CastHeads Magazine Volume 5 Issue 9

inside ARTY issue

PARTNERS

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Contributors: Scott Nadeau | Alberto Jorge Rodriguez | Patrick Pchalek | Nuning Suma | David Houston • Creative Direction / Design Nigel J De Zilwa & Lance K Müller

Majorette McLaren Senna

The much awaited recolor of the model introduced last year gives a familiar livery without the decals.

We are all familiar with the red/ white scheme that graced many a racing car back in the 80s driven by Ayrton Senna, and in 2020 McLaren paid tribute by adoring a Senna GTR with the same colors

Scale: 1:56 | Status: Available

Schuco Modelle

Schuco Kreidler Florett Super

This is the 1965 model with it's 50cc, fan-cooled 2 stroke that had an amazing 5.2bhp and a 4-speed gear. The particular version also had a leg shield like other scooters of the era.

Scale: 1:10 | Status: Coming Soon

Solido Ford Sierra RS500 DTM 1988 #25 Armin Hahne

The legendary Armin Hahne drove this particular RS500 for the Würth Wolf Racing Team in the 1988 DTM season. He finished third overall with 6 wins, 9 podiums, 4 fastest laps and 4 pole positions over the course of 21 races. We of course dig the livery on the model with its stand out red, white and black, Scale 1:18 |

GT Spirit HKS GR Supra Presentation

What is a Presentation model? It's where a company develops components for a vehicle and then puts it on display at an automotive event. This particular model was the "HKS USA MKV Wide Body GR Supra Street Concept" shown at the 2019 SEMA event in the states. All the tech HKS developed for the GR platform was put on show. This kit was then used on several models that took part in drifting events across the world.

Scale 1:18 | Status: Coming Soon

Ford

RAC Rally

RS Cosworth Gr. A 1993

This model was fielded by the Ford World Rally Team (then known as the Michelin Pilot Team Ford) and was the first time the model was introduced to motorsports. Malcolm Wilson, along with his navigator Thomas Bryan, took 3rd place in the Wales Rally GB in 1993.

The iconic Michelin livery is quite outstanding in this model.

Scale 1:18 | Status: Available

Otto Mobile

Escort

Jada Toys Hollywood Rides 1957 Chevy Corvette™ & Bugs Bunny™

"What's up Doc?" The world's second most famous bunny (yeah most you know the first) gets his own ride. A Chevy Corvette with a blown engine,

removable hood, and designed to fit his personality. The premium paint and tires, the pink interior and who can not love the accompanying figure of the reclining rodent with his sardonic smile.

Did someone see a wabbit?

Scale: 1:24 | Available

Johnny Lightning Themed 1:64 Die Cast 2-Pack Legends of the Quarter Mile

It's always nice to get models together that has a story behind them. The drag racing scene became intense in the 60s and 70s and many legends were born on the Quarter Mile tracks across the US. Two of them happened to be "Dyno Don" Nicholson in his rubber shredding Ford Mavericks and Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins flying in his tarmac burning Chevy Novas. The twin pack is perfect as it has two legends that you can race across your tabletop (or any flat surface) pitting them against each other.

Scale 1:64 | Status: Coming Soon

AutoWorld 1980 Dodge Step-side

Patriotic Pickup

Nothing like the good 'ole stars n stripes decorating what is one of the most American of trucks. The Dodge Step-side was one of the workhorses that built America and moved the working man in more than one corner of the nation.

The red, white, and blue truck is set to hit the resellers around March 2023.

Scale 1:18 Status: Coming Soon

Toyota Supra GT JGTC 1995

The recently concluded Hong Kong Toy Car Salon 2022 got a special edition of the Tarmac Works Toyota Supra GT. It was covered in the livery of the car raced by Nagasaka Naoki and Misaki Kiyoshi in the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship in 1995. The car was part of Team Toyota FET and saw action at all the races in the season.

TARMAC

F1 models, the Monaco Grand Prix MCL35M cars of Danial Ricciardo and Lando Norris. These first versions of F1 cars are sure to be a hit with both racing and model car fans.

But the goodness doesn't end, there are more Ferrari 458 GT3s, two new toolings, one of the LBWK Super Silhouette and a new widebody HiAce! Don't stand there gawking, start clicking away at those pre-orders with Tarmac Works or their many resellers around the world.

subtle styling

The Nurburgring shredding Ferrari was driven by V Rossi, A Salucci and A Ceccato IXO MODELS COLLABORATION

The Belgium track saw the team of R Brandela, L Gorinni, S Lemeret, & T Prignaud racing in this model IXO MODELS COLLABORATION

Redo your favorite Tarmac Works RWB with new parts for a whole new looking model

FOR RWB MODELS

MINIGT 1:64 #406

BENTLEY MULLINER BACALAR

YELLOW FLAME

Another ode to being among a select few, it is a study in the art of modern coachbuilding by Mulliner Bacalar, Bentley's in-house bespoke custom bodywork creator. It's built on the Continental GT convertible and will be one of the most limited edition versions available.

MINIGT presents it in the model in a bespoke Yellow Flame which rumor has it was requested by a customer of the actual model when it was released. You get to have your own too.

Neptune is one of 20 odd colors that the model is available in through out the world. This gran tourer features the silver wheels and trim.

Bugatti's 300mph (489kmph) barrier smashing Chiron Super Sports gets the exposed carbon fiber and Jet Orange accents. All 30 of the production models have been spoken for, but you still get the opportunity to own one of your own with this 1:64 model from MINIGT.

MINI GT got together with the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism to create an extra special edition, featuring the current theme of Wonderful Indonesia.

This model features a color scheme to capture the vibrant nature of the country, and it's flag colors.

The packaging (usually reserved for Mijo Exclusives) has an extensive story on the back for Para Ulun Danu, a temple dedicated to the Goddess Danu located on lake in the highlands of Bedugul Regency in Bali.

We love the fact that while it's an exclusive, it also has a story to tell.

We took the opportunity to shoot the model with some Balinese art and batik designs in the background.

Pop Race

You've loved the Singer series from Pop Race, now get ready to have them accessorized for the coming new year. A whole range of racks and accessories are planned for the models.

Scale 1:64 Status: Coming Soon

IXO+TARMAC WORKS UNLEASHES A STABLE

The powers of licensing have some interesting effects results and of course, brilliant results for collectors like us. Since HW lost the FERRARI license, the world of 1/64 scale collectors collapsed for a few months until TOMICA revealed three lines of Fezza ranging from basic to TLVN. Of course, the TLVN cars have been hard to get, and prices

are giddily out of control, but then a FERRARI license holder teams up with an upcoming entrant in the 1/64 market now there really is no stopping IXO and Tarmac Works FERRARI releases. The biggest problem now, collectors’ salaries can’t keep up!

