imported>RetroRobotRadio: Created page with "'''Tracks''' is a character in the many continuities in the Transformers franchise. The name is now too generic to license in recent times; so the toys creator, Hasbro had to add a "modifier" - a prefix to the name in order to use it on their product, in this case the name became "Autobot Tracks" or "Turbo Tracks". ==1984 The Transformers== {{Infobox character| name =Tracks |image =tracks-boxartpic.jpg |caption =Tracks box art |affiliation =Autobot |subgroup =A..."

2026-01-25T04:18:25Z

Created page with "'''Tracks''' is a character in the many continuities in the Transformers franchise. The name is now too generic to license in recent times; so the toys creator, Hasbro had to add a "modifier" - a prefix to the name in order to use it on their product, in this case the name became "Autobot Tracks" or "Turbo Tracks". ==1984 The Transformers== {{Infobox character| name =Tracks |image =tracks-boxartpic.jpg |caption =Tracks box art |affiliation =Autobot |subgroup =A..."

New page

'''Tracks''' is a character in the many continuities in the [[Transformers]] franchise. The name is now too generic to license in recent times; so the toys creator, [[Hasbro]] had to add a "modifier" - a prefix to the name in order to use it on their product, in this case the name became "Autobot Tracks" or "Turbo Tracks".

==1984 The Transformers==
{{Infobox character|
name =Tracks
|image =tracks-boxartpic.jpg
|caption =Tracks box art
|affiliation =Autobot
|subgroup =Action Masters, Autobots Cars, Deluxe Vehicles
|rank =5
|function =[[Warrior]]
|partner =Basher
|motto =''"Looking good is what life is all about."'' ''"Hey, watch the paint job!"'' (''Alternators'')
|alternatemodes =[[Chevrolet Corvette C3]], Cybertronian Shuttle Craft, [[Chevrolet Corvette C5 Z06]]
|series =''[[Transformers: Generation 1]]'' ''[[Transformers: Alternators]]'' ''[[Transformers: Reveal the Shield]]''
|engvoice =[[Michael McConnohie]]
|japanvoice =[[Sho Hayami]] (Television series) [[Masashi Ebara]] ("Dinobot Island, Part 2" through "Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1", "Triple Takeover", "Hoist Goes Hollywood") [[Kōki Kataoka]] ("The Secret of Omega Supreme") [[Sōichirō Hoshi]] ([[The Transformers: Mystery of Convoy|Q Transformers: Mystery of Convoy]])
}}
Tracks is somewhat of a rarity amongst the Autobots in that he prefers his new Earth car mode to his original Cybertronian form. His concern over his appearance has led to some friction with his fellow Autobots, as they think he should be less concerned with his looks and more on the battle with the Decepticons.<ref>{{Cite book | title=The Unofficial Guide to Transformers 1980s Through 1990s Revised & Expanded 2nd Edition | last=Alvarez | first=J.E. | year=2001 | publisher=Schiffer Publishing Ltd.| ISBN=0-7643-1364-9 | page= 27}}</ref>

Tracks speaks with a [[Boston Brahmin accent]], and according to the voice actor Michael McConnohie is modeled on the voice of [[Thurston Howell, III]].

===Marvel Comics===
Four million years ago, Tracks was one of five Autobots who agreed to have their sparks transferred to crystal storage in case the Autobots needed extra troops during the mission of clearing a path for Cybertron through an asteroid belt. In 1985, the Autobots were suffering heavy casualties and the five Autobots were activated in "Rock And Roll Out" (U.S. #14). Skids and the others (except Grapple) were shown around Earth by Bumblebee, where Skids encountered music for the first time and proved unable to interact easily with humans. Despite orders not to engage with the enemy, they went on to battle Decepticons at a concert.

Tracks was likewise heard complaining about a surprise inspection, but quickly accompanied [[Optimus Prime (Transformers)|Optimus Prime]] in locating the inactive hulk of [[Megatron (Transformers)|Megatron]]. They were fired upon by human authorities, and Prime ordered a withdrawal.

