CHARACTERS INVOLVED IN SPEED RACER

Speed: The eighteen year old racing prodigy is one of the youngest competitors on the international racing circuit. Courageous and witty, Speed has lots of natural talent and quick reflexes, which helps him burn rubber. Besides driving cars, Speed's other job is to go around the world fighting evil forces. Though rarely seen, Speed also happens to be an expert martial artists. What can be seen is his impeccable sense of righteousness and morals. Speed will do what is right even if it is dangerous, a typical hero. However, like most men, Speed also has a taste for fine women.

Trixie: The seventeen year old girl who has an infatuation with Speed. She cannot tolerate having other girls checking out Speed, simply no tolerance for flirtation. Despite this fatal attraction she still happens to be a navigation whiz, and some ace helicopter pilot. Most amazing though, is that Trixie is able to calculate the speeds at which Speed must drive to win races. Strangely enough, Trixie is also a martial arts master, fearless and well-disciplined. Where ever Speed's adventures take him, Trixie will always be at his side, the faithful companion.

Rex Racer: Better known as Racer X, Interpol Agent 9, and the guy who's identity is constantly sought for. Let the mystery be revealed, Racer X (or Rex Racer) is Speed's older brother. Back in the day, Pops Racer built Rex a shiny red car. In a race at the Sunny Downs Track, Rex was neck and neck with another car, actually car #3. Right before the finish Rex loses control of the car, due to his lack of inexperience, and crashes. Pops is in a state of euphoria because Rex did not kill himself. The egotistical racer he was, Rex, said that he deserved to win. Wrong! Pops gets peeved and yells out irrationally that he never wants to see Rex Racer driving again, probably because his shiny red car was now a burning mass of metal. Then Rex announces that he will leave the Racer family. He makes a vow, saying he will become the best driver in the world, even without Pops support. So the Racer family never sees Rex again. Then one day a certain Racer X appears. Pops exclaims, "Racer X is one of the best racers I have ever seen!" And of course he doesn't know that it is Rex. When Racer X finally becomes world champion, he will reveal his true identity, at least that is what he told Speed. Besides his secret identity Rex Racer is an expert marksman and a better driver than Speed.

Sparky: This character is supposed to be Speed's best friend. Well, only because he is Speed's only friend, besides Chim Chim the monkey. The age of Sparky yet remains a great mystery, but one could extrapolate that he is about eighteen years old. Anyway, Sparky, like Speed and Trixie, is also young and very talented. Sparky is supposed to be a great mechanic, able to soup up the Mach 5 in a few seconds flat when necessary. Besides that, only Pops knows the Mach 5 better. Sparky also has a partnership in Pops Motors (or Mifune Motors).

Spritle: Well, what do you know? Spritle is the only young person on this show who is a not prodigy. In fact, in all of the Speed Racer episodes, Spritle has not once demonstrated a bit of talent. At age eight, Spritle is the baby of the Racer family. Although he is young and useless, Spritle seems to always play a crucial role in getting Speed out of serious scenarios. Along with the pet monkey, Chim Chim, Spritle is always hiding in the trunk of the Mach 5. Spritle also has an addiciton to candy, which only adds to his obesity.

Chim Chim: The Racer family's pet monkey, well actually he is a chimpanzee. A tangent: the DNA sequence of chimpanzees are 99% the same as humans. Strange pet to have I might add. Since Spritle is young, misunderstood, and neglected by all the other characters on the show, Chim Chim tends to be his only companion. The two are often found hiding in the trunk of the Mach 5, monkeying around. Having not mastered the English language yet Chim Chim uses body language to speak.

Pops Racer: The almighty master of the Racer family. Father of the two greatest racers in the world, Speed and Rex. Yet on the other hand he gives his kids the stupidest names. Founder of the Pops Motors Company. Pops is considered to be one of the greatest mechanics in the world. He designed and built a lot of cars, but the most sophisticated would be the Mach 5. On his free time Pops likes to talk about his past lives. Pops was once a professional wrestler and he also claims to being a former champion of the Westside Grunters and Groaners.

