Page 14 - HWNewsletteVolume33Issue1#132

downhill
Collectors downhill at future convnetions as there is no testing on Saturday. The kids’ race

has been changed from ages 12 and under to 15 and under. This change
racing does fit a bit more with the other activities and allows more attendance
for this race. Watch for some trophy changes at the Collector’s Nationals
in Lombard. I think you will be pleased. Saturday consisted of 6 different
by Russ Kottke races, Redline, Funny Fairmont, 50th Anniversary, Open Stock, Kids 15
and under, VW Drag Bus and Hot Wheels Modified. Here is how racing
nd played out for the day………

Redline – original redline wheels Open Stock – Mainline castings –
only – pre 1977. no pre 77 Redlines.
1st Place – Ted Gray from Los 1st Place – Dennis Taylor from
Osos, California racing his Noo- Granger, Indiana racing the Smith
dlehead. Electric Truck.
2nd Place –Jack Granados from 2nd Place – Mike Hernandez from
Woodland Hills, California racing Moreno Valley, California racing
an S’Cool Bus the Smith Electric Truck.
3rd Place – Frankie Taylor from 3rd Place – Frankie Taylor from
Granger, Indiana racing his Noo- Granger, Indiana racing the Smith
dlehead. Electric Truck.

Funny Fairmont 15 and Under – Open to ages 15
Champion – Jonas Hayes from years and younger only.
Russellville, Kentucky with his Trix 1st Place – Tommie Miles Jr. from
Thank you to all the Hot Wheel Downhill Funny Car. Aurora, Colorado facing his fast
Racers! Hot Wheels 50th Anniversary at the Mirada Stocker.
Collector’s Convention brought in an outstand- 50th Anniversary 2nd Place – Kinsey Hayes from
ing number of attendees. This increased the 1st Place – Nick Embrey from Russellville, Kentucky racing her
attendance at the Downhill track that gave Ontario, Canada racing his ’68 Land Rover Truck.
in to a bit more competition. There were a Cougar 3rd Place – Kale Wargo from On-
few new faces along with some familiar faces 2nd Place – Brett Triplett from tario, Canada racing a Cougar.
we haven’t seen in a while. Hot Wheel racing Russellville, Kentucky with his fast
started on Friday with the usual practice sessions in both the morning and ‘68 Cougar Modified – Anything goes, must
afternoon. During the mid-day break Jon Soffa offered a very informative 3rd Place – Frankie Taylor from have Hot Wheel wheels and text
seminar on Downhill racing. This was his first one and was well received, Granger, Indiana racing a Mustang base.
come and check it out at the next show. Keeping with the 50th theme our 1st Place – Jon Soffa from Engle-
“special” race included only Hot Wheels with the 50th logo printed on VW Drag Bus wood, Colorado racing his “Voxxer
the vehicle somewhere. This was a bit of a challenge and required a lot of Champion – Brendon Ruiz from FX”.
pre-testing on Friday. Remember to come out to Friday’s practice sessions Westchester, Illinois racing his 2nd Place – JR Isiah from Haw-
Custom
thorn, California.
Snake Drag Bus.
3rd Place –Ruby Isiah from Haw-
Baracuda by: Todd Burriss aka: PLANETREDLINES thorn, California.
Baracuda
combination of HK and US parts. Mostly it’s a HK base on US body and
In 1968, of the first 16 model castings produced, the Plymouth Custom Another hard-to-find version that is known as a Hybrid, which was a
Barracuda was one that stood out in the Mopar scene. An exact replica or tinted blue glass in a US body. Also, some US bodies came with a HK
was Harry Bentley’s version of the 1968 1:1 car in the showroom. They hood resulting in a wide gap between the hood and cowl. The most com-
were produced in both HK and US factories, both sporting bearing wheels mon color is antifreeze and the harder to find colors are rose and aqua.
and opening hoods. A few different characteristics were made. The rarest is green. All in all, this model is a very rare model in the blister
pack and the most common blister pack to be found is aqua HK.
The HK models had an opening hood that revealed a V-8 engine with
longer twin hood scoops and a wider cowl. It had white or dark interior This model is right behind the Custom Camaro as far as popularity, but
with a large black steering wheel and blue tinted glass. The very early while the value is not quite there, it is a close second. As of today, Tim
issue was a purple Spectraflame paint with a light purple interior. Later, to Watterson has the most extensive collection and lots of his photos are
use up these interiors, a copper color body was used instead. All had hor- present with this informative topic.
izontal red painted taillights and a blacked out grill. The base was highly
detailed with side pipes, unlike the US details. Chrome wheels, with early
issues having deep dish wheels. Common colors were copper, purple, Color chart Green common
and aqua being most. Hard to find is antifreeze, green, blue, and red. US COLORS: COMMENTS: Blue common
Rare colors were creamy pink, orange, and olive being extremely rare. Purple common Red hard to find
Blue common light blue hard to find
The US issue was slightly different with shorter hood scoops and thinner Green common creamy pink hard to find
cowl. It came with a white or dark interior with a smaller matching Aqua common Orange rare
steering wheel, rounded dash panel, and clear glass. The base was Red hard to find Olive very rare
less detailed with side pipes and silver painted bearing wheels. Most Gold hard to find Gold very rare (if it exists)
common colors were blue, green, and gold. More uncommon colors were Copper/brown hard to find Antifreeze very rare (if it exists)
antifreeze, aqua, honey gold and red. Rare was creamy pink, rose, and ice light blue hard to find
blue. Extremely rare is olive that is valued well over 4k. The better Store Antifreeze hard to find HYBRID COLORS: COMMENTS:
Display sported the red Cuda, but some had a green. Another strange creamy pink hard to find Antifreeze hard to find
color has surfaced that is a light strawberry color and these are quite hard Rose very rare Purple hard to find
to find. Also known is a white enamel prototype. Olive very rare Rose hard to find
Orange very rare (if it exists) Gold rare
Aqua rare
HK COLORS: COMMENTS: Blue rare
Aqua common Green very rare
14 NEWSLETTER • ISSUE 5 Purple common Orange very rare NEWSLETTER • ISSUE 5 15
Copper common