Tracks continued to appear sporadically after this, although he appeared less as more new characters were introduced. He was in the battle in the [[Arctic]], where he was damaged by the [[Terrorcon]] Blot, and was subsequently amongst the scores of Transformers killed trying stop the [[Underbase]] powered [[Starscream (Transformers)|Starscream]].

However, he was resurrected in issue #281 of the Marvel U.K. Transformers comic, as [[Wheeljack]] attempted to revive him. His efforts were stopped by [[Grimlock]] however, who didn't believe Tracks to be an effective warrior. Wheeljack eventually managed to resurrect him anyway, and Prime would station him on Earth - much to Grimlock's fury. His only subsequent appearance was in issue #289, in the last of the U.K.-only stories, where he is among the Autobots sent to rescue journalist Irwin Spoon from the Stunticons. Aside from Bumblebee and possibly Wheeljack (who had stopped earlier to tend to [[Prowl (Transformers)|Prowl]]), he is the only one left standing after a high speed chase leaves both groups incapacitated.

Tracks reappeared in the ''Generation 2'' comic during the final battle against [[Jhiaxus]]'s forces. He was pursued by one of Jhiaxus' jets - only to lure it to its destruction by Leadfoot and Manta Ray. It is unclear if he survived the final battle after this.

===Animated series===
Tracks first appeared in the second season of the original animated series during the episode "Dinobot Island Part 2". He would go on to make regular appearances.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.anime.com/Transformers/ |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-02-12 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119132401/http://anime.com/Transformers/ |archivedate=2010-11-19 |df= }} Transformers Season Two Box Set, Part 1 by Brian Cirulnick, February 2003</ref>

He was the star of two connected episodes - "Make Tracks" and "Auto-Bop". In the former he was one of the Autobots assigned to [[New York City]] to combat a spate of car-jackings. Tracks quickly fell in love with the city, but after chasing some car-jackers, ended up crashing and being stolen by a street youth named Raoul. The two soon came to an understanding and helped each other discover what the stolen cars were really being used for - to make an army of drones for the Decepticons. The two stopped the scheme, and Tracks put his friend to work fixing the drone cars as a punishment for stealing him in the first place.

In "Auto-Bop" he and [[Blaster (Transformers)|Blaster]] encountered Raoul again. Raoul tipped them off that a local disco was being used to brainwash people. The Autobots investigated and soon found the culprits - Starscream and [[Soundwave (Transformers)|Soundwave]]. While Blaster and Soundwave duelled with sonics, Tracks used his flying car mode to pursue and shoot down Starscream, ending the threat.

Tracks made a number of other notable appearances. When [[Omega Supreme]] ignored a giant space creature in order to pursue his vendetta against the [[Constructicons]], Tracks was one of the airborne Autobots who valiantly attempted to stop the beast. He was one of those captured by big game hunter Lord Cholmondeley in order to lure in Optimus Prime. Later, Tracks was one of a team of Autobots sent to stop the newly created [[Stunticon]]s. However, he underestimated their anti-gravity abilities and ended up being smashed out of the air.

Tracks had another prominent appearance in "Trans-Europe Express" a charity auto race from [[Paris]], [[France]] to [[Istanbul]], [[Turkey]] was held. The Autobots [[Silverstreak|Bluestreak]], [[Bumblebee (Transformers)|Bumblebee]], [[Sideswipe (Transformers)|Sideswipe]], [[Smokescreen (Transformers)|Smokescreen]], [[Sunstreaker]], Tracks and [[Wheeljack]] participated alongside several human racers including [[Augie Canay]]. However, the race was sabotaged by the Stunticons, who had been sent by Megatron to obtain one of the racers' cars in order to gain its metal to make a control device for a Cybertronian weather controller. Tracks was run off the road by the Stunticons again, but later managed to stop the Decepticons by destroying the Pearl itself, before escaping the vengeful Menasor.