Mom: Also known as Mrs. Racer, Pop's wife. She is quite an attractive woman (but not as good looking as Holly Wood or Jessica Rabbit), with a good sense of humor. She enjoys teasing Pops in a good natured way about his strict pretenses. And from time to time she is seen knitting. Being a good parent, she does not approve of the names Pops has given his children. Her favorite pastime is inhaling the fragrance of white roses. (The reason that there is no picture of Mom is that she rarely frequents the show, and I could find none of her.)

The Good Guys

Twinkle Banks is a stunt driver for her father's Universal Circus. In her premiere episode, Girl Daredevil, Speed falls head over heels for her. Not only is she good looking, she is a talented driver. In order to help her father's failing circus she performs stupid stunts like driving across the Niagara Falls on tight ropes. Despite this, Twinkle is instrumental in the capture of art thief Cornpone Brotch.

Calcia Bone is an archeologist that discovers Cleopatra's tomb during an excavation project. Her father Dr. Digger O. Bone is also an archeologist. In Race Against Time, a rock dashes Calcia's head, and causes temporary amnesia. With this identity crisis, she comes to believe that she is Cleopatra. Fortunately, by the end of the episode she regains her memory.

Delicia Lamster is about Spritle's age, but she isn't so annoying. She's an outgoing, loving little girl who had a fever earlier in her youth, which left her blind. Her father is an escaped convict who meets an untimely death and gives Delicia sight by donating his eyes to her.

Inspector Detector frequents many Speed Racer episodes. Above all things, he is a strong believer of justice. Regardless of his location, the type of crime, the time of the crime, Inspector Detector will willingly toss any criminal in jail. Best of all, he is always willing to reward those who assist him in solving a mystery.

Rock Force is a professional driver who has lost the use of his right arm. All this controversy began when Rock Force won a race, where he accepted a bribe to lose. In the episode he appears in, Speed gets burned by Rock Force, so we all know who the better driver is.

Prince Jam is an eight year prince of the Kingdom of Saccharin. In The Royal Racer the Prince is to be coronated king. Believing he was special, Pops built the Prince a special Formula One car. Amazingly the Prince is also a dead ringer for Spritle. Because of this, the two are always confused for the other (like in the Prince and the Pauper).

Kim Jugger is the son of General Cardonce. Driving the Black Tiger, Kim claims that he has won every race he has entered. Being the same age as Speed, Kim is ever so the competitor. In Desperate Desert Race the two have their own private race, without brakes that is. No one really wins this race, but at adventures end, the two are good friends.

Kabala appears in The Fire Race, but that really isn't him, it's actually Racer X in disguise. The real Kabala, from Kapetapek, died years before in an avalanche. The reason that Racer X took Kabala's identity was because if he didn't win the Fire Race, the borders of Kapetapek would be opened and the treasures looted. Anyway, Racer X wins and prevents the borders of Kapetapek from opening. Racer X was once Kabala's protege, and was taught to drive on extreme mountainous roads, and how to win.

Mr. Lightfingers Klepto, Jr. is a kind hearted, but stubborn old man. He has adopted a dozen other children, and care for them and his granddaughter. Klepto's father, of the same name, was a bank robber who drove the Model T car. To honor his father, Klepto maintains the car and has kept the Model T in mint condition.

Lily Marker runs a little flower shop. She is the daughter of Flash Marker, a famed driver who might death at the hand of the Three Roses Club. He brother Flash Jr. has devoted his life to vengeance. Lily's job is to try to dissuade Flash from avenging his father's death.

Janine Trotter is a pretty teenage girl who desperately wants to become a race car driver. However, her father is Mr. Trotter-- the car hater. He wants Janine to have nothing to do with cars.

Ivonna von Vondervon is a seventeen year old girl that appears in Junk Car Grand Prix. At the age of twelve she was separated from her father and placed in an orphanage. She is later temporarily reunited with her father when the Baron holds a race for seventeen year old girls. The winner of the race would be treated like his daughter. Ivonna comes in second place behind Trixie. Luckily, the Baron recognizes his daughter. However, Ivonna wants to go back to the orphanage to help the children there. The Baron being the good guy, donates half of his fortune to the orphanage.

