Alternator Valley's 1st Anniversary & Giveaway!

Wow! I've been writing about Disney Pixar Cars for nearly a solid year! Have you been with me since the start? I launched Alternator Valley with my Scoop of the Rangsberg Blu Ray McQueen promotion on November 6, 2007. If you want to check out my first blog entry, just copy/paste the highlighted words in blue and put them in the search box above.

I'm thinking about doing a giveaway of a Lightning Storm Lightning McQueen to celebrate. Would you like one of these? What do you suggest I do to determine who would get it? I'm open to all sorts of suggestions. Maybe people would have to dress up like one of the various McQueens and send me a picture! It would be funny to see a person dressed as "Tumbleweed Mcqueen," or as "Cactus McQueen!"

I'll wait to see what suggestions you give me, and then announce a contest if we come up with something good.

http://CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Alternator Valley Readers from Around the World!

It is incredible to see where Alternator Valley readers come from! I've looked at my tracking stats for months, and am happy and amazed to see the global reach Disney Pixar Cars has! I thought I'd list the many countries from around the world you come from on the blog. The list was compiled from just the last week of visits, and amounted to 32 different countries from the United Kingdom to Japan!



I then compiled a list for the United States, and again, in just the last week, I had visitors from 34 States! I'll keep adding to the list until I have all 50 States, Puerto Rico and Guam! I can't wait to see how many different countries I'll eventually list!

I hope you continue to enjoy this blog and thanks for visiting!

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars - Race Car Haulers

We know they are coming! We know they are die cast! We know they'll be made for every racer! Now, we know what they look like in their packaging! These are some cool toys! It took two years for Mattel's design team members to get the ok to produce the haulers at a price point they could justify!

The First three we see here are Lightning, Chick Hicks and The King's haulers! They all open so you can put your 1:55th scale racer in to be hauled to the Los Angeles Speedway! God! I'm going to have to use the guest room to hold all my Cars stuff soon.

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars - Night Vision Lightning McQueen & Collector Guide

It was mentioned at Comic-Con, and here's what it will look like packaged. Night Vision Lightning McQueen with a 2009 Collector Guide! They should be out in the next month or so. Don't you wish we could see what the pages of the Collector Guide have in them?

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars - Hong Kong Counterfeit Bust!

It was a matter of time and extensive investigation, but nine were arrested in Hong Kong for selling counterfeit Cars merchandise. The nine were actually employed at the legitimate manufacturing plant that is contracted to mass produce the Mattel Disney Pixar Cars line. My source informed me that the nine were in the process of creating a knockoff of the highly coveted "Motor Speedway of the South" set which has hovered around the $1500.00 price on secondary markets such as Ebay. They were creating counterfeit packaging that would have fooled the best of experts. They had many legitimate Mattel cases of Cars, photographs of items, and blanks stolen from the plant. The ring was estimated to have generated about $250,000 in sales to the point of their arrest. If they had released the bogus SOTS sets, it was estimated they could have netted about two to three million!


I was told to tell collectors to avoid buying Cars items from Hong Kong. I mentioned this in my column last week about Ebay Contraband. Buy legitimate, AUTHENTIC items that have been designed, approved and manufactured by Mattel! Believe me, MattyCollector.com will be releasing some incredible things in the future! Don't buy garbage and support criminals.

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars - Doc Hudson's Alter Ego Paul Newman Passes

Just a few months after George Carlin passed away, now Paul Newman joins George as the next great to drive the expressway to heaven. Such distinct voices and personalities that will be very tough for Pixar to replace for Cars 2. It is easy to say that millions of fans are sad about the news. Newman's Doc Hudson was to have a larger role in the sequel. Again, how does John Lasseter deal with the loss of such a beloved and distinct actor? A voice double? A patching of Newman's own words by computer magic? Only time will tell. For now, remember why Doc went to Radiator Springs and I think you'll get a bit of insight into Paul Newman. Because as Doc told Lightning, "These are good folk around here, who care about one another. I don't want 'em depending on someone they can't count on."

The world could certainly count on Paul Newman! His Newman's Own company contributed over $200 million dollars to charities and allowed him to start his Hole In The Wall Gang Camps for kids with serious illnesses. I strongly suggest you read more about them at this link Hole In The Wall Gang.

As I said with the passing of Carlin, they may be able to imitate Paul Newman, but he was certainly an "Original" they won't match. His talents and unique personality will be terribly missed.

http://carsdiecasttoys.blogspot.com/

Disney Pixar Cars - Chase Lightning McQueen With Bumper Stickers Error Car

No sooner did I mention my desire to start collecting Error Cars, when a friend called me to ask if a mutual friend had an Error Car! And, yes this is a good one! She got herself a Lightning McQueen with Bumper Stickers Chase Car that has no bumper stickers! I'd certainly love to have one of those! Take a look at these great pics my friend Julie took of her great find!

Looks like any other Chase McQueen doesn't it?

Yet, upon close inspection, we see that this Lightning does not have Bumper Stickers! He instead has "Medicated Bumper Ointment," where the three Bumper Stickers should be! This is truly a rare Car due to the fact that is a Limited Production "Chase," and it is an Error!