Like many other season 2 Autobots, Tracks was gradually phased out for season 3, and did not appear in [[The Transformers: The Movie|movie]]. He later appears in a few scenes of episode 3 of''[[Transformers: Headmasters]]'' during some operations on Earth under the command of Ultra Magnus.

===Books===
Tracks was featured in the 1985 Find Your Fate Junior book called ''Battle Drive'' by Barbara Siegel and [[Scott Siegel]].<ref>[http://www.gamebooks.org/fyf_tran.htm GameBooks.org]</ref>

===Dreamwave Productions===
When Prowl and his team of Autobots confronted [[Trypticon]] the Autobots Hound, Tracks, Trailbreaker and others showed up as reinforcements (Transformers: The War Within - The Dark Ages #4).

===Devil's Due Publishing===
Tracks reappeared in the third G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers crossover series from [[Devil's Due Publishing]] as part of the combined Autobot/G.I. Joe force trying to rescue Optimus Prime.

===Voice actor plays===
Although no Tracks toy was made for the [[Transformers: Universe]] line, Generation 1 Tracks appeared in the 2004 Botcon voice actor play. Here, he was part of the crew of a timelost shuttle (alongside Bumblebee and [[Cosmos (Transformers)|Cosmos]]) that had been pulled through time by a mysterious vortex. They quickly encountered a group of later era Transformers - [[Silverbolt (Beast Wars and Beast Machines)|Silverbolt]], [[Rattrap (Transformers)|Rattrap]] and [[Waspinator]] - and helped them rescue two groups of Transformers dimensionally displaced from the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 TV series)|RiD]] universe by one of [[Rhinox]]' devices. Despite interference from the Decepticons (servants of [[Unicron]]), they succeeded, rescued the other Transformers, and were sent back to their own time.

Tracks appeared in the 2006 [[TransformersCon]] voice actor play. Voices in the play were performed by a variety of volunteers and the actual voice actors attending the convention. In this play various Transformers from different timelines and realities were swept up in a repeat wave and transported along with [[Unicron]] to Earth. The Transformers included Generation 1 Tracks, [[Elita One|Ariel]], Cosmos and Megatron, ''Beast Wars'' [[Tarantulas (Transformers)|Tarantulas]], ''Robots in Disguise'' [[Sky-Byte]] and ''Beast Machines'' [[Tankor]]. Tracks was played by his actual Generation 1 animated series voice actor. Eventually the Transformers were able to learn that the death of Unicron in 2005 was what created the repeat wave. They defeated Unicron by tricking him into Transforming and using up his power, then using the Key to Vector Sigma program (which Tankor had brought with him) to tap into the power of [[Vector Sigma]] itself, and through it the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. With Unicron severely drained the various Transformers faded back to their original timelines.

===Fun Publications===
Alternators Tracks was a minor background character appearing in [[Fun Publications]] fiction "Gone too Far", a text-based story set on [[Transtech]] [[Cybertron]].

