{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 11
|prev=Deus ex Machina
|next=Predatory
|image=Sierra_Waving.JPG
|caption=Temptation, thy name is woman!
|title="Speed Metal"
|airdate=[[April 9]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Dean Stefan]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Knock Out and Jack are both drawn into the world of street racing.'''

==Synopsis==
Cruising along a road at night, [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] listens on on a news report about illegal street racing. Switching it off, he pulls up alongside three other cars waiting to race. The [[Fast Willy|driver of one]] decides to put a long scratch in Knock Out's paintwork, rousing the [[Decepticon]]'s ire. After the race starts, Knock Out runs the other driver off the mountain road, informing the stunned human "You scratch my paint, I scratch yours", before racing off.

Outside the high school, [[Jack Darby|Jack]] encounters school bully [[Vince]], who mocks [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]]'s vehicle mode. Jack and Arcee leave, but while stopped at some lights, Jack's called out to by [[Sierra]], who's keen on a ride. Before Jack can answer, Vince pulls up and challenges him to a race. Jack's still thinking about it when the light changes and Arcee takes off, reminding Jack of the rules about abusing their power. Vince catches up with them at the next lights, and insults Arcee's motorcycle mode, resulting in her deciding to suspend the rules, just this once. The pair let Vince know they're ready for the race, and Sierra and [[Sierra's friend|her friend]] turn out at an old dirt road to spectate. Arcee's driving abilities far outstrip Vince's, and they win easily, but Arcee turns down Jack's suggestion that they should offer Sierra a lift.

On the [[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]], [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] is buffing the comatose [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]. [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] wanders in to check on the patient, and wonders aloud where Knock Out's got to. The 'Con himself walks in a few moments later, complaining about the scratch some "skinjob" put in his finish. Starscream is most disapproving that Knock Out's been street racing again, and is even more peeved at Knock Out's failure -and glib refusal- to refer to Starscream as "Lord".

Back at [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|base]], Arcee reminds Jack not to tell anyone about the race, but it turns out [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] and [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] already know, having heard about it at school. Jack swears them to secrecy.

At school, Sierra tells Jack she was impressed with the outcome of the race, but Vince challenges Jack to race again, at the circuit. Jack's compelled to agree, but Arcee flatly refuses to race.

Knock Out is out cruising a road somewhere near [[Jasper]], when a speeding street racer car gets his attention, and he heads toward the town.

Jack asks Raf if he can borrow [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] so he can go street racing. Raf isn't so sure (much to Bumblebee's dismay), but Miko and Jack talk him into it. Jack and Bumblebee haul up at the race track, as does Knock Out. As the race begins and Bumblebee and Vince jostle for lead position, Knock Out recognizes Bumblebee and begins chasing the Autobot while firing. Jack finds he has problems overcoming the communications barrier.

Back at base, Miko and Raf are playing a [[Generic racing game|video game]] when Arcee asks them if they've seen Jack. They attempt to cover for their friend, but Arcee immediately works out what's up, and a short time later Bumblebee's distress call comes though.

Bumblebee dumps some oil to slow Knock Out down, then ducks under a bridge. At first it seems they've lost the Decepticon, but Vince hauls in to confront Jack and demand he finish the race. Jack tries to warn Vince of the danger, but Vince's headlights have attracted Knock Out, who grabs the boy and, rendering him unconscious, drives off. Knock Out contacts Breakdown to announce he's captured Bumblebee's human friend. Arcee and Bulkhead join Bumblebee, but before Arcee can start a lecture, Jack tells her about Vince, and they head off to mount a rescue.

[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] walks into the base and wonders where everyone else is. Raf and Miko give him the least convincing replies ever.

[[Image:PrimeScreamer'sFingerOfDoom.JPG|right|thumb|300px|"Not the gumdrop buttons!"]]

The three Autobots track Knock Out to a warehouse area and Bulkhead and Bumblebee stroll in while Arcee scales a nearby water tower. Bulkhead and Bumblebee are ambushed by Breakdown. Just as Knock Out is wondering where Arcee is, she jumps on top of him. Knock Out decides to bail, but at least has the courtesy to radio Breakdown and let him know. Unfortunately the call distracts Breakdown long enough for Bulkhead to deck him with a street lamp. Knock Out streaks down a road with Arcee in pursuit, but is suddenly sideswiped by Optimus, knocking him onto the embankment. With the 'Con unable to flee, Optimus rips his door off and retrieves the unconscious Vince. Knock Out is outraged at the damage done to him, but retreats when the rest of the Autobots arrive. Vince finally recovers in Bumblebee on the way back to his car, and Jack spins a story to cover the whole thing.

Starscream is ''very'' upset with Knock Out's antics, and gives him some more scratches.

At school again, Sierra asks Jack for a ride, but he turns her down. Arcee, however, is feeling more accommodating, and soon Jack and Sierra are zooming through town.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (4)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (13)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (14)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (15)
|c2=*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (1)
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (8)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (9)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (10)
|c3=*[[Fast Willy]] (2)
*[[Jack Darby]] (3)
*[[Vince]] (5)
*[[Sierra]] (6)
*[[Sierra's friend]] (7)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (11)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (12)

}}

==Quotes==
"You scratch my paint, I scratch ''yours''."
:—'''Knock Out''' showing Fast Willy what happens when you mess with his paint-job.

"Uh, Jack? A lady's vital stats are her own business."
:—'''Arcee''' tells Jack that she doesn't want him bragging about the different aspects of her body to just anyone.

"Winning isn't enough, Jack. You want to make him ''cry''."
:—'''Arcee''' explains her method of getting even.

'''Raf''': We should just tell Optimus the truth. 
'''Miko''': Absolutely not! We made a deal. Just act completely normal. 
'''Optimus''': Raf, Miko, do either of you know where the others have gone? 
'''Miko''': Why, no, sir. We do not know. 
'''Raf''': ''(stiffly)'' Miko is correct. We do not know. 
'''Miko''': Why would we know? 
'''Optimus''': Hmm.
:—It's a minor miracle the kids haven't blown their cover with their parents yet.

"Do you know how hard that is to replace?!"
:—'''Knock Out''' loses a door to Optimus Prime.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical errors===
Sierra has an oddly wandering eye in one scene, perhaps the poor girl just has a really bad case of astigmatism.

===Continuity errors===
*Vince challenges Jack to a race on a "dirt road", but the road they race on is sealed and marked.
*Jack's first race with Vince takes place after school, and Jack and Arcee presumably go to the Autobot base afterwards. Somehow Miko and Raf, who're already at the base, heard about Jack's victory at school.

===Transformers references===
* Vince's Car look a [[Tracks (G1)|bit]] [[Side Burn (RID)|familliar]].

===Foreign dubbing===

===Real-world references===

===Trivia===
* This is the first episode to premiere on a Saturday.
* This is the first episode not to include [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]].
* This is not the first episode of a [[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|''Transformers'' cartoon]] [[Velocity|to teach a lesson about street racing]].
* Bulkhead once again decides to forgo saving someone out of simple dislike. What a jerk!

==Home video releases==

==External links==

[[Category:Prime episodes]]