Scalpers at Suzuka Circuit
The employee's mind raced, and he instantly grasped the essence of the operation.
This isn't a shortage; it's scarcity marketing! Using today's "sold out" to ignite tomorrow's anticipation!
"Yes, sir! I understand! I'll get right on it!" The employee nodded emphatically and turned to find someone to prepare.
After confirming that Sega's game booth and souvenir sales area were running smoothly, Nakayama Takuya led the group to the VIP seats in the main grandstand.
Stepping from the relatively quiet pit area into the stands, they were instantly engulfed by a deafening roar. V10
The combined shrill roar of the V12 engines was like tens of thousands of chainsaws cutting through the air simultaneously, making eardrums buzz and even causing the chest cavity to resonate.
"My God—" an United States engineer exclaimed, covering his ears with a mixture of pain and excitement on his face, "That sound could practically scream your soul out!"
Their position was superb, directly facing the Suzuka Circuit's famous S-curve, allowing them to clearly see the cars changing direction continuously at astonishing speeds, showcasing the ultimate aerodynamic performance and the drivers' handling skills.
Practice sessions had already begun, and on the track, race cars with various liveries sped by like streaks of light.
"Here he comes! It's Elton!" Kevin shouted excitedly, holding up a high-powered telescope.
A red and white McLaren MP4/7A race car roared in, drawing a sharp arc through the S-curve. The car's posture was extremely active, and you could even see the rear end swaying slightly restlessly at the limit. It was only thanks to the driver's exquisite throttle and steering wheel corrections that it was able to stay stable.
That's exactly Ayrton Senna's driving style—squeezing every last bit of potential out of the car, dancing wildly on the edge of losing control.
"It's so beautiful! This is the art of driving!" Kevin exclaimed, completely mesmerized.
However, just a dozen seconds later, another race car rushed into the S-curve in a completely different manner.
It was a blue and yellow Williams FW14B.
If Senna's McLaren is like a wild and untamed Cheetah, then this Williams is like a ghost.
It glided through the apex of the corner almost touching the ground, with no unnecessary swaying of the car body, so stable that it didn't seem like it was traveling at high speed within the limits of the laws of physics.
A short while later, the results were updated on the large screen in front of the main grandstand.
Nigel Mansell, Williams Team, 1:37.978.
The entire audience gasped in surprise.
After some time, Elton Senna did another practice lap, finishing in second place with a time of 1:39.260.
"---One and a half seconds?" Kevin's voice trembled as he stared intently at the glaring difference on the screen. "A difference of 1.282 seconds per lap? That's a huge gap."
The excitement and anticipation on his face were instantly replaced by immense disappointment.
Mansell's dominance this year has been nothing short of phenomenal.
Williams Team ' other driver Gato Patres, and McLaren's Gerhard Berger finished third and fourth respectively, both far behind Mansell.
Just as everyone was marveling at the Williams Team and McLaren Team ' overwhelming lead over the other teams, the fifth-place finisher was announced on the screen.
A name that has shone brightly this year has emerged before everyone's eyes: M. Schumacher, the Benetton team.
"Hey, this newcomer's quick!" Mark Cerny noticed. "It's him again, he's made it into the top six several times this year."
Nakayama Takuya's gaze fell on that name, a slight smile playing on his lips. He said to Mark, "Remember this Germany, Mark. If Senna is the king of this era, then this young man may be the pioneer of the next."
Mark Cerny nodded thoughtfully, memorizing the name and Nakayama Takuya's assessment.
Kevin raised his binoculars again, full of fighting spirit. "It's just a practice match! Elton will definitely find a way to deal with Mansell in tomorrow's qualifying!"
Nakayama Takuya smiled and said nothing more.
Saturday, the second day of competition.
The Suzuka Circuit was still damp in the early morning, but the sun had already pierced through the clouds, dispelling some of the fatigue from working all night in the pit area.
The conversation between Nakayama Takuya and reporter Watanabe yesterday, after fermenting overnight, has had a far greater impact than expected.
The morning edition of <F1 Newsflash> devoted a small section to announcing the world premiere of <VR Racing> at Sega Suzuka Circuit, with a highly provocative headline: <When Technology Embraces Speed, Sega's Gift to Fans at Suzuka!>
This article was not only reprinted by sports media, but also received calls from the editorial departments of some mainstream gaming magazines, who adjusted their layouts overnight to include this breaking news.
So when Mark Cerny and his team returned to the Sega sales area in the lounge, the sight before them made them think they had gone to the wrong place.
"My God, where did all these people come from?" Kevin stared at the line of more than a dozen people lining up from the entrance of the exhibition area, his jaw nearly dropping to the floor.
Kevin quickly noticed that there were some odd people in the group.
"Mark, look at those guys." He pointed to a group of ordinary-looking, serious-looking men in the middle of the line. "They're carrying empty backpacks, constantly checking their watches, and communicating with the people behind them using gestures. They don't look like car enthusiasts."
Mark looked in the direction he was pointing, and those people did indeed have a unique air about them; their eyes didn't hold the enthusiasm of fans, but rather a calmness as if they were examining merchandise.
"They're here to work," Mark said succinctly.
"Work?"
"Yes, turn our goods into their money."
As soon as the words were spoken, the roller shutter door of the sales area rose precisely on time.
The Sega employees, who had been waiting for a long time, skillfully pulled the guide rope, and the team began to incline forward at a restrained yet efficient pace.
"They're here!" Kevin saw the group of people at the front of the line; they were the same group he had noticed earlier.
They barely glanced at the usual game T-shirts and hats, heading straight for the most expensive limited-edition items: Pikachu racing suit jacket, a Q-version MP4/7A racing car model with Pikachu plushie driving it, and the Pikachu plushie in a racing suit that had been circulating most widely yesterday.
"One item per person per style, thank you for your cooperation." The cashier smiled, but her tone left no room for argument.
The man in the lead nodded without arguing, skillfully took out his wallet, bought the three most expensive items, and then immediately turned and left the group, handing the items to another accomplice who was also carrying an empty bag not far away.
The whole process was smooth and seamless, with perfect teamwork, leaving Kevin speechless.
"This—this is professional!"
"Of course they're professionals." Nakayama Takuya's assistant, who had appeared behind them unnoticed, explained with a smile, "These people are scalpers. The cheapest F1 tickets cost over 10,000 Japanese yen. They've definitely done the math. If they can snag a set of our limited-edition merchandise, they can resell it at a higher price, not only recouping the ticket cost but also making a small profit. It's like getting a free day at F1 and making a little extra money on the side."
Kevin was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed in a tone that was a mixture of admiration and absurdity, "This is simply—the highest affirmation of the value of our product!"
And that is indeed the case.
Sega prepared 30% more stock today than yesterday, but the speed at which it sold out did not slow down at all.