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There Goes a...
Also known asReal Wheels
Live Action Video for Kids
Dream Big
Created byDave Hood
Written byDave Hood
Directed byDave Hood
Ken Urman
StarringDave Hood (20 episodes)
Becky Borg (12 episodes)
David Sidoni (3 episodes)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes23
Production
Executive producerDave Hood
ProducersDave Hood
Brian Levine
Ken Urman
EditorDave Hood
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesDave Hood Entertainment
Power to Create, Inc.
Original release
NetworkDirect-to-video
Release1993 (1993) –
2003 (2003)

Real Wheels, also known as There Goes A..., Live Action Video for Kids, and Dream Big, is a live-action series of children's educational videos for ages 3–8 that features a specified vehicle and the different jobs it has along with real people who work the job which requires the vehicle. Each episode focuses on a different vehicle, though one episode is reserved for Santa Claus and another for roller coasters. Episodes 1-4, 10, and 21-24 are hosted by Dave Hood, episodes 5-9 and 11-17 are also hosted by Dave Hood, with Becky Borg as co-host, and episodes 18-20 are hosted by David Sidoni.

Real Wheels aired in broadcast syndication (alternating with KidVision series, 'A Day With') during the 1996–97 television season, under the umbrella title Dream Big, distributed by Litton Syndications. The series was syndicated to public television stations by American Public Television from 2003 to 2010.

Premise

[edit]

At the beginning of each episode, Dave (and Becky) introduce(s) himself/themselves to the audience as (insert job title) Dave (and (insert job title) Becky)) and say(s) he/they is/are pretending to be (a/an) (insert job title)(s) so he/they and the audience can learn about the episode's subject vehicles.

In a typical episode, Dave (and Becky) talk(s) about how the vehicles work, their purposes, their history, and talk to people who work in their fields. Comedic segments are also shown in a typical episode, such as antics between Dave and Becky, Dave making a mistake and saying his catchphrase, "I shouldn't have done that!", and Dave and Becky getting into trouble.

At the end of each episode, Dave (and Becky) persuade(s) the audience to visit their local library, or the place based on the subject vehicles' episode to learn more about them. Sometimes, Dave (and Becky) or someone who works in the subject vehicles' fields discuss(es) safety with the audience.

Locations

[edit]

The majority of the episodes were filmed on location in Southern California at locations such as Union Station, Ontario International Airport, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Six Flags Magic Mountain, the Metro Headquarters Building, the Getty Museum and Camp Pendleton. They were occasionally filmed at places like the Kennedy Space Center, the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum, and the USS Kitty Hawk.

List of episodes

[edit]
No.TitleOriginal release date
1"There Goes a Fire Truck"1993 (1993)
Firefighter Dave takes a visit to the Ontario, California Fire Department to see what it takes to be a real firefighter and how fire trucks work. It also features footage of the Ontario International Airport Fire Department in action. We look inside of a fire truck and learn about all of the different equipment and gear the firefighters use.
Note: This is the first episode to feature Dave Hood and the series premiere.
2"There Goes a Bulldozer"March 2, 1994 (1994-03-02)
Construction Foreman Dave visits demolition and construction sites to learn all about machines used in many types of construction.
3"There Goes an Airplane"July 27, 1994 (1994-07-27)
Pilot Dave learns all about different types of airplanes and how they work. Some footage shows the US Navy aircraft in action.
Note: The episode has been called There Goes a Plane on Travel Adventures DVD case. This episode was even originally titled as There Goes a Jet Plane.
4"There Goes a Train"July 27, 1994 (1994-07-27)
Engineer Dave learns all about the different types of trains by visiting places such as Los Angeles Union Station and the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum.
Note: This episode was originally titled There Goes a Locomotive.
5"There Goes a Police Car"July 27, 1994 (1994-07-27)
Deputies Dave and Becky (in her first appearance) learn all about police work as well as the equipment and vehicles they use. Most of the footage shows the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department in action. We look at different police equipment, gear and vehicles to see what they look like.
6"There Goes a Truck"July 27, 1994 (1994-07-27)
Truck Drivers Dave and Becky learn about all different types of trucks and how they work.
7"There Goes a Boat"January 18, 1995 (1995-01-18)
Captains Dave and Becky learn about different types of boats and ships and how they work.
Note: The episode was originally titled There Goes a Ship and There Goes a Big Ship, but was soon re-titled as bigger ships were not only shown in the episode.
8"There Goes a Spaceship"January 18, 1995 (1995-01-18)
Astronauts Dave and Becky visit the Kennedy Space Center to learn about outer space and different types of spacecraft.
9"There Goes a Race Car"January 18, 1995 (1995-01-18)
Race Car Drivers Dave and Becky learn all about different types of race cars, including off-road racing, stock-car racing at a NASCAR race in Tucson Raceway, Top Fuel Dragsters, and visit Sears Point Raceway to visit the Skip Barber Racing School.
10"Here Comes a Roller Coaster and Other Fun-Filled Rides"May 16, 1995 (1995-05-16)

