2.28.01 Update: Penske fans and art collectors should check out the new print from CART Chief Starter Jim Swintal announced at the top of this page. Only 25 copies will be available to the public, yet they are being offered at a very attractive price. Take a look here.
2.27.01 Update: The Autocourse CART 2000/01 Yearbooks are in. Advance orders ship today and tomorrow. We have stock, so give us a call or stop by and pick up your copy.
We also received a few new 2000 Formula One cars from Minichamps. Check them out here.
We received word that our mules are bringing in a shipment of contraband 1/43 scale Minichamps Jacques Villeneuve 2000 BAR cars on their next trip. This may be our only shipment, so reserve yours asap.
2.21.01 Update: Here are some photos of some new Slot Car arrivals. Clockwise from top left: Fly's 1971 Sebring Winning Porsche 917 ($44.95), GB Track's latest Porsche 917 Spyder ($39.95), a 1/32 scale Mustang GT350 from Carrera ($34.95) and the Nielsen-Baldi-Graf Panoz LMP-1 from LeMans 2000, also from Fly ($44.95). Click on the names or images for additional photos.
2.20.01 Update: Problems with our e-mail software have nagged us since last Friday, but we've switched programs and seem to have things under control. If you did not receive an answer to a question or confirmation on your order please call (800.722.8630) or notify us by email.
Obviously, the attention of the entire racing community the past few days has been focused on the tragic death of Dale Earnhardt. TMC does not deal in NASCAR merchandise, but we follow the sport like any other fan. Everyone here is in a state of shock. To explain the implications to our international clients, the death of Dale Earnhardt is as devastating to the American racing scene as was the death of Ayrton Senna to the rest of the world. I have seen nothing approaching this level of shock in my 35+ years as a racing fan.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Earnhardt family and faithful.
Our policy in these matters is to withdraw all signed merchandise for 30 days after the death of a driver. In this case, we have nothing to withdraw. The 1/18 scale Action Corvette driven by Earnhardt at the Rolex 24 earlier this month was sold out nearly 2 weeks ago. The 1/43 scale version is due in a couple of weeks and is sold out as well.
This morning we received a list from Minichamps announcing 8 new 1/43 scale Corvettes, Vipers and Porsches as raced at the 2000 Rolex 24. It includes a different - and higher quality - version of both the winning #2 Corvette C5-R and the #3 car driven by the Earnhardts, Andy Pilgrim and Kelly Collins to a 4th place finish at Daytona. These models will not be available until later this year (officially the second quarter of 2000, as listed by Minichamps). The Corvettes will have Action part numbers and packaging, but will be made with a new pattern (tooling).
The list is posted here and on our Minichamps 2001 New Release page. We will accept advance orders for all 8 cars at $39.95 each.
At this time, we are placing a 1 per customer limit on the Earnhardt Corvette at the regular price.
We will accept multiple car orders for the Earnhardt car, but they must be accompanied by a $20 donation to "The Carolinas Foundation, in honor of Dale Earnhardt" for each additional model. No credit cards accepted for the donation. You must forward a check or money order made out directly to the charity. We will forward checks to The Carolinas Foundation as they arrive.
2.19.01 Update: Two new 1/18 scale models have just arrived from Exoto. The first Ferrari 641 (above) to be released is the Nigel Mansell version from 1990. Our first batch is completely sold out, but we're now taking reservations ( at $169.95 ) for the next shipment. Also from Exoto, the second release in their Porsche 934 RSR series (below), the white 'works prototype'. The Porsche is also priced at $169.95 and we do have a couple cars remaining. We'll have complete photo sets for both on line shortly. We're fighting a few computer gremlins here over the past several days and the events in Florida yesterday have made it a bit harder than usual to do our jobs today.
2.15.01 Update: We've updated the 2001 Minichamps New Release page in a more readable form. I've also added our 'tentative' pricing for the whole range.