===Toys===
* '''''Generation 1'' Tracks''' (1985)
:Transforms from Chevrolet Corvette to robot, with retractable wings for flight mode. The toy for Tracks was originally part of the Takara [[Diaclone]] line, where it was red.
:Reissued as Autobot Tracks as part of Commemorative Series 5 in 2003.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/resources/commemorative-series-5-231/autobot-tracks-827/?catid=searchresults&searchid=178492 TFW2005.com - Autobot Tracks]</ref>
:Repainted red into the eHobby exclusive Autobot [[Road Rage (Transformers)|Road Rage]] (for whom she was based on the mainland European Tracks and the original Diaclone one).
* '''''Generation 1'' Action Master Tracks''' (1991)
:As part of Europe's continuing exclusive Transformer toys, Tracks returned as an Action Master, along with his new partner - the battle droid Basher. Basher transformed into a backpack for Tracks to wear which came equipped with a protective helmet armed with missile-launchers.<ref>Tomart's Action Figure Digest #28, 1996</ref>
:A super-cool cruiser with a knack for more flashy maneuvering. He loves looking good. Always washing and waxing his armor for a dazzling shine. Often feels the battle hasn't really started until he gets out there. Does everything with a flair that seems to attract attention. A bit self-absorbed, but extremely powerful and well equipped in battle. Armed with a devastating black beam gun that fires concussion bursts of billowing, black gas that momentarily blind enemy forces. Armored vehicle Basher is equipped with infra-red scanners, remote controlled surveillance cameras, heat seeking missiles and laser beam trip wires for short-range covert operations. Basher combines with Tracks to form the interactive bodysuit with intelligent weapon system.
* '''''Smallest Transformers'' Tracks''' (unreleased)
:Originally planned for released in wave 2 of the ''Smallest Transformers'' line, but was canceled along with Skids and the add-on parts for Megatron.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/resources/takara-wst-cybertrons-357/tracks-unreleased-2566/ TFW2005.com - WST Tracks]</ref>
* '''''Binaltech'' BT-06 Tracks (Yellow)''' (2004)
:Tracks' recent revival was as a ''[[Binaltech]]'' toy in Japan, transforming into a [[Chevrolet Corvette C5 Z06]]. At the request from [[General Motors]], the figure was colored yellow, which was the official racing color of the [[Chevrolet Corvette C5-R]] race car. Like his G1 predecessor, Tracks sports a red face and white missiles. The engine block transforms into his gun in robot mode. Unlike the G1 version, however, Tracks does not have retractable wings.
:Tracks' transformation is similar to [[Prowl (Transformers)#Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Mach Alert/Prowl]] from ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (toy line)|Transformers: Car Robots/Robots in Disguise]]'', wherein the doors form his skirt armor and the quarter panels form his shoulders - giving him a [[Samurai]] look.
* '''''Binaltech'' BT-06 Tracks (Blue)''' (2004)<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/resources/binaltech-cybertrons-348/bt-06-tracks---chevrolet-corvette-z06-blue-939/?catid=searchresults&searchid=178492 TFW2005.com - BT-06 Tracks]</ref>
:A G1-accurate blue version of Tracks was released months after the yellow version. This figure featured Tracks' iconic flaming Autobot emblem on his hood.
* '''''Alternators'' Autobot Tracks (Chevrolet Corvette Z06)''' (2004)
:Like the other figures in the ''Alternators'' line, Tracks was molded completely in plastic instead of incorporating diecast parts that the ''Binaltech'' line used. Originally, the yellow version was to be released in the U.S. market. However, the difference in materials used to create the toy caused the yellow plastic to show the toy parts in certain lights. Therefore, the figure was sold in G1-accurate blue.<ref>http://www.mastercollector.com/articles/reviews/review102204-25.htm</ref><ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/resources/alternators-autobots-193/autobot-tracks-chevrolet-corvette-c5-z06-909/?catid=searchresults&searchid=178492 TFW2005.com - Autobot Tracks (Chevrolet Corvette Z06)]</ref>
:Redecoed in red as [[Swerve (Transformers)|Swerve]], with a new head sculpt.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/resources/alternators-autobots-193/swerve-chevrolet-corvette-915/?catid=searchresults&searchid=178492 TFW2005.com - Swerve (Chevrolet Corvette Z06)]</ref> Also remolded into a black convertible as the Decepticon [[Ravage (Transformers)|Battle Ravage]].<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/resources/alternators-decepticons-194/battle-ravage-chevrolet-corvette-927/?catid=searchresults&searchid=178492 TFW2005.com - Battle Ravage (Chevrolet Camaro)]</ref>
* '''''Reveal the Shield'' Deluxe Turbo Tracks''' (2010)
:A new mold announced at BotCon 2010.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/conventions-15/botcon-2010-hasbro-designers-panel-170066/ TFW2005.com - BotCon 2010 Hasbro Designers Panel]</ref> His new form is a cross between a [[Chevrolet Corvette C6]] and a [[Dodge Viper]]. As a modern take on the G1 toy's flame decal, the hood sports red and yellow tribal flame tattoos. Also, as a homage to the original G1 toy, the car mode features a flight mode, wherein the doors fold down and winglets extend from the door panels.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-generations-classics-30-35/transformers-reveal-the-shield-turbo-tracks-pictorial-review-170718/ TFW2005.com - Reveal the Shield Turbo Tracks Pictorial Review]</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | author = | title = Q&A with Hasbro! | journal = Transformers Collectors Club Magazine| volume = 1 | issue = 35 | pages = 4–5, 8 | date = October–November 2010|url=}}</ref><ref>http://mastercollector.com/articles/reviews/tracks-review.html</ref>
:The mold for this figure is also used for [[Wheeljack]] in the ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' toy line, as well as the 2012 Transformers Collectors Club exclusive [[Runabout (Transformers)|Over-Run]] and [[Runamuck]] figures.
* '''''United'' UN-13 Deluxe Autobot Tracks (Takara Tomy)''' (2010)
:The Japanese version of ''Reveal the Shield'' Turbo Tracks by [[Takara Tomy]] features a metallic paint finish and the original G1 flame decal on the hood.<ref>Figure King magazine, issue #155</ref>
{{-}}

