12/31/02 UPDATE: As we close out what has been an up and down year, we remember the good times. Our book signings with Brock Yates and Murray Walker were great fun, as was our autograph session with Sir Jack Brabham and Ron Tauranac. We met a lot of you in person at our road shows at Road America, Mid Ohio and Indianapolis. The internet has allowed us to get to know enthusiasts from around the world and our Gallery in Downers Grove draws fans from the Chicago area and beyond. Next year, we hope to venture out at least 10 times to various parts of the country, and you can see by our 12/27/02 Update below that we are busy working on bringing you the best 'stuff' we can find.
On the other side of the ledger, we lost a good friend and mentor in 2002. David Mills was a fighter pilot in the RAF before moving over to motorsports to become involved with the management of Sir Jack Brabham's fledgling Grand Prix team in the early 60's. He became the business manager for Sports Car World Champion Derek Bell, John Watson and others, also finding sponsorships for the likes of Stirling Moss. He also started a racing memorabilia company called Grand Prix Sportique. GPS signed up artists like Alan Fearnley and Nicholas Watts and became the first company to produce limited edition prints autographed by some of the world's finest drivers. Legends such as Juan Manuel Fangio, Ayrton Senna, Mario Andretti, Alain Prost, Niki Lauda, Stirling Moss, Jackie Ickx, Derek Bell, and many others have been the subject of GPS prints over the past 18 years. In 1984, I purchased my first GPS print, 'Sunset at LeMans' (which still hangs in my office today) and the concept for The Motorsport Collector was inspired. A year later, David helped us get started, appointing us the US Distributor for GPS and became a valuable mentor for our growing business. GPS limited editions along with Michael Turner prints and cards became our first offerings in June of 1985 and are a cornerstone of TMC's business today. David and his wife Chris became good friends of our family and although we lived 4,000 miles apart, we enjoyed many memorable times together.
David succumbed to cancer in May 2002. We will miss him.
- Paul Zimmermann, Prop.
12/27/02 UPDATE: Here are a few of the things we're working on this week for 2003 (and beyond?):
Exoto has finally announced
that they will produce a 1989 LeMans winner version of their spectacular
1/18 scale Sauber Mercedes C9. It will be packaged with a spare
'rolling chassis' and carry a $299.95 price tag. They will
not give us a release date, but we will accept orders for this
limited edition piece (1,989) immediately. Just don't call us
every week for a status report.
We hope to finally see a 2002 Formula One Review Video (don't spoil the ending) on the market here in the US by late January or February. The US importer is unable to give us an accurate release date, program length or price at this time but the UK version is 210 minutes long. The US version of the 2001 video was priced at $39.95. Reserve now, and we'll get you a copy as soon as they figure out what's going on.
We understand the deal came together so late in the UK that Duke Video had to overnight tapes in order to make Christmas delivery.
If you read Formula One Magazine, the photo on the right appears in their November-December issue along with a story on retired F1 commentator Murray Walker. The photo was taken in TMC's tent at the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis during our book signing with Murray back in September.
The signing was a complete sell out, much to the disappointment of TMC customers who were not in attendance that afternoon. However, with the assistance of Murray's publisher (Harper Collins) we can now offer copies of 'Unless I'm Very Much Mistaken' complete with a hand signed Murray Walker bookplate at no additional charge ($25.00 plus shipping). Our supplies are limited. Order now for early January delivery.
12/24/02 UPDATE: One last update before we close for Christmas day. Bernard Cowdrey's acclaimed new book 'Formula Junior: The Complete A-Z' is now available at TMC for $79.95 plus shipping.
We'll be open Christmas Eve until 2pm and will re-open at 10am on 'Boxing Day', December 26. Merry Christmas everyone!
12/20/02 UPDATE: Just in this morning! The new SCX 'Crocodile' Audi R8 slot car. Detail equal to, or better than, the die cast models we've seen of this car. They'll go fast at just $39.95 plus shipping. Click on the images for a closer look.
This afternoon's arrivals have been posted to the Last Minute Gift Idea page. They include the 1/43 scale Lolas seen above.
12/16/02 UPDATE: CMC's long awaited Mercedes Benz W25 is here. Absolutely stunning, as you would expect from CMC. The three new 1938 French Grand Prix versions of CMC's beautiful Mercedes Benz W154 are also in stock.
Catch full photo sets of all four cars on the New Release Die Cast page.
SOLD OUT
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12/11/02 UPDATE: Our air shipment of Autocourse 2002/03 is due to arrive by the weekend. Reserve now for Christmas delivery! $54.95 plus shipping. We'll be open Saturday and Sunday this weekend, so if you're in the neighborhood, stop by and pick one up.
Lots of new stuff on the New Release Die Cast page this afternoon. Even more tomorrow. Stop back.
12/10/02 UPDATE: A December surprise from Minichamps. We will have a limited quantity of the 1/18 scale Michael Schumacher Jordan (seen above) and the first 1/18 scale McLaren M23 in stock by the weekend. The McLaren will be Emerson Fittipaldi's 1974 World Championship winning car in 'Marlboro' colors (no cigarette logos appear) and will feature removable panels and a detailed engine (similar to the 1/43 M23 releases seen earlier this year).
Details later today!
12/08/02 UPDATE: Signed copies of all three Buddy Palumbo novels (and
Potside Companion) are now in stock after Burt (BS) Levy's book
signing Saturday. Details HERE.
12/04/02 UPDATE: We'll be updating the website will all the latest arrivals over the next couple of days. Two new Can Am McLarens from GMP are now in stock at TMC. The 1/18 scale Auto World - Jerobee McLaren M8B driven by Oscar Koveleski and Tony Adamowicz in 1970 is one of the best looking of the 1/18 GMP series. We also have the 1/43 McLaren M8B driven by Lothar Motschenbacher the same year. The Gurney and Grant Lolas are due any day. Reserve now. Additonal photos of the McLarens can be found on the New Release Die Cast page.
