Sam Speed, Chris' race car driver uncle in Sonic X

He believes himself to be "the fastest man in the world"... until a blue hedgehog appears. Sam Speed, Chris Thorndyke's uncle in Sonic X, is the anime's most endearing racing rival: a speed-obsessed cop who will never beat Sonic, but will never stop trying.

Who is Sam Speed?

Sam Speed is a character from the anime Sonic X, appearing from the very first episode. He is Chris Thorndyke's maternal uncle — Lindsey Thorndyke's younger brother, Chris's mother — and, like the rest of this cast, only exists in the anime, not in the games.

He leads the Speed Team (the "S-Team"), a highway patrol unit in Station Square composed of race car drivers. Extroverted, confident, and a bit egocentric, Sam literally lives for the thrill of speed. Note: he is not a villain, but a comedic and sympathetic rival, allied with the heroes through his nephew.

The Fastest Man... Almost

Sam's entire identity revolves around one conviction: he is the fastest on the planet. A globally renowned driver, he chose police work over competition, his reputation alone being enough to deter speeders.

Then Sonic arrives. From the first episode, the Speed Team chases the hedgehog on the highway — and Sonic humiliates them, mocking the "S" in their logo by claiming it stands for "slow-motion" before outrunning them, even passing their cars in reverse. Sam's obsession has found its match.

The Rival He Never Catches Up To

Sonic Karting Figurine

Sam Speed challenges Sonic to a race. The hedgehog in a go-kart, €29.90.

€29.90

View Product →

His Race Car

Sam's trademark is his machine: a heavily modified Formula 1 car, the "Formula One Cruiser," equipped with a secret fuel tank called "Super Nitro" to boost its top speed. To approach Sonic's supersonic speed, he also drives a Rocket Car propelled by a rocket engine.

Versatile, Sam drives up to six different vehicles throughout the series — even the presidential limousine. But none of his cars are enough: Sonic always effortlessly overtakes him.

The Great Duel Against Sonic

Sam's featured episode is the famous "Fast Friends" (episode 21). Sam gets government support to force Sonic to race against him: the circuit starts from the Thorndyke mansion, crosses Station Square, the desert and canyons, and returns to the stadium in front of the President and thousands of fans.

The suspense is total: at the finish line, both seem equal. But slow motion reveals the truth: Sonic crossed the line first, struck a few poses for the camera, then quietly returned to stand next to Sam. The hedgehog wins — but their rivalry has turned into friendship.

Retirement for Lack of a Rival

Sam's ending is rather touching. Once Sonic returns to his world, Sam hangs up his police hat: deprived of his only true adversary, he declares he no longer has any "competition" worthy of the name.

He then accepts, not without panache, to now be "the second fastest thing on the planet." A nice way to acknowledge that his chase with Sonic was the major event of his life.

Recap

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who is Sam Speed?
  Chris Thorndyke's maternal uncle in the Sonic X anime, and the leader of the Speed Team, a speed-obsessed highway patrol unit. He is a comedic ally, not a villain.
• Does Sam Speed beat Sonic?
  Never. Despite his powerful cars, he always finishes second: Sonic effortlessly overtakes him in every race.
• Is Sam Speed in the Sonic games?
  No, he is a character exclusive to the Sonic X anime.
• What is Sam Speed's car?
  A modified Formula 1 car, the "Formula One Cruiser," equipped with a "Super Nitro" tank. He also drives a rocket-powered Rocket Car to try to match Sonic's speed.
• What happens to Sam Speed at the end?
  He retires from the police: without Sonic to challenge him, he has no rival and settles for being "the second fastest thing on the planet."

🔎 To learn more: Chris Thorndyke, Cosmo, the complete gameography, Topaz and Sonic X.

🏎️ Sonic and the entire Sonic X universe await you in our Sonic figurines.