Cartoon Car Toons!

If there’s one character in the Cars film which I respect the most, it would be the King. Although Strip Weathers did not get as much time on screen as Lightning McQueen did, he has showed that he is one character that has class. Voiced by Richard Petty who Wikipedia describes as “a former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver. ‘King Richard,’ as he is nicknamed, is most well-known for winning the NASCAR Championship seven times.”

In the movie, The King also won seven Piston Cups in the film as his character was based on the legendary driver. The King is a 1970 Plymouth Superbird, the same car which Petty drove during his stint with NASCAR.

During the movie, I liked the way The King scolded Lightning. He told the young up and comer that he (Lightning) would be nowhere without his team. But the young car is so full of himself at the beginning of the movie that he was not listening to The King but was thinking about taking over the Dynoco sponsorship after The King retires. But towards the end of the movie, Lightning showed that he too has class when he helped The King cross the finish line in his final race and throwing away the chance of winning the race. That part of the film is really a feel-good part because I think that’s where Lightning became a race car that will continue the classy leadership that The King has shown in his heyday.

It’s just sad that towards the end of the race, The King was badly beaten and dented. But then, Dynoco sponsored him so I think he was back to looking good and being fast in no time at all.

Ratchet is the chief medic of the Autobots in the Transformers television series, comic series and the film based on the popular toy line manufactured by Takara and Hasbro. His vehicle alternate mode is an ambulance. Ratchet is well-considered by Transformers fanatics of the original comic series in which he played the most important role, even though the character has not been characterized in the contemporary Transformers Universe.

The toy that was to become the Autobot Ratchet was originally introduced as a component of the Japanese Diaclone series. He was later released in 1984 by Hasbro in the U.S. Ironhide, the weaponry and war tactic specialist has a similar mold as Ratchet.

Ratchet would transform into an ambulance (a cargo van type) and was colored white with red stripes and emergency lights. Ratchet had two robot modes, though only one was typically seen in the comic run and the television cartoon. On the other hand, the Ratchet toy transformed into the second form. Ratchet was one of the original and the longest-living of all Transformers in the Marvel Transformers comic series. He was a fan favorite most of the time! In his first role, he was a healer however he remained as a tough and reliable soldier. His courage and loyalty are demonstrated time and time again.

Ratchet is the Autobot medic and therefore he seldom was ever seen in battle. He usually spent time at the Autobot base with Wheeljack crafting and fixing other Autobots. The two of them were recognized for creating the Dinobots in an attempt to strengthen their ranks against the evil Decepticons. In the Transformers: The Movie, Ratchet’s alternate vehicle was a search and rescue HUMMER (H2).

Since I got few problems with my Chevy as its Chevrolet pickup transfer case lowering kits went faulty, I didn’t pursue a trip out of town. Instead, I stayed home and tried to get along with several relatives who were in for a visit. Together with my nieces and nephews, we loved watching animated car movies. And, we have our own favorite characters, of which mine is Lightning McQueen #95, named after Glenn McQueen (a Pixar animator who passed away in 2002). Actually, he is more known by his surname McQueen, but I love calling him “Stickers”, just as Sally calls him. By the way, Lightning McQueen is the main character in the film “Cars” that is voiced by actor Owen Wilson. Now ‘Cars’ is what we have always watched for several times already, about ten times perhaps just this year.