Other new items at IMS gift shop....

[jrandrew00]

IMS Gift Shop got in the new chrome 1:64 scale of the Helio 3 car. I saw it today and looks beautiful and asking for that as well as the three new cars they got in 1:64 which are Sarah Fisher (SmartBlade on the car), Al Unser Jr. (Corteco), and Jeff Ward with the Target car. As well as the IRL calendar would be a great gift. They have a Grand Prix (F1) calendar at the gift shop. Might have to pay alot on shipping but it's cool.

TJ I once again forgot to ask about that car. I plan to be there next week for something else.

[manson]

But where are the big 1:18 scale cars?

[Indyfan4ever]

None are in the work's Manson, unless you will get a carousel1. Or, contact my freind Gary Pino, (chapparrel) he will make you whatever you want. Shame isn't it.


Tj

[KevMcNJ]

Why dont they sell these trinkets in Wal-Mart? K-Mart? Target? Or any other chain in the USA? Im in one of those stores at least once a week and they'll have an aisle full of NASCAR "collectibles" of every size.
But no OW stuff.
BTW who would buy a 1/64 die cast limousine painted like Kyles Sprint #45? It really exists I saw it at Wal-Mart.

[jrandrew00]

Dave, Action decided to cancel the order for the 1:18 this year. Which totally sucks because I was hoping to get a 1:18 Red Bull car. Oh well.

[damilt]

The people in the giftshop at the speedway told me the numbers were too low.(although you now see NHRA cars in Kmart, Target etc.)I would think the IRL numbers would be better than those.

If the teams would step up the at the track trailer sales, if the decision makers would select the teams with STABLE sponsors such as Penske, Red Bull, Delphi, Panther etc they could possibly use the same models for two years. I konw Sarah Fisher is popular but manufacturing that car when Walker didn't have sponsors nailed down guaranteed that car would be out of date in ten minutes. Smarter decisions, selling some on the home shopping network to gain exposure and air time for the league, and trackside team trailers selling these things will grow the numbers. Look at Penske and Gnassi, they sell all thier own stuff including used parts such as damaged wheels and brake rotors etc. and get big money for them. It's good revenue for the team.

It's time for these guys to wake up. 1:18 scale cars are a must.

[Lucky161]

"Why dont they sell these trinkets in Wal-Mart? K-Mart? Target? Or any other chain in the USA? Im in one of those stores at least once a week and they'll have an aisle full of NASCAR "collectibles" of every size."

I'm with you here, but the answer is really pretty simple. Have you ever asked a store manager at one of those stores or sent a letter or email to their headquarter asking for IRL stuff? Probably not. Don't worry, nobody else has either including me. However, every time I am at the TMS office or Bono's I make an audible comment to whoever is around that I was hoping to see more IRL stuff. I was told last year at TMS the week before the IRL June race that they would have more stuff when it got closer to the race. They probably been saying that so long, they just forgot the race was less than a week away. As they say you have to walk before you can run and in this case it's crawl before you walk.

[frodo13]

My wife just bought me the new black (with Silver IRL logo) one size cap at the Circle Center Mall in Indy. It's my 18th anniversary present. Saw a lot of cool stuff in the store.

[Doc Austin]

With the new generation cars we have, what, three years with the same bodywork? These diecast companies will try to get as many different models out of the same mould as they can.

As an example, IXO got the three factory, Champion and Gulf Audis from the same bodywork, then added fins to it and made the crocodile car. Since they already have the 911 GT1 Evo moulds all done and in use since 1997, every clapped out backmarker 911 GT1 Evo that runs at daytona is going to get built. No one cares about those cars, but they sell all of them anyway because the muthas, theys gots to have the stuff.

So we might be able to expect some IRL cars because the new dallara will be good for them for three years, assuming it stays competitive. If we expressed some interest to them, it might help. Maybe if we all call the speedway gift shop asking for models they will lean on Action to do some of them.
But it will have to be ALL of us.

I go to the sportscar races and do business with most of the vendors. You can't believe the lust people have for these models, especially the GTP cars. People feel festive when they are at the track (intoxicated by speed, baby!) and they are there to spend money. If there were 1/18th scale IRL cars at the races, they would do realy well with them. At the sparcely attended sportscar races, it still becomes a feeding frenzy on race morning.

So don't give up hope. we just have to show them there is a market for the stuff.

[ November 09, 2002: Message edited by: Doc Austin ]

[carl s]

The souveneir and die-cast market are an excellent indicator of our (driver and car combinations)current popularity and marketability with the masses. (and I'm still not clear if the powers-that-be want to market to the masses or the few thousand "elite")

The most disgusting scene I've witnessed in this regards occured prior to the second Las Vegas IRL event (not too far from the CREW tent)
there, in the blowing desolation of the dirt and rock-strewn parking lot, amongst the 5 or 6 pot pourri flapping vendor tents stood an out-of-place but well heeled woman with 3 kids in tow and obviously pleading with the impassionate vendor to produce something for her to buy. "Something IRL" (the guy looked at her with a bewildered stare) "You know, the cars that are racing here today" (this was not enough of a hint and as the he pulled out a DE ash-tray the family moved on to the track)
This was the same race that when I called the LV ticket office the sales person had not heard of the IRL but asked if I would like to see the trucks.
carl s
Indio, CA
Looking forward to the IRL marketing to the masses and Indy Car returning to popularity.

[Indyknut]

It's not worth it to the Die-cast makers to design, make the molds then run a production line so they can sell what 1000 year maybe?

[Doc Austin]

Originally posted by trac-champ:
<STRONG>It's not worth it to the Die-cast makers to design, make the molds then run a production line so they can sell what 1000 year maybe?</STRONG>

I've seen editions of 999 pieces, and they are bringing big money on e-bay now. most of what I have seen in 1/43 scale has been in the 3999 to 4499 range. but that is 1/43. I don't know about 1/18, but they are pushing that scale hard, so they must make more money on it.

The beauty of doing IRL cars is one master will cover half the field for three years. They would make (assuming we never see a falcon) the entire grid for three Indianapolis 500's from two masters. Since the masters and the tooling is where the investment is, once they do one IRL Dallara, they may as well do evey one they think they can sell. And the same with G-force.

[nitrofan]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by damilt:
[QB]The people in the giftshop at the speedway told me the numbers were too low.(although you now see NHRA cars in Kmart, Target etc.)I would think the IRL numbers would be better than those.

really?

the nhra routinely packs 30K in for 2 days of quals and also final eliminations.

for 23 events a year.

a series sponsored by coca-cola(powerade)

tickets run from 30-60 bucks, and the tv coverage is excellent.

we're getting 5 hours this weekend of the finals.

the kids out there on the street are not modifying their cars to go oval racing.

they're doing some old fashioned made in america drag racing.

sorry, but gotta defend my second favorite motorsport here.

[Lucky161]

nitro, I believe you are right. I grew up around circle tracks. The first drag race I ever saw bored me to death. However, I was drag racing 12 years before I raced a short track car. The reason? I'm sure it's obvious. I could race my street car. Everybody that has a car can drag race. Not that anybody would want to watch just any cars, but it has to show up in interest.

[Indyknut]

Gateway's biggest event of the year is... The Sears craftsman Gateway Nationals. Not the truck race, The BGN or the IRL.

and while the there is the NHRA and the IHRA, everyone knows the difference and there's no confusion amoungst fans.