Maximum Drive facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maximum Drive |
|
|---|---|
| Genre | Game show |
| Directed by | Eytan Keller |
| Presented by | Joe Fowler with Brian Vermeire Mercedes Colon |
| Composer(s) | Transition Music |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Vin Di Bona Eytan Keller |
| Producer(s) | Terry Moore |
| Production location(s) | Universal Studios Hollywood |
| Running time | 30 Minutes |
| Production company(s) | R.P.M. Productions, Inc. Vin Di Bona Productions |
| Release | |
| Original network | The Family Channel |
| Original release | August 29 – November 25, 1994 |
Maximum Drive was an exciting TV show for kids that aired on The Family Channel in 1994. It was a competition where three teams of young people raced against each other in different kinds of vehicle challenges. The show was hosted by Joe Fowler, with Brian Vermeire and Mercedes Colon as co-hosts. It ran from August 29 to November 25, 1994.
On each episode, teams competed in five different races. The goal was to earn the most points. The team with the highest score at the end of the day won the championship for that episode.
Contents
Meet the Teams!
There were 15 different teams that took part in Maximum Drive. Each team had a cool animal name. Here's how they finished in the competition:
- Cobras (Champions)
- Lions (2nd Place)
- Sharks (3rd Place)
- Hawks (Semi-Finalists)
- Bobcats (Semi-Finalists)
- Pythons (Semi-Finalists)
- Ducks (Quarter-Finalists)
- Bats (Quarter-Finalists)
- Bulls (Quarter-Finalists)
- Raptors (Playoff Contenders)
- Wolves (Playoff Contenders)
- Rams (Playoff Contenders)
- Tigers (Eliminated Before Playoffs)
- Cougars (Eliminated Before Playoffs)
- Jaguars (Eliminated Before Playoffs)
Awesome Vehicles
The show featured many different types of vehicles. Contestants used these vehicles to race and complete challenges. Here are some of the cool rides seen on Maximum Drive:
- XR-80
- ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle)
- Cubs (smaller motorbikes)
- Argo (a six-wheel vehicle)
- Wave Runner (a type of jet ski)
- Mountain Bike
- Hovercraft (used only in the final episode)
Exciting Events and Races
The events in each episode were chosen randomly. However, games that used the lake or involved multiple players were usually saved for the last two races. Each event used specific vehicles, and some even had more than one player from a team participate.
Land Races
These events took place on the main course, often involving speed and tricky turns.
Long Course Race
- Vehicles: ATV, XR-80, Cubs
- How it worked: One player from each team raced three laps around a long course. They had to navigate challenging turns like "Hair-Pin Alley" and "Horse Shoe" turns. The first person to cross the finish line won!
Short Course Race
- Vehicles: ATV, XR-80, Cubs
- How it worked: Similar to the Long Course, but on a shorter track. Teams raced for five laps to reach the finish line.
Argo Race
- Vehicles: Argos Only
- How it worked: Teams drove the six-wheel Argos around a special course. This course included two muddy pits called the "Bog" and the "Gator Pit." They raced for three laps. One or two players from each team could participate.
Soccer Challenge
- Vehicles: ATV Only
- How it worked: This was soccer, Maximum Drive style! One player from each team used an ATV to try and knock three giant bean bag balls into goal lines. Each ball scored 1 point. Players had only one shot per ball and 40 seconds to score.
BMX Rally
- Vehicles: Mountain Bikes Only
- How it worked: All players from each team rode mountain bikes on the Hair Pin Alley Course. They had three laps to complete. The winning team was decided by how many of their players finished among the top racers. For example, if a team's players finished 1st, 3rd, and 4th, they would likely win.
Water Events
These challenges took place on the lake, adding a splash of excitement!
Slam Dunk
- Vehicles: Wave Runner Only
- How it worked: This was one of two water events. All three players from a team participated. One player on a Wave Runner collected floating balls from two teammates on rafts in the lake. They then had to dunk these balls into inner tubes. Each ball in a tube earned a point. Teams had 90 seconds and three balls (two yellow, one red). If a ball fell, they could get it back if time allowed. The team with the most balls in the tubes won.
Hover Ball
- Vehicles: Hovercraft Only
- How it worked: This was the second water event and only appeared in the finale. One player from each team rode a hovercraft. Their goal was to toss four balls into a goal net in two tries. The player who scored the most goals won.
Relay and Team Challenges
These events often involved switching vehicles or tagging teammates.
Over The Mat
- Vehicles: All Ground Vehicles (ATV, XR-80, Cubs)
- How it worked: This was often the second or final event. Players completed one lap on either the long or short course. Then, they drove to the center of the course and parked their vehicle in a zone matching their team's color. They had to be careful not to knock a ball off a cone while parking, or they'd get a five-second penalty. Once parked, they jumped onto blue safety mats and a giant bean bag ball to switch to the next vehicle or tag a teammate. There were four laps, and the first player to cross the finish line won.
Gear Up
- Vehicles: All Ground Vehicles (ATV, XR-80, Cubs)
- How it worked: This was a relay race for all three players. One player raced a full lap on the long course. They then went to the center field, got over the mat, and passed either goggles or a glove to their teammate. The teammate had to put it on before continuing the race. This process repeated for the next team member. The final member completed the last lap to secure first place.
Balloon Boogie
- Vehicles: All Ground Vehicles (ATV, XR-80, Cubs)
- How it worked: This event had the same rules as Gear Up. However, instead of passing gear, players had to throw a water balloon to their teammate. The teammate had to catch it and break it on the ground before continuing the race.
How Points Were Scored
Teams earned points based on their finishing position in each game:
- 1st place – 5 points
- 2nd place – 3 points
- 3rd place – 1 point
If there was a tie, the points were split:
- Tie for 1st – 4 points for each tied team
- Tie for 2nd – 2 points for each tied team
Rules, Cautions, and Penalties
To keep the races fair, there were rules and penalties. These could cause delays or even disqualify a team.
Penalties
- Five-second Penalty: In games like Over the Mat, Gear Up, and Balloon Boogie, if a team knocked a ball off their cone while parking, they had to wait five seconds before they could continue.
Disqualifications
- If a team parked in the wrong color zone, took the wrong route, or gave up, they were disqualified. This meant they would not receive any points for that event.
Technicalities
- If a team's vehicle stalled or they crashed into hay bales, they were still in the race. However, a yellow caution flag was shown to other teams until they could continue. If a team couldn't complete the course, they were automatically given 3rd place for that event.
The Playoffs
Teams weren't just playing to win for the day. They were also competing for a spot in the playoffs at the end of the season! Each team competed in 11 matches. The 12 teams with the best overall scores moved on to the playoff matches.
The Playoffs - 1st Rounds
The 12 teams were placed in positions based on how well they did all season. The winner of each round moved on to the Quarter Finals. Teams that didn't win could still qualify for "wild card" spots. Only the 5 teams with the highest scores from these wild card spots advanced.
The Quarter Finals
The 9 teams that advanced repeated the same process as the first rounds. Winners of each round moved on, and the top 3 scoring teams also continued to the Semi-Finals.
The Semi-Finals
The remaining 6 teams continued the same sequence. The 2 winning teams advanced to the Finals. Plus, the team with the best score among the remaining teams also got a spot in the Finals.
The Finals
Just like a regular episode, the teams played different games, including the exciting Hover Ball game. The team that won the most points in the Finals became the ultimate Maximum Drive Champions!
Maximum Drive was produced by Vin Di Bona Productions. Even though it only lasted for three months, it was nominated for a CableACE Award, which is a special award for cable television shows.