Dave has a dream that he spends a day at Six Flags Magic Mountain and rides on all different types of roller coasters and other thrill rides, with help by his son, Taylor, who helps Dave find “the kid in him”.

Note: This episode was not broadcast in syndication.
11"There Goes a Monster Truck"May 16, 1995 (1995-05-16)
Monster Truck Drivers Dave and Becky learn all about monster trucks, and learn how to drive one.
12"There Goes a Motorcycle"May 16, 1995 (1995-05-16)
Bikers Dave and Becky learn all about motorcycles and how they are used when driving for recreation and racing.
13"There Goes a Helicopter"May 16, 1995 (1995-05-16)
Helicopter Pilots Dave and Becky learn all about different types of helicopters and how they work.
14"There Goes Santa Claus"September 12, 1995 (1995-09-12)
Dave and Becky pretend to be Santa Claus and do the duties that he does.
Note: This episode is a flashback episode when Dave and Becky remember what they did in the past. It features flashbacks from There Goes a Police Car, There Goes a Boat, There Goes a Monster Truck, and There Goes a Motorcycle.
15"There Goes a Mail Truck"1996 (1996)
Letter Carriers Dave and Becky learn about where the mail goes and how it is transported.
Note: The episode is originally titled as There Goes The Mail.
16"There Goes a Rescue Vehicle"1996 (1996)
Paramedics Dave and Becky learn about different types of rescue workers and the vehicles they use. We get to see some of the equipment medical responders use. Dave and Becky also work with a rescue dog named Buddy.
17"There Goes a Garbage Truck"January 27, 1998 (1998-01-27)
Garbage Collectors Dave and Becky learn about garbage trucks and how important it is to keep the Earth clean and not pollute, and about where the garbage goes and where it is stored..
Note: This episode marks Becky's final appearance in the series. The episode also features a flashback from There Goes a Truck.
18"There Goes a Dump Truck"June 15, 1999 (1999-06-15)
Dump Truck Driver Dave learns all about dump trucks and other construction vehicles in road work, and what it takes being a construction foreman.
Note: Dave Sidoni hosts this episode.
19"There Goes a Tractor"January 30, 2001 (2001-01-30)
Farmer Dave learns about tractors and equipment used in farm work.
Note: Dave Sidoni hosts this episode. The original title for this episode was There Goes a Farm Tractor.
20"There Goes a Farm Truck"January 30, 2001 (2001-01-30)
Following up with the previous episode, Dave learns all about farm trucks and how they work, and learns more about harvesting and the packaging of fruits and vegetables, with different kinds of harvesting equipment.
Note: Dave Sidoni hosts this episode. This episode also marks his final appearance.
21"There Goes a Bus"May 30, 2002 (2002-05-30)
Bus Driver Dave learns about buses and attends bus driver school to know what it takes to become one.
Note: Dave Hood returns in this episode.
22"There Goes a Tank"September 16, 2003 (2003-09-16)
Tank Driver Dave goes to Camp Pendleton and learns all about tanks and other military vehicles and how they work.
23"There Goes a Rescue Hero"September 16, 2003 (2003-09-16)
Rescue Hero Dave learns about rescue workers and the vehicles and equipment they use in emergency situations. He also brings along his real pet dog named Charlie, where he attempts to train him how to rescue people in distress.
Note: This is the final episode.