The Dastardly Villains

Professor Anarchy is the mastermind of all evil in Speed Racer. He is the head of an international organization of highly expert assassins. Professor Anarchy makes his premiere debut in Gang of Assassins. By the time we have met him, he has already killed 2707 men.

Tongue Blaggard is the big honcho of an unscrupulous internation organization of thousands of men. In The Secret Engine he escapes from Sonolong Prison. While in prison, Blaggard learns from another convict of a billion dollars hidden somewhere. The directions to the money is located on the engine block of a Model T. In his quest to find this Model T, Blaggard is caught and sent back to prison.

Cruncher Block is another crime lord involved in Speed Racer. Like all other bosses of organized crime, Block is involved in racketeering. In Race Against the Mammoth Car he tries to steel fifty million dollars in gold. Block's devious plan was to build a massive car, using the gold that way it would get by the inspectors. His plan however, is foiled, but he does not end up in prison.

Mr. Cornpone Brotch is a heinous villain. Notorious thief of valuable art, Brotch appears in Girl Daredevil. He is willing to sacrifice the life of Twinkle Banks to get more riches. In the end however, Brotch is defeated by Speed and Trixie (who is jealous of Twinkle, I might add).

Mr. Cumulus is a maniacal villain, with a plan to make himself emperor of the world. Easily identifiable, Cumulus wears a green mask, which does nothing but add to his deformity. Supplied with a Mr. Nightcall's ICBMs, Cumulus plans to obliterate all armies and then take control. Amazingly, little boy wonder Spritle thwarts Cumulus' plan. In his mock Mach 5, loaded with an atomic bomb, Cumulus plans to destroy himself and a city. However, Speed stops him and in the process kills Cumulus.

Ace Deucey is a mercenary, always willing to make some extra cash. Gunman for hire, in other words. In The Great Race, Deucey is hired by Mr. van Ruffle to steal plans of the new and improved Mach 5, but is unsuccessful.

Rudolph Elegantor is the most notorious villain on Speed Racer. This aristocratic villains is seen wearing extravagant clothing, and smoking a cigar. Elegantor is the mastermind behind a group of assassins, in the habit of killing suspected Interpol agents. Responsible for the deaths of many innocent drivers, Elegantor meets his death plunging off a cliff.

Splint Femur the assistant to Dr. Digger O. Bone, is an archeologists specialized in ancient Egyptian artifacts. With Calcia Bone, Femur discovers Cleopatra's tomb. Through greed, or whatever other reason, Femur plans to steal the treasure of Cleopatra. In this process he kills the good doctor, and manipulates Calcia, who is temporarily impaired with amnesia. In the end Speed foils Femur's plan, and he dies in a plane crash as he attempts to escape.

Mr. Fixer is Mr. Wiley's front man and idea machine. Fixer tries to bribe Pops to getting Speed onto the Alpha Team, but Pops turns down the offer. Fixer also tries to sabotage Racer X's car, but nothing comes of his attempts. Most of his evil plans are in vain, but nothing can stop Fixer from conniving.

Gloryanna Flux is one of the worst drivers on Speed Racer. A ruthless driver, she has little regard for the safety of her team. Even though no one can control the power of the GRX, Flux still uses the engine to try to win the Grand Prix of the Orient, but like always fails.

Gaff Gunstle runs a division of an international organization of assassins. Gunstle's big plan is to rid the world of all politicians (not a bad thing), but only so that his goonies can take control. Gunstle works under Professor Anarchy.

Kadar is a greedy villain that appears in The Fire Race. The reason that Kadar enters the race is so that he can steal the riches of Kapetapek. As for his greed, Kadar dies in a pool of lava trying to get more riches.

Free Load is just a mean guy. Appearing in Junk Car Grand Prix, Free Load is just a plan greedy guy. Teaming up with a Lolly, since only seventeen year old girls are allowed to race, Free Load doesn't accomplish much. In the process of this episode he also kidnaps Ivonna von Vondervon, but like always Speed saves the day, with the help of Trixie (that is).

Lawson Lamster is a ruthless bank robber, serving time in prison. After escaping from prison, Lamster is killed. However, doctors were instructed to take his eyes and implant them into his daughter Delicia. The only person that Lamster seemed to have love for was his daughter, but because of his donation, Delicia's sight is restored.