FERRARI 458 ITALIA GT3 2013

PIRELLI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

To reiterate IXO holds the license for many awesome car brands however most of them are narrowed down to race and rally models not that we give a Flying Dutchman about that. In fact, personally, I feel a FERRARI is more at home in race livery than the usual hot prancing casino fashion monochrome colours bought by suit-matching boffs. And then Tarmac Works have carved a name for themselves through many setbacks and QC issues have come out on top.

Now armed with their FERRARI sublicense Tarmac Works is hosing out GT3 and GT race models that look stunning.

CHILDREN OF COLLABORATION

NISSAN GT-R35 NISMO GT3

Children of Collaboration

This set of cars is the result of two trends that have led to diecast and scale model car collecting for the last 1 and half years at least. One trend is the explosion of Virtual Gaming and the other is the collaboration phenomenon. The latter has been the marketing backbone for many brands looking to increase reach through cross-branding and social media platforms.

Both these GT-Rs were fielded cars by TARMAC Works in the GT ASIA eRacing

Championships 2020. As one of the titles sponsors TARMAC Works not only fielded a team for themselves but also sponsored a few cars in other teams like the Legion of Racers who are currently some kind of hot team in the virtual racing world. The car with the fashion label ‘ILLEST’ branding and design was sponsored by Tarmac Works and raced by the Legion of Racers team. For the TW team, they decided to go with their own versions of famous race liveries in this case mimicking the GReddy colours.

Children of Collaboration

TARMAC WORKS has a flair for designing race cars and shows very clearly on these models that have been designed for their foray into esports and e-racing. The fact that TW has ventured into being associated with actual racing teams is exciting and we are already seeing the result in terms of design and racing livery. Those of you who keep up to date with Tarmac Works will know what we are talking about, for those of you who just collect the cars we can tell you next year is going to be very exciting, and TARMAC WORKS is going to liven up your collection even further.

Children of Collaboration

Children of Collaboration

AS always TW is acing the details in 1/64 and is setting standards that have the mainstreamers scrambling to ad higher end higher detailed models to their portfolio, but you must hand it to Tarmac Works. They have been focused on success and are starting to reap the rewards. As for us, we are super excited about this E-Sports series because as one of the media supporters for the team our logo has the honour of being on all the team cars and TW-sponsored cars. For a community / digital brand like ours, this is a huge win.

So far only 4 cars have been released with our logos on them for this series,

but we are hoping for more as there were quite a number of cars that were fielded by Tarmac Works during the esports event. We are proud to be associated with such an exciting and innovative brand that really keeps us on our toes.

As you can see over the last few images the cars themselves look really stunning and if you are a Hardcore GT-R35 fan you would not turn up your nose at these two pieces. Not just being associated but also being a part of the design and livery forever immortalized in 1/64 scale is a dream come true for many brands so this range will always be a little extra special to us.

KREMER + VAILLANT LEGACY

Oooo we have had the pleasure of introducing KREMER racing through our pages in the past and it’s always a blast. This is a team that loves to race in Porsches and hell who are we to be unhappy at the plethora of KREMER liveried cars that have entered the world of racing with different title sponsors. In this case our celebrations ‘boil’ over for the partnership that has lasted quite a while in motorsport with the iconic livery of KREMER+VAILLANT.

PORSCHE TAYCAN TURBO S VAILLANT GROUP RACING

Kremer + Vaillant Legacy

Majorette has been enjoying a wonderful relationship with Porsche and has spent the last 3 years surprising us with some righteous castings. From gift packs to iconic legends, the brands’ catalogue overfloweth with PORSCHE. And so we return to the topic at hand which is the fact that MAJORETTE has extended their line of Kremer racing PORSCHE by adding this gorgeous tribute set into 2022 of the TAYCAN TURBO S.

Like a fantastic sequel (and we know those are few and far between) this pair makes a great follow-up to the 911 Turbo pair released previously and we love the special box packaging that comes with this set both highlighting the title sponsor brand. Two colour variations in this released set but personally I feel Ocean Green is the favourite of the two.

StreetBeat

Like the famous ‘Street Beat’ fashion of the 80’s loud colours, this newly released set of VW models from Majorette will have you ordering the thickest luminous laces for your PUMA’s sneaks in seconds. Bring on the fun, bring on the bright colours, bring on the beach slogans and more importantly bring on these diecast models that look fantastic!

REMARKS

VW BEETLE WITH ROOF RACK

Surf rider is a cool pink-like lemonade Beetle body and light grey plastic bits complete with a roof rack for holding the yellow surfing board that comes with it. Majorette has done a number of these Beetle VWs and they have perfected getting it right, The front bonnet opens and the surfboard is detachable.

REMARKS

VW GOLF GTI

New to the range of VWs we have the famous hot hatch from the 80s in bright yellow and BILSTEIN branding. This is a lovely version of the GOLF sporting an opening engine hood and a plastic moulded engine inside. For a mainline, this is a great casting and has so much potential for the future.

T1 KOMBI VAN

This good-looking fellow has a fantastic colour combination of British Racing Green and Orange tinted windows and lights. Stacked up against the other KOMBI vans from Majorette, this is the hottest colour combo. Comes with a canoe, a nice little compass paint job on the rear which opens and nice bright white adventurous wheels.

VW

VW T1 TRANSPORTER

Not exactly your typical Fast n Furious ride, but certainly something a Harley Davidson gang would use as a snack transporter (don’t ask us what’s in the barrels) The matt black body paint and flames up the side is a great combination. There Is also a roof rack filled with uncomfortably fake supplies.

VW T2 TRANSPORTER

Love this T2 transporter! The giant peace sign on the side, the bright sea green colour and the black FUCHS wheels are all just a perfect ‘KOMBInation’ (rights reserved on the phrase) But yes, those FUCHS wheels are like wearing CONVERSE to your 25th reunion. Still cool AF. Also, a small structural difference to the other T2 transporter is that this has a side lid that can be dropped down.

VW T1 TRANSPORTER

Another new tooling is thrown into the mix with a sliding door as well. Famous for its camper abilities the T3 is yet another iconic Volkswagen that was the darling of many free-spirited travellers who crossed the plains of Pakistan and the Middle East on their pilgrimage to meditate with the gurus of India.

The brand POP RACE is very quickly emerging to be one of the hottest players in the detailed 1/64 market which has evolved into a very highly competitive market that has got a lot of the stalwarts scrambling to fight back. But so far 4 or 5 brands are seriously killing it and POP RACE is up there as one of them.

