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BRR Club™ Articles
The Rhode Island™ Challenge
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We're bad. We're nationwide. |
Posted 12-05-08 |
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WHO HAS THE FASTEST HOT WHEELS CAR? If you like to race— and here in Rhode Island we love it— we need a car that can take on a '80s Matchbox® Laser Wheels™ Datsun. We have thrown everything but the kitchen sink at this car and we just can't seem to beat it.  We're looking for some ideas from all you Hot Wheels™ racers. Post a pic or just make a suggestion. If you would like to send a car to compete we will return it and there is a cash prize for the winner. We hope you can help. We've raced redlines, funny cars, you name it— nothing can beat this Datsun. Some cars are fast on a shorter track, but on the RIHWC 50-foot Speedway the last 20 feet make a big difference. Our track is real fast— over six feet high, which is enough of a drop to really accelerate the cars, and then the straightaway, where we separate the men from the boys.  The monster track we race on has electronic start and finish line (with a very good padded catch box). Most fast cars run Elapsed Times around 3.7-3.8 seconds. The Datsun turns low 3.7s and that's quick. Redlines and funny cars run in the high 3.7s. A factory stock car is what we're looking for and we just can't find that low 3.7 car. We are thousandths of a second away from taking this menace down!  A lot of emphasis is put on weight, but the winning factors are balance and gravity, more than anything else. The custom weighted cars we race pull low 3.7s and the Datsun can challenge some of those. We've raced every Superfast™, Laser Wheel™, and Lesney Matchbox® and this car is just a freak. Most of the all-variety diecast cars can't compete with the Hot Wheels marque. The Hot Wheels™ "Faster Than Ever"™ cars are all fast, but this car defies all logic. All the cars mentioned above have raced and lost, but there has to be one just a hair faster and that car will be well rewarded when we take out the Matchbox®! We call this race the "Challenge". The rules are very simple: if your time qualifies, we will run your car in best-of-three racing against the Datsun. The winner takes home some great prizes, including cash as well as the honor. If you have what it takes, send a car— bring 'em on, people! We have to beat this Matchbox®, and put Hot Wheels™ back on top once again! Bring on the speed! Anyone who wants to send their cars can address them to Rhode Island Hot Wheels Club |
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The ensuing discussion eventually received over 27,000 Views. There was a related thread (that got quite lengthy) discussing the physics involved. Hundreds of Replies suggested models that should be fast. |
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See, the problem is all the cars you guys are listing have been raced, maybe twice. The Datsun is a one-in-a-million Matchbox
car, and what is needed to beat it is a one-in-a-million Hot Wheels car. I have sent one or two dozen cars that are fast on my track, just
not fast enough to beat the Datsun. In my opinion, the car to beat it will be a funny car— good weight, good balance, and (very important) good
width. The best car out there is probably stuck in a blister in someone's basement. |
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This last race, some friends and I each had a new Buick Grand National FTE in our complement, and mine was totally wasted by a beat-up car 15 years old,
whereas one of my friends' was only bested by a really fast 2007 Dodge Charger from the Heat Fleet pack. So that shows how different same-model cars can be. |
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You need to send your car to race! Don't worry, the RIHWC has a great group of guys that will send your car back right away! I'll buy three to four of the same car
to race and MAYBE one of them is fast. You need to find the car that has the best wheel-axle combo. I had a caddy with FTE on it and all it would do is fly off the track — a
front wheel had a slight wobble! As far as Redlines go, those cars are so old that finding a fast one (a really fast one) is going to get harder as the years go on.
Bottom line: if someone out there has a fast car, send it to RI. The Datsun needs to be shut down! |
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Collectors from all over the world began sending cars, to pit against the reviled Matchbox® Datsun. Even Mattel® wanted in on the action. |
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THE CARS ARE COMING IN FOR THE BIG RACE ON TUESDAY NIGHT. Jimbo32 from Michigan sent us a HWC Batmobile that beat a FTE Batmobile last Sunday at a Connecticut
club meet. We also got a Summer Smash '65 Nova from a friend in Canada who says he's raced it there and it's done quite well. We'll see how it handles the fifty
feet of speed. |
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This Dinoco Lightning McQueen from the Cars set was sent to us from a little boy in Montana. And if little Bobby wins, I just may send him the entire track! |
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This is not good. We need a Hot Wheels on top. Our designers are working hard on beating this Matchbox car. |
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The refreshing thing about this thread is it lets people know the hobby is for fun. Not Walmart complaints and Treasure Hunt trauma. It's been a real
pleasure being a part of a club and a community of people who enjoy good times with their family, racing cars and making new friends along the way. We love
Hot Wheels and racing is just one way to enjoy the hobby. |
Since its creation in 1976, the Neet Streeter has never had windows.
You can change that.
Since its creation in 1976, the Neet Streeter has never had windows.
You can change that.