Title: "Challenge of the Masked Racer, Revisited"
Author: lcopperfield
Disclaimer: Based on the 2008 book by Chase Wheeler and the original 1967 TV episode, "Challenge of the Masked Racer." All SPEED RACER characters and original storyline are the property of Speed Racer Enterprises, Inc. Song lyrics courtesy of The Beach Boys, Bon Jovi, and Foreigner. Artwork provided are my own sketches based on screenshots (thanks, Oriana) and other sources. Certain additional scenes cheerfully provided by my co-author/editor, Janee Rutledge, to whom I am indebted beyond belief---in more ways than one!
AUTHORS' NOTE: I decided to redo this story so it would be in proper chapter format (makes foreasier reading).
Chapter 1. Racer X Arrives
I'm getting' bugged drivin' up and down the same old strip
I gotta find a new place where the kids are hip.
My buddies and me, we're getting' real well-known
Yeah the bad guys know us, and they leave us alone.
I get around...
---The Beach Boys, ' I Get Around ' (1964)---
Whoever said life's just one big race, hadn't met Speed Racer.
The 18-year-old with the sparkling blue eyes and dark brown (nearly black) hair stepped on the gas of the Mach 5. The sleek white race car roared ahead, expertly handling the curves of the winding coastal road with total ease.
Speed wasn't in a race, however. In fact, it was a rare free day for him. It was a bright, sunny afternoon, just right for a day at the beach, and that was where Speed and his girlfriend, 17-year-old Trixie, were headed. An inflatable mermaid doll hung from the Mach 5's rearview mirror, fluttering in the breeze. (No doubt, that was Trixie's doing!) Over head, an enormous flock of seagulls circled them, crying out as they flew by. A salty breeze rippled through Trixie's bouncy brown hair. "There's the ocean up ahead, Speed," she said enthusiastically. The bright blue water came into view over the railing, making for a a very inviting scene. "Isn't it so beautiful!"
Speed nodded. "Uh, huh." He handled another tight curve in the road. Soon the Mach 5 was running parallel to the ocean, with its breath-taking view. Waves lapped up against the cliff that separated the ocean from the roadway. The seagulls flew alongside Speed as he sped down the road, almost as if the sea birds were attempting to take on the Mach 5 in a race of their own.
Suddenly, a small black and white dog trotted out onto the road. It froze as the Mach 5 bore down on it. "Speed! Look out!" Trixie cried out, afraid they might hit the small animal.
"Don't worry, Trixie. I see it!" Speed reacted quickly. He pressed the A button on the steering wheel. Hydraulic jacks emerged from under the car's chassis. The Mach 5 propelled straight up into the air, then hopped over the little dog and landed safely beyond it.
Speed and Trixie smiled at each other. Thank goodness, for those autojacks!
Speed's father, Pops Racer, was a design genius when it came to building race cars. He had engineered the Mach 5 himself, outfitting the sleek racing machine with extra features to help it maneuver on all types of race courses, including some of the world's most dangerous off-track terrain. But those safety features which were so critical in auto racing, sometimes came in handy off the track, too.
They left the dog safely behind them and continued towards their destination. Both teens had the same idea: a swim in the ocean, a delicious picnic lunch, and a day of general relaxation on the beach. As they neared the docks, however, there was a flurry of activity which caught Speed's eye, and it made him slow down.
At one end of the dockyard, a huge steamer ship was anchored. A large crowd had gathered in front of it, watching a race car being lowered from the ship via chains. The yellow car had a black 9 on the sides and hood. Two yellow fins stuck out of the car's rear end, and a black stripe ran from the windshield down to the front of the car, ending in a wicked-looking sharp nose.
A man in a white racing suit waited on the dock for the car to be lowered. He wore a black mask over his head that covered his eyes and chin, leaving only his mouth and nose exposed. Tall and muscular, he looked very athletic and dignified...
...The infamous Racer X had arrived, and was making his presence known.
Speed parked the Mach 5. He and Trixie got out of the car, to watch the media frenzy surrounding Racer X's arrival. A crowd of people pushed and shoved their way forward, armed with microphones, notebooks, and cameras. Speed guessed that they were all news reporters.
"Racer X's car is being unloaded from the ship!" one reporter shouted eagerly. He wore glasses and a pink suit with a blue tie.
Next to him a photographer holding a camera agreed. "Oh, boy. Then I guess this means there'll be trouble in the Trans-Country Race, for sure."
"Yes, and it's said that every time that masked racer has been in a race, there have been mysterious crashes," another reporter chimed in. "Rumor has it, that Racer X is behind those crashes."
Behind them, a female reporter frowned. "Oh, come on! Nobody's ever been able to prove that," she scoffed. "It's only conjecture. There's no evidence to tie the man to any of those accidents!"
The reporter in the pink suit grinned. "Why do you think I'm here? I wanna catch him in the act!" he bragged. "I'm sure gonna keep a close eye on this Racer X fellow."
