Clegg Holdfast

"The famous writer of Podracer Quarterly himself, Clegg Holdfast, is going to give the real thing a try today. Ho ho, hope he can finish the race."

―Fodesinbeed Annodue — 20?cb=20250116042720

▶️ (file info)^[3]

Clegg Holdfast was a male Nosaurian podracer during the last days of the Galactic Republic. He used a Keizar-Volvec KV9T9-B Wasp.

Biography

"When you spend your life racing pods, you learn to be handy with a wrench and a pit droid."

―Clegg Holdfast, after rescuing a racer from Dud Bolt^[2]

Holdfast was the son of a fish-catcher father and a candle-maker mother, and was a member of Clan Holdfast. Though the Nosaurian was regarded as something of a joke by his fellow racers, he had made quite a name for himself on the Podracing scene, being one of the top journalists for Podracing Quarterly. In truth, this was Holdfast's primary career. Podracing itself was just a tool for him to get the inside scoop on the races. Many of his loyal readers protested that it was too risky a sport for him to take an active part in, but the Nosaurian's hardy hide enabled him to walk away more or less intact from the many crashes he took during his time.

The Boonta Eve Classic

Prior to the greatly anticipated 32 BBY Boonta Eve Classic^[4], Holdfast met with fellow veteran podracers, Gasgano, Boles Roor and Mawhonic, where they were interviewed by Fodesinbeed Annodue in regards to their predictions for the race. This interview was interrupted by Sebulba, who loudly proclaimed his many victories over Holdfast and the others and that only he had a chance of winning. Holdfast crossed his arms and grimaced at the egotistical Dug as he left for the Mos Espa Grand Arena.^[5]

When the Boonta Eve commenced, Clegg successfully piloted his KV9T9-B Wasp through the first lap of the course.^[4] However, Sebulba flame-jetted Holdfast's Podracer at The Notch while they were in the second lap. Clegg's flaming engines crashed into the rock wall, and he took severe injuries. Once he had recovered in the Mos Espa hospital, he returned to podracing, and used his connections as a journalist to change the official records to show that he had finished the Boonta Eve Classic in seventh place, with a time of nearly thirty minutes. His reputation thus preserved, Holdfast continued to write for Podracing Quarterly.

Outer Rim Regional Circuit

Despite being considered in the waning days of his career, Clegg Holdfast signed up to race in the 22 BBY Outer Rim Regional Podracing Circuit. Prior to the Felucia course, Holdfast befriended a new podracing pilot representing Team Watto in the race, establishing a decorum of sportsmanship and respect between the two. After the new pilot won the Utapau course, Holdfast saved the new pilot on Bespin from the livid Vulpter-born pilot, Dud Bolt, who was set to win the race before Team Watto's surprise victory and now wanted revenge. Holdfast knocked out two of Dud’s Trandoshan goons before they assaulted the pilot and sent the Vulptereen fleeing.^[6]

Holdfast's Final Race

"I've got a front seat for the first really good thing to happen to this sport since... since Anakin Skywalker won the Boonta Eve Classic! Podracing is fadin', it needs a new star. Seems like Sebulba's noticed."

―Clegg Holdfast on Team Watto's success^[6]

Learning that Holdfast was not only taking a liking the new pilot but also helping them, Sebulba tasked his sponsored racer, Aldar Beedo, to eliminate Holdfast during their next race in Coruscant. Before the race began, Sebulba met with the new pilot in the Coruscanti podracing pits and told them and Watto that he believes they're the best thing to happen to podracing since Anakin Skywallker's legendary victory at the Boonta Eve Classic ten years ago. It was the belief of Holdfast that Team Watto has the potential to bring podracing back as a popular mainstream sport.

Clegg Holdfast was unable to see his hopes of podracing's return in popularity become a reality, as mid-way through the Coruscant course, Aldar Beedo caused him to crash and, according to Fodesinbeed Annodue's commentary, die. Fodesinbeed Annodue chose to honor Holdfast at the end of the race by providing a small, improvised eulogy for the podracing legend, claiming he was "one of the greats" and that "no one loved the sport more than him".^[6]

Legacy

"You win this one for me, eh? I mean for Clegg, but also for me, I think."

―Watto encouraging the new pilot to win for Clegg^[6]

It was Clegg Holdfast’s kind words to Team Watto and his dream of podracing returning to its glory days that emboldened the new pilot to win the 22 BBY Boonta Eve Classic. The new pilot raced against Holdfast’s murderer, Sebulba, and thanks to a kind donation of upgrades from Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, they were able to avenge Holdfast and win the race.^[6]

Clegg Holdfast’s online publication work within Podracing Quarterly also maintained his reputation long after his death on Coruscant, keeping the veteran in the minds of podracing enthusiasts.^[7] The article was found by Anakin’s son Luke Skywalker who traveled to Tatooine to learn more of his father’s past.^[8]

Behind the scenes

«My engines are faster than yours!»

―Clegg Holdfast was voiced by Dominic Armato — 20?cb=20250116042720

▶️ (file info)^[3]

In his computer game appearances, he was voiced by Dominic Armato.

Inside the Worlds of Star Wars: Episode I incorrectly states that Holdfast finishes the Boonta Eve Podrace.

In one of the deleted scenes from The Phantom Menace, after Clegg crashes, his podracer can still be seen being passed by Anakin Skywalker.

In the revised rough draft of the script for The Phantom Menace, Clegg Holdfast is said to be from Sullust.^[9]

About a decade after the Boonta Eve Classic, Clegg can be seen as a main racer in Destiny Mode on Star Wars Kinect for Xbox 360. His personality is revealed to be hardy with a bit of a southern drawl accent, and it is here he admits how he enters the circuits only for the joy of the race. Yet, after protecting the player from a rowdy Dud Bollt and establishing a neighborly friendship, word reaches the retired Sebulba on the Nosaurian's deed. The Dug had overheard of the player's triumph over his racers, and once he heard Clegg was assisting them, he wasted no time in hiring Aldar Beedo to dispose of him in the Coruscant circuit. While racing, the player can see Clegg's pod burst into flames while Fobe and Beed comment of the severity of the crash. Clegg dies during this. Upon winning the circuit, the player can listen as Fobe and Beed describe how Beedo was 'simply gunning for him,' and they pay their last respects for the fallen racer.