Cover shows Herbie, disguised as Star Trek's Mr. Spock, using one hand to hold a lollipop and the other to give the Vulcan sign for "Live Long and Prosper".
To win money to build a swimming pool, Herbie gets his father to enter a space race. When Herbie finds that his neighbor, Professor Flipdome is away, he builds his own rocket and gets his animal friends to power it. Herbie races Black Bumby who does his best to stop Herbie's rocket.