Podracer / Legends A Podracer was a repulsorlift racing vehicle piloted during Podraces across the galaxy , though specifically in the lawless Outer Rim Territories . The term " Podracer " was also used in reference to a being who piloted the racers . Design . The modern Podracer , developed on Malastare circa 100 BBY , consisted of a small repulsorlift cockpit attached to a series of massive turbine , ion or rocket motors linked together by plasma energy binders . Podracers were all built by their owner , cobbled together from spare parts and military surplus engines . The cockpit sat a single pilot , and was attached to the engines via strong cables , such as those produced by Steelton . The special engines for these craft traditionally came in one of two varieties of mechanical action : internal combustion engine types , which used moving mechanical parts ; or rocket motor types , which used no moving mechanical parts . At a distance , one could differentiate engines from motors by noting if there were rotating fan / turbines at the front of the craft . Energy binders projected from each engine and connected both turbines together , forming a loose triangular configuration with the pod itself , dragged behind the engines , at the highest point . A racer could commonly achieve speeds in excess of eight hundred kilometers per hour . Because of this , Podracing required lightning - fast reflexes , and only species with a wide range of sensory organs , multiple limbs , or durable bodies were known to race pods . Species such as Humans rarely took part in races , and never won — with a single exception . Each Podracer was a unique craft that were highly personalized and obsessed over by their owner , born out of long days in scrapyards and ship - breaking yards looking for the perfect , most unique parts . All customizations , whether to achieve greater speed or agility , or simply to end up with a unique - looking racer , were scrutinized by race organizers who sought to tighten rules and outlaw specific tech from the circuit in an effort to make their racing series more competitive . Despite concerted efforts to reign in certain custom jobs , pilots constantly remained a step ahead of organizers and learned to skirt the rules . The infamous Sebulba piloted one of the largest Podracers on the Outer Rim circuits , complete with numerous hidden features and secret weaponry , while young Anakin Skywalker built a custom racer in his yard in Mos Espa in compliance with the organizer ' s rules . While most pilots felt that customizing their own craft was part of the sport , major corporations such as Czerka Arms , Incom , and Galactic Power Engineering sought to cash in on the production of Podracers . As their products were already being used to create custom builds , the companies began seeking a larger payout and produced prefab Podracers known as " " factory customs . " " Sold as being race ready without need for modification , these vehicles were marked - up considerably in exchange for the time - consuming effort in locating the parts in scrapyards . Despite the price , factory customs sold well during the Galactic Civil War , though they were ridiculed by racing purists who viewed the prefab models as cheating . History . The origin of Podracing can be traced to many different worlds across the Outer Rim and no racer or race has ever been definitively named the first . The Podracer evolved from animal - drawn carts used in racing sports , before becoming more advanced as technology progressed . The swoop racers commonly seen in competitions on Taris , Manaan , and Nar Shaddaa following the Great Sith War , as well as multiple other racing sports across the galaxy were grouped into the origin story of Podracing . It was a daring mechanic called Phoebos who designed the first Podracer circa 100 BBY , and a pilot named Gustab Wenbus took this machine for its first experimental flight . It was Wenbus that history credited with standardizing the Podracer ' s configuration and the creation of the sport ' s rules . The first Podracers to appear on the circuit were rickety , cobbled together machines made of recycled and scavenged parts and old military engines . Unbearably loud , dangerous , and producing all sorts of carcinogens , Podracers , quickly became popular across the Outer Rim due to the violence of the sport . When the Galactic Empire came to power , Podracing was banned and most pilots and their pods were hunted down and destroyed by Imperial Agents . While the sport moved underground during the Imperial era , Podracing enjoyed a resurgence following the Yuuzhan Vong War .