TEAM BUILDING POP RACE THE WAY

The other great insight into the POP RACE brand is the fact that the owner is a racing driver and owns a team that has been associated with many race brands such as AUDI and more recently Aston Martin competing in GT and GT3 championships. Turning his attention to scale models’ cars is a natural calling.

The result is a brand that produces models that racing fans and motorsport fans can really appreciate the machines that thrill in every race. POP Race also understands the culture of design and speed which is why their SINGER PORSCHE line is ultra-successful. Brands that live and breathe the culture always make great models.

Team Building

This range of cars has been designed to mimic the actual racing car that took part in the 2020 season. All these cars represent the team EVA Racing which is short for EVANGELION Racing. The racing team is based on the popular MANGA cartoon series and the livery for the team has used the MANGA design cues.

SERIES 2020 TYPE-01 #33

The PURPLE version of the race car is the only one that is numbered which signifies the fact that this was the livery that was chosen to be on the actual race car from the 2020 series. Similar colours were chosen when the team raced a NISSAN GT-R35 but had AAPE as the title sponsor for that car. So this is the actual car that took part and saw life in 1:1 scale.

TYPE-08

FIGURE

Throwing a little pink into the mix this model comes with a 1/64 race queen as well to adorn the car which is the extent of this model’s specialities. Otherwise, it’s just a colour variant of the LMS that raced. Details wise the entire series is on fire, and they all roll without any issues. For the ‘wheels must roll boys’ this is a good thing.

Team Building

Built on a culture of a team for a team based on a team it’s no wonder that this series of cars come like a team with variations. This bright yellow version is quite nice and again based purely on personal preference I think this is an awesome colour version of this series. NOW GET READY FOR THEIR NEXT TEAM

BajitoLimpio y

y lindo* despacito;

Bajito y Lindo; Limpio y lindo

*Low and slow, clean and mean.

No, it ism't lyrics to a song by Luis Fonzi or Daddy Yankee. It's an ethos followed by a particular type of car culture.

The lowrider has become a type of car and a description of a person. Starting in the 1940s and exploding during the economic boom of the 50s, the lowrider started among the Latino community in and around the West Coast.

y Lindo; Limpio y lindo

Bajito

CASTING REMARKS

Totally opposite to the Hot Rod and dragster culture that was also mushrooming around the same time, the lowrider scene was more about crusing, hanging out and just being chilled.

Each car has it's own story to tell. It spoke volumes about the owner, their family, community and beliefs.

I like my lowrider models and not every brand has them. It was nice to get my hands on this particular models from Maisto Design.

They used one of the most well known sleeper cars of the mid 80s to create this lowrider. 1987 The Buick Regal T-Type (Turbo T) was a 3.8l V6 tubocharged engine, special performance suspension wheels and other accouterments straight of the factory floor.

Then came the lowrider styling. Multi-colored Candy paint, pinstripes, wire rimmed wheels and more chrome than you can shake a stick at. I was immediately in love with it.

Bajito y Lindo; Limpio y lindo

Bajito y Lindo; Limpio y lindo

Usually when we talk about liveries. its mostly about the cars that we focus on. They get more love, more press and usually most of the adulation.

We sometimes tend to forget the similarly adorned transporters. But since of late, from around 2018, the focus on transporters took off with collectors.

Why only have the race car, why not also have the vehicle that took it from race to race across continents and have a matching set in your collection.

Patrick Pchalek focuses his lens on the 1:64 Renntrasporter Porsche-Gulf from Schuco.

The model is based on the Mercedes Bens O317 underfloor engine bus. The chassis was converted by Robert Schenk, a Stuttgart company to carry extra cars, engines and spare parts of the Porsche Gulf Racing team.

This model became so popular, there were transporters for the Porsche factory team, Martini Racing, BMW and Rothmans Porsche.

The Schuco model, from their Paperbox Editon, has a metal cabin but the body, bed and doors are plastic. So take care when opening the doors

Fitting a decent sized 1:64 car in the back can be tricky, but a smaller model fits inside without too much hassle.

It also acts as a great prop for all your diecast photography activities. And with the other models also available, a fitting addition to your collection.

SHAKEN STIRRED IGNITED

RWB MARTINI RACING

NOTICHIBAN

ICHIBAN “THE

This is not your showpiece RWB ‘SAN’ this is an RWB that is built to thunder down long winding roads that have no speed limits. It’s gloriously noisy in real life. Ichiban Boshi is an RWB built to mimic the awesome power and aggressiveness of the RSR PORSCHE models from the engine right into the body’s DNA.

ICHIBAN BOSHI

HIGHEST STAR”

Of course, Tarmac Works have done a solid job in bringing out the main characteristics of this builds bodywork but what’s impressive is the beautiful paint job and finish they have achieved on this iconic replication of what Nakai San named the Highest Star. Also, the 1/43 scale does do a lot for bringing the presence of this car to the collection.

For RWB collectors who have a limited budget and storage space TW has, cracked the formula with these detailed 1/43 versions. Not only is the size quite handy but also the fact that it comes in a nice acrylic case makes display and stacking much easier not to mention dust free.

Shaken Stirred Ignited

Unfortunately, there is one area that could not be added in and that would have been the cherry on the cake and that would be the large turbo and exhaust system hanging out the back. Sadly, adding this detail would have also added to the overall cost of production. Maybe an ultra-special version later on.

CLICK TO WATCH

ICHIBAN BOSHI - A DESERT RUN

As an RWB fan who personally ordered this model for my collection, I can say both the price point and the actual 1/43 scale model make a comfortable reason for owning this model and adding it to the collection. The car really highlights the Martini Livery with its super wide wheel arches and the almost next-to-nothing gap between the wheel and fender, whenever I see it I have to tell myself “Be still my beating heart”

Shaken Stirred Ignited

SINGAPORE: TOYSPACE HONG KONG: RCMART

THE TROUBLE WITH TIME MICRO

We are not here to judgement on what collectors buy and what they want in their collections. This is more of an informative opinion piece on the going on with the brand TIME MICRO. For a while TIME MICRO have been presenting itself as a premium 1/64 scale maker with an impressive line-up of cars and liveries.

But of late the brand has been called very publicly by owners of cars whose designs have been plagiarised and converted into 1/64 scale by Time Micro. Also, there have been announcements of liveries being put on the wrong cars which is kind of a weird one, because who would want to own a SPOONS liveried Nissan?

This is where licenses play a huge role. Those who really out brands that have QC issues know that at least it will get better because with licensing there is a responsibility to improve on the quality or lose the license. It also goes as royalties to the people who create these fair designs you work for free? And finally, licensing makes sure you won’t end up with a Bentley covered in ADVAN livery. Honestly, we would prefer if TIME MICRO went legit on some of these licenses because they do a pretty good job.

