Speed Racer and Mach 5 Toys Guide

For the 2008 film, see Speed Racer (film). For other uses, see Speed Racer (disambiguation).

Speed Racer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
マッハGoGoGo (Mach GoGoGo)
Genre	Action, Racing
Manga: マッハGoGoGo
Author	Tatsuo Yoshida
Publisher	Fusosha Digital Manga Publishing
Original run	1966
TV anime: マッハGoGoGo/ Speed Racer
Director	Hiroshi Sasagawa
Studio	Tatsunoko Productions
Network	Fuji Television
Original run	April 2, 1967 – March 31, 1968
Episodes	52
TV anime: マッハGoGoGo/ Speed Racer X
Director	Hiroshi Sasagawa
Studio	Tatsunoko Productions
Network	TV Tokyo
Original run	January 9, 1997 – September 10, 1997
Episodes	34

Speed Racer is the title of an English adaptation of the Japanese anime Mach GoGoGo (マッハGoGoGo, Mahha GōGōGō^?) which centered on automobile racing. The series is an early example of an anime becoming a successful franchise in the United States.

The Mach 5: The Car

Mach 5 Steering Wheel Hub

Spritle & Chim-Chim

Main article: Mach 5

The Mach 5, the car Speed Racer drove in the series (known as the "Mach Go," or simply the "Mach," in the Japanese version), is a technological marvel, containing useful pieces of equipment. Gō Mifune/Speed Racer easily deployed these gadgets by pressing buttons marked "A" through "G" on the steering wheel hub. There was another button, marked "H," mounted in the console.

The buttons had the following functions:

• Button A (Auto Jacks): “Releases powerful jacks to boost the car so anyone can quickly make any necessary repairs or adjustments.” Although not designed for this function, the auto jacks can also be used to “jump” the car short distances at high speeds. The "chyock chyock" sound effect played whenever the car jumped through the air is instantly recognizable to the show's fans.

• Button B (Belt Tires): Toggles special grip tires for traction over rough terrain (firm, icy, or unsteady ground, ocean floor, vertical mountainsides etc.). At the same time, 5,000 horsepower is distributed equally to each wheel by auxiliary engines.

• Button C (Cutters): For use traveling over heavily wooded terrain. A matched pair of powerful rotary saws protrude from the front of the Mach 5 to cut away many obstacles.

• Button D (Deflector): Releases a powerful transparent cover which seals the cockpit into an air-tight chamber. The cover is bullet- and crash-proof. The cockpit becomes a water-tight chamber which then allows the car to be completely submerged under water.

• Button E * ("Evening Eye"): Controls special illumination lights "which can be controlled singularly or in tandem," allowing the driver to see more clearly than with ordinary headlights. When used with the “night shades” attached to Speed’s helmet, his vision is enhanced with infrared light. The original Japanese version strictly translates this as "illuminating eyes."
  • Button E was later modified to activate mini-wings that would slide out from under the car to assist Speed in long jumps.

• Button F (Frogger mode): Used when the Mach 5 is submerged. An oxygen canister supplies the cockpit with breathable air. A periscope can then be raised to scan the surface of the water. Everything viewed is relayed to a video screen inside the Mach 5's cockpit. The 100-pound auxiliary supply of oxygen is enough to last for thirty minutes.

• Button G (Gizmo Rocket): Releases a flying, gull-shaped "homing robot" from under the hood of the car,the homing robot is sent to Racer X's car(the Shooting Star)for help/information

• Button H (Home): Mounted in the center console with the rest of the controls for the homing robot, this button sends the homing robot back to the Racer house.