Mattel got me again, first Jim Rockford’s Firebird from The Rockford Files, now Homer’s awesome card that unfortunately bankrupted his half-brother’s company. It’s even as a die cast toy. What’s most surprising is how much heft (or weight) it has. The wheels under the Homer are slick too.
If I get a rematch via the best Hot Wheels’ track ever made, the Thundershift 500, not the remakes from later decades, this would be my entry. When I was attending St. Matthews in the Seventies, I want to say about fourth grade, one of the cool kids received the toy for Christmas, or a toady, can’t recall clearly. I probably got a turn racing thanks to the teacher enforcing the rules of fairness (so go suck it “nanny state” critics) and I brought my own car. I always thought my Mercedes Benz C111 was a concept car because Hot Wheels were often had exaggerated features. The other kids thought my vehicle was “gay” (the word for “lame” today). I loved it for the gull-wing doors (like a Delorean) and the predominantly red paint job was slick, the car does appear dated now.
When it came to racing, most kids went with Stock Cars (NASCAR style) or what looked like “real” cars. Bwah ha ha! Thanks to my Benz’s weight (it was a little lighter), probably its center of gravity and me having uncharacteristically great timing with the track’s shifter, I often won.
The lesson kids? Just go with the car you like and eventually you’ll get the hang of its quirks. You’ll adjust your timing along with how much force you apply to the shifter. This is the same advice I give for playing pinball, find a machine you like and you’ll figure out its rules and personality.
My nephew Nick is pretty knowledgeable about cars. I will have to ask him if this odd-looking Mercedes was a kick-ass car. The Wikipedia page is filled with terms I cannot comprehend. Wankel engine? Despite being a Benz, I doubt it got good mileage neither. I fear it’s probably the antithesis of my Prius C. Hmm. Maybe my Seventies version of me would be ashamed of sensible-car me. I bet we’d agree on the Homer.