Legendary Funny Car driver John Force and teammate Robert Hight will honor the legacy of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll during the 12^th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, June 15-17. In conjunction with Elvis PresleyEnterprises, Inc. and Lionel NASCAR Collectables, John Force Racing will once again feature Elvis on their one-of-a-kind 8,000 horsepower Ford Mustang Funny Cars. Each driver will be competing in a specially-designed Elvis 35^thAnniversary Ford Mustang Funny Car for this one-time special weekend. A number of fan promotions surrounding this event are also in the works.

Lionel NASCAR Collectables will offer 1:24 and 1:64 scale die-cast cars of both John Force’s Castrol GTX High Mileage/Elvis 35^th Ford Mustang Funny Car and Robert Hight’s Auto Club/Elvis 35^th Ford Mustang Funny Car. Each die-cast is currently available for pre-order at www.nhradiecast.com – home of the officially licensed die-cast of the NHRA.

Die Cast X - The Ultimate Diecast Magazine

Though similar to the S8′s motor (itself a de-tuned version of the Lamborghini Gallardo’s ten-cylinder power plant) with a few tweaks the engine was now producing 525hp and 390 lbs ft torque.  Coupled with Audi’s all-wheel drive system the FSI was capable of 0-60 in under 4 seconds.  A bargain at $115,000; for most of us, the scale alternative is even better – Kyosho’s is tagged at around $150.00.

www.Kyoshousa.com

Die Cast X - The Ultimate Diecast Magazine

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Die Cast X - The Ultimate Diecast Magazine

www.JMModelautos.com

Die Cast X - The Ultimate Diecast Magazine

CLICK TO WATCH THE GEORGE BARRIS INTERVIEW

Die Cast X - The Ultimate Diecast Magazine

Fast forward to today. South Bend’s automotive passion lives on in scale, thanks in part to Tom Lowe and Round 2, makers of American Muscle diecast and Auto World slot cars. We got an invite from Tom and the team to enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at how South Bend does diecast—and jumped at the chance. Round 2 designers Tony Karamitsos and Mike Groothuis were our guides, and they treated us to a day of model euphoria—with a touch of “top secret” thrown in for good measure.

From prototypes to production samples, the sights and sounds were almost overwhelming, but that didn’t keep us from taking these cool (and exclusive!) shots. Want to see more? Check out DCXmag.com for additional coverage from our visit at Round 2. Thanks to Tom, Dan, Meg, Tony, and Mike, for a great day with little cars.

Die Cast X - The Ultimate Diecast Magazine

Still nothing? Don’t feel bad. It’s no megalopolis yet, but a lot of things have changed in those farmlands over the years. Chino isn’t so sleepy anymore. It’s become a center for industry and distribution, as well as a well-developed suburb of LA. It’s also the home of Sunrich Toys and Hobby—and if you’re a hunter/gatherer of scale model cars, that should place Chino, sleepy or not, onto your mental map.

Founded in 2003 by Glen Chou, Sunrich’s original focus was radio-controlled models. However, the RC business soon had Glen looking for a way to do something more direct with his passion for the car model hobby. Chou thought a focus on good service and reputation, not to mention customers’ goodwill, could set his young company apart from the competition.

Great products helped a lot, too, starting with Snap-On Tools—not the big ones, but some wickedly well-done scaled ones. Making a promise to deliver replica shop hardware that was a cut above the generic, poorly made 1:18 and 1:43 sets on the market at the time, Glen impressed the Snap-On brass with the quality and functionality of the accessory tool and garage sets; 30,000 units later, Sunrich’s in-house “TrueScale Miniatures” brand still makes those sets, and a whole lot more.

After the tools, TSM tried its hand at diecast model cars—and did so cleverly. TSM acquired a 1:18-scale Porsche 935 mold set from another manufacturer, tweaked it, and produced the first TrueScale Miniatures-branded model car. Those tweaks to the mold set paid off, and the heavily freshened models, in several variations, came across as superior to the originals. Whilst hammering away at those 935s, Glen and company were also discreetly working on a line of 1:43 racers. Like most of TrueScale’s small-scale offerings, these would emerge through a multi-tiered marketing plan: some of the releases would be sold individually, and some would be fielded as part of a serialized “Signature Series” dedicated to a specific racing personality or event. These up-market, limited edition cars would feature a genuine, hand-autographed plaque mounted to their display bases. When those did well, it was time for TrueScale to try its hand at an all-new, TSM-sired tool, and the subject chosen was none other than the wild, six-wheeled Tyrrell P34. It was a success on all fronts, and the follow-up model was the currently available Le Mans-winning Porsche 936. A still-simmering Lotus 56 Indy turbine car is on its way soon, also from all-new, completely in-house tooling.

Sunrich distributes other manufacturers’ products, as well; it handles the Amalgam line of large scale models, Schuco and Spark in the U.S., and shares distribution rights for the CMC, IXO and DIP lines. The Sunrich team has a remarkable passion for automobiles, full scale and diecast, and the tenet that Glen Chou set forth back in 2003—top-notch customer service, above all else—still holds today. Thanks to Glen, Nicole, James, Wesley and the rest of the never-sleepy team at Sunrich Toys and Hobby for inviting us into your home and for helping to grow the hobby.

sunrichtoy.com

Die Cast X - The Ultimate Diecast Magazine