The Most Dangerous Race

  Table of Contents

  Copyright Page

  Title Page

  Chapter 1 - STUNT CAR SPECTACULAR

  Chapter 2 - A TERRIBLE ARGUMENT

  Chapter 3 - WHAT HAPPENED TO POPS?

  Chapter 4 - THE RACE BEGINS

  Chapter 5 - BROKEN BRAKES?

  Chapter 6 - TRIXIE TO THE RESCUE!

  Chapter 7 - FRIENDS AGAIN

  Chapter 8 - ROADBLOCK

  Chapter 9 - THE MOST DANGEROUS JUMPS

  Chapter 10 - BLINDSIDED!

  Chapter 11 - RACE TO THE FINISH

  Chapter 12 - CROSSING THE LINE

  Teaser chapter

  GROSSET & DUNLAP

  Published by the Penguin Group

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  www.speedracer.com

  Copyright © 2008 Speed Racer Enterprises, Inc.

  All Rights Reserved. Speed Racer is a trademark of Speed Racer Enterprises, Inc. and is used under license. Published by Grosset & Dunlap, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, 345 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  GROSSET & DUNLAP is a trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. S.A.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

  eISBN : 978-1-101-17496-8

  10987654321

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  The marvelsofthe mach 5

  The mach 5 is one of the most

  powerful and amazing racing cars in

  the world. Pops Racer designed the mach 5

  with features you won’t see on any other car.

  All of the features can be controlled by

  buttons on the steering wheel.

  This button releases powerful jacks to boost the car so Sparky, the mechanic. can quickly make any necessary repairs or adjustments.

  Press this button and the mach 5 sprouts special grip tires for traction over any terrain. At the same time, an incredible 5.000 torque of horsepower is distributed equally to each wheel by auxiliary engines.

  For use when Speed Racer has to race over heavily wooded terrain, powerful rotary saws protrude from the front of the mach 5 to slash and cut any and all obstacles.

  Pressing the D button releases a powerful deflector that seals the cockpit into an air-conditioned, crash and bulletproof. matertight chamber. Inside it. Speed Racer is completely isolated and shielded.

  The button for special illumination allows Speed Racer to see much farther and more clearly than with ordinary headlights. It’s invaluable in some of the weird and dangerous places he races the mach 5.

  Press this button when the mach 5 is underwater. First the cockpit is supplied mith oxygen. then a periscope is raised to scan the surface of the water. Everything that is seen is relayed down to the cockpit by television.

  This releases a homing robot from the front of the car. The homing robot can carry pictures or tape-recorded messages to anyone or anywhere Speed Racer wants.

  1

  STUNT CAR SPECTACULAR

  “Ladies and gentlemen!” the announcer called. “The fabulous Stunt Car Spectacular is about to begin.”

  The crowd cheered. They could not wait to see the wild tricks the cars would perform.

  The announcer tipped her top hat to the crowd. She spun around, her skirt twirling in the air. “Get ready for action and thrills!” she said. “There will be rewards for the most skillful and daring drivers.”

  The show was open to any driver who dared to compete. Everyone knew the dangers involved, but there were some who were willing to take the risk. The first event was to jump over seven race cars that were piled on top of one another.

  “The first contestant is Mr. Guts Wheeler,” the announcer said over the loudspeaker.

  Guts waved to the crowd from inside his car. He was wearing a red racing helmet and was driving a silver car.

  Guts floored the gas pedal and sped up a ramp toward the tower of cars. He drove faster and faster, trying to pick up speed. But when he reached the top of the ramp ... CRASH! Guts’s car smacked right into the tower. He didn’t make it! The crowd groaned.

  “The next contestant is Mr. Hy Octane,” the announcer said.

  The crowd held their breath as Hy Octane revved his engine and sped up the ramp. Up, up he flew, heading for the top of the pile of cars. Crash! His car hit the car at the top of tower and burst into flames! Hy Octane was hurt, but he was able to walk away from the crash.

  People were beginning to grow restless. Would anyone be able to make it over the tower today?

  Just then, a girl in the crowd spotted someone. “Isn’t that Speed Racer? ”she asked her friend.

  Speed Racer was the most famous race car driver in the world.

  “That’s him, all right,” the other girl said. They ran off to meet the superstar.

  “Hi, can we have your autograph?” one of the girls asked Speed.

  “Boy, oh, boy. Isn’t my brother Speed popular?” Speed’s little brother Spritle said.

  “And cute, too,” the other girl added, blushing.

  Speed smiled and gave the girls autographs.

  “Thanks, Speed,” the girls said.

  Speed’s girlfriend, Trixie, moved closer to Speed and smiled. The girls, happy that they had gotten Speed’s autograph, walked away. Trixie sighed. She knew that Speed had a lot of fans, but it was hard to get used to all the attention he got.

  “So, you must be Speed Racer,” a man said, walking up to Speed.

