Brian Vickers's  #57 Ore-Ida "Tater" car 1-6th scale Nascar-Busch Series Rc car

From about April of 2006 (give or take a month) the Team at Teamup International released information to me through various email conversations on "What new drivers" were coming out. I was told that this #57 Brian Vickers' Ore-Ida 6th scale Rc car was headed for production. This #57 Brian Vickers' Ore-Ida 6th scale Rc car was originally produced for a Walmart release around September- October of 2006. Assuming this, I kept a look out for it. But no such release date came to be.  Knowing that, I have kept a watchful eye at my local Walamart stores for months. Since Brian Vickers has left Hendrick Motor Sports, its unknown at this time they will even release this Rc car now. While keeping up with Walmart and Brian Vickers.com, HMS.com and Ore-Ida and Teamup on current news-release of this Rc car, ( I  feel like the kid "Ralphie" in A Christmas Story movie for the RedRyderCarbineAction100shotRangeModelAirRifle) waiting for this to be released. "Tater car" is a nickname I gave the car. It seemed cute. More or less a homage to Ron Whites' nickname "Tater-Salad"

My first copy of the # 57 Brian Vickers' Ore-Ida "Tater Car" Rc car was sent to me from Team-Up for a Christmas present on November 30th, 2006 for my hard work on the internet promoting their 6th scale Rc cars, numerous reviews here and other online websites explaining the different versions, getting existing customers the parts and service and information they need. I want to thank Team-up (and the Academy, wait wrong acceptance speech, sneaking in) again for thinking of me. Lets not forget Santa too. The Head honcho, The "Connection",  "The Big Cheese" came thru.!!! Anyway, Team-up, Santa, I LOVE YOU MAN and (ladies at Teamup too) !!!

The average sale price on these "Tater Car" Rc cars, if released publicly, should range from 149.99 to 169.00 plus tax in Walmart stores. Maybe more if released thru Nascar.com or HMS.com.

8th in a series of 6th scale Rc cars. These were a ONE TIME production for Ore-Ida, Brian Vickers Racing for promotions somewhere. NOT YET KNOWN where. They were produced on a special order. This Rc car was ONLY produced in Hobby Grade version. Unlike some of the past drivers' rc cars.(click here for my other reviews and guides)

True production numbers may never be known ( I have asked ) but from the sides of the original shipping carton these came in we can make an educated guess. CTN # 1416 of 1848 is the one that is in my collection of Teamup 6th scale Rc cars. Now posting this and you reading this, I and other collectors can assume that at least a production of 1848 cartons-cars were made. Which in the grand scheme of things, it makes for a EXTREMELY short production run as compared to the other 6 publicly available different models they currently produce or have produced and the 7th in the series Napa Auto Parts Rc car which we know that of the 5792 cartons-cars were made of  #55 Napa Autoparts 6th scale Rc car.

Why is that?

Considering that the other 12 models, (7 different drivers, but 6 different graphics packages in Base Versions and 6 others in Hobby Grade versions) were released in grand fashion at Walmarts, Targets, in November-December 2005 and thru January 2006,  with an average of 12 of EACH drivers' Rc car per Walmart and Target then taking the total amounts of these stores (about 3800) and doing simple multiplication and viola ! HUGE production runs. Amazon.com, (the ONLY legal online retailer of Hobby Grades at the time of this posting but mistakes are being made by warehouse employees that dont know what they are doing) and other online locations Costco.com, Nascar.com QVC.com (they sell ONLY Base versions except #8 Dale Jr. "Budweiser Racing" Rc car which ONLY came out in Hobby Grade), they have to be huge production runs. Most likey in the tens of thousands and still going strong. Not all at once mind you but I know for a fact that the other 6 Hobby Grades listed here below...