Rockin' Real Wheels

[edit]

A spin-off known as Rockin' Real Wheels was also released featuring songs about the specific types of vehicles featured in the main series. There are four episodes in this series.

No.TitleOriginal release date
1"Train Songs"September 12, 1995 (1995-09-12)
Two kids named Michael and Jennifer visit the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum to learn all about trains. Along the way, they meet Tuffy the train in a musical train adventure.
2"Bulldozer Songs"September 12, 1995 (1995-09-12)
Two kids named Winnie and Alex meet Rocky the bulldozer as he takes them to learn all about bulldozers and other construction vehicles and how they work through song.
3"Fire Truck Songs"September 12, 1995 (1995-09-12)
During an open house at the fire department, two kids named Jessica and Jay meet Freddy the Friendly Fire Engine as they embark on a musical journey learning all about fire trucks. Along the way, the kids learn about the various types of tools and equipment the firefighters use as well as various fire safety guidelines. Various songs are used to entertain the kids.
4"Santa Songs"September 12, 1995 (1995-09-12)
One day, at the library, three kids named Leslie, Leon (then-future All That star Leon Frierson), and Julie open a magical Christmas book and an animated Santa Claus takes them on a musical holiday journey to the North Pole.

That's How They Do It

[edit]

The first two episodes were originally released as part of the Thinking Kids series, and were re-released on DVD in 2002.

No.TitleOriginal release date
1"Making Candy"
"Chocolate"
September 12, 1995 (1995-09-12)
Dave as Professor Hoody visits a chocolate factory to see how sugar and cocoa beans become candy bars and chocolate chips.
2"Making Money"
"Money"
September 12, 1995 (1995-09-12)
Dave as Professor Hoody visits Washington, D.C. to learn how dollar bills are printed. He also travels to the Denver Mint to see they make coins.
3"Dolls"2004 (2004) (syndication)
Dave as Professor Hoody visits a doll museum to learn about dolls and how they are made. Hoody gets to create his own doll with a little help from friends.

DVD releases

[edit]

The "Real Wheels" series has also released a series of DVD, each usually containing two episodes as well as a blooper reel, interactive glossary, and other special features. The DVDs are usually titled as "Adventures", with three episodes sharing a theme among their featured vehicles. A spin-off called "Rockin' Real Wheels" was also released featuring songs about a specific type of vehicle. All episodes except for Here Comes a Roller Coaster, There Goes Santa Claus and Santa Songs, were featured on DVD.

"Adventures" DVDs

[edit]

1. Truck Adventures

There Goes a Fire Truck, There Goes a Garbage Truck, and There Goes a Truck.

2. Mega Truck Adventures

There Goes a Bulldozer, There Goes a Monster Truck, and There Goes a Tank.

3. High Speed Adventures

There Goes a Race Car, There Goes a Motorcycle, and There Goes a Spaceship.

4. Travel Adventures

There Goes a Train, There Goes a Plane, and There Goes a Bus.

5. Land, Sea, and Air Adventures

There Goes a Boat, There Goes the Mail, and There Goes a Helicopter.

6. Tractor Adventures

There Goes a Tractor, There Goes a Dump Truck, and There Goes a Farm Truck.

7. Rescue Adventures

There Goes a Rescue Hero, There Goes a Police Car, and There Goes a Rescue Vehicle.

8. Rockin' Real Wheels

Train Songs, Bulldozer Songs, and Fire Truck Songs.

Live tour

[edit]

From 2001-2004, there was a live tour entitled, "Real Wheels Live". It starred Dave Hood that featured him doing magic tricks and had audience participation stunts. Before the show, there were vehicles that the audience would touch and look at.