PORSCHE 930 MARTINI RACING TRIBUTE

Launching at around the same time as the ICHIBAN Model, TW drops a MARTINI Racing liveried RWB of their own condition. Using a more classic version of the livery this 930 is transformed into a fantastic tribute to RWB, MARTINI and PORSCHE’s long-term affiliation with the sponsor which has resulted in some classic liveries.

Shaken Stirred Ignited

PORSCHE 930 MARTINI RACING TRIBUTE

Accentuated curves, the famous Martini lines that flow over and under the body, it is truly a must-have for any RWB or Martini fan who has an insatiable interest in collecting anything that has the Martini livery. And then there are the little bits of wonder that really e-car complete. A perfect example is the chrome polished deepdish rims. They look mind-blowing!

Yet another great package from the guys who have shaken up the diecast model world with great prices, an excellent selection of cars to reproduce and of course great looking models that will whip up fantasies when looking at your collection. And, if you think these are hot you should check the new 1/43 models that have just been launched.

Shaken Stirred Ignited

BRE DATSUN RACING

BROCK RACING ENTERPRISES ARE THE DARLINGS OF DATSUN. I DON’T THINK ANYONE HAS PUT THE 510 IN SUCH

DATSUN FANS HAPPY JDM CLANS DEVOTEES

LIMELIGHT AS THE BRE TEAM AND UNDERSTANDABLY SO. THEY FOUND A POCKET ROCKET FROM JAPAN THAT HAD ALL THE RIGHT

INGREDIENTS TO BE A SPUNKY LITTLE RACER. GETTING IT TO THE US PROVED TO BE A LITTLE HARDER THAN EXPECTED.

In 1968 TOYOTA was on the verge of giving Brock Racing a pair of 2000GT Coupe’s to race in the US circuit when suddenly Shelby America seemed like a more viable option and dropped the BRE team. After identifying DATSUN as a possible replacement, the team was met with catatonic apathy by the US dealers until Brock reaches out to an old contact who happened to know the big cheese at Nissan.

Immediately two 2000 DATSUN roadsters were secretly dispatched to the US along with a small racing budget and this commenced DATUSN domination on the US Circuits and solidified BRE and DATSUN’s partnership for many years to come.

Finally, in 1971 the team get their hands on the handsome 510 and they dominate the SCCA and TRANS AM series so much that other racers kept dropping out until BRE had no one left to beat. Such was the mighty domination of the BRE 510 in the hands of James Morton who was a skilled driver that extracted every ounce of power out of the DATUNS engine.

MAISTO brings this success story to life with a great 1/24 scale version of the 510 lovingly recreated with a low racing stance and both opening doors and opening engine bay. Coming from their TOKYO MOD series this DATSUN is simple yet on point when it comes to the external details with nothing left out. Some people say that MAISTO doesn’t do collectors models, but I don’t think any kid is going to care about the history of BRE racing and the DATSUN that impressed the US for JAPAN. Nope, this is a collector piece, now be glad it’s affordable.

Swing Drive Low Slow

The story of the Lowrider is rich in culture, religion and expression of identity. Each car is unique, one of a kind and always a rolling piece of art.

REMARKS

The statement perfectly sums up the essence of the lowrider, the culture and the car. The term "lowrider" refers to a type of car. It's basically an older automobile, typically from the 50s 60s or early 70s that is painted in unique designs, feature hydraulic suspension that can adjust the ride height and make it hop at the flick of a switch and rolls on wire mesh rims covered with whitewall tires. Once seen as a expression of Mexican American cultural identity, lowriders have spread to other communities via its popularity in hip hop and other forms of minority expression. Prominent artists like Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre, Cypress Hill, and Eazy E (among others) featured them

in their music videos. Films like Boulevard Nights and Boyz n The Hood brought it to the mainstream. And now it has crossed continents and borders with lowrider car culture seeping into the scene in Japan, Brazil and even Indonesia.

Maisto Design presents us with another in their long line of lowriders. This time around, its a 1987 Chevrolet Caprice.

The art directors at Maisto has translated their real-world experiences into creating this model. From the pattern to the wheels and everything in between. The only thing we don't get is the plush interior that most of the lowriders are covered with, but that's to be expected. Velvet doesn't

really translate into plastic. And it would have been awesome if the interior was brighter than the black. But overall, the exterior, detailing on the engine and the trophy top badge on the rear package tray is quite an addition to the design aesthetic. But we dig this model for what it represents. CLICK

An opportunity for collectors to have and celebrate a unique heritage, rich in history and culture. There are many more in the line up and we want to look at them all.

Thank you to Maisto for sending this model across to us for a closer look.

Each identity is expressed in the details of the lowrider

THE GOLD STANDARD OF

MUSCLE CARS

JADA IS REALLY OUT ALL THE STOPS WITH THE BIG TIME MUSCLE LINE. WE ARE SEEING SOME INCREASINGLY COOL MODELS AND IT LOOKS LIKE JADA IS SET TO BLOW YOUR AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR COLLECTION OUT OF THE WATER WITH THE NEW SELECTION OF BIG TIME MUSCLE CARS. LET’S KICK THINGS OFF FROM OUR END AND INTRODUCE YOU TO THE 1970 PLYMOUTH ROAD RUNNER.

This car is really tome of classic American muscle. Long wide bodies, a long nose that stretches out for miles in front of the driver hosting a giant V8 and in the Road Runners case a HEMI attached to the V8 badge was an option. Wheel-spinning torque delivered without shame or regret absolutely abusing the tarmac. All great ways to explain how cool the Road Runner was. 1970 was also the time the Road Runner was given the Superbird treatment and raced in the NASCAR series that year.

FUN

RUNNER

1967 HEAVY DUTY

FORD

Honestly, in this category of modified muscle cars, I don’t think I have seen anything cooler. For me, this has to be the most budgetary-pleasing, hot piece of American Muscle History I have seen in a long time. To be honest the Mustang didn’t start as the Muscle car it has become today. In fact life out as a ‘pony’ car driven by people who found muscly muscle cars too much and wanted more scarf-wearing fun. But soon people with vision like JADA saw potential under the hood and outside and decided to build on the Mustang like the Shelby’s.

While some cars look great just left alone and given a nice paint job and hot shoes, other cars are just so iconic and well designed whatever you do to them and however loud you get with them, they still look stunningly vicious, this MUSTANG is a good example of the vicious.

DEEPER THAN YOUR AUNT’S CASSEROLE DISH

While some purists and elitist collectors are most likely to exclaim in horror at the dog leg hinges and gaps with the opening parts I certainly think this is freaking cool beyond words and I love JADA’s treatment. There is a whole new generation of modified car lovers who are going to go ape crazy over this casting.

