Roll Over in Dover: Joey Logano walks away

It seemed like an innocent little tap from behind, but that little tap gave Joey Logano the ride of his life, that I call the Roll over in Dover. To watch that horrific crash and then to see Joey Logano walk away from the scene without a scratch was simply amazing. I lost count but I’m sure that Joeys’ car rolled down the track at least dozen times. If this isn’t a great testimony of how much engineering for safety went into the design of the new race car “The Car of Tomorrow”, I don’t know what is.

     It wasn’t that many years ago that the chances of NOT walking away from a horrific crash like this were very high. In fact, I’m fairly sure there would have been an air ambulance ride for the driver. Joey Logano is a lucky man because the Car of Tomorrow is here today.

     There are a few drivers from last years' season that are counting their lucky stars that NASCAR decided to move up the mandatory switch to the car of tomorrow by one year, from 2009 to 2008. There was the terrible crash with Sam Hornish and Jeff Gordon at Watkins Glen, the unbelievable wreck of Michael McDowell while qualifying in Texas and how can you forget David Gilliland and Bobby Labonte at Watkins Glen. I still get the chills just thinking about those wrecks, but the new race car design sure came through.

     Four of the main improvements are; the drivers' compartment which was enlarged by increasing the roof height by 2 ½ inches and moving the driver about 4 ½ inches closer to the center of the car, they added double frame rail with steel plating to cover the door bars on the drivers' side, they added energy absorbing materials between the door panels and the roll cage to calm the energy of an impact, and they also improved the fuel cell by making the bladder stronger, the container thicker with a safer check valve and energy absorbing material around the fuel cell. Let’s not forget the great HANS device (Head and Neck Support device) that was added. These are new safety features that come with the new car of tomorrow. There are also devices that were put in place earlier that are still used today. Remember way back when the race car would go into a high speed spin and the car would lift into the air and flip over; well, they fixed that by adding roof flaps, which open if the car spins at high speed. By having the flaps open the air escapes through them and eliminating lift, keeping the car on the ground. Furthermore, they are still using restrictor plates to keep speeds to less than 200 mph on the high banked tracks (Daytona and Talladega).

     Anyway I’m sure that Joey Logano will never forget the Roll over in Dover. And I’m glad he walked away from the accident because he is going to become a great driver who will be around for a long time. ...read more ⇒

Diecast Scale

As most of you, if not all of you know that diecast cars come in many different scales (size). You can get them in a very small scale of 1:64 to a very large scale of 1:18. I have even seen them in a 1:8 scale, HUGE.

The 1:64 scale for diecast cars is about 3 inches long, where as the 1:18 scale is about 10 ½ inches long. So how does one choose which scale, he or she would like to collect? Well, everyone has their own reason for collecting a certain scale; whether it be a small scale due to lack of space or a larger scale, so they can enjoy the more detail. It’s only fair to say that the larger the scale the more detail can be added. Remember, the 1:64 scale diecast car was originally produced as a toy for kids to play with. That’s not to say that today’s newer 1:64 scale hasn’t improved because it has greatly improved.

Now take me for instants, I started with the 1:32 scale when I was collecting diecast cars like the 1969 Mustang, ’69 Camaro, ’57 Bel-Air etc… When I start with my NASCAR collection, I went to the 1:24 scale and again the detail better than the smaller scale. By better detail, I’m referring to the engine, wheels and the interior, the exterior of the smaller scale cars is of fine quality. I also have some Formula One diecasts in the 1:64 and 1:43 scale that look great. Really there is no reason to collect just one scale of diecast cars, you can mix it up, you will know it when you see it if it’s a good fit to your collection.

Just one other thing, it doesn’t matter what scale you collect, make sure you display them in display cases, that way they stay protected and dust free.

Keep on collecting

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Collecting NASCAR Diecast Cars

As a young boy I always had little figurines like GI Joe, the green Army men and plastic tanks and don’t forget the little soldier with the parachute that didn’t always open. Those were fun to play with but when I got my first Hot Wheels that changed everything. It started an interest in cars that never stopped. Those little suckers were fast and there were so many models and bright colours to choose from.
From there I got into watching auto racing, not much on the TV those days (I’m going back a bit), I believe Wild World of Sports carried some of the big races of stock car racing. I’m not sure if it was called NASCAR at time, it’s to far back to remember. As time went on TV coverage got much better, I started watching Indy Cars races some Formula One and drag racing of all forms. By this time I was buying car models spending a lot of time gluing them together, painting and adding decals. Most of the time I made a mess of them, I had no patience, not letting the glue dry fully before moving on to the next step.
Then I discovered diecast cars, they came in so many models and sizes and there was nothing to do except to put them on display and enjoy them. I’ve been collecting NASCAR diecast cars for awhile now and it’s kind of addictive, you can’t buy just one or two because you buy your favorite drivers diecast but his car has different paint schemes. So you buy the different paint schemes and then they come out with a Special Edition and you have to it as well.

Now I’ve got them all lined up on shelves and in display cases, I may have too many but I enjoy them and I think it’s a great hobby to get into and I will continue for along time.
So where do you look for that next special edition, hard to find or the newest NASCAR diecast. Well you can go to your local book store and check out the magazines, there are several good ones out there; you can try hobby shows, flea markets, you never now what you can find a garage or lawn sale or you could always search the internet for websites and blogs. So get out there and start collecting today.

