Redge’s Fantastical F1 - The Folktale Forest Grand Prix

Get ready for a high-speed adventure! Redge suits up for the Folktale Forest Grand Prix, a magical Formula 1 race across Once Upon A Time. With help from his pit crew, he solves riddles that guide his route, taking him to princess castles in Mythdom, the foggy waters of Legend Lake and the towering skyline of Litropia. But the race isn’t just about speed, Redge must navigate tricky turns, fierce competition, and a rival team willing to cheat to win. As he zooms towards the finish line, he makes a surprising choice that changes the outcome of the Grand Prix for everyone.

Episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/redges-fantastical-f1/          

DOWNLOAD COLOR PAGE: https://bit.ly/dorktales130colorfun 

GRAB YOUR FREE PDF list of conversation questions for this episode:
https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/ep130freePDF 

PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS: In “Redge’s Fantastical F1,” kids experience a racing adventure that explores teamwork, fairness, perseverance, and empathy. As Redge and Team Mander solve riddles across Once Upon a Time, they discover another team has been cheating to gain an advantage. Instead of seeking revenge, Redge chooses compassion and good sportsmanship, helping a stranded rival return to the race. 

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS STORY about a race in Once Upon A Time, we think you’ll also enjoy this race in Episode 10, Ready Set Slow!: https://jonincharacter.com/ready-set-slow/

CREDITS: This episode is a Jonincharacter production. It was written by Monique Hafen Adams, edited and produced by Molly Murphy, and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks.

Visit the official Dorktales shop, Once Upon A Merch at dorktales-shop.fourthwall.com to find fun merch inspired by our podcast.

Transcript

Preparing for Grand Prix

Jonathan 0:29

Hello, Dork Squad. I'm Jonathan Cormur, and you're listening to DorkTale Storytime, the podcast for kids and their pop culture loving grown-ups. A special shout out to all of our fans who suggested an F1 inspired story. And, Emmanuelle, listen for the hidden surprise inspired by your Nessie idea.

Theme Song 0:50

It's a beautiful day for a story, adventure, and glory, new friends and old ones too. It's an excellent day to get swept away in a tale, so let us regale you. 

Jonathan 1:14

Hey Sal, hey Val.

Sal 1:16

He's gonna beat his last time.

Val 1:18

Let's go! Let's go!

Sal 1:23

Alright!

Val 1:24

Woo-hoo!

Sal 1:26

He did it! Oh, hey there, Jonathan!

Jonathan 1:30

Wow! Who was driving that race car?

Val 1:34

He doesn't know?

Sal 1:36

Guess he didn't tell him.

Jonathan 1:37

Who didn't tell me what? Redge? It was you driving that race car?

Redge 1:45

Jonathan! Oh, I'm so glad you're here!

Jonathan 1:49

What's going on? I didn't know you could drive a race car.

Redge 1:54

Sal Amander and his sister Val have been helping me prepare for the Folktale Forest Grand Prix.

Jonathan 2:02

A Grand Prix in Once Upon a Time?

Val 2:05

Yes. The iconic Folktale Forest Formula One race.

Sal 2:10

Redge has been training to drive for us. Team Mander.

Redge 2:14

And I get to learn from the best driver we know.

Sal 2:18

As I always say, I'll get you where you're going, lickety split, before you've had a chance to sit.

Redge 2:25

I'm not saying that I was completely motivated by this racing outfit, but just look at this incredible green racing jumpsuit I get to wear.

Jonathan 2:36

Complete with matching helmet, I see.

Redge 2:38

And featuring my sponsor, Howl at the Moon Records, the Big Bad Wolf's Rad Records Shop. You can find me howling down the track and straight to Big Bad's for the latest and greatest in tunes.

Jonathan 2:54

Oh yeah! I see the little patch on your shoulder that looks like a vinyl record.

Redge 2:59

I even get to play the latest branch sisters song during my warm-up laps.

Sal 3:06

Rock on!

Val 3:07

Hey Redge, the first checkpoint clue has just come in.

Sal 3:11

Let's see what it says.

Jonathan 3:14

Checkpoint clue?

Redge 3:15

The Folk tale Forest Formula One races have an added twist. At each checkpoint, you receive a hint to where the race heads to next.

Sal 3:25

A magical race couldn't possibly stay in one place.

Redge 3:29

Precisely.

Val 3:30

This first clue will tell us where the starting line is. What does it say, Sal?

Sal 3:36

The race shall start, where you might find a bed with veggies hidden below. Or a tower so tall you'll need your hair to grow.

Redge 3:47

Veggies under bedding.

Val 3:50

Why would you need long hair for a tower?

Jonathan 3:54

Oh, that could be Rapunzel's tower.

Sal 3:57

But where is there a bed with veggies in it?

