombs."

Summer was not going to be so agreeable. "Is that a challenge?" She asked. "Let's go run a vintage event. I'll obliterate you."

"I think I'll have to take you up on that." Yang said.

Pyrrha rolled into the garage and gingerly stepped out of her car. She was not as exhausted as Yang but she was feeling some aches and pains. "That was incredible." She said. "I just wish I was 20 years younger. So, how were our times?"

"Slow!" Pyrrhus said cheerfully. "You're both two seconds off the pace."

"But it felt so fast." Yang sighed. "How could we be so much slower?"

"Well, the fast times were put in by drivers who are a decade younger." Pyrrhus shrugged.

"That's it!" Pyrrha exclaimed. "They've driven this track in its current configuration. They've got an unfair advantage."

"Maybe you two just don't have it anymore." Summer suggested. "Or you're just too old."

"It's times like this I wish I could still ground you." Yang said. "We're going to have to prove our daughter wrong, aren't we Pyrrha."

"Oh, we'll prove her wrong." Pyrrha said. "We're going to show everyone we've still got it takes."

Through the following practice sessions Yang and Pyrrha got faster and faster. They just needed to get back into the swing of things. It was all slowly coming back to them. Weiss, Ruby and Sun were getting faster too, and soon all five were on par with their younger rivals. When the final practice was run the morning of time trials, they were right there among the leaders. Qualifying was going to be close and everyone knew it. Fans flocked to the circuit, time trials drawing a crowd that surpassed many actual races held there. The chance to see big names from years ago in a real race was too enticing to pass up.

Come qualifying the five old champions had a mediocre showing. Yang ended up best of them in 5th, with Pyrrha 7th, Weiss 10th, Ruby 11th and Sun 14th. It could have been a lot worse, and they still beat drivers who were much younger, but it was a disappointment. There was always the race though. Besides, win or lose, fast or slow, they were having a fantastic time. Racing without the pressure, without the danger, without the fear, was just plain fun. That was what it was all about really, having fun. That's why the fans were there, that's why the drivers were there.

Race day was cool and cloudy, a typical day on Patch. The media presence on the pre-race grid surpassed some F1 races, and for once the drivers were happy to talk to the press. Without exception they gushed about how much fun they were having. The fans too had come in droves, and the race was a sellout. There was something of a carnival atmosphere. The race was not being run in the shadow of the spectre of death as it had in the drivers' day, and it was not corporate and sterile like a modern F1 race. It was special and everyone involved could feel it.

The cars rolled around the track for the parade lap as the fans cheered wildly. It was thrilling to see their old heroes, even as they just cruised around. With the cars lined up on the grid the focus was on the lights hanging from the gantry above the start line. One red, two, three, four...the drivers revved their engines, all five red, and lights out! Tires squealed and engines roared as the cars departed the grid for the short run to the first corner, Woods. The second place starter got a poor start, holding up right the line badly. Yang was immediately promoted to third and Pyrrha to fourth as the cars thundered toward the first corner.

Things quickly settled down at the front with the top four running line astern around the circuit. In the back Ruby and Weiss were charging. Other drivers may have had better single lap pace for qualifying, but they were consistently fast. They made their way up through the field and by halfway had joined their fellows at the sharp end. Sun made some moves as well but found himself mired hopelessly in traffic. He would not be a factor.

"Mom, you've got to go faster." Pyrrhus said over the radio to Yang.

"I don't want to break the car." Yang replied.

"You don't have to worry about breaking the car." Pyrrhus said. "Modern cars don't break like the old ones did! You can push all race!"

"10-4." Yang said. Summer would surely be giving Pyrrha a similar message so the time to go was now.

Yang got a good run coming out of The Cut and swept past the second place runner as they rounded Woods. Pyrrha followed her through. In two laps Ruby and Weiss had also made the jump. They had been pushing from the start to make up for their poor qualifying performance and did not need the encouragement that had been directed toward Yang and Pyrrha. With seven laps to go Yang dove up the inside of the leader as the cars approached the fast right-hand School. They ran through the corner side-by-side but Yang completed the pass on exit. Pyrrha and Ruby made the pass on entry to Woods on the next lap and Weiss followed into Church on the next circuit. Now the four led the race. Once laughed at as the 'Golden Oldies' they were showing that they still had the talent, still had the guts to drive race cars. They were outrunning drivers a decade younger and making it look easy.

As the laps wound down Pyrrha kept stepping out of line to attempt to pass Yang. Yang was having none of it. She threw blocks that would have given Weiss pause back in the day. It may have just been a friendly race, but a race was a race and Yang was determined to win it. Ruby and Weiss held on but their tires were worn and they could not really challenge. They diced with one another for third and the final step on the podium.

The last lap arrived and there was no time to wait. Pyrrha would have to pass Yang now or not at all. As they headed for School Pyrrha ducked to the right. Yang edged to the right as well to block but Pyrrha just kept going. She got alongside and Yang was not going to force her completely off the track. They ran into the corner side-by-side but Pyrrha had overshot. As they entered the corner Pyrrha could not keep her car on the inside line and began to slide left toward Yang. Yang saw this and edged further and further left. Yang ran out of track but Pyrrha still had too much speed. As they crested the rise in the middle of School, Pyrrha's left-front made contact with Yang's right-rear. It was only a light touch but enough to pitch both cars into a spin. They sild off the track and into the grass as Ruby and Weiss passed them for the lead.

Ruby held on to take the win with Weiss second. Yang and Pyrrha both got their cars going again and finished sixth and seventh, just behind the hard-charging Sun. Yang and Pyrrha both pulled into the garage at the same time and their children expected a fight. The slowly took their helmets and balaclavas off, undid their belts, and stepped out. Hyperventilating and dripping with sweat they walked to each other and stood face to face. Well, as face to face as they could given the height difference. They stared daggers at each other. For a moment it looked like they would come to blows. The angry expressions suddenly turned to big smiles and they burst out laughing before embracing.

"That was awesome!" Yang exclaimed.

"I know." Pyrrha said. "I don't think I've ever had so much fun."

"You're both insane." Summer gasped. "Absolutely insane."

"Should we go celebrate with Aunt Ruby now?" Pyrrhus asked.

"One thing first." Yang said. She and Pyrrha kissed passionately.

"Gross, old people making out." Summer groaned. "I'm out of here."

"Aww." Pyrrhus said. "You two are cute." They remained locked together for a while longer. "Okay, cut it out you two. Now it's getting weird."

Yang and Pyrrha broke their kiss and gazed into each other's' eyes. "You've still got it." Yang said.

"You too." Pyrrha said. "We'll have to do this again."

Pyrrhus looked at them uneasily. "I really hope you're talking about the racing."

Inspirations

- Grand Prix Masters was a real series that was mostly as described. It ran three races between 2005 and 2006 before the series declared bankruptcy and folded.

- GP Masters included drivers ranging in age from 43 (Alex Caffi, technically outside the rules) to 64 (Jacques Laffite). Three had been F1 World Champion (Nigel Mansell, Emerson Fittipaldi and Alan Jones who practiced but did not start due to injury).

- Signalstone is based on Silverstone. I'm still really proud of that name.

Inaccuracies and Anachronisms

- The first race of GP Masters was held at Kyalami in South Africa. I don't like the remodeled version of the track so I moved the race to Silverstone.

- The drivers on the older end of the spectrum actually dominated. They had been the talented ones when they were young and it was no different when they got older. At 52 Nigel Mansell won two of the three races the series ran. Eddie Cheever (49) did win the second season's championship as Mansell fell out of the final race early.