Simple, yet classy, loud but not deafening a prime example of taking an iconic car and letting your imagination run wild over this strange canvas I’ll be very honest when I say that I am deeply in love with this model. Gorgeous metallic blue paint with brilliant white stripes, those deep alloys you know I love, extensive COBRA branding lest you forget and finally that low stance JADA is now super famous for (it should be named the JADA stance). Love MUSTANGS? Then this one is a keeper!

THE CAR THAT CHANGED RACING FOR

McLAREN P1 LE MANS GTR

UP UNTIL 1993 MCLAREN HAD BEEN KNOWN SINGULARLY TO BUILD TRACK CARS PURELY FOR MOTORSPORT. IT WAS THEN THAT F1 CAR DESIGNER GORDON MURRAY WANTED TO BUILD A PRODUCTION CAR THAT WOULD BEAT THE PANTS OFF THE XJ220. INSTEAD, HE REVOLUTIONIZED THE STATUS QUO FOR SUPERCARS, BUILT THE WORLD’S FASTEST NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE TO DATE, PUT MCLAREN PERMANENTLY ON THE MAP AND BEAT THE JAGUAR XJ220. WHILE THE MCLAREN WAS ENJOYING ITS NEWFOUND ROLE AS A SPEED ICON FOR PRODUCTION CARS THE TIME HAD COME TO PUT THE CAR TO THE ULTIMATE TEST.

LeMans

To compete in race and track events, the McLaren had to be modified and made to race ready which led to the creation of the McLaren GTR. Stripped down for weight, and increased power but also hobbled by the fact that due to racing regs, air restrictor covers had to be used on the car which drilled the car’s power back by around 100Hp. But that didn’t stop the McLarens from their 1995 LeMans success even though the car was hard to drive being built for a road dynamic as opposed to track.

MCLAREN

MCLAREN GTR

1995 saw the World’s fastest production car head to LeMans to prove its mettle and see where they were placed in the world of supercar racing. What no one expected was the car’s dominance over the race. It won the overall race coming in 1st, dominating, and winning hands down in the LMGT1 class AND took not just 1st but also 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 13th. The McLaren didn’t just show their ability to build a fast car, that built a car that was almost impossible to beat. Don’t forget till today the McLaren F1 is still the fastest Naturally Aspirated car in the world.

Packed with technology this was probably one of the most advanced cars available for a long time and can be compared only with the best and fastest supercars in the world.

Part of SOLIDO’s strategy to bring classic race cars, especially LeMans cars is turning out to be wonderful for collectors. Honestly, if you were to look at any higher-end brand having this sort of collection you would be looking at some mega prices. However, with SOLIDO you get a decent 1/18 scale at a fair price. Serious bang for your hardearned buck.

Opening parts, with a highly detailed interior, in fact say one of the best interiors you could get in 1/18 scale at that price. The exterior is very nice, again great details with re-concerning very which has been faithfully copied and applied.

Motorsport collecting fans, if you are looking to strengthen your collection then this is an obvious choice. LeMans winner, record holder, famous livery and great back story of how a little race car team built the world’s fastest car and used it to become even greater.

Otto Mobile OT391 Subaru Impreza WRX Sti S7

The 2001 Rally of Great Britain was one of those landmark events. All the greats of rallying was there. Makinen, Solberg, Auriol, Sainz to name a few. Some of them were previous World Champions, vying for another win. Out of all the drivers, Colin McRae and Richard Burns were on home turf, only a few points separating McRae and Burns.

The rally was a rollercoaster for all those involved, with both drivers and their cars put through gruelling conditions. But at the end of the rally, the Peugeot 206 WRC and its drivers, Marcus GrÖnholm and Timo Rautiainen won overall. But Richard Burns went on to win the Drivers Standings with a total of 44 points.

Sadly Burns passed away in 2004 at the young age of 34. He had a short but luminous career.

Otto Mobile offers the model with its night driving light set.

Solido S1807402

Subaru Impreza WRX Sti 22B

The Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo has been around since 1911 and had seen a lot of action.

It had seen some world-class drivers and cars take on the roads of the riviera and till about 2008, was the first event of the WRC. By the time of the 1998 event, McRae had already a champion three times in succession (1995-1997) and was looking for his fourth in a row.

But it wasn't meant to be. McRae could only get to be third overall in the world standings that year. He also went on to win the Race of Champions in the Canary Islands before leaving Subaru for the Ford World Rally Team.

But McRae/Subaru legacy will forever be etched in all things rally. And Solido enables fans to have a small part of that legacy in their collection with this

model. McRae's 1998 Subaru in a very clean and detailed version. We would love to take this into the dirt and mud to give it some character, but it has oodles of it already right out of the package.

It's nice to remember great drivers and cars through their miniature replicas.

COLIN McRAE 1968-2007

RICHARD BURNS 1971-2005

JAGERMEISTER VW BEETLE COUPE

This month SOLIDO drops a Jager bomb on us. It Is explosively cool and very clever, the design team at SOLIDO is pretty smart to combine 2 German classics and produce a winner. We are going to call it the JagerWagen. Classic VW Beetle coloured in the classic Jägermeister Racing Livery but, with the added touch of rust detailing to give it a look.

Like buying distressed jeans. You pay a brand-new price for a pair of jeans that looks like it has seen way too many HOBO shuffles. But if you think about it most VWs would have that kind of rusting on them these days making this model ‘period correct’ in a certain kind of way.

SOLIDO have done a fantastic job on this version of the VW perfectly replicated on every level. For fans of the VW Beetle, this has got to be on all their Christmas lists the year. A great paint job that is slightly matt, chrome trim, original design steelie wheelies on a scale of 1-10 this baby is a perfect 10

SPECIAL SCHUCO

INTO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF

JIMFORTE

BY DAVID HOUSTON

THIS TIME, WE DISCUSS THE EVER-EVOLVING CREATIVE WORLD OF MODEL CARS WITH FORMER RACING CAR DRIVER MR. JIM FORTE. I’VE CONNECTED WITH MR. FORTE (JIM) THROUGH A ONLINE MODEL CAR COLLECTORS FORUM/SITE (WHERE JIM HAS BEEN A STABLEMATE SINCE BEFORE I ARRIVED IN 2012/13).

I HAVE CONNECTED TO JIM VIA THE FACT THAT WE’RE BOTH TEXANS (JIM BEING A TRANSPLANT, BUT LONG ENOUGH TO BE CALLED A NATIVE BY NOW).

