Maximum Drive

Maximum Drive was a children's competition show hosted by Joe Fowler with co-hosts Brian Vermeire and Mercedes Colon that aired on The Family Channel from August 29 to November 25, 1994.

On each show, three teams of kids competed in various motorsports to earn points, with the highest scoring team after five races winning the championship.

THE TEAMS

There are a total of 15 teams that makes the roster for Maximum Drive, each team represented by an animal name.

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)

VEHICLES

Also here are the list of vehicles used throughout the entire run of the series.

XR-80

ATV

Cubs (smaller motorbikes)

Argo

Wave Runner

Mountain Bike

Hovercraft (used for the last episode)

EVENTS

The events were completely random per each episode, but any game using the lake and/or multiple players were always the last two for teams to compete. Each had a specific vehicle used, and sometimes they used more than one player.

Long Course Race (ATV, XR-80, Cubs): In this race, the players would go around the long course for 3 laps on the vehicles permitted for the events. Only one person was allowed to race for each team. Teams had to deal with Hair-Pin Alley and the Horse Shoe turns throughout the race. The person who crossed the finish line first will win 1st place.

Short Course Race (ATV, XR-80, Cubs): Similar to the Long Course, teams had to take a shorter route on the Maximum Drive Course. Only this time they have to ride for 5 laps till they reach the finish line.

Argo (Argos Only): The six wheel vehicles are used for this event only. They drive around another course on the Maximum Drive course which leads into the two mud pits called the "Bog" and the "Gator Pit". They drive for 3 laps on the course, and this event can use one or two players from each team to play.

Slam Dunk (Wave Runner Only): Slam Dunk is one of two water events of the whole series. All three players participate in this game. The objective is to send one player on the Yamaha Wave Runner to retrieve floatation balls from two teammates on rafters in the Maximum Drive Lake and dunk them into enter-tubes. If a ball enters a tube, they get a point. There are three balls (2 yellow & 1 red) and they have up to 90 seconds to score. If a ball falls in the water, they can retrieve it as long as time permits it, however if they fail, they must move onto the next ball. The team with the most balls in the tubes would get 1st place.

Soccer (ATV Only): Its soccer Maximum Drive style. In the center of the course, one player from each team will try to knock up to three giant bean bag balls into the goal lines. Each one they get is worth 1 point, however they only get one shot with each ball and they have 40 seconds to complete it.

BMX Rally (Mountain Bikes Only): In this event all players participate and they ride on Mountain Bikes on the Hair Pin Alley Course. They have 3 laps to complete before finishing, and the rankings are determined by how many players of the same team are among the top finishers. Example: 1st place (1st, 3rd, 4th) 2nd (2nd, 5th, 7th) and 3rd (6th, 8th, 9th).

Hover Ball (Hover Craft Only): The second of two water events and this only aired once in the finale. The goal of this game is similar to Slam Dunk, but one player from each team will ride a hover craft and try to toss 4 balls into a goal net in two tries. The player with the most goals will win 1st place.

Over The Mat (All Ground Vehicles): One of the few games that uses all three track vehicles in the main games, most often the second or final event of the day. They make one lap around the long or short courses before making a turn to the center of the course where they park their vehicles into a parking zone that has their team color. They must avoid knocking a ball off a cone when parking, otherwise they are penalized 5 seconds before they can continue. Once they park they can jump on blue safety mats and the giant bean bag ball in order to switch to the next vehicle or tag their partner to continue the race. There are 4 laps for this and the first player to cross will win 1st place.

Gear Up (All Ground Vehicles): One of two final events, Gear up required all 3 players to play in a Relay race similar to Over the Mat. One player will race one full lap on the long course, then make a turn to the center field where they get over the mat and pass either goggles or a glove to their team mate where they must put it on before continuing the course, again they will repeat the process to the next team member. Then the final member will complete the final lap to lock 1st place for their team.

Balloon Boogie (All Ground Vehicles): Same rules as Gear Up, but players must throw a water balloon to their team mate where they must catch it and break it on the ground before continuing.

SCORING SYSTEM

Teams earn points depending on how they placed in the game

1st place - 5 points

2nd place - 3 points

3rd place - 1 point

In the event of ties, the points would go as follows:

Tie for 1st - 4 points

Tie for 2nd - 2 points

RULES, CAUTIONS, & PENALTIES

There are penalties that can either delay or disqualify a team from the race.

5 Second Penalty: In Over the Mat, Gear Up, and Balloon Boogie, if a team knocks a ball off their cone when parking, they are penalized for 5 seconds before continuing.

Disqualifications: If a team parks into the wrong color zone, goes into the wrong route, or quits, they are disqualified and will not receive any points for that event.

Technicalities: If a team stalls or knocks into the hay bails, they are still in the race but are given a yellow caution flag to the other teams until they are able to continue. If a team is unable to complete the course, they are automatically given 3rd place.

THE PLAYOFFS

The teams weren't only playing for winner of the day, they were also competing for the playoffs near the end of the season. Only the top 12 of 15 teams will compete for the playoff matches.

The Playoffs - 1st Rounds: The 12 teams are assigned positions based on their performance for the entire season, the winner of each round will advance to the Quarter Finals. Teams who did not win would qualify for wild card spots. Only 5 teams with the highest scores will advance.

The Quarter Finals: The 9 teams advancing would repeat the same as the first rounds, winners of each round would advance and the top 3 scoring teams would also continue to the semi-finals

The Semi-Finals: The remaining 6 teams would continue the same sequence again, the 2 winning teams will advance to the finals and the team with the best score of the remaining teams would also advance to the finals.

The Finals: Like any normal episode, the teams would play different games including the Hover Ball game in the finals until the winners of the day would be the Maximum Drive Champions.

The series, a Vin Di Bona Production, lasted only three months - unlike the show it debuted with, Masters of the Maze. Despite its short run, the program was nominated for a CableACE Award.