Dick Dastardly

Dick Dastardly, antagonist of the fantastic 60s series Wacky Races, was the only driver never to be awarded a victory in any of the 34 thrilling races. Regularly he cheated or made foolish errors like stopping to sign autographs just yards from the finishing line. However, there was a race that has been stolen from our alliterative anti-hero and it is time to uncover this injustice.

  Dick and his sniggering co-driver Muttley finished the race in first, but they were subsequently disqualified because their win had been achieved by extending the nose of the car. Penelope Pitstop was awarded victory and perhaps the disqualification was just, but if it was then surely when Rufus Ruffcut extended his neck to claim victory for the Buzz Wagon 10, then this too should have resulted in disqualification. But no, it is one rule for a lumberjack and a beaver and another for serial cheater Dastardly and his dog. Surely Dastradly's chequered history swayed the authority's decision into denying him the chequered flag. Now, cheating should not be tolerated, but neither should this kind of inconsistency in officiating. Fifty years on, surely the record books can be amended.