What drew me to Jim was noticing all of the custom one-off miniatures that he’d fabricate into a historic or even fantasy piece using mainly die-cast and other materials beyond. This led me to reading deeper into Jim’s posts and finding out that he was actually a real racing car driver. I feel lucky having met Sir Jackie Stewart, his son and Tom Walkinshaw via work over the years. So, it was really interesting to connect with Jim Forte who has a Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) road racing background. Now, let’s see how Jim has translated his history in auto-racing into miniature diecast.

Put on your reading helmet, buckle up and get ready for a lap around tracks of Jim Forte’s creative world of custommade one-off model race cars!

Realizing the opportunity with me being a feature writer for CastHeads Magazine, it came to mind that ask my friend Jim Forte to let readers into his world. Jim has a rally interesting history and is one of the kindest most generous collectors that I have had the pleasure of knowing. I always wanted to know how Jim got started from professionally racing to exquisite one offs done to very high standards of historic racers/haulers and fantasy car “what ifs”. and what lead him down this road. Jim owns range of handmade 1/18th scale model replicas formed in metal/with fabricated plastic and other materials to get the desired results to an often very realistic appearance. I thought that it would be interesting if Jim shared some of these one-offs beyond just his desks, shelves, and ultimate vast personal collection.

Getting to know Jim, he has personally brought me a new vantage point into automobile racing history which I wasn’t aware of. Including making me aware of African American stock-car racers who were out on the ovals/road courses since at least the 60s/70s and beyond. I always find Jim a treasure of information of historic nooks and crannies often overlooked via the mainstream history books. I’m always thrilled when I have time to exchange messages and emails with Jim, it’s often a learning experience that really benefits me and how I try to relate to through his words his world and the amazing things he has in heart now being replicated in 3D. It’s all very impactful! Jim gives me a sense of feeling profoundly fortunate to have connected with him in my life. Now, I’d like to share that feeling with the rest of the world.

CH: What was your first automotive memory and was it at this point where your first automobile spark started? If so, how old were you and what car/ truck caused that fascination?

JF: David, first I’d like to express my appreciation to you for the honor of being interviewed.

My father always had a car in the driveway that needed some work, and he allowed me to hone my early skills rebuilding lawn mower engines. I progressed from there, I guess.

One of the greatest influences was when he had a mechanic replace the tired six-cylinder engine in a four-door 1964 Ford Falcon, with a 289 out of a 1967 Mustang. That hybrid created quite the Q-ship, and ended up being the car I took to college as a freshman, and ran my first autocross in.

CH: Where did you grow up and were cars always prevalent from the beginning?

JF: I was born in the Boston, Massachusetts area, but we moved to McKinney, Texas when I was 7.

CH: Earlier in life, was racing cars in your original career plan? If so, did you plan out your career methodically or coincidentally by circumstance did you happen upon where you are now in this career?

JF: In my era, of course, television was just evolving, and ABC’s Wide World of Sports was one of the iconic series which showcased auto racing, especially NASCAR. I was always interested in the competitiveness of the sport.

My first exposure to racing in person was attending sports car races at Green Valley Raceway in Smithfield, Texas. Back then, Sports Car Club of American Regional and National races allowed spectators. I think I went to my first race in 1967. I had a very primitive Kodak Super8 movie camera and would stand in the Esses on the backside of the course and watch and film the action.

I’m not sure at that time I thought I would ever own or drive a race car, but clearly, I had been bitten by the bug.

CH: Did you ever have a favorite driver growing up? If so, what drew you to them?

JF: I always respect Steve McQueen, and as a racer, you had to appreciate what he meant to the sport. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t watched his movie LeMans and come away with a new respect for long distance racing.

One of the things that I never got to do was endurance racing, subliminally, that was a goal. My birthday is March 20, which is on or about the time of the Sebring 12 Hours. Thought it would have been pretty cool to run that race as a birthday present to myself.

CH: What types of cars did you race, and did you have a favorite? If so, why was it your favorite?

JF: My first race car, and probably in retrospect, my favorite was a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 which had been converted to a racer right off the showroom floor.

I bought it in 1975 and owned it until the mid-80’s, when I sold it to fund my next racer.

The car actually competed in the 1972 Daytona Continental race, winning its class, and then also went on to race at Sebring that same year.

With the advent of vintage racing, it would have been a perfect vehicle for that type of racing.

I owned or co-owned three more cars and raced two of them.

Through a partnership with another competitor who had been at the first driver’s school I attended, we rebuilt a racing Corvette into a competitive SCCA GT1 racer, and then built a Trans Amspec tube frame Camaro from scratch.

CH: Do you feel like racers today have it a lot easier than when you were in the mix? Could you please explain the differences between the past and today?

JF: I think racing is a lot different now than it was when I was involved in the sport. For example, it is almost impossible for me to compare the SCCA competition and class structure to what I was involved in.

Our cars were so basic, you had one coil, eight spark plugs, and a carburetor. They were pretty easy to maintain. These days, with all the electronics and automated systems, I think I would be lost.

Whether racers these days have it easier or not, I think might be a subjective measure. There are a lot more classes, and venues available, although the common denominator remains the old axiom of “How fast do you want to go; well how much do you want to spend?”

CH: How long has it been since you’ve raced -? Do you miss it?

JF: I quit racing in the mid-90’s. I had made a move for professional reasons which took we away from my partner and our shop in Dallas. We tried it long distance, but I couldn’t commit the time and energy to compete.

I would have loved to have been more successful in racing. We raced on the amateur level, although we did enter a Trans Am race with one of our cars but didn’t qualify.

CH: Do you still follow racing today? If so, which types of cars are a draw for you?

JF: I mostly watch NASCAR these days, but even then, only as a distraction. Quite candidly, the complexity of the machines that compete in the global endurance series takes away the level of interest I used to have for that part of the sport. Back in my day, if you wanted to run the Daytona 24 or Sebring 12, you attached some lights to the front of your SCCA racer and showed up. Now a days, that would be next to impossible.

CH: Racing career wise, who is or was your biggest influence in life? How did he/she motivate/affect/influence your outlook towards life and on this career? Can you see a direct effect today from that influence?

JF: No one can’t ever start giving credit for influencing their lives, without beginning without parents. My Dad was a World War II vet, commissioned right out of ROTC into the regular army. He wasn’t first wave at Normandy, but his unit was in the middle of the Battle of the Bulge and went on to liberate

a number of concentration camps. He didn’t talk about it much, but the discipline, respect, and ethics he taught me has stayed with me to this day.

My Mom was a legal secretary and mother of 6, three older boys, and three younger girls. She both managed a career and a household, with dignity and great home-cooked meals.

I can’t say enough about either of them when it comes to who I am today.