# 3 Dale Earnhardt Sr.  GM Goodwrench DEI

# 8 Dale Jr. "Budweiser Racing" version  DEI

# 8 Dale Jr. "DEI Wheat Crest" version  DEI

 # 20 Tony Stewart "Home Depot" JGR

# 24 Jeff Gordon "Dupont Racing" HMS

# 48 Jimmie Johnson "Lowes Home Improvement" HMS

 ...are still being produced at the time of this posting. The original Base versions of the same drivers above are no longer being produced so as to make way for the more popular "Hobby Grade" 6th scale line of Rc cars. In 2007 New artwork for these Rc cars will be released as the Racing teams produce new artwork for their real race cars. So to keep up with current race car artwork designs, Teamup International will have new paint schemes for some of these. According to Teamup themselves this artwork can be subtle from a sponsor changed artwork, added or deleted sponsor to complete new artwork.

Spare Body Shells

Now also taking into consideration that this is an EXTREMELY Limited Production Rc car, new replacement body shells are going to be EXTREMELY tought to find soon enough also. These CANNOT be purchased at the time of this posting. The car has to be OFFICALLY RELEASED FIRST before they can sell body shells. When it is released,  they run about 36.00-49.00 plus shipping thru Teamup International and checkerflagzone.com. If it were me and I couldnt wait to "race" mine around the neighborhood, Id be sure to have at least ONE or two spare body shells for that new look while its on the shelf waiting for the "next race".

Multiple Frequencies

These and other "Hobby Grade" and "Added Features" or "Updated Features-Version" Rc cars from Teamup International have 6 different frequency modules you can purchase seperatley. They DO NOT HAVE ALL 6 in the Box. These also can be purchased for about 15.00-20.00 plus shipping thru Teamup International and or checkerflagzone.com.

What should I expect to pay?

Current Ebay prices can be from 155 to an astronomical 1000.00 Buy It Now and up which is simplly "scalping" or Ebay rape. UNLESS You have more money than you know what to do with then spend as you wish!!!

If  Ebay has taught anything, there will be someone listing one very soon cheaper. If not today, probably tommorrow.  My personal opinion is "whatever the market dictates"... Since these are rarer than the Napa Auto Parts Rc cars About 155.00 - 255.00 plus shipping tops is a good price.

Why?

Free Market for one and someone recieved one for Christmas that doesnt have the time to use it nor the space to display it or someones parents think its simply to much Rc car for their child. Which is a fact on most of these larger Rc cars. Better yet, someone recieved one for Christmas or their wife bought one on Ebay for a birthday present and they do not want it and want to make a few bucks on Ebay. Which is fine but sometimes things can get pricey!!!

As with ANY real life auction or online auction, dont get emotional. It clouds the judgement. There is ALWAYS tommorrow. If you are reading this and wish to get one of these Ore-Ida Rc cars or any other Rc cars listed, I can probably get them at a reasonable price. Beware. If the price starts out low enough I most certainly will be bidding on the Rc car myself for my own collection. You never know when a bargin "happens". My personal opinion is, at the time of this posting they are NOT RELEASED YET and running about 155.00 to 255.00 plus shipping I would think. These ARE RARER THAN THE Napa Auto Parts Rc cars. There will be quite a few of these for the first few weeks after its release in 2007 then it will die off. But someone will always have one for sale.

What is the terminology Base version and Hobby Grade mean?

"Hobby Grade" or "Added Features" or "Updated Features-Version" are the same thing.

Which in a nutshell means your "Hobby Grade" or "Added Features" or "Updated Features-Version" will operate like the real race car with variable speeds and digital proportional steering or variable steering. Then the interchangeable frequencies so you can own identical cars and with the "frequency pack" race them (up to 7 cars) at the same time. With tiny bit of practice you can run very well with other cars.Very very easy to control, very desirable Rc car for the Nascar fan.

Base Version refers to the first editions (2 different styles of Base versions) of Rc cars that Teamup International produced. They DO NOT turn gradually like the real race car. Either FULL RIGHT or FULL LEFT. The Speed control is either FULL SPEED forward or reverse. You can run only Two cars at the same time taking note the two frequencys 27 mghz and 49 mghz of DIFFERENT drivers cars. Not very easy to control.

Please vote positive !!  I hope you enjoyed the trivia around this Ore-Ida Rc car. (maybe not my opinion) but nevertheless posted here for those looking for some history on this #57 Brian Vickers Ore-Ida 6th scale Rc car.