Page 9 - HWNewsletteVolume33Issue1#132
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Collectors


 Convention charity  Button Bingo/charity code three cars from the 31st Annual Convention, the   artwork, Hot Cases, RAOK’s,

 nd  event review  18th Annual Collectors Nationals as well as a set of this year’s Button Bingo   NASCAR items and a host of
 and Charity event cars. The other three prizes were graciously donated by
   other custom creations. All of
 Mattel’s Hot Wheels Design team. These prizes were a 2007 Factory Sealed   you are what makes these
 By Paul DiAngi
 By Paul DiAngi  Master Se,t a 2011 Super Treasure Hunt set which included all 15 supers   events happen and continue to   nd
 presented in an accompanying display case and a complete HWC Collec-  be successful! A huge thank
 tors.com twelve car series 7 set plus metal carrying case. Raffle ticket sales   you also goes out to our
 contributed $4820.00 toward the charity total.  designers, not only for their
    time and presence but also
 Our cornerstone event is the Charity Auction that was held on Friday   for their gracious artwork,   Collectors
 evening. If you missed it, you may have missed a once-in-a-lifetime event.   personal donations and
 The auction is live with no reserve and your bidder card is your ticket to   signatures that make these
 securing a rare or unusual piece while helping raise funds for charity. This   auction donations so unique and coveted.  Convention button
 year’s donations enabled us to present an unprecedented total of nearly 150
 lots for auction throughout the evening. The auction alone raised a record   Once the bidding began at the Charity Auction it became quite intense on   bingo review
 breaking $90,000.00 which is the “lions share” of this year’s total donation.   some of the more unusual items. The room grew quiet as the bidders
 How did we achieve this dollar total? The first part of the answer is “it’s   continued to outbid one another and the dollar values climbed to record
 because of you the collector/event attendee”. If we didn’t have your   highs 5, 6, 7, $8,000.00 and beyond. (I did mention rare, unusual and one of   By Paul DiAngi
 continued donations and support year after year our auction lots wouldn’t   a kind Mattel pieces!) Wow! Here is a sneak for everyone: You may see more   The 32nd Annual Convention was held at the Marriot LAX airport, Los
 be what they are and our contribution totals wouldn’t be anywhere near the   of these types of items at the Hot Wheels Collectors Nationals auction in   Angeles, Ca. Hot Wheels enthusiasts and their families enjoyed a memorable
 current level. Thank you very much for your kind efforts that we appreciate   the spring of 2019 in Lombard Illinois.   fun-filled event. It was filled with educational seminars, autograph sessions,
 and have come to rely on.                                         games, races, kids events and lots of room-to-room trading just to mention a
    Please note: Even though I list or mention the high dollar auction wins   few of the activities. There was also an excellent selection of souvenir cars
 The other huge reason is that Brendon Vetusky made it his personal mission   there is something for everyone’s budget. We had quite a few items go   available for purchase. These cars were only available at the Convention to
 to save a great number of items that were going to be removed from the   between $30.00 and $60.00. Please at least attend the auction. Bidder   paid ticket holders. I hope you purchased your share of these desirable
 Mattel storeroom along with a large number of items from Larry’s (Wood)   cards are free and without obligation. It is a fun time and who knows,   limited run collectibles to add to your collection, since most of the Conven-
 cage. Brendon took it upon himself to secure and hold these items for the   you might come away with an unexpected treasure.  tion pieces were sold out at the event.
 auction. If you were at the auction you had the exceptional opportunity to
 see and or bid on many rare and unique items many of which were one of a   Please consider this: We as collectors are proud to share and contribute   Button Bingo is always a fun event. The code 3 cars are spectacular, very
 kind! Let’s all extend a big thank you to Brendon for his effort, foresight and   to those in need and this is quite obvious through your kind donations.   limited and have become highly desirable to us collectors. Those lucky
 desire to do good. Thanks to Coco Ding for the assistance that was given to   Many of us don’t contribute because we think our donation may be
  The 32ndAnnual Collectors Convention was an amazing gathering with   our group during the sorting and lotting process.   insignificant so let’s try to ramp up our total contributions by being   players that pre-registered for Button Bingo at this year’s Convention
 plenty of activities and fun for the entire family. The souvenir cars that   creative as well as investigative. Many of our donations are non-Hot   received a special Volkswagen  Drag Bus. This bus came in light blue with a
 commemorated this event, Hot Wheels 50th Anniversary, were just incredible   I would like to thank the Mattel Design Team for donating the many unique,   Wheel related such as quilts, mail boxes, hand blown glass items,   yellow and red flame tampo. They were only available to those that
 to say the least. I hope you all had as much fun in Los Angeles as I did. It was   very rare and highly desired FEP’s and EP’s that accounted for 25 of our   display cases, metal work and custom made items to mention a few.   pre-registered. None of these were given out during any of the games. This
 great seeing old friends and meeting the many new collectors that attended   auction lots and consequently contributed a substantial portion of the   Here are some suggestions: Check with your employers to see if they   year we played for a spectacular selection of ’69 Plymouth GTX castings in
 this convention as well as associating with the diehard collectors that are so   auction dollars to the bottom line. Thanks to Collectors Events Unlimited for   have a corporate gifting program. Many do and will share with product   various colors. The game winner cars came in five different colors and were
 important to this hobby.   the complete set of this conventions code 3 Charity event cars that included   or gift certificates. If you belong to a club donate an extra club car,   all very low run pieces. Also included in the mix were a Volkswagen T-1 Drag
 all of the alternate color dinner Camaro’s as well as all of the ’69 Plymouth   ROAKS, or have some of your “crafters” do a one-of-a-kind custom or   Bus in gold and a Volkswagen Drag Bus in pink for a total of seven possible
 Our staff had the honor of donating time and effort to raise money for the   GTX’s, VW busses and the Mob Rod trophy cars including their alternate   display case. Consider artwork, signage, and wood working items as   cars to win. This array of colors makes for some really exciting Button Bingo
 32nd Annual Collectors Convention charity, which benefited the   color variations. Let’s also offer a thank you to the Hot Wheels Newsletter   well. We will do our best to give you (especially if it is a standalone   games. Assure your spot and pre-register early, don’t leave it to chance.
 Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles. Prior to the auction we   for the low run alternate color of the Volkswagen Kool Kombi. Thanks to all   item) or your group the proper acknowledgement when the item is
 had the privilege of hearing a presentation from a representative of the   of the collectors and clubs for your most welcome donations that we as staff   auctioned.  As the games progressed the eager participants in each session of the ever
 Make-A-Wish Foundation describing how the donations assist the children   have become accustomed to seeing, such as quilts, wine holders, framed   popular Button Bingo Game were all trying to win not only the game winning
 and families in need.                                             gold car, but the very special and very limited alternate color game winner
                                                                   cars that were also given out to each of the winners. The Button Bingo cars
     Check this issue for reports on our other three events where they are
 There are seven main functions that generate money for our charity. I would   recapped and our hard working charity staff is acknowledged; Charity   for this year were a set of red, white and blue ’69 Plymouth GTX’s. A player
 have to say that a good number of us participated in at least one of these   Button Bingo contributed $24,200.00, the Charity Poker Tournament   automatically received these for purchasing a Button Bingo ticket and
 activities. It is important to note that the dollars we collect from these events   contributed $4,500.00 and Convention Mania contributed $3,600.00 to our   playing in either one of the two, twelve-game sessions. If a player won they
 go directly to the charity and nowhere else. Please continue to support the   donation total.  would receive a special gold ’69 Plymouth GTX to add to their set. Increas-
 Charity events because it is through your participation we as a community of   ing the excitement even further every game winner also received at least two
 collectors can continue our history of goodwill. As we all know the cars   No event can be successful without participants and with your help and   additional very low run alternate color cars as well as a Volkswagen T1 Drag
 received for playing our Charity games are very limited low run pieces. This   generosity this year’s event is now part of our history of giving. This speaks   Bus in gold or a Volkswagen Drag Bus in pink. The alternate colors of the ’69
 not only enhances their collectability but it is your only opportunity to attain   to all of you and what you are made of and why these events are so   Plymouth GTX’s were yellow, lime, pink and bronze. Every game winner won
 them at the Convention and the best part is the net proceeds go to help   successful. We are a community of collectors that help one another and I am   at least another three cars! Needless to say there were a lot of agonizing
 those in need.                                                    moments until the lucky winner or winners, as was the case this year (multiple
      very proud to be part of your group. Your dedication and support generat-
      ed a combined total of a record breaking $145,435.00 from all charity   winners per game) yelled “BINGO” and came up for their special prizes! Just
 Our Charity fundraising car for this event was the Custom Mustang,   events. Thanks to you all. See you at the next one!  for the record, each game 12 winner received more than the three cars for
 produced by Chris Walker aka Night Stalker. The car was well received and   their win. How many you might ask? The answer is “play and see….”.
 all 500 pieces were sold out prior to the start of the convention! It   I would like to thank the Charity staff for all of their hard work and long   Remember anything can happen in Button Bingo!  Join in on the fun and
 appears that a lot of attendees took advantage of the pre-order option. The   hours that they dedicated to make this event a success. Barb, Dave and   excitement at the upcoming Nationals and support a great charity. All of the
 car came in black with a gold deco sporting a Make-A-Wish of Greater Los   Jonathan Robles, Jerry Rousselle, and Marsha Di Angi were all invaluable to   net proceeds from this game go directly to the charity that we support. We
 Angeles logo and a Convention logo. It was packaged in a numbered acrylic   the success of the charity fund raising events.  hope to see you all again at future events.
 case. This car was a big hit with the collectors and the demand far exceeded   This event alone was responsible for a significant part of the total contribu-
 the supply. To assure yours at future events you might want to consider    Let’s all extend a big and well earned thank you to Collectors Events   tion to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles. I want to thank
 pre-ordering. Those that waited came up empty handed at this event. This   Unlimited LLC Mark & Jennifer Millhollin for their year long efforts and hard   everyone that participated in any of the events that raised money benefiting
 is also a great way to own a Night Stalker creation! Sales of the Charity car   work to make these events a reality, for without them these events would   this organization.
 generated $15,000.00. We also added another $2,880.00 from the sale of   not happen, and to Mike and Diane Strauss for their continued support and   Please share your thoughts or your ideas about other games that you would
 past event Charity cars  foresight to create a venue for us collectors to gather and share the hobby.   like to see played at these events. If you think the present games could be
 .                                                                 tweaked or enhanced kindly share your thoughts via “contact us” at
 Raffle ticket sales were brisk with the hope of winning one of the six   www.hwcollectorsnationals.com.
 awesome prizes that were drawn during the Grand Finale. Three of the prizes
 were donated by Collectors Events Unlimited. They were complete sets of                        NEWSLETTER  • ISSUE 5
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