312 - Destruction Derby

Original Airdate: 24-Nov-1979

Plot: As the show opens, Ponch is racing car 32 in the "Fear 250" stock car race. When one driver leaves the race, Jon peeks under his hood and takes a picture. Soon, Ponch has to end the race because of car trouble. When he meets up with Jon, we learn they're undercover. When they meet Sarge and Baricza, we learn they're looking for stolen cars. Getraer informs them they're now looking for drug smugglers. That night, they head over to "The Pit Stop" and order some beers. The next day, Ponch conducts repairs on the stock car while Jon gets coffee. That night, Ponch is out racing again and wins $100. The next day, Jon, Bonnie, Grossie, and Getraer all play handball. Later, one of the racer's car catches on fire during a race. As Ponch and Jon put it out, he's shouting "Let it burn!" That night, Jon's out racing. Later, at the bar, Ponch sweet talks a woman racer. When Jon shows up, he tells Ponch the car's transmission was stripped. Since they can't get another car, Ponch decides to enter the destruction derby. Soon, one of Ponch's ex-schoolmates recognizes Ponch and almost blows his cover. The next morning, Ponch, Jon, and Getraer discuss tactics while jogging. Later, Ponch and Jon head to the junkyard where a forklift is moving old cars. They find one of "Bones"'s old wrecks and some drugs inside. Back at the track, a driver with a broken arm offers them his old car to use in the destruction derby. When Jon gets called to the office to for a phone call, two guys stick a bomb in his truck. They also stick one behind the seat in Ponch and Jon's stock car. After the commercial break, Ponch heads out in the destruction derby. While cheering on Ponch, Jon notices a wire on the ground. He opens his truck's hood and defuses the bomb. After not finding one in Ponch's car, he heads out into the derby. When Ponch ses his car, he heads over to it. Then he climbs out of the stock car and into his own. Seconds later, the stock car blows up. Trying to catch the guy that tried to kill them, Jon flips Ponch's and totals it. In the end, Ponch decides it was worth it to save his life.

Guest Stars: Billy Green Bush (as Bones Bateman), Angel Tompkins (as Billy), Dick DeCoit (as Chet Lindford), Alan Beckwith (as Junkyard Worker), Anna Mathias (as Rachel), Cynthia Gable (as Sarah)
Written by: Richard B. Mittleman
Directed by: Gordon Hessler

Fun Fact:

• This episode occurs over more days than any other...five!
• Ponch says he put $1000 into his car...which he bought in "Neighborhood Watch" for $83.

Mistakes:

• When the show opens with Ponch racing, the announcer mentions Ponch name at least once every 30 seconds...but never mentions another driver's name.
• After Ponch leaves the first race, it's daytime. Just a minute ago it was night.
• The first time Jon races, the shots of Ponch are during the daytime but Jon's racing at night.
• After riding from the junkyard, Ponch and Jon drive up in their own cars. When they were at the junkyard, they were both in Jon's truck.
• When Ponch's car was flipped, the top was almost entirely crushed. After the commercial, it's not as bad.

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