Redge 4:01

Oh, I know! Jonathan told the story once. In the castle where the princess couldn't sleep, because there was a teeny tiny pea hidden under many mattresses.

Val 4:13

Two princesses, huh? Then that must mean the race starts in.

ALL 4:19

Mythdom!

Redge 4:20

Of course! Mythdom! Land of castles and royalty. Come on, Jonathan! I'll need your help on our pit crew today.

Jonathan 4:30

I'm ready to solve riddles and change tires. Whatever you need.

Badger 4:42

We will not repeat the race we had last year. That Mander team ain't gonna beat us again. Scully Skunk! Have you figured out how we're going to beat them?

Scully Skunk 4:54

Me? Oh, um, well, uh, Bully Badger, we've been working on the mechanics of the car to get all the gears and gadgets working as efficiently as possible. So if you're just about to cut some time on the turns

Badger 5:08

No no! That's not going to work. We need a better plan. Raucous Raccoon! What do you think? How are we going to win this year?

Raccoon 5:22

Uh cheat?

Badger 5:24

That's more like it. Last year, we lost too much time figuring out the riddles. What's our plan this year, babbling bear?

Bear 5:35

Uh use teamwork to work together and figure out the clues faster?

Badger 5:41

No, raccoon.

Raccoon 5:44

Uh cheat?

Badger 5:45

That's right. And how are we going to cheat, Raccoon?

Raccoon 5:51

I've rigged our radio to intercept Team Manders' channel. So all we have to do is listen in, and they'll give us the clues to the next checkpoint.

Bear 6:03

And then we'll zoom right past him without even reading the hints?

Badger 6:08

That's right, Bear.

Away We Go!

Scully Skunk 6:11

I like the hints.

Badger 6:13

No pouting skunk. What are Team Mander saying now, raccoon?

Raccoon 6:19

Let's see, Badger.

Val 6:29

That must mean the race starts in.

Badger 6:33

Ah, Mythdom it is. Come on, team Apex. This is our year to win this. 

Announcer 6:44

Welcome to the Folktale Forest Grand Prix

Jonathan 7:27

Go Racing Redge!

Redge 7:29

Ooh, racing Redge! I like that, Jonathan!

Sal 7:46

We're coming up on the first checkpoint, clue Redge.

Val 7:50

You've gotten yourself in a good position.

Jonathan 7:53

Great work!

Redge 7:55

I see the checkpoint ahead.

Sal 7:57

Go ahead and slow down so we can get a good look at the riddle.

Scully Skunk 8:00

Skunk to Badger! Hey, come in, Badger!

Badger 8:03

What kind of start was that, skunk?

Scully Skunk 8:06

Oh, you shifted gears too quickly!

Badger 8:09

It wasn't my fault. It was your car that wasn't working right.

New Checkpoint Clue

Bear 8:15

Badger, you're coming up on the checkpoint. Uh you're gonna want to slow down to read.

Scully Skunk 8:23

Badger, you missed the checkpoint!

Badger 8:26

We don't need the checkpoint clue.

Bear 8:29

Uh why?

Raccoon 8:31

Because we'll know where to head as soon as Team Mander figures it out.

Badger 8:36

That's right, Raccoon. Let's listen in.

Redge 8:41

Whoa! Team Apex just rushed past the checkpoint.

Sal 8:45

We can still catch him. Uh, what's the checkpoint clue, Redge? 

Redge 8:49

Let's see. It says the next checkpoint resides in the home of many mythical creatures. One that lurks in the waters deep, another who has very large feet.

Jonathan 9:02

Well, that could be anywhere. Mythical creatures live all over Once Upon a Time.

Val 9:08

One that works in waters deep.

Redge 9:11

Could be the waters of the fantasea.

Sal 9:14

One who has very large feet.

Redge 9:17

Or even a Bigfoot! Oh, amazing, Redge!

Jonathan 9:23

It's gotta be Legend Lake. That's where Bigfoot lives. And Nessie the Lochness Monster. She has a vacation home under the water.

Raccoon 9:32

Did you hear that, Badger?

Badger 9:34

Already headed there now, raccoon.

Redge 9:39

Sal, Val, Jonathan, are you there?

Sal 9:43

We're here! Doing okay, Redge?

Redge 9:46

Oh, it's awfully foggy at Legend Lake. I'm afraid I'll miss the next clue.

Val 9:51

Take it slow, Redge.

Jonathan 9:53

Yeah, you know how it is at Legend Lake. It's so easy to get lost trying to find it. But I believe in you. You got this.

Badger 10:01

Skunk! Skunk!

Scully Skunk 10:03

We're here, Badger! We're here!

Badger 10:06

You're there? But where am I?

Bear 10:11

Uh looks like you may have taken a wrong turn.

Badger 10:15

I can't see a thing in this fog.

