The fifty-fifth episode of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog.
Robotnik lures Sonic into a round-the-planet vehicle race called the Mobius 5000 by threatening to foreclose on a loan to an orphanage. Sonic's only way to save the orphanage is to enter the race himself, and win the M10,000 Mobiums prize money. Things get rough for Sonic when Robotnik's three deadly Racebots try to run him off the road for good!
This episode provides examples of:
- Agony of the Feet: While trying to turn on the emergency generators in his fortress after Scorpion accidentally knocks the power out, Robotnik steps in some rat traps left behind by an exterminator. We don't see them go off since it's pitch black in the fortress, but Robotnik's yells of pain make it pretty clear what he just did to himself.
- Be the Ball: Early in this episode, Sonic takes on the form of a pool cue ball when Tails plays a game of pool at Bruno's Billiards and Chili Dogs. When Bruno accuses Sonic of cheating, Sonic assures him that he knocked all the balls in fair and square.
- Big Honking Traffic Jam: When Sonic and X-Moto arrive at Casino Night Zone, they get stuck behind one of these. X-Moto gets past it by sprouting suction cups on his wheels and driving over the cars (as well as up a building), while Sonic uses a Special Stage post to warp past the traffic.
- The Big Race: Sonic enters the titular race to win a 10,000 Mobium grand prize and save the porcupine orphanage. Robotnik enters his own line of Race Bots to stop Sonic.
- Bland-Name Product: This episode features a gas station that has "86" gasoline (a reference to 76 gasoline).note
- Bowdlerize: The Toon Disney broadcast of this episode cuts out a scene where Scratch is unknowingly standing next to a time bomb that he intended to sabotage Professor Caninestein's car with (having accidentally put Grounder inside it instead).
- By the Lights of Their Eyes: When Scorpion attempts to zap Sonic, Tails, and Professor Caninestein, he gets his tail caught in a power line, cutting the power to Robotnik's fortress as a result. Inside Robotnik's fortress, all that can be seen of Robotnik are his eyes.
- The Cameo: Wallace A. Ditso from "Sonic Gets Thrashed" appears in this episode, as does Roxy the Waitress from "Untouchable Sonic".
- Disney Villain Death: Sonic tricks Scraper into driving off a cliff with a fake "Shortcut to Finish Line" sign.
- Driving Up a Wall: X-Moto sprouts suction cups from his wheels and drives up one of the buildings in Casino Night Zone. Sonic and friends cheat the cheater with a convenient Special Stage post.
- Glory Hound: Scratch and Grounder set Sonic, Tails, and Professor Caninestein free from the avalanche so that they can capture them later, discrediting the Racebots and getting back in Robotnik's favour
- Half the Man He Used to Be: When Sonic races side-by-side with Speedo, he splits the latter in half down the middle.
- Mythology Gag: This episode features several references to the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 video game. Sonic and Tails are sent on a race that takes them through Chemical Plant Zone (complete with Mega Mack), Casino Night Zone, and a fairly accurate representation of the Special Stage.
- Also, Scratch says he and Grounder will "introduce Sonic to Mr. Bad Wrench!" Coincidence or not, this was one of Robotnik's preliminary names for the games.
- Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: As the race begins, Sonic, Tails, and Professor Caninestein are in last place thanks to X-Moto sabotaging their car. They need to replace the tires, since they are sabotaged with a rubber solvent, but Professor Caninestein has misplaced his self-propelled tire jack. When he sees Scratch and Grounder, he mistakes them for the jack, and uses them to help change his car's tires.
- Not-So-Harmless Villain: Robotnik's Racebots - Scraper, Scorpion, Speedo and X-Moto - prove pretty effective at hampering Sonic and his friends in the race. X-Moto sabotages them before the race even starts, Scorpion does actual damage to their car and Scraper actually buries them alive, coming the closest to putting the heroes out of commission for good.
- Odd Name Out: Robotnik's Race Bots are named Scraper, Scorpion, Speedo, and X-Moto.
- Pragmatic Villainy: At Mobius' Polar Region, Scraper manages to trap Sonic, Tails, and Professor Caninestein in an avalanche. Scratch and Grounder set them free upon hearing that Robotnik is going to give the Race Bots a big reward for capturing Sonic, and worry that Robotnik will make them the new Super Special Sonic Search and Smash Squad while they get turned into soup cans.
- Saving the Orphanage: Dr. Robotnik threatens to close down the porcupine orphanage if they don't pay him 10,000 Mobiums by the next day. In order to get that kind of money, Sonic has to enter and win the Mobius 5000 race.
- Scary Scorpions: One of Robotnik's Race-Bots is Scorpion, a robot who stings his enemies with his scorpion tail.
- Selective Magnetism: When Sonic, Tails, and Professor Caninestein are behind Scorpion, the latter tries to sabotage their car by dropping thumbtacks onto the road. Sonic uses a magnet to attract the thumbtack and launch them right back at Scorpion.
- Sore Loser: After Sonic trashes all four of the Racebots, Robotnik erects an impenetrable neutron wall right in front of the finish line. But as he stands gloating in front of it, the porcupine orphans sneak up behind and push the wall over, flattening Robotnik and allowing Sonic to cross the finish line and win the race.
- Squashed Flat:
- Wallace gets flattened by Scraper before the race even begins.
- After Sonic defeats all four of the Race-Bots, Robotnik places a brick wall in front of the finish line as a last resort. The children of the porcupine orphanage push the wall over and flatten Robotnik with it.Robotnik: (still squashed under the wall) I hate that hedgehog!
- Sticky Situation: Before the race begins, X-Moto tries to sabotage Professor Caninestein's car by spraying a rubber solvent on the tires.
- Tongue on the Flagpole: Happens to Scratch when he kisses Grounder on the nose in joy.Grounder: Sheesh! I never knew you c-c-cared, Scratch!
- Visual Pun:
- When the titular race is about to begin, Professor Caninestein's car drinks from a barrel of gas. When Sonic sees this, he says, "Boy, she really is a gas guzzler!"
- The time bomb blows up the 86 gas station, and the "86" sign falls on Scratch's head. Scratch then says, "86 on the chicken!"