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Real Wheels: There Goes a... is a live-action educational video series for children ages 3 to 8, produced by Entertainment in collaboration with , that explores various vehicles and the real-world jobs performed by the who operate them. Hosted primarily by as Construction Foreman Dave and Becky Borg, the series combines entertainment with practical lessons on vehicle functions, safety, and community roles through on-location filming with professionals. Endorsed by KIDS FIRST and the Coalition for Children’s Media, it emphasizes non-violent, content designed to foster curiosity about machinery and occupations without commercial interruptions. Launched in 1994 by creator , the series was developed with partner Ken Urman to address a gap in positive, educational media for young viewers, initially distributed as tapes and later compiled into DVD collections. Early episodes aired on stations, contributing to its word-of-mouth popularity, and by 2003, Warner Home Video released updated titles, with plans for up to 200 episodes focusing on themes like rescue operations and heavy machinery. The production's live-action style, featuring physical humor and authentic equipment demonstrations, distinguishes it from animated counterparts, appealing to preschoolers' fascination with large vehicles. Notable installments include There Goes a Fire Truck (1993), which covers techniques; There Goes a Bulldozer (1994), demonstrating work; and compilations like Rescue Adventures (2005), encompassing police cars, helicopters, and emergency responses to teach protocols. Through these, the series imparts social lessons, such as learning from errors and appreciating workers' contributions, while highlighting diverse vehicles from trains and garbage trucks to monster trucks and spaceships. Its enduring legacy lies in promoting STEM-related interests in , with episodes remaining accessible via digital platforms and nostalgic revivals.

Overview

Premise

Real Wheels, also known as There Goes a..., Live Action Video for Kids, and Dream Big, is a live-action educational video series targeted at children aged 3 to 8, designed to teach about various vehicles—such as fire trucks, airplanes, , bulldozers, and police cars—and the real and jobs associated with operating them. The program's core premise centers on fostering curiosity and excitement about machinery by demonstrating how these vehicles function in everyday and specialized scenarios, while emphasizing the roles of workers like firefighters, pilots, engineers, and construction foremen. Through engaging, hands-on interactions in authentic real-world settings, the host explores vehicle mechanics, safety features, and operational processes, blending education with entertainment to make complex topics accessible and fun for young viewers. This approach highlights practical learning, such as how a fire truck's equipment aids in emergencies or how a bulldozer shapes construction sites, encouraging children to appreciate the teamwork and skills involved in these professions. The series comprises 23 direct-to-video episodes released from 1993 to 2003, building a comprehensive that promotes wonder and hands-on discovery of transportation and . It was briefly syndicated in during 1996–97 under the title Dream Big and on public television stations from 2003 to 2010.

Format and style

The episodes of There Goes a..., also known as Real Wheels, each run approximately 30 minutes in length, allowing for a focused exploration suitable for young children's attention spans. The narrative structure adheres to a straightforward, educational flow: primarily hosted by and Becky Borg, with David Sidoni hosting three episodes, the hosts introduce the central vehicle, travel to real-world job sites where it operates, conduct interviews with professionals such as drivers and mechanics, and showcase the vehicle's functions through authentic demonstrations and footage. This approach ensures accessibility and excitement, briefly referencing the educational emphasis on vehicles and associated occupations to build context without delving into overarching plots. Visually, the series employs live-action on-location filming at factories, construction zones, and response areas, capturing genuine operations with workers to immerse viewers in practical scenarios. Upbeat underscores the action sequences and transitions, enhancing engagement for the target audience of ages 3–8. The program follows a single-season video series format, eschewing serialized storytelling in favor of standalone episodes, each independently centered on one type and its real-life applications.