So, take a close look at your collection, you never know what you might have! I've yet to come across any Error Cars, but I'm sure I'll find one someday.

Check out my friend Julie Flores's great blog about Stitch and his meeting celebrities at this link Stitch's Adventure Club

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

A Day Off Topic - Ridley Scott Films

I wrote about the Apple Car and the famous 1984 television ad directed by Ridley Scott. I watched one of my favorite Scott films, "Gladiator" last night. I started thinking about how many truly great films this man has directed and how I feel he is not given enough credit for his fantastic vision and work. So, I thought I'd write about some of his great films and ask you which one is your favorite. Let's talk about them chronologically from earliest to most recent...

In 1979 a Sci-Fi film set a new standard for effects and scared the hell out of movie goers! "ALIEN" introduced us to Sigourney Weaver and a female character who kicked some butt! This has always been one of my favorite films and I watch it constantly. The look, the story and that damn Alien never let's you get bored when watching this superb classic!





Then in 1982 Harrison Ford stars in Scott's next big hit..."Blade Runner!" A futuristic look at Replicants so alive, that even the experts hired to hunt them down can barely tell if they are human or not. We see the beautiful and sexy Sean Young in a role that defined her career. Another triumph of futuristic vision and story told by the amazing Ridley Scott!





In 1991 "Thelma and Louise" came calling. Ridley wasn't supposed to direct the film and decided to do it as a last resort. Another groundbreaking Scott film dealing with two women, Susan Sarandon (Louise) and Geen Davis (Thelma) who turn to crime after Thelma is raped. This movie introduced the public to another eventual star...Brad Pitt! Incrediblely beautiful shooting took place in Monument Valley along with a wild adventure that ends with the tragic demise of the two leads.





At the turn of the Century we went back a number of centuries to witness Ridley Scott's epic..."GLADIATOR!" This film amazed me with its incredible visual effects and the Oscar Winning performance that made Russell Crowe a Super Star! Another rising star Djimon Hounsou gave an incredible performance while Hans Zimmer wrote a haunting and beautiful soundtrack! One of my most favorite films of all time!





In 2001 Ridley decided to direct "Black Hawk Down." Based on the true story about American Rangers going into Somalia to rescue their fellow Rangers after their helicopters were shot down in Mogadishu. Another Scott film which introduces us to another future star in Orlando Bloom. The action scenes are fantastic, and as always, Scott's team casts greats such as Ewan McGregor, Josh Hartnett and Sam Shepard!





Finally, in 2007 Scott takes on another film based on a true story..."American Gangster!" Two of the finest modern actors, Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington head up a cast that tells the story about Frank Lucas, a Manhattan drug king peddling millions of dollars of heroin in the 1970's. The film is gritty, realistic and does not glorify crime.





There you have Six great films by Ridley Scott! Take a look at the trailers, then vote for your favorite in our poll at the top of the page.

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Disney Pixar Cars - How Do You Collect?

A friend who also collects Cars die cast toys called me and asked me how I collect. Basically, she wanted to know if I collect EVERY variation and anything that comes out. Personally, I follow a very simple strategy. As new Cars come out, I simply add them to my collection. I am not a collector who will buy every Desert backed character, then buy every World of Cars backed variation, and now the soon to be released Race Track backed variation. Why buy the same Car three times? To get the different packaging. Nah! It is still the same Car. Others would say getting every packaging variation is cool to them. I say it gets to be impractical and too expensive. But, as the saying goes, "To each his own."

I am collecting like a large number of collectors...I am building two sets, one to keep Mint On Card, and one to eventually open and display as part of a Radiator Springs diorama. I also collect Movie Moments that have unique characters. For example Flik and Flea, Sully and Mike, or Dinoco Blue Mia and Tia. I won't get Movie Moments such as Cruisin' McQueen and Sally because they've been released individually. The same holds true for triple packs such as Al Oft, Tow and Race Official Tom. They've all been released individually. Gold Mia and Tia with Bling Bling McQueen however, have not all been released individually, so I bought that triple pack.

I buy all the Limited Edition or Limited Release Cars such as Blu-Ray McQueen, Lightning Storm McQueen, Chase McQueen with Bumper Stickers and Chase Fred with Bumper Stickers. I also get the Promotional Cars such as the recently released Sidewall Shine in a display case.

One area of Cars collecting I'd like to get a few of are Error Cars. Cars with the wrong wheels or missing an obvious element. Fred without his license plate comes to mind. Would Kori Turbowitz be considered an Error? She has no side view mirrors. How about Mario Andretti's rims being the wrong color? Packaging errors are fun, but not really an error in the Car itself. A lot of those have been found. A yellow Ramone in a Lightning McQueen package, or a Doc Hudson in a Mater package for example.

Finally, I've been collecting Cars that have been autographed. I have Darryl Waltrip's and Mario Andretti's signatures on their respective Cars characters. I'm bummed I'll never be able to get George Carlin's signature due to his passing. I'll keep working on the rest of the characters and see where I end up.

So, how to you collect ? Are you similar to me? Are you a crazed completest? Do you only collect one character? There's no "Right" way! There's the way that makes you happy!

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com