  “Huh?” Speed said, caught off guard. This man didn’t look like a fan. He was wearing a red-and-yellow striped helmet with a dark visor over his eyes. Who was he?

  “I was told you were one of the greatest racers in the world,” the man said. “Is that true?”

  “Who are you?” Speed wanted to know.

  “Snake Oiler’s the name, and I’m afraid I’m a pretty good racer myself. Why don’t we have a race sometime to see which one of us is better?” he said as he jumped into his car.

  Speed loved to race. And he could never give up a challenge. “You’re on!” Speed said, with a determined look on his face.

/>   “Make the pile of cars higher! ” Snake shouted to the mechanic.

  The crowd gasped. No one had been able to make it over the tower of cars as it was. How could someone make it over if it was even higher?

  “You’ll never be able to make it! ” the mechanic told Snake.

  Snake looked angry. “Don’t argue with me. Just make it higher.”

  The mechanic did as Snake wanted, and used a crane to add more cars to the pile.

  “Next is Snake Oiler,” the announcer said.

  Snake sped up the ramp and flipped over the tower of cars, his car somersaulting in the air. And amazingly, his car landed on the other side of the pile, right side up!

  The crowd roared as Snake sped away to safety.

  “He did it!” the announcer shouted. “Snake Oiler just drove over the biggest stack we’ve had yet. Mr. Oiler is the star member of the world famous Car Acrobatic Team.”

  He’s on the Car Acrobatic Team, huh? Speed thought. Well, I’ve sure heard of them.

  “All right, ladies and gentlemen. Who’ll try and beat him?” the announcer asked.

  Snake Oiler got out of his car and walked over to Speed. “I was just warming up. Everyone’s going to have to do some fancy driving to beat that. How about you, Speed? Can you beat me?”

  “I don’t know,” Speed admitted, brushing back his brown hair with his hand.

  Upon hearing Speed’s answer, Spritle became upset. He couldn’t believe that his brother doubted himself. “What do you mean, Speed?” he asked, huffing and puffing. “You can beat him!”

  He ran up to his brother and pounded him on his chest. “Go ahead, try it,” Spritle pleaded. “Are you scared?”

  “You better not try it,” Snake Oiler said, stepping up to the brothers. “Because if you crash, I’ll lose my best competitor in the Alpine Race.”

  The Alpine Race was the most dangerous race in the world. It was also a race that Speed Racer wanted to compete in.

  Speed thought for a moment. He wanted to drive in the Alpine Race, but he also did not want to turn down Snake’s challenge here. He was not a quitter-he was Speed Racer, the best race car driver in the world! “I’ll try,” Speed said, running to his car.

  Spritle and his pet chimpanzee, Chim Chim, jumped up and down with joy. Speed was going to try to jump over the tower of cars!

  Speed got into his sleek white car. This was the Mach 5 and his dad, Pops Racer, had designed it. The Mach 5 was the ultimate racing machine. The car could accelerate in the blink of an eye, and could handle every twist and turn on the road. In the Mach 5, Speed felt like he could take on anything-even the challenge of flying over a tower of cars!

  “I’ll get to the top!” Speed said, starting the engine.

  Just as Speed started the engine, Trixie and Sparky, Speed’s best friend and mechanic, came running up. “Don’t, Speed. You’ll never make it,” Trixie said, putting her arms around him.

  Speed looked up at Trixie. She was very smart, and Speed knew that she’d only warn him if she really thought he was in danger.

  “Trixie’s right,” Sparky agreed. “Don’t do it.”

  Speed looked around. The crowd was growing restless. They wanted Speed to try the trick. But his friends were right-it was too dangerous.

  “Remember how important the big Alpine Race will be,” Trixie said. “If something happens, you’ll be out of it. Just look how high that stack is.”

  Speed thought for a moment. She’s right, he thought. If I’m gonna beat Snake, then I’ll beat him in the Alpine Race. I’ll have a better chance to win that. I’ve got to. I’ve got to win the Alpine Race!

  Spritle saw his brother hesitating, and he was not happy. “I know Speed can drive over that,” he said to Trixie. “But right now he’s nothing but a scared chicken.”

  “He is brave,” Trixie told Spritle. “It takes real courage not to challenge Snake here, but to wait for the Alpine Race.”

  Spritle scratched his chin. “Hmmm. Seems complicated.”

  “You’ll understand when it comes time for the race,” Trixie told him.

  “I hope so,” Spritle said with a shrug.

  Just then, Speed heard a hum of car engines. He turned and looked at the horizon. The crowd gasped. They could not believe their eyes. A group of nine race cars was heading toward them. As Speed watched, the cars flew into the air and neatly landed one on top of one another-all while continuing to drive! All the cars were black, except for the bottom one, which was red.

  “It’s the Car Acrobatic Team!” Trixie shouted.

  “Daredevil drivers! Speed added.

