The new Speed Racer movie will be in theaters May 9th 2008. I was a huge fan of Speed Racer when I was a young boy back in the 60’s. Do you remember the steering wheel? Do you remember what each button was for?

The Mach 5 Steering Wheel:

Button A (Auto Jacks): “Releases powerful jacks to boost the car so anyone can quickly make any necessary repairs or adjustments.” Although it was used for short jumps at high speeds. The “choink choink” sound effect played whenever the car jumped through the air was a well known sound remembered by fans.

Button B (Belt Tires): Toggles special grip tires for traction over rough terrain (firm, icy, or unsteady ground, ocean floor, vertical mountainsides etc.).

Button C (Cutters): For use traveling over heavily wooded terrain. A matched pair of powerful rotary saws would come out from the front of the Mach 5 to cut away many obstacles.

Button D (Deflector): Releases a powerful transparent cover which seals the cockpit into an air-tight chamber. The cover is bullet- and crash-proof. The cockpit becomes a water-tight chamber which then allows the car to be completely submerged under water.

Button E (”Evening Eye”): Controls special illumination lights “which can be controlled singularly or in tandem”, allowing the driver to see more clearly than with ordinary headlights. When used with the “night shades” attached to Speed’s helmet, his vision is enhanced with infrared light. The original Japanese version strictly translates this as “illuminating eyes”.

Button E was later modified to activate mini-wings that would slide out from under the car to assist Speed in long jumps.

Button F (Frogger mode): Used when the Mach 5 is submerged. An oxygen canister supplies the cockpit with breathable air. A periscope can then be raised to scan the surface of the water. Everything viewed is relayed to a video screen inside the Mach 5’s cockpit.

Button G (Gizmo Rocket): Releases a flying, gull-shaped “homing robot” from under the hood of the car.

Button H (Home): Mounted in the center console with the rest of the controls for the homing robot, this button sends the homing robot back to the Racer house.

The Mach 5 in 1967 and 2008:

2008 version of the Mach 5.

I wonder if the new Mach 5 has air bags and GPS.