LEGO Racers Super Speedway Game

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File:BoardGameBox.jpg
Board Game Box

LEGO Racers Super Speedway Game is a board game released in 2001 as a part of the general LEGO Racers franchise. It is very similar to the video game, LEGO Racers, and includes many of the same aspects in board game and LEGO set form.

Set Description

The board game includes multiple different racing tiles as well as LEGO pieces that can be used to construct four unique racing cars as well as power-ups and lap markers. In addition to the pieces, the game included a large number spinner for turn-taking, six straight track pieces, sixteen corner tack pieces (two of which with hazards), two tracks for the starting/finish line, a pit stop track piece with a spinner, and four sets of point markers for 100pts, 75pts, 50pts, 25pts.

How To Play

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Manual page with car & setup instructions and track variants

These are the games rules and setup:

Setup

The players first must build their racing cars and the track before the game can begin. Instructions have been provided on how to build cars (in yellow, red, green, and black colors) and six track options, though the game encourages the players to build their own customized racing cars and track. After the power-ups have also been constructed they are also placed on random places along the racing track (one to a square, though the game recommends that power-ups be left out of the game for younger children). Afterwards, the players must decide on the nature of the race. Games are typically designed around three-lap races. Players can either decide to do a Single Race or a Circuit Race (much like in the LEGO Racers video game). A circuit race consists of three single races on different tracks. Upon completing one race in a circuit, players are awarded with point markers depending on their place finishing the race (100pts for 1st, 75pts for 2nd, 50pts for 3rd, and 25pts for 4th). The player with the most points at the end of the circuit wins the game. The players then spin the number spinner to see the order of turns and line their cars up in the respective "pole" positions on the board.

Gameplay

The game begins with players spinning the number spinner and driving the designated number of spaces. The players will encounter hazards, power-ups, and the pit-stop as they race across the board. The players only interact with what is on a particular space if that is where they happen to stop after they have gone their designated number of spaces. Every time a player makes a lap, they pick up a lap marker (the single 1x1 bricks in their color) and attach it to their car.

There are two hazards on the board, one a "flat tire" and other an "oil slick" both of which will require the player that lands on them to move back three spaces. If a player happens to land on the pit stop, they must spin the spinner to see whether the player gets to go ahead by a certain number of spaces or if "repairs are needed" and they have to lose their next turn. If two players happen to land on the same space, the player landing on the space bumps the previous player one space behind them (or the first available space if that space is already occupied), this is called bumping. Players that get bumped backwards or sent back by a hazard, they cannot interact with anything on that space.

File:Superspeedway.jpg
Picture of the board game and contents

If a player lands on a Power-Up they can pick it up and attach it to their car and use it on their next turn, or simply use it immediately on landing on it. Once a power-up has finished being used it is placed back on the track where the player stops. There are four power-ups, Turbo Boost, Oil, Nitro, and Shield. Turbo Boost, when used, will give the player an extra turn. Oil will make any player up to six spaces behind the attacking player lose a turn (if all other racers are hit, the attacking player effectively gains a turn). Nitro similarly will make any player up to six spaces ahead of the attacking player lose a turn. Shield can be attached to the player's car and will stay there until that player is hit by a nitro or oil (does not protect from hazards or pit stop penalties). If one player bumps another that has a shield, the player without the shield must go back three spaces (or to the next available space) and the shield gets knocked off.

Variants

Players are encouraged to customize the game in terms of tracks and race cars. The game can suit up to four players but can be modified for more (or less). Variants include the removal of power-ups for younger players and addition of more power-ups for older players, as well as rules for using more than one power-up at a time (picking up two boosts granting the player two turns, oils and nitros causing other players to lose two turns, shields withstanding two attacks, etc.).

The number of different track pieces allows for lots of variability in tracks and even more so if more than one copy of the game is owned (which could suit a longer game for 8 players). Other LEGO bricks or other items can be used to support the track pieces into ramps, bridges, and even overpasses (where if a player lands on a ramp they are forced to move back to the space below the ramp or the next available space). The game can also be easily played with one or two dice instead of the number spinner. Because the game only requires LEGO pieces and track pieces to play, it is very easy to recreate without ever having owned the set by making your own track pieces and building racers and power-ups from your own supply of LEGOs.

Set Details

Release: 2001
Pieces: 100
MSRP: $19.99 USD
Set No. 31314-1
Inventory: (See Below) / On BrickLink
Instructions: (See Below) / On Peeron

Inventory

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Out of box track
Part Number: Quantity: Part Color:
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Instructions