Production

Development and crew

The "There Goes a..." series, also known as "Real Wheels," was created, written, directed, and primarily hosted by Dave Hood from 1993 to 2003. Hood, who founded Dave Hood Entertainment in 1987, developed the concept in partnership with executive producer Ken Urman at Power to Create, Inc., aiming to produce live-action educational videos that emphasized real-world vehicle operations without violence or inappropriate content for young children. The series began as direct-to-video releases through Warner Home Video, with initial episodes like "There Goes a Fire Truck" and "There Goes a Bulldozer" launching in 1994 after approximately two weeks of shooting and one to two months of editing per title. Production averaged two to three episodes per year, with Hood handling multiple roles including editing, while his wife Rebecca Hood served as vice president and producer on select installments such as "There Goes a Tank" and "There Goes a Rescue Hero." Becky Borg co-hosted 12 episodes alongside Hood, appearing in titles that featured interactive segments with children, while David Sidoni hosted three episodes—"There Goes a Farm Truck," "There Goes a Tractor," and "There Goes a Dump Truck"—where he took on roles like "Farmer Dave" to explore . The videos were initially distributed directly to home markets, expanding into during the 1996–97 season under the umbrella title "Real Wheels," alternating with other children's programming. Further syndication to public television stations began in 2003 through , broadening the series' reach to educational broadcasters. As extensions of the core format, spin-offs emerged to diversify the educational focus. "Rockin' Real Wheels," a music-themed series, originated as a sing-along companion released on DVD, featuring songs about vehicles from the main lineup to engage preschoolers through rhythm and repetition. Similarly, "That's How They Do It" developed as a process-oriented extension, with episodes like "Making Chocolate" and "Making Money" hosted by Hood and Borg to demonstrate and economic concepts in real-world settings. These offshoots maintained the series' commitment to hands-on learning while targeting complementary themes.

Filming locations

The majority of the There Goes a... series, also known as Real Wheels, was filmed on location in to capture authentic, everyday operations of vehicles and machinery in their natural environments. This approach emphasized real-world accessibility and safety, allowing hosts and Becky Borg to interact directly with working professionals and equipment without staging artificial scenes. Key sites included Los Angeles Union Station, where train sequences showcased passenger rail operations and historic architecture, contributing to the educational depiction of rail travel. Ontario International Airport served as a primary hub for aviation episodes, highlighting cargo handling and aircraft maintenance in a bustling regional facility. Local fire stations, such as those in Ontario, California, provided hands-on footage of emergency response vehicles in active duty settings, underscoring the show's focus on public service roles. Construction sites around Los Angeles were used for heavy equipment segments, demonstrating earth-moving operations amid genuine building projects to illustrate industrial processes. Additionally, Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia hosted thrill-ride explorations, integrating amusement park logistics with mechanical engineering concepts for episodes on coasters and related vehicles. One notable out-of-state location was the in , featured in the There Goes a Spaceship episode to depict launch facilities and assembly in an operational environment. This site added a layer of national scope while maintaining the series' commitment to verifiable, high-profile venues. Filming spanned from 1993 to 2003, with production prioritizing secure, functioning sites to deliver age-appropriate insights into American transportation and without compromising safety or realism.

Episodes

Main series overview

The main series of There Goes a..., also known as Real Wheels, consists of 23 self-contained educational episodes produced between 1993 and 2003, each centered on a specific and its role in everyday operations or special scenarios. These episodes highlight vehicles such as fire trucks, , , , , ambulances, police cars, construction equipment like bulldozers and dump trucks, school buses, tow trucks, snowplows, and more whimsical ones including Santa's sleigh and roller coasters, using live-action footage to demonstrate their functions and the workers who operate them. Titles like There Goes a Fire Truck (1993), There Goes a Garbage Truck (1998), There Goes a Mail Truck (1996), and There Goes an Airplane (1994) exemplify the series' focus on real-world machinery and transportation. The episodes follow a consistent format that builds excitement by combining on-location demonstrations with engaging narration, emphasizing how vehicles contribute to community safety, efficiency, and fun while showcasing the skills of professionals like firefighters, pilots, and . hosted 20 episodes, with Becky Borg co-hosting 12 and David Sidoni hosting 3. This approach fosters conceptual understanding of vehicle and roles without delving into technical jargon, making the content accessible for young viewers aged 3 to 8. Real demonstrations, often filmed at actual sites in , provide authentic visuals of in action, such as a fire truck responding to emergencies or a clearing roads. Originally released as home videos through Warner Home Video, the series gained broader reach through early airings on PBS stations in the 1990s and syndication on public television via American Public Television from 2003 to 2010. This distribution helped introduce the educational content to wider audiences, reinforcing themes of curiosity and respect for essential services through repeated viewings.

