2/27/2004 UPDATE: Today we have additional information on forthcoming releases in Minichamps's Ayrton Senna Collection, which include a spectacular 1/12 scale Lotus Renault with removable bodywork, a Nigel Mansell Williams to recreate Senna's ride back to the pits after the '91 British GP, a correctly decorated (Rothmans decals and all) Williams FW16 in both 1/18 and 1/43, and much, much more. All the info is on our Ayrton Senna Collection Pre Order Page.
As we approach the 10th anniversary of that sad day in Italy, Ayrton Senna is being remembered in many ways. Artist Craig Warwick has painted the wonderful study of Senna seen above. Entitled 'Pensive', the painting is being reproduced in a limited edition giclee of just 295 prints world wide. This print has been approved and licensed by the Ayrton Senna Foundation. Our allotment is limited, so please reserve early. $295.00 plus shipping. 'Pensive' measures 12.5" x 26".
SOLD2/26/2004 AFTERNOON UPDATE: The IRL starts their season this weekend and Stu Povick has beaten the model companies to the punch with this great Folk Art sculpture of Sam Hornish in his new ride at Penske Racing. $99.00. Dial recklessly. More photos HERE.
2/26/2004 UPDATE: While doing a bit of housekeeping this morning, we came across a mint condition 'sold out' 2003 Minardi Valencia Test Car, complete with Avon slicks instead of grooved tires. Jos Verstappen was at the wheel that day. First $34.95 takes it.
2/25/2004 UPDATE: Jeff's been working hard updating the Slot Car Section over the past couple of weeks. Check out some of the new cars, including the hot new Fly Ferrari pictured above.
Next week: A new DVD we can't wait to see. 'Ghost Rider 2: Ghost Rider Goes Wild'. Reserve your copy now $24.95 plus shipping. Don't try this at home.
Also, we're taking orders for Dale Jr's Oreo BGN car. More details tomorrow.
2/24/2004 UPDATE: A small collection of some very hard to find books has just arrived. Six volumes of Ulrich Upietz's World Sportscar Racing annuals (1989 thru 1994) in very good to excellent condition. They're priced at $60.00 each.
2/23/2004 UPDATE: The 2004 Minichamps catalog hit our desk over the weekend and we'll be adding a few items to our Pre-Order Page that I missed whilst scanning the 45 pages of listings over the past couple weeks. It's amazing what a photograph can do.
The most impressive new offering from Minichamps
this year will be the 1/12 scale Lotus 97T from the Ayrton Senna
Collection, expected to arrive this summer. It will feature removable
bodywork and a detailed engine and chassis, as you can see from
the catalog photos above (sorry, we'll post better images as soon
as they're available). You can click on each photo for a larger
view. Pricing on the new Ayrton Senna Collection models is tentative
(regardless of what you see in some popular catalogs) but we expect
a $215 minimum price on the new Lotus. We expect demand
to be significant for this model, and would encourage you reserve
yours as soon as possible.
2/20/2004 UPDATE: As you can see, Stu Povick's Automotive Folk Art pieces often sell within a few hours of their arrival. Why not commission Stu to do that favorite car of yours? Contact Paul at 800.722.8630 or 630.515.1440 or by email, for details.
SOLD2/19/04 UPDATE: It always brightens our day when a package arrives from Stu Povick. His latest piece is this hand made clay 'folk art' sculpture of the So Cal Belly Tanker that earned it's reputation at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the early days of Hot Rodding. Check out additional photos HERE or you can click the photo above fo a closer look. $110.00 plus shipping.
2/18/04 UPDATE: Another 2003 Annual has arrived. Rallycourse 2003/04 is now in stock (with a shot of World Champion Petter Solberg on the dj, not Marcus) for $54.95 plus shipping.
We've revised our 2004 Minichamps Pre Order Page to include TMC's pricing. I've also taken the liberty of highlighting what I consider to be the most desireable new items. There are a LOT of them!
2/17/04 UPDATE: I just posted our 2004 Minichamps Pre Order Page. It lists over 300 different models expected to be produced over the next year or so that we have on pre order with Minichamps. It is NOT the complete New Product list released by the company a few weeks ago. It primarily lists the racing, rally and exotic sports cars we think you'll be interested in. If there is a new model that you want that is NOT listed here, we will be happy to special order it for you.
