Roary the Racing Car

Roary the Racing Car is an animated children's television show, which is currently broadcast by PBS Kids Sprout, Milkshake! on Five and Nick Jr. in the UK. Produced by Chapman Entertainment, the producers of Fifi and the Flowertots, Roary the Racing Car follows the adventures of Roary, a bright, cheeky and energetic single-seater, and his amazing race car friends at Silver Hatch race track. Roary is a red racing car shaped similarly to a grand prix car. He lives at the Silver Hatch racing circuit.

Animated by award-winning production company Cosgrove Hall Films, the series uses a combination of Computer-generated imagery (Created by Studio Liddell [http://www.studioliddell.com] ) and stop-motion animation.

Roary the Racing Car was originated by David Jenkins, who spent four years working in seniormanagement at Brands Hatch Race Circuit. The series was designed and developed by Keith Chapman, Creative Director of Chapman Entertainment. Keith has already achieved world wide recognition as the originator of Bob the Builder and creator of Fifi and the Flowertots. The series Executive Producer is Greg Lynn.

The Setting

Roary the Racing Car is set around a motor racing circuit called Silver Hatch (an amalgamation of the names of the two British Grand Prix racing circuits, Silverstone and Brands Hatch).

Most of the character interaction takes place in the Pits and the workshop. Roary and his friends all live at Silver Hatch.

The Characters

Vehicular characters

Roary the Racing Car

Roary is a young and enthusiastic junior single-seater racing car. He is the main character in the show and is Big Chris' Number 1 Star. Roary is inexperienced and he often makes mistakes. However, with the help of his friends, he always learns from them. Roary wears a white baseball cap and with a number 1 emblazoned in a red star. Roary's catchphrase is "Light 'em up". He is voiced by Maria Darling.

Maxi

Maxi is the older Formula 1 type racing car who was the star of Silver Hatch before Roary arrived. He is temperamental and expects the best of everything - including first use of the tyre warmers. He wears sunglasses and a blue cap and sports the number 5. Maxi is Italian and is the favourite of Mr Carburettor. Maxi's catchphrase is "Mamma Mia!" He speakes in a Mock Italian accent. When starting a race Maxi can make flames erupt from his exhaust. There is a healthy sibling-rivalry between Maxi and Roary.

Cici

Cici is a bright pink and flirtatious stunt car with a number 3 painted on her front. She carries solar panels on her roof and is always challenging Roary to "Catch Me!" Cici is French and has a French accent. Her catchphrase is "Race You!". She is one of Roary's best friends and the first car to talk to and race Roary on his first day. Cici appears to be have a crush on Roary, as does Roary appears to be have a crush on her.

Tin Top

Tin Top is big and powerful stock car saloon. He often takes his corners too fast and wide and regularly ends up in either the Sand trap, the tyre wall or the mud! Tin Top's catchphrase is appropriate given his frequent visits to the workshop: "Tape me up, hammer me in and send me out!" He speaks in a mock-American accent, and is voiced by Peter Kay. Like Maxi, Tin Top can make flames come out of his talpipes

Drifter

Drifter is a very hi-tech Drift racing car. He has an on-board computer with a head up display in his windscreen. Drifter has a fabulous dragon on his sides and also sports blue neon undertray lighting. He speakes in a mock Japanese accent. Drifter's catchphrase is "Go-go nitro boost!"

Rusty the caravan

Rusty is an old, rusty, immobile caravan who lives at Silver Hatch. He is often found to be sleeping, but rarely minds being woken up by the other characters and he enjoys reminiscing about his time as a mobile caravan. He can give useful advice, but often entirely accidentally. Big Chris lives in Rusty.

Plugger

Plugger is a 4x4 off-road vehicle, or mud-plugger. Plugger is the most laid-back character at Silver Hatch and he never gets rushed or panic stricken. He speaks with a soft caribbean accent and he uses his telescopic winch to rescue Roary and Maxi from their shunts. Plugger can often be heard uttering his catchphrase "No need to race, Plugger's on the case!"

FB the Flat-bed

FB is Farmer Green's flatbed truck. He is usually seen with Farmer Green, or playing with Cici and Roary.

Zippee the scooter

Zippee is Marsha's motor scooter. Zippee is of indeterminate gender as the only vocalizations made by Zippee are a beeping sound, similar to a small car horn.