Flash Marker, Jr. is driven by vengeance more than anything else. His father, Flash Marker was killed in race by the Three Roses Club. In Race for Revenge he is blinded by his psychotic hate for the club. Using his father's car, the Melange, Flash remotely controls the car to kill as many of the Three Roses Club. His sister, Lily tries to deter Flash from his plans, but is unsuccessful. In the end, Flash seeing the Melange a wreck, crashes his helicopter in a mountainside and dies a fiery death.

Dr. McFife is a flute player, but at heart he is truly a ruthless villain. The doctor once was a world renowned scientists, but like most evil doctors, he went mad. After twenty-two years, McFife has built a gigantic car run by a computer, an electronic brain.

Dr. Nightcall starts off as a bad guy, but then later see the light and joins the forces of good. Nightcall began the episode helping Mr. Cumulus, supplying him with ICBMs. Then when his daughter, Lorena, was killed by the dastardly Cumulus, Nightcall helps Speed catch Cumulus.

Omar Offendem is the minister of the King of Saccharin. As the king prepares to place his son on the throne, Offendem schemes to kill the boy, and put his own figurehead on the throne. As a result, Offendem loses and is disgraced.

Snake Oiler is a member of the Car Acrobatic Team, and loves to taunt Speed. Although Oiler is not a villain at heart, he does not make it a habit to help Speed. Well, he is probably indifferent to Speed more than anything else. Oiler meets his death when his car mysteriously explodes.

Jack Rival is the CEO of the Rival Motor Company. Lacking ethics, this company is willing to kill other drivers that have the skill to beat the company's drivers.

Mr. van Ruffle is a high ranking official that works for the company Pops was formerly employed in. Pops built the Mach 5 while he worked for van Ruffle, but left to start his own company. Because of greed and personal reasons, van Ruffle tries to steal the plans for the new Mach 5. With the help of Ace Deucey, van Ruffle fails to obtain the plans, and is a big loser about it.

Ali Ben Schemer is a scheming guy, as his name shows. Because he is missing one eye, he must wear a black eye patch over his face. Wanting to over throw the Flathills government, Schemer convinces good guy General Cardonce that the government is run by criminals. Cardonce then leads a rebel attack on the government. Schemer is responsible for the death of General Cardonce. Schemer meets his death when Kim Jugger destroys his fortress.

Zoomer Slick is the lead racer for the Alpha Team. Employed by Mr. Wiley and Mr. Fixer, Slick will do whatever it takes to win the Trans-Country Race. Despite his efforts, Slick and his team does not win the race. In fact, Slick's car exploded, however, it did not kill him.

Mr. Stencher and Lawson Lamster were partners in crime. In the end, however, Stencher kills Lamster as they fight over the hidden loot.

Mr. Trotter the car hater, is the father of Janine Trotter. Trotter sees cars as lethal weapons because his son was killed in a car accident. His agenda is to trot around on horseback trying to convince people that cars are evil. Trotter causes a car crash that injures his daughter. But Speed and his trusty Mach 5 save the day. Because a car saved Janine's life, Trotter comes to see the error of his ways, and allows Janine to become a racer.

Mr. Wiley is the secret leader of the Alpha Team. Like many other villains Wiley is also a crime lord. Wiley bribes Alpha Team front man, Zoomer Slick, to go to any extent to win the Trans-Country Race. Well, not only does his plan fail, but his mansion burns down. One of his empty-headed thugs accidentally burned down Wiley's mansion leaving him a poor man.

The Not-So Bad Guys

Mr. Black, Mr. Green and Mr. Herring were the driving coaches of the Three Roses Club fifteen years ago. Black and Green were killed in Race for Revenge by a remote control car. The person controlling the car was the son of a driver whose death the two were responsible for.

Cracker, Knuckles, Finger, and Schlepper are thugs for hire that work for Mr. Stencher in Man on the Lam.

Curly Cranem, the son of Ben Cranem, is one of the many drivers who attempts to drive the GRX, the engine that his father built. Unfortunately, Curly meets the same death as his father.

