In 2017, the protagonist of Han Han's popular movie "Riding the Wind and Waves" was named Xu Tailang, and when I watched it, I was still thinking about why Han Han gave the protagonist such a "wave" name.
Later, I learned that it was originally to commemorate his good friend Xu Lang, the super racer who died in an accident.
"Whoever loosens the throttle is the grandson": Becoming a rookie racer with amazing talent
Xu Lang was born in Wuyi, where the mountains and rivers are beautiful, his father is in business, his family background is okay, and he has been able to stick to his preferences since he was a child.
When his father gave him a motorcycle in junior high school, Xu Lang couldn't put it down, and it was from this time that he developed a strong interest in racing.
He sold the car given by his father, replaced it with a jeep car, and modified it, which was Xu Lang's first car, and he drove this car and constantly practiced his driving skills.
Xu Lang drove the first modified car through the deserted streets, and he and his friends disguised as rivals shouted: "Whoever releases the accelerator is the grandson."
Although he has experienced countless collisions, this is in exchange for Xu Lang's more and more persistent heart, until his father sent him to a professional team for training.
In 2000, Xu Lang joined a professional rally training class for training. The coach at that time said that Xu Lang was very talented, very energetic, very fierce, and could master the skills proficiently.
Xu Lang said: "I just like racing, and I turn this love into motivation, others practice for 5 hours, I practice for 10 hours, more than talent, it's more love." ”
At that time, Xu Lang was very high-spirited, relying on his own momentum, constantly practicing his skills.
After practicing for more than half a year, he participated in the Fuzhou Station of the National Automobile Rally Championship in June 2000 and won the second place.
In October, he participated in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship and won the third place. For a time, this fledgling kid was in the limelight, he was noticed by the industry, and reports began to be reported everywhere, and a "Flying King" player was born.
Even CCTV News reported that "a racing dark horse has appeared in Zhejiang", and the era of Xu Lang has begun.
Xu Lang, who has won a lot of good results, has become a popular player, and he has received many olive branches from the team, and after repeated choices, he joined the Shanghai Volkswagen 333 team.
In the following year, he continued to compete with the team, and the results were always impressive, and he won the title of "King of Racers" five times, and since then the hairy boy has truly transformed into an admirable racing driver.
Although the journey was smooth, Xu Lang did not take it lightly, but continued to hone his skills, allowing himself to appear with a more professional attitude every time.
Although he also encountered many setbacks, but overall Xu Lang's career was full of glory, his best results were 19th in the Dakar Rally and 5th in the International Off-Road Rally, so Xu Lang was described by foreign media as the most potential Chinese driver to join the WRC.
At that time, Xu Lang would follow a few fans who wanted to sign autographs wherever he went, and there were no racing drivers across the country who didn't know Xu Lang, and many people took him as a role model.
Later, he represented the Red River team. Speaking of the Red River team, there is another racer whose name is sure to make many people scream, and that is Lin Zhiying.
He, like Xu Lang, played in the Red River team, and for a while the Red River team became the hottest team, no matter where he appeared, there were constant screams behind him. However, Xu Lang's professionalism made Lin Zhiying praise, saying that he would also ask him for advice from time to time.
On the road of racing, Xu Lang clearly knew what he wanted, and later because of the needs of career development, he went to Zhengzhou Nissan Paladin Team and continued to follow the team to shine.
In 2005, he represented the Paladin team in the Dakar Rally, but due to his unfamiliarity with the terrain and lack of practical experience, the car hit a large rock, but fortunately no one was injured.
Xu Lang, who had adjusted, then set off and struggled to catch up, but still achieved a 44th place. But for him to suffer such a big accident, not giving up and being able to persevere to the finish line is already a victory.
The "King of Speeders" on the track died suddenly, and the hero fell
At that time, many reports said that the legendary existence of the Chinese rally was Xu Lang, who was one of the few Chinese drivers in the CRC who could still have the upper hand in the frontal foreign drivers, and his unrestrained driving style was also very ornamental.
On November 11, 2007, Xu Lang won the annual championship of domestic drivers, which happened to be Xu Lang's birthday.
The team ordered the cake and everyone cheered on the spot. Xu Lang cut the cake with tears, but he never thought that this was his last birthday cake.
That's how fate sometimes tricks people. Xu Lang had an accident when he competed in Russia in 2008.
On June 16, at the site of the Cross Oriental Cross-Country Rally, the road became muddy due to continuous heavy rain, and the car could not walk. The rush of rescue vehicles and navigators waited anxiously for the return of the cars.
When the rescue vehicle was being rescued, Xu Lang got out of the car to check because he didn't know the live situation ahead, due to the continuous heavy rain, the safety helmet was full of water droplets, and he stood in the mud with both feet and took off the helmet.
He walked to the rescue vehicle and wanted to help command, but the accident happened, the tow hook of the rescue vehicle fell off unexpectedly, and it smashed towards Xu Lang's head impartially, and Xu Lang fell to the ground instantly.
