Self-propelled novelty toy

A self-propelled toy, comprising:

• a toy body;
• a “drive and control” module, including a housing;
• a connector for connecting the drive and control module to, and disconnecting the drive and control module from, the toy body;
• an axle with wheels on opposing ends and an axel drive/driven gear, attached to the drive and control module housing;
• a pull-back mechanism arranged in or on the drive and control module housing that includes a motor drive/driven gear 62 that drivingly connects to the axel drive/driven gear, wherein upon pulling back the toy body with the wheels touching the ground, the pull-back mechanism generates and stores mechanical potential energy, which upon release of the toy body, translates to kinetic energy to drive the toy in a direction opposite that of the pull-back direction;
• and
• a controller arranged on or in the drive and control module housing, connected to the pull-back mechanism and electrically connected to at least one light emitting diode (LED) in the toy body, the controller including a microcontroller, or other logical elements and a rechargeable energy source for powering the microcontroller or other logical elements, and the at least one LED;
• wherein the controller includes at least one sensing element for sensing when the pull-back mechanism has generated and stored mechanical energy, defining a “primed” logical state, and when toy is released to allow the toy to move forward, defining a “go” state;
• and
• wherein, if in the primed state and the go state, the at least one LED is powered to generate a light signal.