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#251: The Case of the
Runaway Racer
Original Airdate: 11/14/65

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Pappy Ryan, a race car builder, is one of the meanest men you'd ever want to meet. He's angry enough to kill when one of the race car drivers, Pete Griston, cracks up one of Pappy's masterpieces on a test drive and injures another driver.

Pappy accuses Harvey Rettig of tampering with the car, and files charges against both Rettig and Griston. Before the authorities can serve a warrant, Rettig is killed and Pete Griston is found standing groggily over the body. Burger has all the motive he needs when he learns Pete signed for a $50,000 loan that Rettig took out with a loan shark.

Credits Edit

Cast

Hank Brandt as Pete Griston
Jan Shepard as Marge Leonard
Anthony Caruso as Harvey Rettig
Michael Constantine as Pappy Ryan
Richard Eastham as Oliver Stone
Gavin MacLeod as Dan Platte
Robert H. Harris as Marty Webb
Jimmy Cross as Drunk
Michael Harris as Blake Leonard
Paul Winfield as Mitch
Lawrence Green as Medic
Seamon Glass as Joe

Trivia Edit

At the end of the show, Paul gets into a right-hand drive foreign car and is taken for a ride. Look close! The car on the track is not the same one he got into! It's a modified Corvette. That same straightaway run is also seen when Perry goes for his ride about midway through the show. See more here. Submitted by Julie Corson, 2/21/05.

The character of Harvey Rettig, played by Anthony Caruso, may have been inspired by real-life team owner and race promoter J. C. Agajanian. See here. Submitted by D. A. Supernaw, 9/29/05.

Listen for this odd exchange when Perry and Paul visit Oliver Stone at his estate. Paul: "Now Professor, will you tell the audience what's written inside the lady's watchband?" Perry: "One dollar, forty-nine." Paul: "Right you are Professor." This sounds like the dialog from a lame clairvoyant act. Look here for the connection. Submitted by D. A. Supernaw, 10/28/05.

Location: Towards midway, Perry and Paul drive up to Olivers Stone's estate in Paul's Corvette. The house is actually "The Magic Castle" in Hollywood. See here. Submitted by D. A Supernaw, 10/28/05.

Comments Edit

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