Hellie the Helicoptor

Hellie is a bright red and purple helicoptor, who transports Mr. Carburretor around the track. he can also be used to locate missing cars. He has a large headset which he uses to communicate with the ground-crew, usually broadcasting Hellie is Go!

Human Characters

Big Chris

Voiced by Bolton-born comedian Peter Kay, Big Chris is Silver Hatch race track's mechanic. He occasionally commentates, and starts races. He lives in Rusty the caravan, and looks after the race track and cars. Big Chris has a typically northern catchphrase, "You bend it, you mend it."

Marsha

Marsha is a race marshall and the unofficial administrator of the Silver Hatch race track. She loves things to be tidy and organised and is often telling Big Chris off for being so messy. She is very fit and enjoys a good run. She once did a Time trial run around the racing track in 10 minutes and 20 seconds. Big Chris then ran around the track in just 10 minutes and 15 seconds, although he was trying to catch Flash the rabbit, who had stolen his doughnut! Her catchphrase is "Gears to go, brakes to slow!" She is also voiced by Maria Darling.

Mr. Carburretor

Mr. Carburretor is the flamboyant Italian owner of Silver Hatch race track. His favourite car is Maxi, who he considers to be the greatest car in all the world. He has a gold tooth, which sparkles in the sun when he smiles. He is a perfectionist who sometimes berates Big Chris for tardiness, although Marsha often covers up for Big Chris in front of Mr. Carburretor. Mr. Carburretor often likes to watch his cars race around the track, usually cheering for Maxi, although he does congratulate the winner, whoever they may be. He shares the same catchphrase as Maxi, "Mamma Mia", and he can often be heard singing opera. For some reason Mr. Carburretor can't say Tin Top's name right.

Farmer Green

Farmer Green owns the farm located just to the side of the Silver Hatch race track. He often waves as the cars zoom past. He owns Dinkie and likes to invent bio-fuels, which sometimes work, but often don't. His catchphrase is Green by name, green by nature!

Animal Characters

Flash

Flash is an anthropomorphic rabbit, who lives under a tree on the edge of the track at "Hare-Pin Bend" (rather than hairpin). He regularly tries to cause mischief, from small things like hiding equipment to intentionally trying to cause accidents by moving traffic cones around to divert the racing cars the wrong way. Flash really wants to be a racing driver and is always up for a race on his hi-powered Skateboard. When Flash is caught getting up to no good you will often hear his catchphrase: Flash, gotta dash!

Molecom

Molecom is a bespectacled mole who is often found clearing up the mess left behind after Flash has tried to cause havoc. Being a mole he lives underground, and often digs out, causing molehills to appear when he comes up. By some kind of sixth sense, Molecom never seems to dig out through the track, although is often seen digging out through the concrete pit stop area. He is the Mole with a role!

Dinkie the Donkey

Dinkie is an old, grey donkey who is often seen at the side of the race track, with his ears flapping after the cars race past him. He does not speak.

The Narrator

Each story begins and ends with a brief narration from British Grand Prix legend, Sir Stirling Moss. He is never seen, but is used as a voice-over.

Episode Guide

These are alphabetically;

Big Chris Flags It Up
Big Chris Learns to Fly
Big Chris Says Sorry
Big Chris's Big Workout
Blue Light Job
Braking Promises
Busy Day For Big Chris
Big Chris's Birthday
Cici Takes The Blame
Communication Breakdown
Drifters Last Day
Easy on The Fuel
Express Delivery
FB In The Fast Lane
Flash Flips Out
Make Your Mind Up Roary
Mama Mia
Maxi's New Engine
Molecom Makes Music
Musical Mayhem
Out Of Juice
Plugger's on The Case
Rabbit Trouble
Roary Goes Back To School
Roary Goes Missing
Roary Loses A Friend
Roary On Thin Ice
Roary Slips Up
Roary Takes Off
Roary's Day at The Seaside
Roary's First Day
Roary's Wake Up Call
Rusty Remembers
Secret Treasures
Spooky Forest
Surround Sound
Tin Top Gets Scared
Tip Top Tin Top
Tunnel Vision
Workshop Roary

External links

* [http://www.roarytheracingcar.com Roary the Racing Car official site.] A new game (Pit Stop Panic) was added to the official site on 18/01/08
* [http://nickjr.co.uk/shows/roary/index.aspx Roary the Racing Car on Nick Jr.]
* [http://www.stirlingmoss.com Sir Stirling Moss official site.]