73 Rule

The 73 Rule is a phenomenon unique to the TM Master Cup Series, in that the car numbers of those sponsored by Haas Incorporated, The Shafer Group, and Kleffer Media, when added together, total 73.

This is a very sneaky reference to Cynon's old Name 73 project, in which those three companies controlled a dystopian view of the future.

Name 73 itself appeared on a TM Master Cup Series car, and is known for being Cynon's favorite TMMC livery ever. The listed entrant for the Name 73 car (when the owner's name would appear) was Erin Marchesi, the name of the lead character. She is also listed as holding the track record for Industrial Zone 7 in NR2003.

In Name 73, Erin Marchesi was sometimes shown using a Poser model that Cynon created. Marchesi's features and hairstyle were recycled for the first model of Alexis Rainsford.

Starting in 2012, another Name 73 reference has become visible -- the name 'Vadriel' appearing on Adrien Devereux's Haas Incorporated car. In Name 73, Vadriel was a lackey of Haas Incorporated who had counterparts inside Kleffer Media (Samael) and The Shafer Group (Nacoriel). Vadriel, Samael, and Nacoriel convened to discuss internal matters face-to-face. Notably, Vadriel was known for feuding with Nacoriel, and while Nacoriel was generally a pleasant person, Vadriel was cold and calculating.

For 2014, the game's setting, Gravis City, will be introduced as a track for the Master Cup Series, located in "Industrial Zone 7". In the original RPG Maker game, Gravis City was mostly deep underground, but this is not the case in the TMMC universe. The track itself is a heavily modified version of Edenvale Airport. It is a cold and utilitarian street course, with many advertisements for Haas, Kleffer Media, and The Shafer Group, among others. Devereux won the inaugural Grand Prix of Gravis City; also, beginning with this race, Ian Cooper switched his car number, from his long-time #777, to 73 for the remainder of the season.

Interestingly enough, the 2012 Master Cup representatives of Haas Incorporated and The Shafer Group were embroiled in the biggest rivalry in the series.

Instances
&dagger; 2008 and 2009 also saw Mike Whitmore in the No. 73 car. 2014 saw Ian Cooper in the No. 73 car beginning with Gravis City.