Under The Tree: 2012 Hot Wheels Monster Jam Series w/ Topps Trading Card

Hot Wheels began to make their Monster Jam series of trucks in 2000. This partnership between Hot Wheels and Monster Jam lasted 18 years and concluded in 2018.

The 2012 set in my opinion is the most interesting. (80) monster trucks make-up the set. (7) subsets cover the (80) monster truck set – 1st Editions, Hot Wheels Originals, Edge Glow, Spectraflames, Monster Jam World Finals Deco, Mud Trucks, and Standard. The “Standard” designation does not appear on any of the packaging like the others do. Its just the name given to those trucks which do not fit in any of the other categories.

2012 was the 30th anniversary of Grave Digger. The packaging for each monster truck contains a special 30th anniversary logo celebrating this achievement.

Packaged with each monster truck is a Topps trading card. The card matches the monster truck it is packaged with.

Card of the Day: Mike McLaughlin 1994 Wheels High Gear #53

Under The Tree: 2011 Hot Wheels General Mills Wheaties ’70s Van

When I was a kid I remember having a large bin full of Hot Wheels. I played with them a lot. Rolling them down the driveway, building ramps for them to jump, watching them do all types of unpredictable tricks, and duct-taping firecrackers to them brings back a ton of memories. I was basically Sid from Toy Story.

Some of my Hot Wheels came from various neighborhood yard sales. Little did I know that I had picked-up some vintage Redline cars. Even though they were fairly beat up, I came to realize many years later that those cars have a huge demand among collectors.

Released in 2011, the General Mills line of Hot Wheels featured cereal box artwork from different General Mills cereal. One of them being “The Breakfast Of Champions” Wheaties.

I think this ’70s van looks so cool. The generic baseball player image dates back to the 1960s. I don’t believe its of anyone specific. The green color suggest its someone from the Oakland A’s.

Other cereals covered in the set include Honey Nut Cheerios, Cocoa Puffs, Count Chocula, Trix, Boo Berry, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Franken Berry, and Lucky Charms.

My all-time favorite Hot Wheels car is the one that looks like a Superfractor.

Product Highlight: 1993 Maxx Hot Wheels 25th Anniversary Collector’s Edition

When I was a kid, my go to toys to play with were action figures.  I had bins full of them.  Batman, X-Men, Star Wars, you name it.  Like most adults I look back and wish I would have kept them in their original packaging.  But where would have the fun been in that?  Keeping toys sealed wasn’t even a thought.

Outside of the action figures, Matchbox and Hot Wheels weren’t that far behind.  I had a bin full of these too.  Although I don’t live in the house I grew up in anymore, it wouldn’t surprise me if some of those toy cars are still lodged underneath a cabinet or something.  The house’s current owner is probably completely oblivious that they’re still there.  Long forgotten relics of a childhood race that perhaps got a little out of hand.

2018 marks the 50th anniversary of Hot Wheels.  Twenty-five years ago Maxx Race Cards helped them celebrate their 25th anniversary with a commemorative set.  Issued only in factory set form, the set features what they call “the most memorable 25 cars from 1968-1992”.  The card fronts picture a Hot Wheels vehicle with a full-blown description on the back.  Collecting tips are even provided for each vehicle.

Here is the checklist:

• 1968 Beatnik Bandit #1
• 1969 TwinMill #2
• 1970 Boss Hoss #3
• 1971 Evil Weevil #4
• 1972 Funny Money #5
• 1973 Sweet 16 #6
• 1974 Sir Rodney Roadster #7
• 1975 Emergency Squad #8
• 1976 Corvette Stingray #9
• 1977 ’57 Chevy #10
• 1978 Hot Bird #11
• 1979 Bywayman #12
• 1980 Hiway Hauler #13
• 1981 Old Number 5 #14
• 1982 Firebird Funny Car #15
• 1983 Classic Cobra #16
• 1984 ’65 Mustang Convertible #17
• 1985 Thunderstreak #18
• 1986 Poppa ‘Vette #19
• 1987 Ferrari Testarossa #20
• 1988 Talbolt Lago #21
• 1989 GT Racer #22
• 1990 Purple Passion #23
• 1991 Street Beast #24
• 1992 Goodyear Blimp #25

I don’t recall owning any of these specific vehicles.  I do remember picking up a few Hot Wheels cars at a yard sale when I was little, and later discovered they came from their famous Redline collection.

Maxx produced lots of racing cards during the classic junk-wax era.  Most of their sets carry little value today.  Cards of Dale Earnhardt are what they’re particularly known for.

This Hot Wheels set is one of Maxx’s oddball products.  Sealed examples are readily available, and can be found for nothing.

Doesn’t this Hot Wheels car look like a Superfractor?

Card of the Day: Greg Biffle 2002 Wheels Auto

Card of the Day: Matt Kenseth 1999 Wheels Auto

And The Winner Is…

Congrats to Justinrowdy18 on being the winner of the 2010 Press Pass Wheels Main Event contest.  As soon as you send me your mailing information, I will get these cards out to you ASAP.  Thanks to everyone that took part in this contest!!!

’10 Main Event Contest!!! – NOW CLOSED

Its time for a contest!!!  It has been such a long time since I’ve held one.  This time you can win some of the contents from my box of 2010 Press Pass Main Event.  This contest includes the following:

• (1) Joey Logano / Kevin Harvick Head to Head Dual Hat Relic #’ed/75
• (2) Tale of the Tape inserts – Joey Logano, Mark Martin
• (3) American Muscle inserts – Clint Bowyer, Tony Stewart, Martin Truex, Jr
• (2) Blue Parallels – Justin Allgaier, Juan Pablo Montoya
• (2) NASCAR Hall of Fame – Bill France, Jr, Wendell Scott Victory
• (1) Danica Patrick Mini Fight Card

Contest Details:

• This contest will end on 9/18/10 @ 7:00 p.m. EST
• To enter, please leave a comment in this post
• You can enter once per day
• When entering, please provide a valid e-mail address
• When the contest is over, I will need the winner’s mailing address so these cards can be shipped to them for FREE

2010 Press Pass Wheels Main Event Box Break & Review

FedEx dropped off a box of 2010 Press Pass Wheels Main Event this afternoon.  20 packs per box with 5 cards per pack.  You can find (1) autograph and (2) relics per box on average.  And here we go………………………..

This year’s Main Event has a fighting theme to it.  Last year it was poker.  I’m just glad that Press Pass didn’t load-up a perfectly good racing product with autographs of MMA fighters or anything like that.  MMA is not something I’m into.

I had a good time busting this box.  Yes there are a lot of base cards to sort through, but the inserts look really good.  The Tale of the Tape and American Muscle inserts have that rainbow foil finish which I’ve always enjoyed looking at.

I think the DeLana Harvick relic is one of the more interesting pulls.  She doesn’t race, but she is one of the most influential people in NASCAR.  It also doesn’t hurt to pull a few Danica Patrick mini’s.

Overall:

Overall, I give 2010 Press Pass Wheels Main Event 3.5 tires out of 5 (1=poor & 5=perfect).  If your a racing fan, I’d check it out.  A sealed hobby box will run you around $70.00.

Preview: 2010 Wheels Main Event

Due out in September, 2010 Wheels Main Event looks to have a fighting theme to it this year.  Each hobby box will contain one on-card autograph and two relic cards on average.  Collectors can even look for two-sided dual autographs featuring some of the best match-ups of the season.

FYI – For those collectors who redeemed their poker autographs from last year’s Main Event, you still have to wait.  Press Pass had an issue with the person who was suppose to get those cards signed.  Who knows when they’ll arrive?