2.13.01 Update: Later this week we will post a list of Aviation Art prints by Robert Taylor, Nicolas Trudgian, Roy Grinnell and Michael Turner offered by TMC. It will include a large selection of out-of-print secondary market pieces signed by some of the legends of World War II. Check back on Thursday for further information.
2.9.01 Update: Since we decided to post the 2001
Minichamps New Release schedule, we thought it was about time
we updated our Minichamps Inventory
page.
2.8.01 Update: Over the past couple of years, most of the significant new die cast model releases have been in 1/18 scale or larger. Many 1/43 scale collectors have been frustrated over this change in emphasis, but the recent return of a 'full time' Minichamps distributor to the US should change all that. More than a month ago, we broke the news that Minichamps had 1/43 Chaparrals, McLaren M8's and Porsche 917/30's in the works for 2001, but that was just the beginning. I've spent the past day or two locked up with the 24 page 2001 Minichamps production schedule and have entered pre-orders for more than 200 different new race and rally models (2 and 4 wheels), most in 1/43 scale! We've also reserved small quantites of some other 'non-racing' Minichamps offerings from their battle tank and Presidential Limosine series. As a rule, we're not going to stock 'road cars', but will be happy to special order any other Minichamps catalog item for you.
Here is our list of 2001 Minichamps New Releases.
We have the 2000 Edition 2 ($4 + postage) and 2000 Edition 3 ($2 + postage) Minichamps Catalogs in stock, and expect the 2001 Catalogs ($10 + postage) later this month.
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Several new Slot Car arrivals to tell you about. Click on the thumbnails for additional pictures of that car. From top left: Fly C66 - Porsche 908/3 - Juan Fernandez's 1973 European Hillclimb Champion ($44.95), GBtrack GB2 - Leo Kinnunen's 1971 Interserie Championship winning Porsche 917 Spyder ($39.95) and Fly A57- the Daytona 'Test Car' Porsche GT1 Evo driven by Scott Goodyear, David Empringham and Scott Maxwell at Daytona in 2000 ($44.95).
On the left, Pink-Kar's 5th Anniversary Set features chrome versions of their Bugetti Type 59 and Auto Union Type C slot cars. Limited to 1,500 sets presented in a wood box with Certificate of Authenticity ($79.95).
2.5.01 Update: Hope everyone watched Speedvision over the weekend. WOW!!! Great coverage. Well, we're not accepting orders right now (that would jinx it) but we wouldn't be surprised to see Action Performance add the Rolex 24 winning #2 Corvette C5-R to it's production schedule this spring. Their #3 Earnhardt car is expected shortly (both 1/18 and 1/43 scale versions) and demand is high. If you haven't ordered your #3 car yet, we still have a few available.
2.1.01 Update: Still a few calendars to give away. We'll throw one in with every $100 + order for in-stock merchandise received today.
We're working on our 2001 Die Cast Pre-Order mailing, and a couple of things have caught our eye. We mentioned a couple of days ago that the #7 John Surtees Lola would be limited to just 1,500 pieces. Well, the #3 Surtees car is going to be a bit on the rare side itself. A production run of just 2,500 is underway ( 3,500 of the Bruce McLaren M8A's sold out in 45 days! ). Both models are scheduled to be released in March. GMP also plans on releasing a Parnelli Jones Lola T-70 with a Ford 4-cam engine in the back in late 2001. A prototype was shown at the National Hobby Show back in October.
We understand the Autocourse CART 2000/01 Annual ($34.95) is scheduled to arrive in about 3 weeks. Reserve your copy now. The 2000 FIA World Rally Review video ($34.95) is also due shortly, perhaps by the weekend.
Looking for one of the retired Exoto 'driverless' Jody Scheckter Tyrrell P34's? We just took one in on a trade. Just $195.00 plus shipping.
Kenny Brack / Shell Reynard
To the guy who called this morning looking for a 1/18 scale Kenny Brack Shell Reynard, we now have one available. Give us a call at 800.722.8630.
