The Race (Joe 90)

"The Race (Joe 90)"

"The Race" is the 19th episode of the Supermarionation television series Joe 90. It was the 18th episode to be produced. Its original UK air date was February 2, 1969 on ATV Midlands. It was written by Tony Barwick and directed by Alan Perry.

Synopsis

As an experiment, Mac transfers his brain impulses to Joe for one night to see whether the BIG RAT can replicate the patterns of the subconscious. Joe and Mac's shared dream focuses on a frantic rally race from London to Monte Carlo.

Plot

It is night at the McClaines' cottage. In the underground laboratory, Joe receives a brain pattern on the BIG RAT. With the transfer complete, Mac gives the boy his special glasses and the pair retire to bed. As they sleep in their separate rooms, the father and son mutter about a race to Monte Carlo…

At WIN Headquarters London, Shane Weston is appalled when World Army officer, General Tempest, visits his office and arrogantly puts forward the idea that Military Intelligence take over his department. Tempest believes that some personnel could be absorbed, but brands WIN London obsolete and less efficient than the Army. Outraged, Shane insists that he will defend WIN and agrees to the general's proposal of a rally race to determine the better organisation.

Sam is baffled and concerned by the upcoming contest but Shane urges him to have confidence. Mac is also confused when the two men explain the deal at his cottage. The race will start in London with the finishing line in Monte Carlo; Shane and Mac will form the WIN team, along with the winner of the previous year's Monte Carlo Rally - Joe 90 with the appropriate brain pattern.

Meanwhile, Tempest promotes one of his subordinates - a dim-witted private called Clooney, who happens to be proficient with heavy-duty vehicles - to major to drive for the Army side. With Lieutenant Burns serving as navigator, the military men set off for the rendezvous point in the amphibious U87, while Mac drives his flying car to the starting line with Joe and Shane in the passenger seats.

Sam and a colonel have devised a route to Monte Carlo and a list of questions for the teams to answer at certain checkpoints on their journey. Shane and Tempest bicker upon meeting, and during the banter Tempest warns that it will be a no-holds-barred competition. Sam starts the race, and Mac and Clooney speed down the lane in their respective vehicles, but the Army gains the lead after WIN unwittingly follow a road sign which Tempest had switched. However, Joe, wearing his special glasses, knows the answer to the first question - the age of the Alchester Bridge, which happens to be a well-known rallying point - allowing the team to fly across the English Channel ahead of the opposition. Meanwhile, Sam and the colonel are picked up by a helijet and transferred to Monte Carlo.

At the bridge, Tempest orders Clooney to search for the construction date in the stonework, but the half-wit officer gets into a discussion with a local fisherman and ends up wasting time. However, Tempest easily obtains the answer to the next question - the time of the next high tide at Calais - through the Army weather service and charters a jet transporter to carry them to France.

Seemingly in front of Tempest, Mac, Joe and Shane stop their vehicle for a break, but are speechless when the U87 rushes past them. Nevertheless, Joe is aware of a shortcut to Fontey Abbey - where the next clue is located - and the team pass through the landmark before the military. Reaching the abbey in second place, Tempest and Clooney search for the clue in a niche, only to discover a sarcastic note from Shane, who has moved the hint much further up the wall. The Army waste an hour at the ruins working out how to extract the document, but once they are on the road again, Tempest slyly suggests that WIN will be delayed.

Fifty miles from Monte Carlo, Mac, Joe and Shane are halted by a group of officials, who claim to be under orders to check vehicles for explosives. Mac suspects that they are in league with Tempest and Shane demands the removal of the roadblock when the General appears with Burns and Clooney. With all dishonest tactics now revealed, both sides agree to make the final leg of the journey a straight race. Joe, wearing his glasses, takes over the wheel for WIN, but the U87 is faster and the Army is still in the lead as the contest reaches the ridge road. However, using his new-found knowledge and experience, Joe attempts a daring manoeuvre which leads to the WIN team overtaking Clooney. As both vehicles cross the finishing line, Sam declares that WIN are the victors by eight feet.

That night, while the two sides dine at a restaurant overlooking the bay, Shane and Tempest make up their quarrel, with the general happy to admit that he was fairly beaten. Clooney informs Tempest that he wishes to remain in Monte Carlo to apply as a candidate to replace General Carter, the outgoing head of Mediterranean Command. Tempest remarks that Clooney is not as thick as he first seems and the entire group bursts out laughing…

In the morning, Joe and Mac wake up and quickly find that they have experienced identical dreams. Mac reminds Joe that because he gave him his own brain pattern the night before, the test has shown that the BIG RAT does not only convey skill, but also the patterns of the subconscious. The father and son are amazed by the exciting discovery.

Cast

Regular voice cast

• Joe McClaine — Len Jones
• Professor Ian "Mac" McClaine — Rupert Davies
• Sam Loover — Keith Alexander
• Shane Weston — David Healy

Guest voice cast

In speaking order:

• General Tempest — Jeremy Wilkin
• Private Clooney — Gary Files
• Lieutenant Burns — Keith Alexander
• Colonel — Jeremy Wilkin
• French Official — David Healy

Notes

• Clooney's name is spelt "Cloony" in the original script for this episode, but his uniform badge reads "Clooney".

External links

• Fanderson.org.uk: Joe 90 Episode Guide: "The Race"
• Bigrat.co.uk: Joe 90 Episode Guide: "The Race"
• Clivebanks.co.uk: Joe 90 Episode Guide