In
1968, I was seven years old when I got my first Hot Wheels. It
was purchased for me by my dad at the Thrifty Drugstore in
Monrovia, California. It was a beautiful Red (Hong Kong) Custom
Mustang that came in a Strip Action Set. I assembled the track in
my living room and was astounded at how fast the Mustang
traveled! Wow! It went under the sofa and I retrieved it and
turned it over to see if it had a hidden built-in motor. Then
followed a Light Green Deora, an Ice Blue Custom Barracuda and
many, many more. On my birthday in 1969, my friends and I bought
Hot Wheels, took them out of the blisterpack, and stuffed a
piņata with candy and Hot Wheels. I decided to keep some of the
cooler color Hot Wheels and not put them in the piņata I still
own these cars to this day! I got my olive Beach Bomb in a Dole
Pineapple Mail-in offer. I still own this one, too! Later that
same year, my grandfather Tony bought a fire-engine red 1969
Dodge Charger R/T with a Bumblebee race stripe and 440 engine. In
an attempt to imitate him, I bought a 1969 Hot Wheels Dodge
Charger and customized it with a Bumblebee stripe, R/T lettering
and painted hood. I used to show off my Hot Wheels and model cars
on a large round display table that was visible to visitors as
you opened the front door. This proximity to the front door led
to a really scary Halloween. While I and my friends were out
Trick-Or-Treating, three kids came to the door and, instead of
accepting candy, forced their way in past my Grandmother Quica to
take my Hot Wheels. Fortunately, her friend Lucy and her were
able to kick them out before they treated themselves to my Hot
Wheels. Now that's a scary Halloween!
Racing Hot Wheels was not restricted to the familiar orange
track. My elementary school had a steep incline leading from the
school rooms to the cafeteria. At recess, this incline was the
site of many illegal "drag races" that were stopped
only by the school bell or whichever schoolteacher caught us
first!The Hot Wheels Saturday morning T.V. show motivated my
friends and I to go out and buy our hero Jack's "Jack Rabbit
Special" and the bad guy, Dexter's Demon. I always thought
Dexter had the cooler car!
In 1970 I still remember the excitement of getting my Hot Wheels
Club Kit in the mail. All my friends and I got them the same day.
I still own my original Boss Hoss Silver Special car, patch and
Membership card with my original childhood handwriting. I got my
Red Baron from the model car kit of the same name along with a
small plastic bi-plane.That year I had my secret wish come true:
that they would produce Hot Wheels with built-in motors.......
Sizzlers were introduced! I even got a Sizzlers lunch pail to use
along with my Hot Wheels lunch pail.
I got reacquainted with Hot Wheels when I was looking to buy a
new car. I bought the July 1998 issue of 'Sport Compact Car' and
was surprised to see an article on the 30th anniversary of Hot
Wheels. This motivated me to take my old collection out of
storage. My favorite car from my original collection is my Hot
Pink Sky Show Fleetside along with the Sky Show set Today, it's
still a grade 9+! I'm missing 25 to 30 of my original cars, and
many have chips, but, happily, the majority of my present
collection still consists of my childhood cars. I thank God for
the treasured memories these reminders of a happy childhood bring
and the fun they are in my adult life to collect THE WORLD'S
FASTEST METAL CARS!!!
Sergio Jimenez
