12 Race Ships/Teams take part in the Grand Race itself – each with its former Apprentice  returning as the Pilot  (with 5 new crew members drafted in) – A Racer, Navigator, Mechanic, Doctor and a new Apprentice.  The Race Ship itself carries 9 individual Race Crafts  which, the newly drafted Racer will use to race 9 courses (Stages) – each time, returning to Celerity (or the ship in question) to complete the stage – and make the next check-point.

GR107:-
There are 3 Phases  in a Grand Race – Earth, Ocean and Sky.  Each Phase comprises of 3 Stages (Races).  Points are awarded to the first 8 positions in the stage AND for the first 8 positions in the Transfer.

Phase 1 – Earth:-
Stage 1 – Motorcycle
Stage 2 – Sand Dune Truck
Stage 3 – High Speed Race-Car

Phase 2 – Ocean:-
Stage 1 – High Speed Boat (Stealth Boat)
Stage 2 – Submersible
Stage 3 – Aquaspeeder

Phase 3 – Sky:-
Stage 1 – Jet-Bikes
Stage 2 – Low Level Flyer
Stage 3 – One-Man Shuttle

• All 12 Race Ships/Teams assemble at the Launch point – The first location is known by all, the following Race locations are revealed along the way.
• The Grand Race begins.
• The first Stage in the first Phase is launched (Motorcycles – Earth Phase), The Racer leaves the Race ship to race the circuit with the 12 other Racers (Teams).
• The Race Circuit is completed by the Racers.
• Upon completion of the circuit, Race teams enter the ‘Transfer’.  All Racers must make an un-assisted re-entry back onto their Race Ship directly from the circuit.
• The next Location is announced by the Race Director (whom follows the teams in a ship of his own) and – with the help of the Navigator, the Pilot must then continue the Race to the next checkpoint Race Location), fighting for position – for which, further points are also awarded.
• Once the checkpoint is reached and the Race Ships are poised over the next Race Location – all racing is halted until the following day, when the next stage will begin (Sand Dune Truck – Earth Phase).
• During this downtime, Apprentices must visit the Race Directors’ Ship to check-in, submit their video diaries and collect the fuel cells required for tomorrow’s race.
• Race crew’s spend the night (and the entire duration of the Grand Race) aboard their Race Ships, with only the Racer and Apprentice ever leaving to compete or work – (Doctors are the only other members permitted to leave a Race Ship during a Grand Race).
• There’s a 2 day rest between Phases and a 3 day rest before the final Race (One-Man Shuttle).
• The winner is the team with the most points (gained from Racing both on the circuits AND in the transfer phases).

All Race Ships and Crafts benefit from a total re-design before each Grand Race, always improving and developing the technology – GR107 is no different.

Full responsibilities of the individual team members to follow.

CELERITY will be back in the Spring, when we’ll see who is Drafted to Celerity  – and the other 12 Race Ships.

“And so you touch this limit, something happens and you suddenly can go a little bit further. With your mind power, your determination, your instinct, and the experience as well…
you can fly very high.” –   Ayrton Senna.

Avalon Cosette – (AKA -Sir, Avi)

Avalon:-
As a boy’s name is pronounced AV-a-lon and is of Celtic origin.  The meaning of Avalon is “island of apples”.  Celtic mythology:- Avalon is an island paradise… In Arthurian legend, it’s the island where King Arthur took refuge after his final defeat, and whence he will reappear.  They say “No man is an Island” – Avalon is the exception.

Cosette:-
Of Greek origin.  The meaning of Cosette is  “Victory of the people.”  According to other sources, Cosette means, “Little thing of no importance.” – Avalon fights these conflicting demons internally – but would never admit to it.

