“…And now here they are! The most daredevil group of daffy drivers to ever whirl their wheels in the Wacky Races, competing for the title of world’s wackiest racer. The cars are approaching the starting line. First, is the Turbo Terrific driven by Peter Perfect. Next is Rufus Ruffcut and Sawtooth in the Buzzwagon. Maneuvering for position is the Army Surplus Special. Right behind is the Ant Hill Mob in their Bullet Proof Bomb. Then there’s ingenious inventor Pat Pending in his Convert-A-Car. Oh! Here’s the lovely Penelope Pitstop, the glamour gal of the gas pedal. Next we have the Bouldermobile with the Slag Brothers, Rock & Gravel. Lurching along is the Creepy Coupe with the Gruesome Twosome, and right on their tail is the Red Max. And there’s the Arkansas Chug-A-Bug with Luke & Blubber Bear. Sneaking along last is that Mean Machine with those double dealing do-badders Dick Dastardly and his sidekick, Muttley. And even now they’re up to some dirty trick! And they’re off… to a standing start. And why not, they’ve been chained to a post, by Dick Dastardly, who shifts into the wrong gear! And away they go… on the way-out Wacky Races!”
That was just one of the many zany and creative introduction segments for Hanna-Barbera’s classic Saturday Morning Cartoon, “Wacky Races.” Released in 1968, the show ran on CBS for a year before entering into syndication shortly thereafter and being brought back several times over the last five decades on channels like Cartoon Network and Boomerang. The plot is basic enough: eleven super-powered vehicles equipped with all sorts of gadgets and gizmos are tasked with racing across North America, driven by an array of colorful characters, introducing the world to the likes of fan-favorites like Penelope Pitstop, to the now infamous Dick Dastardly with his mischievous dog, Muttley and his unforgettable wheezing snicker.
One of the great things about “Wacky Races” was that, unlike other programs like “Speed Racer,” for example, every race truly was up for grabs each episode, with the audience never really knowing who was going to win. While the hijinks of Dick Dastardly and Muttley were to be expected, part of the fun of each episode was trying to guess which racer or team would be victorious. (This is proven by the fact that, throughout the series, according to unverified online statistics, each race-car took home 1st place either 3 or 4 times each, exactly, except, of course, for Dick Dastardly’s “Mean Machine,” which never once even finished in the top three, proving the old adage correct, ‘cheaters never prosper.’)
Dick Dastardly would have done well to heed the apostle Paul’s words of advice, about running a noble and honest race in life, not only to win the ultimate race of life, but to also provide a positive example for others. He writes to the church in Corinth, “24 Don’t you know that all the runners in the stadium run, but only one gets the prize? So run to win. 25 Everyone who competes practices self-discipline in everything. The runners do this to get a crown of leaves that shrivel up and die, but we do it to receive a crown that never dies. 26 So now this is how I run—not without a clear goal in sight. I fight like a boxer in the ring, not like someone who is shadowboxing. 27 Rather, I’m landing punches on my own body and subduing it like a slave. I do this to be sure that I myself won’t be disqualified after preaching to others.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)
Dear God, as we journey down the road called life, may we run and not be weary, knowing that each step we take is a step closer to your glory, and the eternal prize you have offered us by your grace. May we run our race in a way that honors you, so that we might be evidence of your good works and love, both in and for, all the world. AMEN.
the harlequin complex 