Rockin' Real Wheels

Rockin' Real Wheels is a four-episode spin-off series that extends the educational focus of the main There Goes a... program by integrating music to explore functions and roles. Produced as VHS releases in 1995, the series features host performing original songs alongside real footage of vehicles in action, differentiating it from the main series through its rhythmic, sing-along format designed to captivate young audiences. The episodes include Rockin' Real Wheels: Train Songs, Rockin' Real Wheels: Fire Truck Songs, Rockin' Real Wheels: Songs, and Rockin' Real Wheels: Santa Songs, each approximately 30 minutes long and centered on a specific . In these productions, Hood leads musical segments where lyrics detail the 's daily operations, such as a fire truck's response procedures or a 's transportation role, blending entertainment with factual learning about jobs performed by these machines. This approach ties directly into the main series' themes but emphasizes auditory engagement to reinforce concepts like and roles. Released in DVD compilations around 2005, the series enhances the core educational content with upbeat performances that encourage viewer participation through repetitive choruses and simple melodies. For instance, songs highlight how a aids or a fire truck fights fires, using to make abstract processes memorable for children aged 3-8. The musical elements provide a lively contrast to the documentary-style narration of the original episodes, promoting via while maintaining accuracy in depicting real-world applications.

That's How They Do It

"That's How They Do It" is a three-episode spin-off from the Real Wheels series, released in 1995 (with one in 2004), that provides step-by-step breakdowns of how everyday items are manufactured. The episodes—"That's How They Do It: Making Candy/Chocolate," "That's How They Do It: ," and "That's How They Do It: Dolls"—are hosted by and incorporate visits to factories and interviews with workers to demonstrate production processes. In "That's How They Do It: Making /," Hood guides young viewers through the factory routines of and production, highlighting equipment and steps from raw ingredients to . The episode uses real visits for authenticity, emphasizing the coordinated processes involved in food manufacturing. "That's How They Do It: " explores the minting of , showing the sequence from design to circulation, with Hood interacting with workers to explain machinery, security features, and [quality control](/page/quality control). It illustrates how money is produced and distributed. "That's How They Do It: Dolls" details toy procedures, from and molding to assembly and testing, featuring Hood at a to demonstrate the sequential nature of production. It covers and , drawing on real operations to convey the job's steps. This spin-off adopts a procedural style, prioritizing the human elements of work over showcases, while maintaining the educational tone of the main series through engaging, narrative-driven explanations.

Home media

DVD releases

The DVD releases of the main There Goes a... series consisted of themed compilation sets produced as products in the , distributed by Warner Home Video. These sets grouped 3–4 episodes per disc, focusing on related themes to provide educational content for children ages 3–8, with each episode typically running about 30 minutes for a total disc runtime of 90–120 minutes in standard definition (full screen, format, color). Seven themed sets were released during this period, emphasizing categories such as , , air and sea vehicles, , farms, mega trucks, and high speed vehicles. For instance, Truck Adventures (2002) compiled episodes on , , and general , specifically "There Goes a ," "There Goes a ," and "There Goes a ," highlighting urban service vehicles. Rescue Adventures (2003), subtitled There Goes a , featured episodes about , ambulances (as ), and heroic emergency responses, including "There Goes a ," "There Goes a ," and "There Goes a ." Air & Sea Adventures (also released as Land, Air & Sea Adventures in 2004) included and boat episodes, specifically "There Goes a Boat," "There Goes the Mail," and "There Goes a Helicopter," exploring transportation over water and air. Train Adventures formed part of the broader Travel Adventures set (2003), which incorporated episodes alongside buses and planes for a focus on passenger and freight rail systems, including "There Goes a Plane," "There Goes a ," and "There Goes a Bus." Additional sets covered specialized themes, such as Mega Truck Adventures (2003) with construction vehicles like bulldozers, , and , including "There Goes a ," "There Goes a ," and "There Goes a "; Tractor Adventures (2005), featuring , , and farm trucks, specifically "There Goes a ," "There Goes a ," and "There Goes a Farm Truck"; and High Speed Adventures () with faster vehicles like race cars and spaceships, including "There Goes a Race Car," "There Goes a Motorcycle," and "There Goes a Spaceship." Each set included bonus features such as sing-along songs, bloopers with host , and interactive glossaries to enhance learning.