Avalon Cosette is the current Apprentice  aboard Race Ship ‘Celerity’ for Grand Race #106 – and is one of a six-person crew.  If he returns from GR106 alive, he will be promoted to Pilot Celerity, for Grand Race #107 (in 5 years’ time).  There have been 24 fatalities in Grand Racing since it began in 1881, when Grand Racing was an annual event.  On the 100th Anniversary of Grand Racing (In 1981), the structure of the Grand Race itself and the technology used to build the Race Ships/Crafts involved, had developed so much, it became impossible to stage a Grand Race every year – and was rescheduled to take place every 5 years, with GR106 scheduled for 2011 and GR107 scheduled for 2016.  Avalon will be heavily involved in training at the Grand Race Academy  (in the interim 5 years) and will welcome 5 new crew members to the team, one year prior to GR107 at the GRA-draft.

12 Race Ships/Teams take part in the Grand Race itself – each with its former Apprentice  returning as the Pilot  (with 5 new crew members drafted in) – A Racer, Navigator, Mechanic, Doctor and a new Apprentice will fill the empty seats.  The Race Ship itself carries 9 individual Race Crafts (explained on Page 7) which, the newly drafted Racer will use to race 9 courses (Stages) – each time, returning to Celerity (or the ship in question) to complete the stage – and make the check-point.

Full Grand Race rules and regulations to follow – a brief explanation can also be found on Page 7.

Apprentice:-
noun
1. A person who works for another in order to learn a trade.
2. A learner; novice.
3. Capable of being or becoming: a potential leader or champion.
4. The owner of a latent excellence or ability – that may or may not be developed.

Pilot:-
noun
1. A person duly qualified to steer ships into or out of a harbour, or through certain difficult areas.
2. A person who steers a ship.
3. Aeronautics . a person duly qualified to operate an aircraft.
4. A guide or leader: the pilot of the expedition.
5. A person who is at the head of or in authority over others; chief; leader.
6. A guiding or directing head, as of an army, movement, or Grand Race Ship.

Leona Dureau – (AKA Penelope Pitstop, Penny, Pitstop or ‘Pit-Stains’).

Leona:- Of German origin.  The meaning of Leona is ‘Brave as a Lioness’.

Dureau:- \d(u)-reau\ as a boy’s name is pronounced “dur-ROW” and is of French origin.  The meaning of Dureau is “strong”.

Leona’s nickname refers to the fictional character Penelope Pitstop from Wacky Races whom drives the ‘Compact Pussycat’, a pink, stereotypically feminine car with personal grooming facilities built in.   To carry over the theme, fictional Penelope also wears a bright pink racing uniform with white gloves, maroon tights, white go-go boots and is introduced by the race announcer as “The Glamour-Gal of the Gas Pedal”.

Leona Dureau is extremely feminine – her real name is actually quite ironic as, she is in fact (potentially) the shyest, weakest and most cowardly applicant, ever to apply for a Grand Race-Crew Vacancy – though, she wants so much to change.

Apprentice:-
noun
1.A person who works for another in order to learn a trade.
2. A learner; novice.
3. Capable of being or becoming: a potential leader or champion.
4. The owner of a latent excellence or ability – that may or may not be developed.

Celerity is exclusive to Comic Book Daily.  Please check back next week (Sat 21^st) for the final introductory piece in this first arc – where we’ll Meet current Apprentice for CELERITY in GR106 (and soon to be Pilot in GR107) Avalon Cosette.

Dr. Felisberta Blaise – (AKA:- Blaise).

Felisberta – As a boys name of German origin.  The meaning of Felisberta is:- “intelligent warrior”.

Blaise:-  Blaise Pascal was a brilliant 17th-century child prodigy, mathematician, scientist, and philosopher.  The name ‘Blaise’ is said to have been “claimed” by Felisberta in his teens, to hide a great shame attached to his true family name.

Doctor:-
doc·tor
Noun
1. A person licensed to practice medicine, as a physician or surgeon.
2. Machinery.  Any of various minor mechanical devices, especially one designed to remedy an undesirable characteristic of an automatic process.

Grand Race-Ship Crew:-
Pilot (Former Apprentice)
Racer
Navigator
Mechanic
Doctor
Apprentice (Will be promoted to Pilot for the following Grand Race in 5 years time)