Europa 2015 - Place your bets!

[Lint]

Welcome to the official thread for the 3rd historical Europa 2015 Grand Tour! If you've been paying attention, you'll know that seven brave racers will be participating in the race this year, including two Decepticons to promote good will and sports therapy. Let's see some racer profiles so you good folk can do some educated betting.


Sideswipe
Model: Cybetronian Race Car
Description: Sideswipe just can't keep away from this competition, but this year he's sporting a Cybertronian mode and some serious race mods.
Special ability: Racing stripes: Sideswipe has a guaranteed speed of 4 on straight legs and +1 speed on corners.


Bumblebee
Model: Modified Chevrolet Camaro
Description: This is Bumblebee's first Europa. He don't talk much but he's going to let his boosters do the talking.
Special ability: Nitro Boost: If Bumblbee rolls a 3 he gets a speed of 7 for that leg.


Arcee
Model: Cybertronian Touring Cabriolet
Description: Oh my god they let a FEMME in the race?!? Arcee sports the latest in Cybertronian road vehicle technology.
Special ability: Lightweight: New age composite materials and a revolutionary engine means Arcee rolls within a range of 3-7. However it also means she takes double damage from attacks.


Darksteel
Model: Corvette Stingray
Description: Darksteel intends to strike quickly and win this race.
Special ability: Quickstrike: Darksteel will attack the racer/s directly ahead of him each leg, halving their speed gain. If he overtakes that racer as a result he will attack the next racer ahead in that same leg.


Tracks
Model: Tuner modified Corvette
Description: Tracks want this to be a clean race. Although he could technically fly to victory he's going to show the other racers the meaning of good sportsmanship.
Special ability: Turbo Boost: Tracks will have a guaranteed speed of 6 on the first leg, hopefully getting a good lead in front of all the mayhem. Also +1 speed on Corners



Breakdown
Model: Lamborgini Countach
Description: A Stunticon in the race? Breakdown is guaranteed to cause trouble.
Special ability: Reverb: All racers directly in front, behind and adjacent suffer a -1 speed penalty.


Jazz
Model: Cybertronian Supercar
Description: A Europa veteran and last year's winner, Jazz is ready for anything the grand tour will bring.
Special ability: Commando: Extensive combat and race experience means Jazz is effectively immune to all attacks.

2015 Course
Leg 1: Mount Hood National Forest (Curve)
Leg 2: Snake Way (Curve)
Leg 3: Autobot City (Straight)
Leg 4: Lookout Mountain (Curve)
Leg 5: Paprika Plain (Straight)
Leg 6: Carbombya City (Curve)
Leg 7: Galata Valley (Curve)
Leg 8: Rascal Flats(Straight)

Unfortunately the new race model was (yet again) not completed in time, so we are reusing last year's game mechanics.

So who do you think will win? Each new or broke member has 50 credits they can use to bet on the race. Betting will close when the actual Melbourne Cup race starts. Race results will be posted sometime after cup day.


CURRENT PAYOUT ODDS
NOTE: Payout odds subject the change before race time. All punters are entitled to change their betting up until the actual Melbourne Cup race time.

Win/Place Odds Based on results from 10 time trials dated 2/11/2015
Sideswipe: 1:3 / 1:1
Bumblebee: 1:3 / 1:2
Arcee: 1:12 / 1:8
Darksteel: 1:4/ 1:1
Tracks: 1:5/ 1:3
Breakdown: 1:10 / 1:6
Jazz: 1:6 / 1:2

Trifecta: 1:50 (No payouts for draws)
Quinella: 1:20
First 4: 1:50 (No payouts for draws)


The following board members have either carryover credits from 2014 and/or have won credits from this year's teaser game and are either not eligible, or have already had their 50 free credits applied. Balances are shown below:

Sky Shadow: 100 credits
STL: 512 credits
Ultra Marginal: 75 credits
Bartrim: 100 credits
Deonasis: 325 credits
Ravagecat: 100 credits
Trent: 175 credits
Sinnertwin: 100 credits
TinyJazz: 100 credits
Golden Phoenix: 100 credits