Podracing/Legends



Podracing was a sport popular in the less developed regions of the galaxy. It has been called the "ultimate test of skill and daring on Tatooine," and is certainly one of the most dangerous sports ever invented. Podracers were small, one-man repulsorcraft composed of a floating anti-gravity pod propelled by dual (or sometimes quadruple) turbine engines. The engines were not physically connected to each other, but were linked by power couplings apparently consisting of plasma discharges of some kind; they were connected to the pods by long cables.

Each pod contained the driver, and was connected by Steelton control cables to the turbine engines. The pod contained the repulsorlift engine, that kept the craft at a specific, low-level altitude. The turbine engines - from two to four per pod - were incredibly powerful, and were connected by an energy binder that kept them from flying apart. Podracing was popularized in the Outer Rim during the last decades of the Old Republic. Its underground nature, great excitement, and almost gladiatorial propensity for carnage held immense appeal to all manner of folk living on the fringe of society. Because of the reflexes needed to react to the pod and the course, as well as the dexterity needed to control the pod racer, nearly all pod racers were non-humans. Sometimes, at least four hands were needed to maintain control of the ship, while sharp reflexes and quick thinking were needed to anticipate the course as the small craft are propelled forward at speeds reaching 900 kilometers per hour and more.

History
Podracing was originally raced with animal-drawn carts, then on hanno speeders, and then on Podracers. The concept of modern day podracing was started on Malastare by alien racer Gustab Wenbus. Wenbus had entered himself in a race with a super-fast prototype pod designed by a mechanic named Phoebeus. After the Boonta Eve Classic, shortly before the Battle of Naboo, Podracing's popularity reached an all time high. However, as the political situation in the Galactic Republic deteriotated, so did the appeal of podracing. Many of the sports generally-accepted criminal activities were exposed from view, and some of the most famous racers were arrested for a variety of crimes. Podracing was soon outlawed in the Core Worlds. Shortly before the outbreak of the Clone Wars, it was reported that attendance had dropped more than fifty percent from the era of the Battle of Naboo, although betting transactions remained at an all-time high. Soon, the sport gave way to swoop racing and other forms of extreme sports.

Eventually, under the Empire, podracing was outlawed galaxy-wide.

The Racers
Boonta Eve Contenders:
 * Sebulba
 * Gasgano
 * Mawhonic
 * Aldar Beedo
 * Dud Bolt
 * Ebe Endocott
 * Mars Guo
 * Clegg Holdfast
 * Neva Kee
 * Elan Mak
 * Ody Mandrell
 * Teemto Pagalies
 * Ben Quadrinaros
 * Boles Roor
 * Ark "Bumpy" Roose
 * Wan Sandage
 * Anakin Skywalker
 * Ratts Tyerell

Other Racers:
 * Bozzie Baranta
 * Shrivel Braittrand
 * Toy Dampner
 * Knire Dark
 * By't Distombe
 * "Bullseye" Navior
 * Kraid Nemmeso
 * Occo Ninebar
 * Slide Paramita
 * Jinn Reeso
 * Fud Sang
 * Tzidik Wrantojo
 * Cy Yugna
 * Scorch Zanales

List of Podracing Tracks and Races

 * Mos Espa Raceway on Tatooine
 * Togatto Speedway on Esseles
 * Doolis Podracing Arena on Caprioril
 * Vengeance, Executioner and The Gauntlet on Oovo IV
 * Phoebos Memorial Run, Vinta Harvest Classic, and Malastare 100 on Malastare
 * Pouffra Circuit
 * Aleen Classic on Aleen
 * Tracks on Aquilaris, Ord Biniir, Ord Ibanna, Mon Gazza, Baroonda, Gamorr, Ando Prime, Ryloth, Mon Calamari, and Sullust

Behind the Scenes
The concept of podracing seems to be inspired by chariot racing (cf. Ben-Hur)

Appearances

 * Podracing appears primarily in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, where the Boonta Eve Podrace sponsored by Jabba the Hutt is entered by Anakin Skywalker, Sebulba and others.


 * In Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones one of the monitors in the nightclub scene depicts podracing on Ando Prime. The podrace-background is actually footage left over from the filming of Hoth during production on Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.


 * Podracing is also seen in the Expanded Universe, notably on Malastare, Oovo IV and other low gravity worlds. In The Phantom Menace, podracing on Malastare was mentioned in passing by Qui-Gon Jinn.


 * Podracing is the feature of the Star Wars video games Star Wars: Episode I Racer and Star Wars Racer Revenge.


 * Podracing appeared in the Podracing Tales comic.