Keep on Collecting ...read more ⇒

NASCAR in Quebec

That was some race in Québec at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on the weekend. It was a lot of fun watching them race in the rain, even with the rain tires cornering was a big issue. You had cars going off track and plying up in the corners it was wild. I thought for sure that the lead car would walk away with the win if he could keep away from the pack behind him. It was Marcos Ambrose’s race to win but Carl Edwards just kept closing in on his tail until he got within striking distance. And on the last corner of the race Marcos cuts the corner and his car is airborne, by the time he straightens out Carl flies by him to take the win and Marcos Ambrose loses yet again in Quebec.

It’s great to see NASCAR expand in Canada; it would be nice to see more races in Canada, whether it is Sprint, Nationwide or both. And having three Canadian drivers finish in the top ten is great, it should get the casual fans to follow the NASCAR series more closely. I think the best finish for Canadians or more so Quebecers would have been for Jacques Villeneuve to win the race as the track is named after father. Now that would have sparked a week long party. They should add a few more road courses in the future; they add that little extra excitement to the race. I also love the idea of racing in the rain, put on the rain tires and keep going, rather then waiting for the track driers to finish.

The fans at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve are very passionate, the weather is a non factor for them they just love the sport. I had the opportunity to be there for a Formula 1 weekend in 1982, it’s a beautiful track and I’m looking forward to attending a NASCAR event there one day.

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Kyle Busch NASCAR Diecast Car

Well it was Kyle Busch's turn to win at the NASCAR Bristol Sharpie 500. Good for him, he should be feeling better now. it's been awhile since his last win. We will see what happens from here on in.
Notice how all the NASCAR cars have multiple paint schemes, not like the old days when you only had one. Technology has come a long way since then, I guess it's a lot easier to change the paint schemes now. This just gives you more options when buying a NASCAR diecast car, you could have a collection of cars from the same driver.
 
Getting back to Kyle Busch, I really like the M & M's paint scheme; I don't know if it's the colours or the fact that I love M & M's. The 1:24 scale of the Kyle Busch 2009 M&MS Joe Gibbs Toyota #18 NASCAR diecast car is a nice looking car. It is a Limited Edition with opening roof flaps, trunk and hood. It's a nice diecast car to add to your collection.

Changing topic a bit, do you remember when the NASCARs were what they were, I mean a Dodge was Dodge, a Ford was Ford and a Chevy was a Chevy. If you wanted to race it had to be a production car, highly modified mind you but it looked like the one you bought from your local dealer. Just like Richard Pettys' 1970 Plymouth Superbird, with its pointy nose and high rear wing. Now they all just look the same. I remember my friends bragging about their Dads car and saying it was better and faster then your Dads, when their model was winning at the NASCAR track. But I guess that the way they are now makes it a more even field for everyone.


Looks like I got off track a bit but it's OK to go down memory lane once and awhile.

Keep on collecting ...read more ⇒

My Mission in Diecast Cars

My mission is to search for new and interesting NASCAR diecast cars on a regular basis post what I find. I will post pictures, descriptions and my opinions on diecast cars, different manufactures of not only NASCAR diecast cars but others as well.

I may also comment on races, NASCAR, Indy, Formula One and others from time to time. I may even post something completely off topic if I think that you may find it interesting. I will also be looking forward to your comments (be nice) and input.

The diecast cars market seems to really be growing as more and more people are buying diecast collectables. I think that the internet and online purchasing have made it easier to find and buy the diecast items.

There are also different accessories for your diecast cars collection, just like model train collectors who set up complete towns with train stations, train yards, trees, houses, business, figurines and etc…. you can also collect figurines, car hosts, gas pumps, even complete garage set. Don’t forget to protect your NASCAR diecast cars with display cases; you can get display cases for a single car or multiple cars for wall mount. You should try to buy the display cases in bulk to save on cost; I try and find same good places to buy from and them in my blog.

Diecast cars come in different scales, some of the more popular ones are: 1:18, 1:24, 1:32, 1:43 and 1:64. I believe the most popular scale size in North America is the 1:24 scale, most NASCAR diecast cars come in this scale size. I used to collect the 1:32 scale but there wasn’t as large a selection as in the 1:24 scale, if you disagree please let me know where I can find a good selection of 1:32 scale diecast cars.

Keep collecting ...read more ⇒

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Nascar Diecast

There are so many NASCAR Diecast cars out there that if you were to buy everyone that came out you would go broke. But this one is a must have and would be a great addition to any collection. The Dale Earnhardt Jr. Whiskey River Chevrolet Impala SS NASCAR, what a great looking car. It has a custom paint job inspired by the Whiskey River Nightclub, Charlottes’ hottest nightspot.

This diecast car is loaded with details throughout the chassis and body, the interior compartment has great detail, the hood and trunk open, all kinds of manufacturer specific engine detail, it even has replica Goodyear Eagle tires. It’s just a great looking diecast car. Crafted by Motorsport Authentics,this 1:24 scale diecast NASCAR is officially licensed by JR Motorsports, Hendrick Motorsports and NASCAR. It also comes with a I.D. number so you can register your NASCAR diecast replica.

It seems as there are more and more people collecting diecast cars these days. Not only NASCAR but Indy, F1, Muscle cars, cars they used to own or wished they owned. Diecast cars have come along from when I was a kid and that was a long time ago. I wish I would have taken better care of my old Hotwheels and kept them my first diecast cars, I mean who didn’t have Hotwheels as a kid. I guess I could say the same about baseball and hockey cards but I wouldn’t go there.

Anyway that’s enough for now and I hope you found this post interesting and or helpful. I will be writing more post and hopefully they will get better as I go along.

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