73 Rule

From TM Pedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

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/KLTV, 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 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.

In 2019, a second Gravis City race joined the schedule, the Round of Ohrling Park; held on a temporary "roval" constructed in Industrial Zone 11. Also, The Shafer Group and KLtv will expand their presence in the series, sponsoring both of the full-time cars for Lenard International and Ortega Motorsports, respectively.

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

Instances[edit | edit source]

Year Haas, Incorporated driver(s) The Shafer Group driver(s) Kleffer Media/KLTV driver(s) Total
2007 26 Scott Steudler 23 Tyrone Stanley 22 Damien Snyder 71
2008 26 Scott Steudler 23 Tyrone Stanley 24 Kurt Walker 73
2009 26 Scott Steudler 23 Tyrone Stanley 24 Kurt Walker
Mathias Taube
73
2010 26 Adrien Devereux 23 Scott Steudler 24 Chris Johaanes 73
2011 26 Adrien Devereux 44 Louis Kingston 3 Luciano Soveral 73
2012 1 Adrien Devereux 64 Chris Johaanes 08 Various drivers 73
2013 1 Adrien Devereux 72 Kevin Dwyer 00 Gaspar de Sousa 73
2014 7 Adrien Devereux 6 Jacob Kard
Paul Lyons
Cameron Taylor
60 Gaspar de Sousa 73
2019 13 David Krikorian 7
8
Cameron Taylor
Saul Fischel
20
25
Héctor Serrano
Gaspar de Sousa
Brandon Lareau
73

† 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.