Duggery isn't a true villain, he is just a driver with malicious intent. In The Great Race he gets his kicks by intentionally causing serious accidents. Even though he causes car crashes, he helps Speed out in some situations.

Vice-President Duper is second in command of Abolonia. Wearing an eye patch, he is a weak hearted person, who is easily manipulated. Duper tries to help Elegantor become president of Abolonia.

Red Herring is an official of the Racing Car Association, and he even has a skeleton in his closet. Along with Mr. Black and Mr. Green, Herring was a coach of the Three Roses Club. During a race at Danger Pass, they forced the Melange off the road, and killed the driver, Flash Marker.

Lightfingers Klepton, Sr. although has been dead for decades, appears in flashback in The Secret Engine. During a bank robbery, he walked off with a billion dollars. His son, of the same name, keeps his car the Model T in good condition.

Lolly is a seventeen year old girl who appears in Junk Car Grand Prix. Recruited by Freeload, she entered the race, and tried to become the winner. The winner of the race would be treated like the Baron von Vondervon's daughter. It appears to have been greed that swayed Lolly into entering the race.

Ta-Conkin is Egypt's best swordsmen. In an attempt to kill Speed, without gathering suspicion, Splint Femur set up a match between Ta-Conkin and Speed. Like the average super hero story, Speed wins and spares Ta-Conkins life.

Tiny is a ten foot tall goliath who is employed by Tongue Blaggard. Where he lacks in brains, he compensates in his brawn. Although he is unstoppable, Speed, using his wit, manages to stop Tiny.

Loomis Towcar is one of the numerous drivers of the GRX. Like all the others he was unable to control the speed of this powerful car, and just like the others met a sad death.

Those Without Political Conflict

Bangler is only briefly mentioned in Racer for Revenge. He is the owner of the Melange, the car in which Flash Marker was killed at Danger Pass.

Mr. Banks is the father of Twinkle Banks, and the friendly owner of the Universal Circus. In the past, he was the world's foremost animal trainer. However, because he treated the animals so lavishly, that he had to file for bankruptcy. Dressed as a pathetic clown, all that is left of his circus is a group of car driving chimps, and his acrobatic, stunt driver daughter. However, by the end of Girl Daredevil the Universal Circus may just be getting back on track.

Dr. Digger O. Bone is an archeologist and father of Calcia Bone. Calcia having found Cleopatra's tomb with Splint Femur, then disappeared. So Dr. Digger set out to Egypt to find his daughter. However, Femur having gotten so greedy would go to any extent to obtain the treasure. As a result he kills the good doctor. Dr. Digger's last request was that Speed find his daugther and Femur, the doctor did not know that his death was a result of Femur's scheming.

Guts Buster, Jim Charger, and Street Martin briefly appear in The Fire Race. These are some of the world's greatest and most famous drivers. At the Fire Festival at Kapetapek, Sparky points these three men out to Speed.

General Cardonce is an honorable man, and a former general of the Flathill Army. General Cardonce is also the father of Kim Jugger. The general is tricked into becoming a rebel leader by Ali Ben Schemer. The general was killed when he was pushed down a well.

Chief is Racer X's immediate supervisor at the Interpol and the Paris Interpol Office. Like most commanding officers should be, Chief is a competent professional, who takes his job seriously.

Skid Chill is a world famous driver competing in the race at Danger Pass. He too, like Flash Marker, falls victim to the Three Roses Club. Skid Chill, in car #6, was forced off the road during the race.

President Crackbow, leader of Acquiria, is assassinated early on in Gang of Assassins.

Ben Cranem is the inventor of the most dangerous and powerful engine ever built, the GRX. He met his death when he was test driving a car that used the GRX engine. His son Curly, also died attempting to drive a car using his father's engine.

Tailgate Crumple is an accident prone who is thought to be an Interpol agent in The Secret Invaders. Elegantor believing Tailgate Crumple is actually a secret agent, gets his assasassins to kill him.

Prince Omar Flathill is the imprisoned leader of Flathills Country. Speed, Trixie and Kim Jugger rescue the Prince on the morning of his execution.