As an entering freshman in the Architecture program at Texas A&M, I, like most other students, was looking for a mentor. For me, it was a professor named Alan Stacell. Professor Stacell had the reputation of being a deep thinker, but a very real outlook on life.

I took to him, as he encouraged all of us to broaden our horizons.

At the same time as I was taking his class, Texas International Speedway was nearing completion and the first races were being scheduled. I had been in contact with Union 76 and was given the opportunity to staff the gas pumps for the first two professional races, and SCCA Can Am and a NASCAR Winston Cup race.

Being at the track required me to miss entire days of class; for the Can Am

it was a Friday (I didn’t have any of Stacell’s classes on Friday) and for the NASCAR race it was both a Thursday and a Friday.

I wanted to be a racer more than I wanted to be an architect, and I approached him with my dilemma. He encouraged me to follow my heart, which lead me directly out to the racetrack, and ultimately to being asked to sit out an entire year of my academic career to truly figure out what I wanted to do with my life.

At the NASCAR race, I had the honor of meeting Wendell Scott, the only Black driver to be participating in NASCAR premier series, and up until only last year, the only Black to have won a race in that series.

If you looked in a dictionary next to the word “racer”, you would see a picture of Wendell Scott.

Lots of individuals, myself included, aspire to participate in racing, but no one that I know of ever made the sacrifices that Wendell Scott made, or endured and overcame the hardships he was presented to compete in a sport that he loved.

I wish that my dedication to trying to be a racer had been as deep as that of Wendell Scott.

CH: Jim when you were a kid, did or do you ever collect model cars or build model kits? If so, were model cars your sole hobby? If so, did you always have a racing car collection theme?

JF: I didn’t start collecting 1/18 scale diecast until the early 90’s. It was clear that my racing activity was going to decline, and I needed an outlet.

I think one of the first diecast I purchased, a UT BMW M3 GTR street version, became my first victim of

customization. I had a curiosity about have they were built, and what differences and similarities they had with the real cars I had been racing.

CH: What drove you into making oneoff diecast model cars? Were your customs always racing cars, or did you also create other types of vehicles not associated with racing? Was your first time making a one-off effortless or a challenge?

JF: I’ve always migrated toward the obscure and unique, and with the mechanical skills I had developed while racing, it seemed like a natural extension to try to create custom diecast models.

My first attempt at a comprehensive custom was to convert an Ertl 1969 Camaro Z-28 into a replica of the paint scheme of my first race car when it competed at Daytona and Sebring in 1972.

I felt comfortable at the time with painting, however creating a racing chassis out of the Ertl model proved to be insurmountable, and I put it in a box. Actually, I still have that box.

Fortunately, when GMP announced their line of Trans Am Camaros, and began producing them in a 1969 version, I had my donor, and that one is sitting on my shelves right now, along with another one that replicates the livery when I raced it.

CH: What was your most challenging one-off piece? Are you satisfied at with your results?

JF: I like to use my imagination to create things that might have been, had circumstances just been a little different than reality.

My most challenging custom, to date, has been the creation of a 1/18 fantasy Chrysler of France Plymouth Superbird GT.

My story was that Chrysler wanted to use Henri Chemin’s success with the Plymouth Hemi Cuda as a vehicle to promote the recently created Plymouth Superbird, in order to give the Superbird a “road” identity, versus the Nascar Superspeedway reputation it had in the United States.

Chemin would mate the Superbird body to a Barracuda chassis and race the hybrid at Le Mans.

As donors for the project, Ertl already had a pretty decent Nascar Superbird, and there had been a series of them produced for Toys R’ Us in a solid orange with no racing livery. The chassis donor would be one of ACME’s Chemin HemiCuda’s.

The challenge was blending the two, especially considering that the Superbird had a longer wheelbase than the Cuda. I accomplished this by cutting the Cuda chassis, and extending it with JB Weld, reinforced with Styrene angles.

The Cuda had a nice hood scoop, and so I sculptured a hole in the Superbird hood to accommodate it, along with adding endurance-type fuel filling capabilities to the trunk of the Superbird.

I also created a set of removable headlights, as well as other endurance racing enhancements along the way.

I am actually very proud of the end product and received good feedback from a number of respected diecast and modeling observers.

Another one I did was inspired by an article in Vintage Motorsport magazine.

In the May/June 2019 was an article entitled “Chuck and Pete’s Excellent Adventure”, which chronicled the creation of a 1962 Chevy II to compete in the British Saloon Car Championship.

I became intrigued with the concept behind the cars, a fuel-injected Corvette V-8 stuffed into a Chevy II chassis, intended to only accept either an in-line 4 or 6.

Doing some eBay research, SunStar makes a ‘62 Chevy II and Ertl makes a ‘62 fuel-injected Corvette.

Again, much to my surprise, and with a lot of effort (the real engine swap apparently was pretty straightforward, the diecast swap, again, not that simple).

I ended up sending the model to the author of the article, as the model didn’t match the theme of my collection.

CH: What motivated you to becoming a customizer in the model car scene? Was it a planned choice or by coincidence?

JF: Once I quit racing, I needed an outlet, something to do with my racing mind and hands. Without access to another racing program once my previous one closed out, it appeared that 1/18 scale diecast would give me an avenue.

However, as you know, there are pitfalls and potholes in that avenue. The most frustrating element to me is the wide variety of methods and means used by the different diecast manufacturers to create and attach components.

In racing, you can find numerous sources of suspension and drivetrain pieces, many of which are interchangeable.

For diecast, there is a lot of fabrication required to blend and create the same components that are “off-the-shelf” in the 1:1 world.

CH: How long have you been a part of the model car scene?

JF: I bought my first 1/18 scale diecast model in 1993, still have it today.

CH: Currently, do you plan on going with this hobby, as you have generously

donated so much of your collection to worthy automotive historic heritage associations? If so with continued collecting and building one-offs, may I ask why have you donated so many of your personal models over the past years (including a couple to myself, which I am grateful for)?

JF: My initial focus for collecting as NASCAR stock car racing, along with road racing from the era in which I became aware of road racing (late 60’s to late 90’s). Over time, that collection, on display, amounted to close to 1,000 models.

I recently retired and wanted to make sure that I didn’t burden my wife with the task of liquidating my collection, so started looking for outlets to accomplish that. Initially I tried to expected eBay and message board sales, but that process is very cumbersome.

With my NASCAR models, I had over 300 that I needed to dispose of, and with the cost of shipping and the depressed market, I wasn’t making a lot of progress or money. I found one individual who won a couple of eBay auctions, and eventually we determined that if he would pay the cost of shipping, I would give him approximately 200 of the models.

