Wacky Races 

The participants of an unusual car race compete around America.

Stars:

Daws Butler, Don Messick, John Stephenson

Cast

Series cast summary:
Daws Butler	...	Big Gruesome / ... 17 episodes, 1968-1969
Don Messick	...	Gravel Slag / ... 17 episodes, 1968-1969
John Stephenson	...	Blubber Bear / ... 17 episodes, 1968-1969
Janet Waldo	...	Penelope Pitstop 17 episodes, 1968-1969
Dave Willock	...	Narrator 17 episodes, 1968-1969
Paul Winchell	...	Clyde / ... 17 episodes, 1968-1969

Storyline

The Wacky Races are a series of car competitions in which 11 racers race in locations throughout North America. The rules are extremely lax and allow for almost any vehicle design, power system and a wide range of tactics like combat and shortcuts. Despite this loose rule structure, competitors Dick Dastardly and his dog sidekick, Muttley, are still determined to cheat in their own ineffectual way.

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Plot Keywords:

car racing | motor racing | motorsport | racing | race | 

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Taglines:

And zany chases

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Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Family | Sport

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Details

Official Sites:

The Cartoon Network Department of Cartoons

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 September 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

Los autos locos

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hanna-Barbera Productions, Merrill Heatter-Bob Quigley Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

20 min (34 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the opening credits, cars are introduced in the next order:

-Car #9 - Peter Perfect in the Turbo Terrific.

-Car #10 - Rufus Ruffcut and Sawtooth in the Buzzwagon.

-Car #6 - Sgt. Blast and Pvt. Meekley in the Army Surplus Special.

-Car #7 - The Anthill Mob in the Bulletproof Bomb.

-Car #3 - Prof. Pat Pending in the Convert-a-Car.

-Car #5 - Penelope Pitstop in the Compact Pussycat.

-Car #1 - the Slag Brothers (Rock and Gravel) in the Bouldermobile.

-Car #2 - the Gruesomes (Big Gruesome and Little Gruesome) in the Creepy Coupe.

-Car #4 - The Red Max in the Crimson Haybaler.

-Car #8 - Luke and Blubber Bear in the Arkansas Chugabug.

-Car #00 - Dick Dastardly and Muttley in the Mean Machine.

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Quotes

Narrator: And now, here they are! The most daredevil group of daffy drivers to ever whirl their wheels in the Wacky Races! Competing for the title of the world's wackiest racer! The cars are approaching the starting line. First is the Turbo Terrific driven by Peter Perfect. Next, Rufus Roughcut and Sawtooth in the Buzz Wagon. Maneuvering for position is the Army Surplus Special. Right behind is the Anthill Mob in their Bulletproof Bomb. And there's ingenious inventor, Pat Pending, in his Convert-a-Car. ...

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Connections

Referenced in Outside Xbox: 7 Impossibly Badass Moments That Made Us Feel Like Mighty Gods (2020)

User Reviews

Best. Cartoon. Ever.

You had the Flintstones, which was essentially an animated version of the Honeymooners, and you had the Jetsons, which was essentially a futuristic version of the Flintstones. You had Bugs and Daffy, Tom and Jerry, Woody Woodpecker and Popeye and Bluto, but nothing comes close to the Wacky Races for originality.

For the uinitiated, each week there is a "wacky race" to determine the "world's wackiest racer." A dozen cars participate, each with a unique characteristic. There's Dick Dastardly, and his sidekick, Muttley; Penelope Pitstop and her compact-on-wheels; Peter Perfect and his turbo-charged (and "symbolic") long-nosed racing car, and a host of other "Wackos" who became like an extended family of crazy uncles to a generation of youngsters.