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SPEED RACER: THE MOST DANGEROUS RACE {PART 2 OF 3} (TV)

Summary

One in this animated series about a race-car driver and his technologically advanced super-car, the Mach 5.

Continued from B:67514. Speed reaches the first checkpoint of the race, where he learns that a storm is brewing. His brakes continue to perform poorly. Sparky, regretting his absence during the Mach 5's preparation, drives up to the race course along with Spritle and Chim-Chim, explaining that if he doesn't repair the brakes within the first hour of the race that they will fail altogether. Pops recovers in the hospital while Trixie, concerned about the coming storm, decides to try to reach Speed in her helicopter. On the way she spots Sparky, Spritle, and Chim-Chim and decides to give them a lift. The racers enter an icy cavern, and Speed pulls in closer to the Car Acrobatic Team and Racer X (who is secretly Speed's older brother Rex). Speed sees this as an opportunity to pull ahead and jams on the accelerator despite the icy terrain. The Car Acrobatic Team stymies his effort by using a jumping maneuver to knock icicles from the cavern ceiling into the Mach 5, causing Speed to lose control of the car. However, three of the Team's own members crash in the process.

Speed skids onto a ledge as his brakes fail, forcing him to employ his emergency brake. However, it is not enough and soon the Mach 5 is sliding down the side of the mountain. Trixie, Sparky, Spritle, and Chim-Chim find Speed as he continues to careen off the mountainside. He refuses to bail out of the Mach 5, so Sparky catches the car with a cable just before it is about to plummet into a deep valley. Speed nearly falls to his death but manages to save himself by grabbing onto the trunk of the Mach 5. They pull Speed and the Mach 5 up from the cliff, and Speed apologizes to Sparky for their earlier argument. Sparky repairs the Mach 5's brakes and Speed takes the opportunity to rest, interrupted by Trixie and Spritle's antics. Before he goes, Spritle gives Speed his good luck charm, a small doll.

With the brakes repaired, Speed rejoins the race as the storm starts up. He soon comes across the Car Acrobatic Team stopped in the middle of the road. The heavy rains have worn away a section of the course, leaving a seemingly impassable chasm in its wake. Racer X arrives as Snake proposes that they draw lots to determine who will make the jump first, as each successive attempt will erode the course further and make it more dangerous for the next racer. The Car Acrobatic Team takes up the first few slots, while Racer X goes fifth and Speed gets the misfortune of going last. However, the Car Acrobatic Team fails to make the jump, and Snake seemingly overshoots his mark and flies off the edge. Racer X warns Speed to be cautious before he makes the attempt, apparently succeeding. Trixie receives a bulletin about the stopped cars and is informed that the racing commission is considering altering the race course. Speed attempts the jump, but apparently misses and starts falling into the chasm. To be continued. Commercials deleted.

Details

  • NETWORK: Syndicated
  • DATE: October 21, 1967
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:24:27
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: B:67517
  • GENRE: Animation
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Animation
  • SERIES RUN: Syndicated - TV series, 1967-1968
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Peter Fernandez … Voice Direction, Writer
  • Kuri Ippei … Animation Director
  • Sasagawa Hiroshi … Animation Director
  • Yoshida Tatsuo … Created by
  • Koshibe Nobuyoshi … Music by
  • Peter Fernandez … Voice, Speed Racer, Rex Racer/Racer X
  • Jack Grimes … Voice, Chim-Chim, Sparky
  • Corinne Orr … Voice, Trixie, Spritle Racer, Mom Racer
  • Jack Curtis … Voice, Pops Racer