The scene was chaotic, and the rescuers immediately launched the rescue, but due to his injuries, Xu Lang, who was only 32 years old, still left us.
Xu Lang's life is just as his teammates said: "Keep going up, keep going up, until it comes to an abrupt end, and he doesn't fall." ”
Li Huaying of Shanghai Volkswagen 333 Team said: "This is the first time in our generation that a racing driver has died, and he is still such a good person. ”
When Xu Lang died, he had just been married for less than a year. The wife is three months pregnant. Hearing the news, his wife fainted several times, and Xu Lang's parents also fell ill.
Xu Lang's parents said that their only wish now is to bring Xu Lang's body home as soon as possible.
After a brief period of grief, Xu Lang's father and brother-in-law headed north to pick up Xu Lang's body, and finally the plane carrying Xu Lang's body landed in Shanghai. Racers from all over the world rushed to blow their horns to open the way and send Xu Lang a ride.
Xu Lang's funeral was held in Wuyi. On this day, all the flowers near the Wuyi funeral home were sold out, and there were more than 5,000 visitors in the autograph book.
It is said that at that time, almost all the country's racing drivers and practitioners came. At the memorial service, Han Han delivered a speech, expressing his reluctance to this friend and teacher.
Although Lin Zhiying, who played for the Red River team together, did not come, she also expressed her condolences.
The wife on the side looked dazed, as if she couldn't believe it was true. She clearly remembered that she had called Xu Lang yesterday, that everything was fine, and that she asked him to pay attention to safety when it rained. But it's only been one night, so why isn't it there?
The wife stroked her belly, their unborn child, and said, "I never wanted him to give up racing because it was her hobby, but I should have let him come back long after that." ”
"When I saw the children crying when they came to mourn, I knew that he was really gone, and they cried, but I had to cry for the rest of my life, and I would never see him again. "Crying became tears.
In order to commemorate Xu Lang, the racing hero, Wuyi County authorities specially approved a cemetery of more than 20 square meters, July 3, 2008 at 10 o'clock, Xu Lang's body was cremated, and the ashes were sent to the cemetery for burial at 15 o'clock.
At this point, a generation of flying car heroes has come to an end. After Xu Lang's death, the Automobile Association began to ban the title of "King of Flying Cars", and "King of Flying Cars" became Xu Lang's exclusive label.
The eternal "King of Racers", the immortal soul of racing
More than 6 months after Xu Lang's death, Xu Lang's son was born in the hospital, and his wife hugged the child and cried bitterly, which was the only heat he could feel Xu Lang.
She said: "I once fantasized with Xu Lang that I could have a child, raise a room of cats and dogs, and then we took the child to play when he didn't have a game, but now the child is here, but he is gone." ”
Now, Xu Lang has been dead for more than ten years.
Xu's father said that when Xu Lang just died, many people came to him to make a movie about Xu Lang's deeds, which could earn a lot of money.
But he rejected them one by one, his favorite son was gone, and he didn't want to uncover the scars again. Now he just wants to watch his grandson grow up slowly, which can be regarded as a kind of consolation to Xu Lang.
His wife said that Xu Lang's room at home has always been retained, and it is still the same as when he left. When he was away, his mother would go to clean regularly, as if Xu Lang had just gone out and would come back at any time.
Now my son sometimes asks about his father, and they don't shy away from saying that he is a famous racing driver and showing him pictures of the races.
The son will also happily say "Dad is awesome", although he has never seen his father, but the son must worship his father in his heart, after all, what boy does not have a racing dream?
A few years ago, Han Han came to visit the old man at home and proposed the idea of making a movie, but Xu's father did not refuse. After Xu Lang left, Han Han has been regularly visiting the elderly and children, and also proposed the idea of picking up the children to go to school in Shanghai. He knew that Han Han, as Xu Lang's friend before his death, must have special feelings.
There is a lane in front of Xu Lang's cemetery, and every day there are whizzing cars passing by.
Over the years, Han Han has participated in competitions, and every time he wins an award, he is always the first to take the trophy to Xu Lang's tomb and share the joy with him. He wanted to commemorate Xu Lang and keep the era that belonged to them.
Xu's father said that in the years since Xu Lang's death, racing drivers from all over the world have been coming, all with trophies and beer, they want to share with Xu Lang, and they are also remembering Xu Lang in their own way.
Xu's father said: "I went to see him, I often saw cigarette butts and beer on the ground, I knew that someone came to see him again, he has been sticking to the cause he likes, and because of this, he has influenced many people, he is not alone."
After the fire of "Riding the Wind and Waves" in 17 years, Xu Lang was mentioned again, and more than ten years have passed, and this former "king of speeders" has left his best years on the field.
The "King of Racers" is no longer there, but he is constantly mentioned in the world of racing. Everyone misses Xu Lang for their own reasons, as if they are paying tribute to their youth and an era.