WACKY RACES Cartoon

by Mark Nobes, chief editor

One of the best memories I have from this imaginative cartoon is Muttley's wicked laugh. Actually, it was more of an evil snigger, I suppose!

Wacky Races was a successful cartoon series produced by Hanna-Barbera. Characters included Penelope ("heyelp!") Pitstop, Dick Dastardly and Muttley, The Anthill Mob and The Slag Brothers, to name but a few.

The series features eleven different cars racing against each other in various road rallies, with each driver hoping to win the title of the "World's Wackiest Racer."

Believe it or not, the show was actually produced in the 60s and first ran on CBS in the U.S. between September 1968 and September 1970. Just 17 episodes were produced and each one features two separate races.

Wacky Races had many repeat showings throughout the 1970's in both America and the UK.

Dastardly & Muttley in Wacky Races
The Slag Brothers in the Bouldermobile
The Slag Brothers in their Bouldermobile (a boulder on wheels!). The design of these characters was used for the cartoon character Captain Caveman.
The Gruesome Twosome driving the Creepy Coupe in Wacky Races

The Gruesome Twosome drive the Creepy Coupe, a hearse which also houses horrific creatures which they use to sabotage races.

The Anthill Mob and their car The Bulletproof Bomb
The pint-sized Anthill Mob with their 1920s limousine sedan The Bulletproof Bomb. A new Anthill Mob and car were created for The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop

Peter Perfect Wacky Races

 

Peter Perfect (who has a huge chin that puts Bruce Forsyth's in the shade!) drives the Turbo Terrific, and he will often come to the aid of Penelope Pitstop.
Real life version of The Crimson Haybailer from Wacky Races
The Red Max is a German Aviator who drives the Crimson Haybailer, and his car is capable of flying, although only a few yards - just enough to fly over other competitors and obstacles. The car also features a machine gun which can fire an array of substances at other racers.
Sergeant Blast and Private Meekly in The Army Surplus Special - Wacky Races
Sergeant Blast and Private Meekly drive an armoured tank with a car fixed to the front called The Army Surplus Special. Blast controls the tank's turret and Meekly drives the car, which has a roller for wheels.
Rufus Ruffcut and Sawtooth in The Buzz Wagon - Wacky Races
Rufus Ruffcut is a lumberjack who drives the Buzz Wagon (a wooden car with saw blades as wheels) with Sawtooth the Beaver as his companion. 
The Wacky Races Handbook

The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop

Cartoons (American)

Cartoon Couples

Cartoons (British)

Help!...It's the Hair Bear Bunch!

Inch High Private Eye