By Gary Barnum

If you've been, you want to be there again. If you haven't, you've gotta make it! The Hot Wheels Collectors Convention is the place for collectors to be in October. Tickets for the 30th Annual show are now available.

What: 30th Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention
When: Wednesday, October 5 – Sunday, October 9, 2015
Where: Marriott Los Angeles Airport Hotel – Los Angeles, CA
Info: Click here to purchase tickets or for more information.


Filled with fun events and friendship, it's the best place of all to meet other collectors, and to buy, sell, and swap Hot Wheels both rare and common from all eras. Included with your ticket are autograph sessions with Hot Wheels designers and other guests, room-to-room trading, and more. For HW fans, it must be experienced. You can't enjoy it if you don't show up! Special Events
Besides all that is included with your admission ticket, you'll want to jump in on some extra fun. Note that these are optional special events, and you need to buy additional specific tickets in advance.

“Evening with Ryu Asada” Dinner – Thursday, Oct. 6: Born in Japan, designer Ryu Asada joined Mattel at the recommendation of Jun Imai in 2004 on the Matchbox line. He moved over to Hot Wheels in 2012, banging out fan favorites like the '67 Chevy C10 and the Honda S2000 (inspired by his own daily driver). Dinner guests will receive a souvenir dinner car (produced by Mattel, limited to no more than 1,500 pieces), T-shirt, pin, and more. Seats are limited and usually sell out quickly, so get yours early!

HWC Vending Machine: Packed full of great Hot Wheels items, the HWC VM is a major part of the show! There will be five sessions, and pulls are limited. See the Convention website for full details.

Charity Events
Enjoy a little gaming and support a great cause while you do: Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles. It's a win-win! You'll also need to get your tickets in advance for these optional events. Full details are on the Convention website :

Button Bingo
No-Limit Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament
Hot Wheels Convention Mania Game


And you can help Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles even more while helping your collection! Pick up special Hot Wheels items at the Charity auctions during the show (no advance tickets required):

Charity Auction
Silent Auction


Ticketing
Tickets are $70 each ($75 if purchased online) and good for all five days. Ticket sales will end September 9 (and September 16 for special events) or when the last ticket is sold, whichever occurs first. Get your tickets by mail or online - click here for all the details.

Enter to win your Dream Car Garage by PROSLAT (Up to $5,000 value) with flooring by RaceDeck (Up to $1600 value)!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

HOW TO ENTER: Beginning March 4th 2016 at 12:01 (ET) through November 20th 2016 at 11:59 PM (ET), complete and submit the entry form pursuant to the on-screen instructions. Odds of winning will depend upon the total number of eligible entries received. One (1) winner will receive a prize. Open to legal residents of Canada and the United States, ages 21 years or older. Void Puerto Rico and where prohibited by law.

ENTRY FORM.

In beautiful, colorful mosaic packaging that combines for one powerful image, our Stars & Stripes series at Walmart is a perfect salute to "Old Glory."


CHECKLIST
’65 Mustang (Hard Top)
’67 Chevy C10
’70 Ford Torino
'71 Plymouth Satellite
8 Crate
Camaro Z28
Custom ’77 Dodge Van
Fire-Eater
Hiway Hauler 2
Rodger Dodger

Detroit Auto Show
Kids can get their very first Ford GT when they stop by the Ford stand at the North American International Auto Show in January. Ford is giving away Revell-built Ford GT model snap kits and will introduce a retail line in April.

The auto show kit includes 14 pieces for easy assembly in just a few minutes, and will feature a unique auto show stamp on the bottom to signify the special edition. The retail model is more detailed; it has 28 pieces and will take 10 to 15 minutes to build. The retail kit will be widely available to purchase for $14.99.

“Our annual Revell Make ‘n Take model kit program has become a fun-filled auto show tradition,” said Mark Bentley, Ford Licensing manager. “Letting kids build their own Ford GT is a great way to introduce them to the Ford brand and create new enthusiasts.”

Ford has worked with Illinois-based Revell to build snap kits for auto shows and for retail sale since 2013. The licensing agreement started with Mustang, followed by a Raptor version.

“We’ve always enjoyed building Ford products,” said Brian Eble, Revell’s Vice President of Marketing. “Ford’s iconic designs make them a great brand to replicate. From first time model builders to master builders; Ford products continue to be one of the most sought after subject matter for scale plastic model kits.”

Grand prize winner will receive a PlayStation®4 system and a Mad Max game for PlayStation®4!

Four runners up will win a Mad Max game for PlayStation®4!

Contest duration: December 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015 The Rockstar and Car Mad Max Sweepstakes (the "Sweepstakes") is open only to legal residents of California, Tennessee and Kentucky 18 and older at the time of entry.

California
Entry Form

Tennessee and Kentucky
Entry Form

Ready for the next Kmart Collector Day event? Of course you are! Don't miss the specially-packed cases of Hot Wheels vehicles, including Kmart exclusives.

Kmart Collector Day Event

When: Saturday, 11/7 at 9 a.m. local times

Where: U.S. Kmart Stores (excluding Puerto Rico)

Info: Click here. to find a location

2016 Hot Wheels mainline cars have begun to ship! Start watching for them. Here's a little help planning your collecting for the coming year.

The core list of releases includes 250 castings, with a total number of 400 editions expected (when you include variations and more). There will be 50 New Models, plus 15 Treasure Hunts and 15 Super Treasure Hunts interspersed within 30 Collections (formerly "segments") within the mainline.

Watch the making of the Thirstcutter – a custom Polaris RZR inspired by Mad Max the game. Rockstar Energy Drink, WB Games, and UTV Wolfpack team up to build this wicked machine.



Part 1: Learn the Thirstcutter’s history and features. Join UTV Wolfpack as they hit the garage and begin fabricating and customizing this beast.



Part 2: UTV Wolfpack wraps up the build and rips the Thirstcutter through the desert in Glamis, CA.

You could win the Thirstcutter and more! Collect codes under the tab of limited edition Rockstar Energy Drink & Mad Max cans, see Win the Rockstar Mad Max THRISTCUTTER for more details.

Have you entered the Mad Max In-Game Challenge?? One week left to race to place for mad prizes and a chance to win a Custom Replica THIRSTCUTTER!

Head over to Rockstar Mad Max to enter. Only 1 week left!

September 4 was Force Friday, the day hundreds of toys from the upcoming new Star Wars movie were released to the public, and among all the action figures, plush dolls, and costumes, were some more die-cast cars from Hot Wheels.

Not exactly sure what the designers at Mattel were thinking when they designed this set of cars. They must have been bing-watching the whole seeason of Wacky Races, and using that as their inspiration. The Kylo Ren car (pictured aboved) looks like something Dick Dastardly would be driving, not something a Sith Lord would.

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