  The top cars shot off from the bottom red car one by one and headed straight toward Trixie and Speed! Just before they were about to crash into them, the cars flew over Trixie and Speed. The crowd screamed. The cars whirled above Speed and his friends’ heads. As the cars sped around faster and faster, Speed and his friends got dizzier and dizzier until they were knocked to the ground.

  Speed was dazed but not hurt. He stood up, wiping the dust from his pants.

  “We’ll be seeing you in the Alpine Race,” Snake Oiler shouted from one of the cars.

  And with that, the Car Acrobatic Team drove off into the distance.

  2

  A TERRIBLE ARGUMENT

  Speed wanted more than anything to enter the Alpine Race-and win. So he and his friends traveled to the Alps, where the race would take place.

  “Well, Speed, here we are,” Sparky said, pointing to the snowcapped mountains in the distance. “But I don’t think you should enter the big race. It’ll be too dangerous to try.”

  “Why do you say that?” Speed asked as they sat down on the grass.

  “Snake Oiler is one of the best drivers I’ve ever seen,” Sparky told him. “And I think some of the other drivers on the team are even better.”

  Speed looked at the green flowered hills that led up to the mountains. The terrain up there sure looked dangerous, but Speed knew he was up for the challenge. “I’ve got to race,” Speed told his friend. “I’ve got to beat the Car Acrobatic Team. I’ve got to prove that I’m the best.” Speed had a very determined look on his face. “And I’m racing, no matter what you tell me.”

  “But they’re tricky, Speed. They’ll use every dirty trick to win,” Sparky said, trying to get Speed to change his mind.

  Speed was growing angry with his friend. “Do you think I’m afraid? Is that what you really think about me?”

  Suddenly, Speed grabbed Sparky by the front of his shirt. “Cut it out!” Speed shouted at Sparky. “I’m not scared! ” And with that, he shoved Sparky.

  “Sparky! ” Trixie yelled, coming to her friend’s aid. She helped Sparky to his feet. But Sparky was done trying to talk Speed out of the race. With a sad look on his face, he walked away.

  “Sparky was only trying to think about what’s best for you!” Trixie said once Sparky had gone.

  But Speed wouldn’t listen to Trixie, either. He was going to enter the race no matter what!

  Speed knew that he needed to practice if he wanted a shot at winning the race. Pops found the perfect place to practice—a track that twisted and turned in many directions. If Speed could master the tricky turns of the practice track, then he’d have no problems once he hit the Alpine course.

  I’m gonna win, Speed thought as he drove the Mach 5 along the track. I’m gonna beat Snake Oiler and everyone in the Car Acrobatic Team.

  Speed was so confident that he was sure he’d even drive better than the best racer he’d ever seen-Racer X!

  “Go, Speed, go!” Spritle called from the sidelines as Speed raced past.

  Pops looked at his stopwatch. “One hundred and eighty! ” he shouted. Speed clocked a great time.

  Speed slowed the Mach 5 to a stop. “You’ve done enough practicing on this course, Speed,” Pops said. “Now it’s time to practice the first jump of the Alpine course.”

  Speed knew that Pops was right. It was time to see if he could maneuve
r the Mach 5 across a deep cavern. Speed looked at the road. Huge orange and black rocks jutted out all around him. Speed would have to drive the Mach 5 around and over the rocks until the road ended. Then he would have to leap over a huge chasm and land on the other side.

  “If you don’t make the jump, you’ll fall one thousand feet into the river,” Pops warned Speed.

  Speed looked down into the chasm. Wow, it’s sure a long way down! he thought. But I know I can make it.

  “You’ve got to make it!” Pops warned, as if he were reading Speed’s mind.

  Speed climbed into the Mach 5 and revved the engine. But just as Pops was about to give him the start signal, Speed heard something coming up behind him.

  “The Car Acrobatic Team!” Spritle shouted.

  Speed couldn’t believe his eyes. The Car Acrobatic Team was getting ready to leap across the chasm.

  Speed watched in amazement as the team zoomed off the cliff’s edge straight toward the other side. And as they flew across, the cars twirled around in the air, looking just like corkscrews!

  But Speed was not intimidated. In fact, seeing this spectacular jump made him more determined than ever to try it himself!

  Speed pushed his helmet visor over his eyes and locked his seat belt.

  “Good luck!” Pops shouted as Speed careened down the road at a breakneck speed. The ride looked choppy, but Pops knew that Speed was in control.

  Suddenly, a yellow racing car shot up behind Speed. Who could that be? Speed wondered. He slammed on the gas pedal, urging the Mach 5 to go faster. But he was no match for the yellow car that was rapidly gaining on him. Soon, the yellow car boxed him in and forced him to pull over.

  What Speed didn’t know was that the driver of this car was really his older brother, Rex, who ran away from home many years ago. Speed only knew this driver as Racer X. It was hard to see what Racer X really looked like since he wore a black helmet that almost masked his entire face. Sleek blue goggles covered his eyes.