Raccoon 10:18

Just stay where you are. We'll hear the next clue and be on our way. No use wasting gas.

Sal 10:26

Any luck finding the clue?

Redge 10:28

Nothing yet. Oh, wait! I think I see it!

Pit Crew Discovery

Val 10:32

What does it say?

Redge 10:34

Let's see. The next checkpoint is where the sky is filled with building tops. And never do the show tunes stop.

Val 10:45

Oh, that's an easy one.

Jonathan 10:47

Musicals and big tall buildings. It's gotta be

Sal 10:52

my hometown, of course!

ALL 10:54

Litropia!

Raccoon 10:58

Got that, Badger.

Badger 11:00

Already on my way, raccoon. 

Sal 11:07

Redge! Come in, Redge!

Redge 11:09

I'm here, team.

Jonathan 11:11

Looks like we'll need to take an unexpected pit stop in Litropia.

Redge 11:14

A pit stop already?

Val 11:16

Afraid so, Redge. We found something very troubling.

Redge 11:22

What is it, Team? What happened?

Sal 11:25

Unfortunately, Val found something on our channel that makes us think Team Apex has been listening in on our conversations.

Jonathan 11:33

They've been waiting for us to figure out the clues and then zooming past us.

Val 11:38

That's how they're getting so far ahead.

Redge 11:41

Well, phooey! That's no fun. What do we do now?

Val 11:46

We test our theory and give them the wrong answer.

Sal 11:49

If they end up racing off the map, then we'll know for sure they were cheating.

Redge 11:54

Got it!

Jonathan 11:55

You'll need to figure out the next clue on your own, though. You got this racing redge.

Redge 12:04

Coming up on the final clue, team! For the last stop, be careful not to be too silly. Go under instead to see old Billy.

Val 12:15

Got it, Redge?

Redge 12:16

Oh, you bet I do. The Billy Goat Mountaintop Bed and Breakfast in the Cliffhangers, of course.

Raccoon 12:23

Got that, Badger?

Badger 12:25

You bet I do.

Sal 12:54

Hey there, Redge! Looks like Val was right. Team Apex is cheating.

Jonathan 12:59

Good work sending them to the Cliffhangers instead of Billy Goat Bridge.

Redge 13:09

Instead of going up to the mountaintops of the Cliffhangers. 

Sal 13:13

Looks like Badger is sufficiently lost, and Team Apex is out of the race.

Redge 13:20

Oh no.

Jonathan 13:21

That doesn't seem right. Won't they miss their final pit stop?

Redge 13:26

Sal, Val, Jonathan, bring the magical minivan. I'll meet you at the Cliffhangers.

Val 13:33

Go, go, go!

Badger 13:41

Huh? Where is everyone?

Redge 13:47

Badger! Bully Badger!

Badger 13:49

Where's the race? Where's everyone else?

Redge 13:53

My team figured out you'd been listening in on our radio and having us solve the clues for you.

Badger 14:00

We um wha

Redge 14:06

so I gave you the wrong answer and sent you here to the Cliffhangers instead of Billy Goat Bridge.

Badger 14:14

But I need new tires!

Redge 14:17

That's what I was worried about. So my team is flying in to help you.

Badger 14:22

What? Really?

Redge 14:25

Really? We certainly don't want to leave you stranded in the Cliffhangers.

Badger 14:30

Even though I cheated.

Redge 14:33

A race is a race, and sometimes people deserve a second chance. What do you say? Want some new tires, and then we can run a clean race. You and me, back to the finish line in Mythdom.

Badger 14:47

Wow, that's uh really nice.

Redge 14:52

On one condition, no more cheating.

Badger 14:57

You're on

Announcer 15:15

the test.

Badger 15:36

Good race, Redge.

Credits, How to Contact Us

Announcer 15:38

There's always next year, Badger.

Badger 15:41

Where I know I can beat you fair and square.

Redge 15:45

We'll see about that.

Jonathan 15:47

Redge, Redgw! What a race!

Val 15:51

You really made that last straightaway count.

Sal 15:54

That was some smooth driving.

Redge 15:57

I couldn't have done it without all of you.

Jonathan 16:00

Huzzah for Racing Reg! On three, one, two, three!

ALL 16:07

Huzzah! 

Jonathan 16:11

This has been a Jon in Character production. This story was written by Monique Hafen Adams, edited by Molly Murphy, and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks. We love hearing from you. Contact us at DorkTalestorytime at gmail.com or try our one-way text feature as a safe way to reach out. You can find even more ways to reach us in the show notes. Now, go be the hero of your own story, and we'll see you next once upon a time.

Theme Song 16:46

So gather your squad that we' ve imagined where the unexpected happens and hit the trails of a wonderful, wacky wild world of dork tales.