PUBLIC APOLOGY:  I'd like to apologize for not writing sooner.  I've got a bag of excuses, but I'll stick with:  I really, really, really wanted photos to accompany this article but that would have delayed me even longer.  (I'm already in the doghouse with Trish.  She is such a demanding person!)
.
If you don't know, I serve on active duty in the Army.  Of course this is by choice; no one is twisting my arm, though this point could be argued.  I have recently undergone a drastic lifestyle change, wherein I serve one year in the Republic of Korea, while my family remains in the States.  This is a hardship assignment.  It's not the first time we've been apart for a long stretch, and may not be the last (but we can always hope).  Little events in your life like this make you think long and hard about how you spent the minutes of your days, the moments of your life, and evaluate what you did right and wrong.  At least, if you're like me you do.  (I call this behavior "Wallowing in Self-Pity")
.
But that's not what I'm here to talk about.  I want you to know that the children of Korea don't play with Hot Wheels.  They don't.  I have looked, yea I have ventured and sought, and have found nary a hint of My Precious.  They don't exist in this country.  The only place I have found them are on the American installations, and the pickings are old and slim, to put it generously. There is a guy in my platoon who is the ultimate scrounge.  He is the guy who can find something for you when no one else can.  Every unit has at least one, and they are invaluable.  His father apparently collects, and my scrounge can't even find them here.
.
We've been yammering on this site about the Cars That Should be Made, and Dream 5-Packs and so on and so forth.  These kids would be in awe over a Radar Ranger.  Or not, who knows!  They don't lust after cars like we do.
.
Unlike America, the Koreans didn't grow up with the automobile.  They didn't get to enjoy this luxury until almost 1960.   Since then automobile ownership in Korea has outgrown their road maintenance by nearly 5000%!!  In essence, you have the traffic of New York City motoring along on the roads of...well, there is no good comparison.  Think of the most narrow road, remove the shoulders and replace them with 10 ft deep ditches, then sprinkle with cracks and potholes.  Now place crosswalks and flashing lights at purely random intervals along these roads, throw up some checkpoints for good measure, and never, ever put a police car on them.  Then populate with motorists that have made Korea statistically the most dangerous place in the world to drive.
.
If you were to make a five pack for this country, it would go something like:    

         Third World Knockoffs!
 
         1 Bongo Truck  (cab-over equivalent to the mini-pickup in the States)
         2 One-Eyed Mule (a small, slow,  articulated tractor-like...thing)
         3 Terminator  (20 ton, 4 axle truck that doesn't stop.  Ever)
         4 Ridiculously Overloaded Motorcycle Courier (sorry, no nickname for this one)
         5 Generic Copy of Popular Japanese Car (pick one, they are all represented)
.
Okay, I'm not sure if Korea is a true 3rd World Country, but those of you who have been here, especially you 2nd ID troops, know what I'm talking about.  Vehicles are not seen as an expression of lifestyle here, but as a tool for commerce.  Nothing more.  Perhaps it is this indifference that keeps toys like Hot Wheels from becoming a family tradition.  That, and the AVERAGE working family in Korea earns the equivalent of about $40 a month.  Unless they live in Seoul, and that may be another installment if you all would like.
.
SO, (on the soapbox with this one) the next time you're standing in front of a display of cars, crying that you never get anything new, count your blessings. You have far more than you realize. From atop my perch in lovely Camp Howze, in the Land of the Morning Calm, I sign off, wishing you all a Happy Holiday Season!
.
PS:  Thanks to Rob and Mike and all the others out there for following up on the Catapult/Cheetah thing.  Rob has a new site that has potential for Cheetah-heads: http://nac.tamu.edu/~rob/cheetah.html     BigArv says check it out!  Mike sent me an address too, but since I use public computers right now, and I'm not real bright, I lost the address.  Send it again Mike!  And Fred, send pictures man!!!!!!
.
Apparently Bill Thomas and Don Edmunds (the designers and builders of the Cheetahs) do not have a problem with reproductions being made of their kick-*derriere car.  It looks like Mattel fumbled this one.  I can't imagine something like that happening, what with Mattel execs being so bright...
PPS:  Anybody else digging on TOCA2 for the Playstation?  It plays great and has bucket loads more options.  Play Medal of Honor.  Enough said.

 
 
Table of Contents