That was an interesting process, involving a shipping container and my son’s background in Tetras, but we pulled it off.

Next, I looked for charitable organizations that might benefit from some of the models to support their cause. About 30 1/24 scale (don’t tell anyone that I actually had 1/24 scale models) went to the Victory Junction Camp; and another 80 or so winged sprint and Indy cars went to the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum.

Recently, I donated about 30 Nylint and Ertl pressed-steel semi-trailer rigs to a local automotive nostalgia museum.

CH: Do you plan to limit your collection to only one-off customs or still add mainstream models in the fold?

JF: My new focus is now very narrow. I am now looking to collect only those models that represent something to me, or that I actually had the opportunity to watch compete. For example, I can’t wait to get one of the Replicarz Chaparral SJ’s. I was at the Texas International Speedway the day before the Can Am race when it crashed. Not that the event was noteworthy

for the tragedy of the car never being competitive, but that I was there.

CH: How many models do you have left? Is there a new lower collection limit that you don’t plan to go over?

JF: I’m down to about 600 on display now. The collection is now primarily road racing (Gulf Porsches, GT40’s, and more contemporary liveried racers,

CH: Jim, do you currently find this hobby more intricate meaning releasing more overlooked racing cars that you would have had to make as one-offs, or is it still too mainstream/ traditional in 2022?

JF: I don’t pay attention to the nonracer releases; however, it seems like the market is saturated by both vintage and contemporary versions. If it were to me, there would be more emphasis on the simpler era of road racers, where you could go from street to track to pro race in less than a roll of duct tape on the headlights.

CH: What gave you the motivation to personally start making “overlooked” one-off models of existing racecars?

JF: It’s a passion, like rooting for the underdog. Some of the early customs I did was with another NASCAR enthusiast, Jesse Pyron, who was a

magician with paint and decal sizing. I found him selling his stuff on eBay, and we connected.

Some of the best ones we did was a series of #30 Pontiac Grand Prix’s that were raced by Derrike Cope.

He was an under-appreciated NASCAR talent but had a couple of seasons where he was sponsored by Gumout and Sara Lee (which included liveries for Bryan Meats, State Fair Corn Dogs, and Jimmy Dean Sausage). State Fair and Jimmy Dean are both Texas-oriented brands and diecast only came in 1/24. Jesse did an amazing job of upscaling decals and matching the liveries.

CH: Also, what motivated you to create fantasy “what if” cars? Which do you have the most fun with, one-off existing cars or fantasy cars?

I think I have always had a creative imagination, which originally drove me toward architecture. My problem with that discipline was architects and their egos.

The “what-if” models come from, I guess, my sub-conscious taking control of my creative juices, and asking me to move way outside of my comfort level. I can assure you that there are more abandoned fantasy projects than there are completed ones.

CH: Jim, growing up, did you ever have a dream car? If so, what did you like about that particular car?

JF: Growing up, my dream car was the Shelby GT350. When it came time for me to choose a race car, it was down to three, a GR350, a Triumph GT6, and the 1969 Camaro we ultimately purchased. Fate made that decision, as my future race partner was running a Camaro when we met, and the ability to meld our operations into one was pretty easy.

CH: Jim, it’s been a pleasure to pick through your mind and all of the history and creativity that you’ve enriched our lives with. Thanks for spending some time letting us into your world!

F1 TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

The Cultured CastHead returns to his reading chair this month armed with a book that dives into the history of one the grates F1 teams to have driven. Spanning their career from start to end and looking at what happened to them in between.

It’s a fantastic book filled with great anecdotes, visuals and a great narrative that makes you feel familiar with the team.

The pages are filled with more photographs than text which is fabulous because you instantly get transferred into the scene to feel what it was like at that time. Scarily enough the cockpit of an F1 car is a hard uncomfortable place. You also get to wit ness the wary drivers who had just risked their lives racing in cars that had no safety regs and practices

The book very cleverly tracks the team’s progress and charts out the sponsorship years making it easy to identify race seasons and read the reason why sponsors changed and the impact they had on the sport and F1 finances.

The drama, the challenges everything about the Lotus Team and the rise and fall are tracked through the photographs that have been carefully curated. A great way to see legends in their natural habitat getting down on their hands and knees working the car.

A great compilation of race photographs that highlight some amazing race venues and of course famous races that happened in the past. The different dramas that happened up and down the pitlane and how they were solved with simple solutions.

This is F1 history displayed in a fantastic voyage of pages filled with photographs and amazing stories from a little team that fought its way to the top amidst all the odds and setbacks it had on a hard and illustrious career

DVD’S OF DISAPPOINTMENT.

At first, I was overjoyed when I saw the DVDs. On the covers, it spoke about documentaries, hi-res images and the works. But on further inspection, I realised that the DVDs were hurriedly put together to probably make the production deadline. None of what was advertised on the DVD. So be careful and expect massive disappointment.

PUMA is excited to offer the chance to step into Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 Team drivers’ shoes Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, with the release of the new Scuderia Ferrari Speedcat Pro Replica Edition.

Refined through years of innovation, and packed with Grand Prix technology, the Scuderia Ferrari Speedcat Pro represents the very leading edge of performance driver footwear. Constructed of FIA specification materials designed for speed, comfort, and fire protection, the Scuderia Ferrari Speedcat Pro guarantees absolute control for the wearer while in the cockpit.

Charles Leclerc

For the very first time PUMA together with Scuderia Ferrari is offering the driver shoe of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz - the Speedcat Pro Replica Edition - on sale. The boot is featuring the same sleek lines, premium materials, and authentic team branding as the version used during the 2022 Grand Prix season. What’s more, just like the Ferrari F1-75 piloted by Charles and Carlos during the 2022 Formula One World Championship, the Scuderia Ferrari Speedcat Pro Replica Edition utilities custom designed carbon fiber piecesaround the heel - to provide maximum stability. A low-profile rubber outsole and the EVA wedge keeps the shoe light and nimble.

Colored in black with distinctive red PUMA branding and yellow accents for the Carlos Sainz Edition and white accents for the Charles Leclerc Edition , the Scuderia Ferrari Speedcat Pro Replica Edition also proudly displays the famous Ferrari Cavallino shield, as well as the race numbers 16 and 55 belonging to Charles and Carlos.

Make sure you secure your part of PUMA, Scuderia Ferrari, and Formula 1 with the Scuderia Ferrari Speedcat Pro Replica Edition Driver Shoes. Available now at selected PUMA and Ferrari stores and online on puma.com and store.ferrari.com. Essere Ferrari!

Ferrari x Puma Motorsports

Carlos Sainz

Photo by Alberto Jorge Rodríguez IG @impressive:cars