The woman reporter shrugged, and walked away. "Suit yourself."
The yellow race car landed safely on the dock. Ignoring the chattering crowd that had gathered to watch, Racer X unhooked the chains that had lowered the car from the boat. He began to check the car's tires, keeping his back turned to the reporters all the while. Of course, the reporters didn't like that one bit.
Speed and Trixie watched from a distance as the man carefully inspected every inch of his vehicle. Racer X was famous in the racing world, and his exploits were quickly becoming the stuff of legends. And for these two teenagers, they'd never been so close to a celebrity before!
Trixie had a dreamy look in her dark eyes. She was definitely star-struck. "He looks mysterious in that mask," she said. "Handsome, too."
Speed, on the other hand, had a different reason for admiring the man. A professional one. "He drives faster than a rocket, and he won the Grand Prix at Le Mans four years in a row," he replied. "He's won just about every race, he's ever entered."
"No kidding!" Trixie exclaimed, amazed. "That's certainly some record, he's built."
"Well, he's raced against some of the world's best racers, and he's beaten every single one of them." Speed's blue eyes shone with admiration as he talked about Racer X.
Trixie sighed. "Oh, I hope to get to see what he really looks like!"
Speed chuckled. "Sorry, but no one's ever seen him. They don't know much about him---his real name, where he's from, nothing. That's why they call him, Racer X."
He glanced out at the knot of reporters crowding around the Masked Racer. "Masked Racer, who do you think will win the Trans-Country Race?" one reporter asked, carefully approaching Racer X.
Racer X didn't answer. He kept working on his car.
Still, the newshounds wouldn't leave the man alone. 'What's your opinion on all these crashes? Do you think any cars'll crash tomorrow?" another reporter persisted.
Racer X turned, and silently scowled at the media mob gathered around him. "Aha!" the first reporter grinned. "So you're keeping that a secret, eh? We'll see how high the crash count'll go, once the race actually gets under way."
X simply ignored the question. He really didn't have time to respond to what amounted to in his opinion, unproven accusations. Much to the reporters' dismay, he jumped into the driver's seat of his car. Photographers began snapping pictures like crazy. "Hold it, Masked Racer! Just one more shot!" someone called out. The mysterious racer paid him no mind, choosing instead to rev up his engine.
Just then a short, stout man with a bow tie, mustache and balding head impulsively pushed his way through the crowd and over to the Shooting Star. "Racer X, my name is Mr. Wiley," the man began, introducing himself. "I'm on the committee of the Trans-Country Race. I'd like to talk to you for a few minutes, if you don't mind."
To the man's surprise, Racer X drove off without saying a word to anyone. Mr. Wiley's face turned bright red with anger, as he watched the Masked Racer speed away. How dare Racer X speed off on him, without hearing his proposal!
"Hey, don't go! We've got more questions!" a reporter cried out. "Come back!"
Over by the Mach 5, Trixie and Speed exchanged mystified looks. "What was that about, I wonder?" Trixie mused out loud. "Who was that man, Speed? The short one with the bad bow tie?"
Speed made a face. "Jack Wiley. He's one of the more powerful members of the Trans-Country Race committee," the young racer replied. "But what I can't understand is, why he was so keen on talking to Racer X. He was pushing his way through the crowd, like it was an emergency."
"More like, he was the only person on the planet important enough, who could talk to the Masked Racer," Trixie sniffed.
Speed thought about her comment a moment. "Well, whatever. I suppose, it's none of our business," he said, getting into the driver's seat of the Mach 5. "But the beach----that, is our business. And we'd better get going."
The Masked Racer drove past the couple. Suddenly, his race car screeched to a halt. He looked at Speed and Trixie in his rear-view mirror, then he was off again. "Ooh!" Trixie nearly swooned. Nothing like a close encounter with a real celebrity, to make a girl's day! "He saw us!"
Speed, however, frowned. That Masked Racer sure is strange, he thought.
He looked over at Trixie, and smiled. "Come on," he said, a broad grin on his face. "Let's go catch some of those waves!"
Trixie laughed. "Yes, especially since we don't have Spritle and Chim Chim hiding in our trunk, waiting to steal our picnic lunch!"
"Let me guess. Fried chicken, and potato salad, right?" Speed grinned. He did so enjoy Trixie's cooking---next to his own mom's, of course. "And tell me, you brought a lemon meringue pie...!"
Trixie stared at him. Men and their stomachs---! "Speed Racer, is that all I'm good for?" she exclaimed, playfully mussing her boyfriend's hair.
"Aw, I don't know anything about cooking, Trix. Besides. Mom always said, I ate like a bird---"
She made a wry face at him. "Well then, I guess your mom's never seen you on one of our picnic dates!" Speed laughed, and put the Mach 5 into gear. Soon the couple was cruising along the coastal road, headed for what they thought would be an enjoyable day at the beach.
Surf's up, folks!