Princess Gracious is the princess of the beautiful country Ambrocia. Elegantor, with his bloody assassins, attempts to kill the princess. However, Racer X stops the assassination attempt.

Tailgate Jones appears in The Secret Invaders Jones is a racer from South Marsiponia. He is suspected to be an Interpol Agent by Elegantor, but later he is ruled out as a possibility.

Sooten Grime is another world class dirver competing in the race at Danger Pass.

King of Saccharin is the elderly ruler of his kingdom. He decides to have his eight year old son, Prince Jam, crowned king in the Royal Racer. Before his son is crowned king, however, Omar Offendem attempts to assassinate and kidnap the Prince.

Flash Marker died in the race at Danger Pass. Driving the Melange, Flash was cut off by a car of the Three Roses Club, and then crashed and burned. Leaving behind two children, Flash Jr. and Lily.

President Montebank is the good-hearted and intelligent President of of Abolonia. He is responsible for modernizing his country in ten years. The President survives an assassination attempt by Elegantor because of Speed.

Rusty Muffle has recently become a professional racer, who likes to hug turns tight and fast. Rusty Muffle is a middle-aged man, which causes Elegantor to believe he works for the Interpol. While driving to the Twist and Turn Race, one of his tires are shot. This causes Rusty to crash off the edge of a cliff.

Lorena Nightcall is an overly idealistic girl, who is always willing to help her father in his criminal activities. She believes that in helping her father, the resources of the ocean will be developed for the benefit of all mankind. Lorena is killed by the twisted Mr. Cumulus.

General Abdur Noble rescues Chim Chim and Spritle from certain death in the desert. In Desperate Desert Race the General also saves Kim Jugger and Speed from quicksand; he also rescues Trixie and Prince Omar Flathill. All in all, that's a lot of life saving for one episode.

High Octane appears in The Most Dangerous Race. High Octane attempts to jump over a high stack of cars in the "Stunt Car Spectacular," but fails miserably.

Omar is Gloryanna Flux's right-hand man in The Fastest Car on Earth. While Flux is more a win-at-all-costs sort of person, Omar seems to genuinely enjoy doing bad things, but he is not Omar Offendem or Prince Omar Flathill.

Scootem Rooter is one of the world famous drivers competing in the Race at Danger Pass in Race for Revenge.

Fireball Rust appears in The Secret Engine as a racing coach for Speed and other drivers. Apparently, he is experienced and highly regarded by his fellow drivers. He, in turn, holds Racer X in high regard.

Sirvana is the pretty granddaughter of the King of Kapetapek. Although she is reluctant to open the kingdom's borders to the outside world, she is willing start friendships with outsiders like Trixie and Speed. Sirvana demonstrates her courage, when she refuses to tell Kadar the location of the kingdom's treasure, even when she was out-muscled and out-numbered.

Prince Snowier appears with Princess Gracious to start the Mystic Grand Prix. The race is cancelled when an unsuccessful assassionation attempt on the Princess is made.

Badcat Stunts a veteran professional racer. In The Secret Invaders Badcat Stunts, like many other racers, was confused by Elegantor to be an Interpol agent.

Prince Sugarin is the cousin of Prince Jam. The villain Omar Offendem wants Sugarin on the throne, rather than Prince Jam. That way Omar could rule the country using Prince Sugarin as the figurehead. However, Omar's plan fails and Sugarin remains oblivious to the evil plot.

Professor Tower appears briefly in The Mach Five vs. The Mach Five, but he is the inventor of hte Mizmo ray. The Mizmo ray concentrates a 20,000 degree beam onto a target, with an explosive result.

Baron von Vondervon is the organizer and sponsor of the Junk Car Grand Prix. Although he is extremely wealthy, this aristocrat is a bit cheap. The race is an attempt to find his daughter Ivonna von Vondervon, who has disappeared five years earlier. Euphoric that his daughter entered the race, the Baron gives half of his fortune to Ivonna and the other half to the orphanage.

Guts Wheeler has a brief appearance in The Most Dangerous Race. In this episode he attempts to jump a stack of cars and fails, just like High Octane, later to have Snake Oiler, to succeed.