Wacky Races and the Zany Racers

Wacky races and the racers

Wacky Races has been the classic zany car race that goes across America, with 11 different cars in the race.
It was fashioned after the film 'The Great Race".
Wacky Races debuted in 1968 with each episode dealing with two distinct insane races. In the coolness of this animated show with each personage had their character in the cars they drove. There was a concept of adding a live-action quiz show that bet on the racers but never came to fruition.
Penelope Pitstop





drove the race car The Compact Pussycat, a pink racer (a bit of a stereotype).
The Announcer described Penelope as "Glamour Gal of the Gas Pedal". Penelope had her blonde hair tied into a ponytail. Her attire was a bright pink racing outfit with white go go boots and gloves and maroon tights. Penelope gets into escapes where her helplessness but too cleverness saves her from the perils of the wacky races. Penelope did get a spinoff show called "The Perils of Penelope Pitstop".

Richard Milhous "Dick" Dastardly, loosely based on comedic actor Terry-Thomas, Sir Percival Ware-Armitage for the spin-off from The Magnificent Men and Their Flying Machines
Always in each episode, driving The Mean Machine. Again being based on the film 'the Great Race" Dastardly was a mirror image of Jack Lemon, Professor Fate. 

With his sidekick Mutley, the double-dealing do-badders used chicanery and trickery to try and win the race. Always attired in the old classic race outfits, Dastardly wore long blue duster coats, red gloves and his large striped hat with the racing goggles attached. And his trademark handlebar mustache.
The irony is the Dastardly, had he not cheated, had the prowess to win the races, but alas cheating was too ingrained into him. 


Mutley was Dick Dastardly's sidekick. And joined in Dastardly's self-inflicted losing streak. Mutley too mirrored a character from "The Great Races"., Max Meen, Peter Falk.
Mutley had his trademark "snickering" and funny grumble speak. So Mutley never truly speaks clearly. Mutley is no one type of dog. Not to be confused with Mumbly the dog, although close in laughter, there were from two different shows altogether. Mutley dons a collar. And to, a racing Cap and goggles and scarf.






Here are the lesser known Wacky Race denizens and racers:

The Slag Brothers who drove the Boulder mobile with a caveman motif.


The Gruesome Twosome, Big and Little respectively, drove The Creepy Coup a coffin and tower contraption.



Professor Pat Pending manning The Convert-a-Car which was a bit of everything.



Red Max, drove a car/plane hybrid, The Crimson Haybailer.


Seargent Blast and Private Meekly, on full throttle with a tank/jeep hybrid, the Army Surplus Special.
 

The Ant Hill Mob consisted of seven dwarf gangsters. Powered by the race car, the Bulletproof Bomb.


Lazy Luke, the Hillbilly and Blubber Bear drove the Arkansas Chugabug.

Peter Perfect, the eloquent gentleman drove the Turbo Terrific.

Rufus Ruffcut the resident lumberjack and his sidekick, Sawtooth (a beaver) manned the Buzz Wagon