# Speed Racer and Racer X (spoilers possible?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 25, 2004, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-and-racer-x-spoilers-possible/252182 "2004-06-25T14:43:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Genghis\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/45deac/32.png) [@Genghis\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genghis_Bob)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-and-racer-x-spoilers-possible/252182/1 "2004-06-25T14:43:32Z")
It’s been, um, 30 years since I last saw Speed Racer, so my memories may be way off here. But IIRC, there was a mysterious “Racer X” who showed up in most episodes. My question: is it just my imagination, or was Racer X at one time identified as Speed’s long-lost father? ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-and-racer-x-spoilers-possible/252182/2 "2004-06-25T14:48:27Z")
long lost brother, not father The question is, since I don’t recall, did the series ever resolve this, with Speed Racer finding out the truth for himself? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-and-racer-x-spoilers-possible/252182/3 "2004-06-25T17:04:15Z")
Aaaand… > [@me](#): > > His real name was Rex. Rex Racer. Racer, Rex. Racer X. And, as Drk said, he was Speed’s older brother. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-and-racer-x-spoilers-possible/252182/4 "2004-06-25T17:25:36Z")
…almost always introduced by a narrator as Speed Racer’s older brother who ran away from home years ago. Evidently: Rex & Pops had a bit of a disagreement over optimum valve clearance in a 487ci given an iflated compression ratio due to a high-end aftermarket turbo thruster…or something. And I dunno if Speedy ever found out. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-and-racer-x-spoilers-possible/252182/5 "2004-06-25T17:28:27Z")
Rex Racer = Racer X {Comic Book Guy}Stupidest secret identity name ever. {/Comic Book Guy} :rolleyes: BTW: Rex knew since he mentions it at least once during each of his apperances. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Genghis\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/45deac/32.png) [@Genghis\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genghis_Bob)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-and-racer-x-spoilers-possible/252182/6 "2004-06-25T17:38:37Z")
Okay, I guess we got that cleared up. Thanks, all, for your input. Heh. Now I wonder where I got such a screwy idea about Racer X. . . hmmmm. . . [jamesearljones] Luke . . . I am your father . . . [/jamesearljones] ---
**Author:** ![Kallessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7993a0/32.png) [@Kallessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kallessa)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-and-racer-x-spoilers-possible/252182/7 "2004-06-25T18:17:43Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > Rex Racer = Racer X {Comic Book Guy}Stupidest secret identity name ever. {/Comic Book Guy} :rolleyes: > BTW: Rex knew since he mentions it at least once during each of his apperances. :rolleyes: Well, of course Racer X knew, we’re wondering if Speed ever found out? ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-and-racer-x-spoilers-possible/252182/8 "2004-06-25T20:01:41Z")
That’s gotta be the dumbest reason for leaving home I’ve ever heard of. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-and-racer-x-spoilers-possible/252182/9 "2004-06-25T20:08:33Z")
[spoiler]It was my understanding that Rex “Racer X” Racer was employed by a clandestine crime-fighting organization of some type. When Speed and Racer X crosse paths, Speed and the gang would often find themselves assisting Rex in his crime-fighting tasks. I’m hazy on the details of the episode, but the ending of one adventure has stuck with me for a generation or more: (Speed and Racer X have succeeded in dispatching the bad guys. Racer X has thanked Speed for his help, and is turning to leave) _Speed_: Racer X? (Racer X pauses and regards his brother) _Speed_: Are you my brother, Rex Racer? (Racer X knocks out Speed with a single punch to the jaw, and makes good his escape) Couldn’t get that kind of drama on Gigantor. [/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-and-racer-x-spoilers-possible/252182/10 "2004-06-25T20:11:24Z")
Of course not. Gigantor would pulverize someones mandible if he tried that. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-and-racer-x-spoilers-possible/252182/11 "2004-06-25T21:11:04Z")
Speaking of Racer X, Vince Vaughn is going to be playing that part in the upcoming Speed Racer live action movie. [cite](http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/06/25/film.speedracer.reut/) ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-and-racer-x-spoilers-possible/252182/12 "2004-06-25T21:46:24Z")
IIRC, There was a flashback about why Racer X left home. He wanted to race, but Pops thought he didn’t have enough experience yet. Racer X almost won a race, but spun out at the last minute. Racer X thought he should have won, but Pops said something to the effect of: “If you had more experience ah you would have more control uh and you would have been able to control the car better hah and wouldn’t have spun out and then you would have won the race because you would have more experience huh.” So Racer X said to hell with you old man and took off. At least that’s how I remember it. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-and-racer-x-spoilers-possible/252182/13 "2004-06-25T22:00:55Z")
Ha ha. Ho ho. A ha ha. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2004, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-and-racer-x-spoilers-possible/252182/14 "2004-06-26T06:30:05Z")
Racer X turns into Racer Sex whenever he spots that skank Trixie. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2004, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-and-racer-x-spoilers-possible/252182/15 "2004-06-26T07:05:40Z")
Speed Racer was cool. But you know what’s cooler? [The exact same concept with big rigs.](http://ape-law.com/GAF/Page12/) No, wait, that actually sucked. But then, so did Speed Racer. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2004, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-and-racer-x-spoilers-possible/252182/16 "2004-06-26T21:20:38Z")
No, what’s cooler is the characters from Dexter’s Lab doing a Speed Racer parody. (Paraphased) Dexter’s Dad: Your sister died at that race. Dee Dee: Um, hello? Dad? I’m right here across the table. Hello? ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2004, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-racer-and-racer-x-spoilers-possible/252182/17 "2004-06-26T21:40:53Z")
To answer the question of whether Speed ever found out: Yes, Speed figures it out on his own, then Rex confirms it. Racer X decides to retire from racing (to persue world peace), and tells an “unconscious” Speed the truth, adding that he’ll always be near if Speed is in trouble, leaving his mask behind. After Rex walks away, Speed tells the mask he’ll become the best racer he can be so that he’ll be pround of his younger brother. It seems that [gasp] Speed wasn’t unconscious and heard everything Rex said!