![]() Since podracing’s break-neck speeds exempt almost all humans from competing in the sport itself, it’s common for them to instead join a crew, taking great pride in the work they do. Often overlooked, podracing couldn’t be done without the mechanics that make up the crew. There’s a general disregard for life when it comes to podracing, and pilots competing in such races understand that at any moment, it could all be over for them. In a deleted scene from The Phantom Menace, Sebulba’s pod shoots fire at other racers from his flame jets. Many pilots even equip their pods with weapons or make illegal modifications to get an edge on other competitors. Assassination attempts, exacting revenge, and bribery are all part of the sport. The dimwitted Nuknog named Ark “Bumpy” Roose attempted to sabotage Anakin’s pod prior to the race, only to cripple Ben Quadinaros’ instead. It’s not uncommon for pilots and/or crews to sabotage other racers prior to or during a race. But the tactics for winning this unforgiving race don’t always come down to just speed.Īnything goes in podracing. Thus, his pod is supposedly the fastest to ever race in the Boonta Eve Classic, zipping through the track at speeds up to 947 kph (588 mph), over a hundred kilometers per hour faster than Sebulba’s pod. And by re-wiring and installing new subsystems, Anakin made it so that a maximum amount of fuel could be injected into his engines for the maximum amount of thrust. ![]() Each engine was outfitted with triple air scoops (the prongs jutting out from the turbines) that allowed the young pilot to easily weave through obstacles and make sharp turns. ![]() While Sebulba could pay for a pod that would guarantee him a win, Anakin Skywalker had to cobble together salvaged materials for months to build his pod.Īnakin’s small pod was powered by two Radon-Ulzer engines, which he smartly modified for impressive maneuverability and speed. Sebulba’s split-x radiators gave him a top speed of over 829 kph (515 mph), and he often used their massive size to bully other racers, smashing into smaller pods to throw them off course or into a hazard. Different engines offer different benefits. ![]() The engines vary in design just as much as the cockpits. The spindly Xexto Gasgano used four arms consisting of 24 fingers to operate his exceedingly complex pod, maintaining the engines, running diagnostics, tracking other racers, and more, all while piloting. Podracers are generally designed for the pilot which, in Star Wars, also means keeping in mind the species piloting. This sport transformed into the dangerous, high-speed competition seen in The Phantom Menace after a mechanic called Phoebos applied the same arrangement of carriage and creature to modern technology, replacing the carriage with a pod and the creatures with engines, and using repulsorlift technology so the vehicle could hover. Galactic history explains that podracing was inspired by a more primitive version of the sport where carriages were drawn by creatures, who would race around a track for glory. Officials and referees exist but even they are easily bribed, threatened, or distracted by pilots and their crews to circumvent the “guidelines” they’re intended to enforce. Although there are rules and regulations, they’re treated more as guidelines. But what makes podracing exciting is the danger of it all, which is why it’s a mostly outlawed sport within the Republic (and later, the Empire, all the way to the New Republic), but thriving in the Outer Rim. A racer wins after completing three laps around the course, and crossing the finish line first. Course markers line tracks like the Boonta Eve arena, signaling to a podracer’s navigational system the route to follow. Although podracing has been featured minimally in Star Wars since The Phantom Menace, a bounty’s worth of lore was created to make such a thrilling sport. The Boonta Eve Classic showed off the trappings of podracing from the captivating array of pods, to the unrelenting track, and the arena’s stands of some 100,000 spectators excitedly cheering and irresponsibly betting. The high-speed sport of podracing swept into the Star Wars galaxy with its exhilarating debut in 1999’s Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. In this installment, Emily breaks down everything they know about podracing… Star Wars Inside Intel is a feature where Lucasfilm Story Group member Emily Shkoukani, whose job is to know as much about a galaxy far, far away as possible, explores obscure facts about Star Wars lore and continuity. "You must have Jedi reflexes if you race pods."
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