2/17/04 UPDATE: I know we don't 'do' NASCAR, but Sunday's win by Dale Earnhardt, Jr was such a popular one amongst all race fans that we've reserved a small quantity of Action's 1/24 scale 'Post Race' Earnhardt Bud Chevrolet, to be released in April. Price is TBA, reserve now.
If you missed out on our pre-order shipment of the 1/18 scale 2003 LeMans winning #7 Bentley Speed 8 from Auto Art, we have just a few cars remaining from the restock shipment that arrived this week. We also have the #8 car that finished second. $59.95 each plus shipping.
The 'Old Crow' P-51 Mustang from GMP is now sold out. Delivery is expected shortly. We still have a few spots open on our pre-order list for the next plane in the series, Chuck Yeager's 'Glamorous Glen III'. $149.95 plus shipping.
We've been working hard on the latest Product List from Minichanmps (1400 items) and will post our Pre-Order list in the next day or so.
$69.952/11/04 UPDATE: Porsche Sport 2003 is now in stock. It is a complete chronicle of Porsche racing world wide. Spectacular photos! $69.95 plus shipping.
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2/10/04 UPDATE: We added a new title to our Racing DVD page today (Vanishing Point, $14.98) and re-discovered two other Hollywood films on VHS in the process. 'A Man and A Woman' ($14.98) and 'To Please a Lady' ($19.98) are available again. We hope to add 'A Man and a Woman' to our DVD list soon.
2/9/04 UPDATE: Speaking of Ayrton Senna, we're very pleased to offer a copy of the Randy Owens serigraph entitled 'Monaco Grand Prix', which was signed by Senna and three other Grand Prix greats. Details on our Art Notes page.
2/5/04 AFTERNOON UPDATE: We mentioned 'The Life of Senna' a few weeks ago. This much talked about new book will be here in May. Click the banner for details of our special pre-order offer.
2/5/04 UPDATE: Automobile Year #51 (2003-04) arrived this morning
($59.95). We also received a few copies of AY #50 ($59.95)
in case you missed last year's volume. We also received our restock
of the very hot Mark Donohue Sunoco McLaren M19 Grand Prix car
($39.95). These are going very quickly, don't wait too
long.
2/4/04 UPDATE: Minichamps announced their 2004 Formula One Presentation Car lineup this morning. Due to the radical design of the new FW26, there will be no Williams BMW Presentation Cars this year.
Please Note: If you collect Presentation Cars, you must enter your preorder with TMC by February 12. We will probably not be ordering extras.
You can find the complete list HERE.
2/3/04 UPDATE: We finally have the 1/43 scale 2003 World Championship winning Ferrari of Michael Schumacher in stock for $29.95 plus shipping. More photos on the New Die Cast page.
Lots of additions to our New Slot Car page today, including the long awaited Corvette Grand Sports from Monogram. Check them out!
PRE ORDER NOW: $89.952/2/04 UPDATE: What an exciting finish to yesterday's Rolex 24 at Daytona. And what great coverage by Speed Channel. The in car shots were dramatic, especially when Tony Stewart lost a rear wheel while nursing the Citgo Crawford Chevrolet to what would have been a spectacular victory. We agree with Bob Varsha, who stated that any list of the best drivers in the world should have the name Tony Stewart on it. There are very few drivers active today who are willing (or able) to jump in any race car at any time and be competitive. We were at a banquet honoring Stewart just a week ago where he commented that the only two types of racing that he had tried but had not scored victories were road racing and the Busch series. Stewart is planning some Busch starts in 2004 and after coming so close yesterday, we wouldn't be surprised to see him back in a Daytona Prototype before the year is out.
Last week, Action Performance announced 1/18 scale models of all three of the Crawford Chevy Daytona Prototypes that ran at Daytona over the weekend. In addition to the #2 Wallace / Earnhardt, Jr / Stewart car seen above, there will be versions of the #09 Robby Gordon (another driver on that short list) car and the #4 Butch Leitzinger / Jimmy Johnson / EFR machine. We're accepting pre-orders now, ($89.95 each) but are hearing conflicting release dates and will keep you informed.
We've just uploaded a 'freshened up' Minichamps Inventory page. A 2004 pre-order page will follow later this week