Adventures DVDs

The Adventures DVDs represent a specialized line of home video releases for the There Goes a... series, compiling thematically grouped episodes into feature-length presentations aimed at children aged 3–8. These volumes differ from standard episode compilations by focusing on cohesive vehicle themes, such as trucks, , and operations, to enhance educational engagement through real-world footage and host-led explorations. Released between 2002 and 2005, this series of seven volumes coincided with the airing of the program's episodes on public television stations, including a notable broadcast push by KCTS in 2004. Examples include Truck Adventures (featuring "There Goes a Fire Truck," "There Goes a Garbage Truck," and "There Goes a Truck"), Travel Adventures ("There Goes a Plane," "There Goes a Train," and "There Goes a Bus"), Rescue Adventures ("There Goes a Rescue Hero," "There Goes a Police Car," and "There Goes a Rescue Vehicle"), High-Speed Adventures (including "There Goes a Race Car," "There Goes a Motorcycle," and "There Goes a Spaceship"), Mega Truck Adventures (with "There Goes a Monster Truck," "There Goes a Bulldozer," and "There Goes a Tank"), Tractor Adventures ("There Goes a Tractor," "There Goes a Dump Truck," and "There Goes a Farm Truck"), and Land, Air & Sea Adventures ("There Goes a Boat," "There Goes the Mail," and "There Goes a Helicopter"). Each DVD runs about 90–100 minutes, emphasizing practical vehicle functions and safety lessons. Sets included bonus features such as sing-along songs, bloopers with host Dave Hood, and interactive glossaries. These releases targeted educational and family markets, often endorsed by organizations like KIDS FIRST for their informative value in teaching about services, transportation, and heavy machinery. Brief inclusions of spin-off elements, such as musical segments, appear in select volumes but are not central to the curation.

Live performances

Real Wheels Live tour

The Real Wheels Live tour, also known as Dave's Big Live Show, was a live-action stage production derived from the Real Wheels educational video series, running from 2001 to 2004. Hosted by , the longtime presenter of the original series, the tour brought the show's focus on and machinery to live audiences through interactive performances. Produced by Dave Hood Entertainment, it emphasized hands-on learning for children aged 3–8, recreating key concepts from episodes such as vehicle operations and responses without relying on pre-recorded video footage. The show's format centered on engaging demonstrations of and related activities, including a simulation to illustrate teamwork and remote-controlled displays highlighting machinery. Magic tricks, often themed around episode elements like transportation and , were performed using props such as wands, trunks, and illusionary hypnotism segments to captivate young viewers. Audience participation was a core feature, with children invited onstage for songs like "Dream Big" and tunes celebrating large machines, fostering an energetic, communal atmosphere. Hood's , Charlie the from the videos, appeared in segments to add humor and familiarity, tying the live experience to the series' like fire trucks and bulldozers. Over its four-year run, the tour conducted multiple performances across U.S. venues including theaters and schools, prioritizing educational outreach in settings. The production highlighted interactive by blending physical props, live action, and thematic recreations—such as fire truck rescue scenarios— to reinforce lessons on , , and professions without full episode playbacks. This approach allowed audiences to experience the wonder of real-world vehicles in a dynamic, non-screen format, extending the series' impact beyond home viewing.

Other live events

In addition to the main Real Wheels Live tour, Dave Hood participated in school assemblies and educational workshops throughout the 1990s and 2000s, where he demonstrated scale models of vehicles from the series and discussed related careers with students. Following the conclusion of the primary tour, Hood made sporadic appearances at children's museums and conventions through 2010, offering interactive sessions on vehicle mechanics and safety tailored for young audiences. These post-tour activities maintained fan interest without the structure of a full touring production.

References

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