==Transformers Animated==
{{Infobox character|
name = Tracks
|image =
|caption =
|affiliation = Autobot
|subgroup =
|rank =
|function =
|partner =
|motto =
|alternatemodes = Cybertronian sports car
|series = ''[[Transformers Animated]]''
|engvoice = [[Townsend Coleman]]
|japanvoice =
}}

In ''[[Transformers Animated]]'', Tracks appeared in a crowd scene at the end of "Decepticon Air". He later appears in "This is Why I Hate Machines", encountering [[Ratchet (Transformers)#Transformers Animated|Ratchet]] and Captain Fanzone outside a bar. Tracks is terrified of Fanzone for being an organic.
{{-}}

==Transformers: Timelines (Shattered Glass)==
{{Infobox character|
name = Tracks
|image =
|caption =
|affiliation = Autobot
|subgroup = Convention Exclusives, Deluxe Vehicles
|rank =
|function =
|partner = Ultra Magnus
|motto =
|alternatemodes = Sports car
|series = ''[[Transformers: Timelines]]''
|engvoice =
|japanvoice =
}}

Tracks is part of the [[BotCon]] 2012 exclusive lineup of the evil Autobots from the ''Shattered Glass'' timeline. His color scheme resembles the e-Hobby exclusive figure Road Rage, which was an homage to the Diaclone toy that was the basis for the original Tracks toy.

===Toys===
*'''''Timelines'' Deluxe Tracks''' (2012)
:A BotCon 2012 exclusive red recolor of ''Reveal the Shield'' Deluxe Turbo Tracks.<ref>[http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2012/bc12tracks.cfm BotCon.com - 2012 Box Set Previews: Tracks]</ref>
{{-}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.seibertron.com/toys/gallery.php?id=504&size=0&start=0 Gallery] of Generation One Tracks (Reissue)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060108140922/http://www.bwtf.com/binaltech/tracks/ Review] of Binaltech Tracks
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060419213445/http://www.bwtf.com/alternators/tracks/ Review] of Alternators Tracks
* [http://www.seibertron.com/toys/gallery.php?id=506&size=0&start=0 Gallery] of Binaltech Tracks (Blue)
* [http://www.seibertron.com/toys/gallery.php?id=217&size=0&start=0 Gallery] of Binaltech Tracks (Yellow)
* [[tfwiki:Tracks (disambiguation)|Tracks at the Transformers Wiki]]

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Fictional actors]]
[[Category:Shattered Glass Autobots]]
[[Category:Transformers automobiles]]
[[Category:Transformers Alternators]]

Tracks (Transformers) - Revision history