Backtrack (Armada)

This article is about the Armada Mini-Con car. For the movie Autobot motorcycle, see Backtrack (Movie).

Backtrack is a Mini-Con from the Armada portion of the Unicron Trilogy continuity family.

Is he... dancing?

Backtrack is a speed demon on the field, and a shameless liar in his personal dealings. He makes empty promises that he has no intentions of keeping, goes back on his word at the first chance, and makes no excuses or apologies for his behavior. This makes him highly unpopular with other Mini-Cons and the Autobots, but his skills as a recon soldier make him very valuable, much to his teammates’ chagrin. Still, maybe Spiral can beat him into line.

Fiction

Armada cartoon

After the Decepticons got ahold of the Star Saber, Backtrack was among the new Mini-Cons seen in their possession. Conspiracy

On a later mission, Megatron gathered Backtrack and a number of other Mini-Cons to help him in a scheme against Optimus Prime. Prime managed to win the Mini-Cons loyalty, however, by absorbing their missile fire without resistance or fighting back. Moved by his actions, Backtrack and the others turned on Megatron and accompanied Optimus back to Autobot headquarters. Vow

Backtrack appeared in "Runaway" and "Rescue" working for the Decepticons, despite his previous defection. This was likely an animation error, or the appearance of a generic Mini-Con using the same model, one of many who began appearing around this time in the series.

As the Autobots prepared their new spaceship to chase the Decepticons back to Cybertron, Backtrack and the united Mini-Cons were seen helping with the construction work. Remorse Backtrack and the Mini-Cons all chose to willingly follow the Autobots into space aboard the Axalon, fighting alongside them against the Decepticons. Depart

Dreamwave Armada comic

Backtrack and the rest of the Street Speed Team were among the Mini-Cons who lived on Earth's moon following their escape from Cybertron. Armada #9 Unfortunately, Dualor brought the Earth-based Mini-Cons there, which also brought the Decepticons. While the moonbase was under attack, Backtrack and the others escaped in a rocket-pod. Armada #11 The pod crashed in northern Alaska, leaving the Street Speed Team, Inferno and Comettor deactivated. Fire & Ice Ultimately the Autobots were successful in retrieving the pod. Armada #13

Backtrack later returned to Cybertron and helped Over-Run activate the Mini-Con Matrix, which dealt a critical blow to Unicron. The End

Cybertron toy bios

The Street Speed Team were sent to Velocitron as advance scouts for the Autobots. The planet's mass of winding high-speed tracks really appealed to them, to the point where they started having a hard time tearing themselves from the road to get their missions underway.

Toys

Armada

• Street Speed Mini-Con Team (Basic, 2003)
  • Japanese ID number: MM-06

Backtrack transforms into a Cadillac XLR luxury car, available only in a three-pack with Oval and Spiral. Like his fellow Street Speed Mini-Con Team members, his car mode wheels are designed to allow for much faster rolling on smooth surfaces.

This mold was also used to make Redline, and Armada Side Burn. It was planned to be used for Energon Override and packed with Ultra Magnus, but that release was changed late in the production run and given a different Mini-Con Team.

• Silverbolt and Turbo with Speed Micron (Multi-pack, 2003)
  • Japanese ID number: MS-05

The Street Speed Team was also available in Japan in a multi-pack with Blurr and Incinerator. All toys in the set were identical to their individual releases.

• Auto Overdrive Edition (Mini-Con, 2003)

A black and white redeco of the original Backtrack toy. The "Overdrive Edition" redeco of the Team were given away as individual pieces (not as a complete Team!) at the 17-day Japanese "World Hobby Fair" in January/February of 2003. In April that year, they were also available as random (individual) giveaways at Ito Yokaido stores with the purchase of any Micron Legend product.

Yes, some people really want this. Yes, yes, we know, we want it anyway.

• Street Speed Mini-Con Team (Basic, 2003)

A gray-and-white redeco of Backtrack was planned to be released as part of a "refresh" version of the Street Speed Team for the "Unicron Battles" rebranding of Armada. The coloration of the Team was a "one-off" of the Takara Overdrive Edition version, with each toy’s main color shifted over to another one. Though the full Team was displayed in Hasbro's OTFCC 2003 "upcoming products" case, the set was ultimately canceled for unknown reasons.

Your bargaining posture is highly dubious. Proceed on your way to oblivion. This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

Cybertron

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• Street Speed Mini-Con Team (Basic-class, 2005)
  • Japanese ID number: GC-08

A retooling of the first Backtrack mold, he transforms into a modified Cadillac XLR. He was only available in a complete 3-pack with his also-retooled teammates.

This version of the mold was used to make Cybertron Dice.

Notes

• For whatever reason, the Street Speed Team is the only Armada Mini-Con Team to not have an X-Dimension release.

• The Japanese Galaxy Force version of the Street Speed Team is one of the very few mass-retail "new"-mold Japanese Transformers toys to not show up in the accompanying cartoon.

• "Sullow" seems to be some kind of Japanglish pun on "yellow", the toy's color, and possibly "slow".

• The Cybertron cardback and instructions have Backtrack and Oval's names swapped around.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Auto (オート Ōto), Sullow (Galaxy Force, スロー Surō)

External links

• Backtrack at TFU.info