The Hooded Claw

In the land of dust and desert sun, Where races never seemed quite done, A pink car sped with style and grace, The loveliest girl in every race. Penelope Pitstop was her name, High-speed glamour was her game, With flowing scarf and boots of white, She was a brave and shining sight. But in the shadows, dark and deep, Where nasty villains like to creep, A sinister figure planned his day To sweep Penelope away. The Hooded Claw, in purple dressed, Put all his evil to the test, With a raspy laugh and a pointed chin, He lived to see the bad guys win. Behind the mask, a secret lied, That even he would try to hide, For the Hooded Claw, so mean and grim, Had Sylvester Sneekly inside of him. As her guardian, he’d act so kind, With her best interests in his mind, But once he donned that purple hood, He was up to nothing good. He’d set a trap with ropes and gears, To play upon a maiden’s fears, A giant saw or a heavy weight, To seal the poor Penelope’s fate. "I’ll have the fortune!" he would shout, While pacing hungrily about, "She cannot escape this clever snare, I’ll leave her helpless sitting there!" But Penelope was not alone, She had a crew she called her own. The Ant Hill Mob, in their tiny car, Would follow her from near and far. Clyde and Softly, Kurly and Moe, They’d rush to where she had to go, To save her from the Claw’s embrace, And put a smile back on her face. The Claw would growl and stomp his feet, Whenever he suffered a defeat. "Curses! Foiled!" he would yell, As his complex plans all went to hell. He’d vanish in a puff of smoke, While Penelope laughed at his little joke, Checking her compact, fixing her hair, Without a single worry or care. Through snowy peaks and canyon walls, She’d answer all the danger calls. The Claw would wait behind a tree, As sneaky as a man can be. He’d tie her to a railroad track, Then scurry off and won’t look back, But with a kick and a clever spin, Penelope would always win. The Hooded Claw would never learn, No matter how his heart did burn, That goodness always finds a way, To ruin a villain’s rainy day. She’d wave her hand and drive on by, Underneath the cartoon sky, Leaving the Claw in a cloud of grit, Bested by her charm and wit. So if you see a flash of pink, Faster than a person can blink, Know that the race is going strong, And Penelope won't be held for long. Though the Claw may plot and the Claw may scheme, He’s just a ghost in a racing dream, For the girl in the car with the lipstick bright, Will always drive into the light.