1. What got u first started in Collecting HW's?
My mother brought my son some hotwheels when he was a baby, my husband looked at them and said I think I still have some of mine from when I was young. It went downhill from then.

2. How long have you been collecting these little toys?
Since the fall of 1997.

3. Do u like to collect anything and everything, or do you stick to a certain model or type?
We are a very eclectic type of family collectors. Everyone likes a different kind of car.

4. Do u collect or try to collect everything ie: TH's, FE's and all series cars? or just cars u like?
 We used to be a, got to have it all collectors, but recently we have changed to fe’s th’s and whatever we like. We are a no more got to have it all house.

5. How big is your collection?
 I stopped trying to count several years ago when it took over the house.

6. Do u have a favorite casting?
I like the vw bugs but as to a real favorite casting I don’t really think so. Sometimes I find a car and hate the casting but the tampos make it cool and a got to have car.

7. As a Female, do u find things are different for you, ie: when u meet people at the pegs or toy shows etc? Yes. Sometimes it’s a good thing and other times it is a pain in the butt. When standing at the pegs the men seem to think, oh she is just a female and knows nothing so they don’t mind me being there and stockers are more friendly and obliging it seems to females. And then other times you try and deal with other collectors and as soon as they find out you are female, they think you know nothing and try and pull one over on you. But after they get to know me they know better to try and do that, LOL

8. Do u find a lot of our cars locally, or do u have to travel far and do u trade with a lot of people?
I find most of the regular line around here at WalMart, since that is the only store to shop unless you want to drive 65 miles one way for Target and Toys R Us. Most of the specialty stuff I either trade for or have friends pick up for me and I pay them for it.

9. Do u collect for Fun, or are u a serious collector/Hoarder?..Hee! Hee!
I believe I am both. If I find something I know others will want I pick up more and send to friends or trade for stuff I can’t get.

10.Do u have ur cars on display and are they open or still in the blisters?
Both. I am getting more to open cars and displaying them while my husband is still very against opening about anything, unless he buys the older cars loose.

11. Have u personally met any of the people u trade with or talk to on the boards?
 I have only met 2 people that I have dealt with either on IM or the boards and both meetings were great.

12. What do u get out of collecting HW's?
It is something we can do as a family and all enjoy, also it is something for the kids to keep and remember when they are grown. Hopefully it will bring them fond memories of their childhood's and hunting for them with their parents.

13. Tell us your Hates about collecting HW's.
The toy manager at our WalMart that takes all the good cars before they are put out.

14. When people find out that u being a Female,collect HW's..ie: Toy Cars, etc, Do u get strange looks and comments, or do they say Good Onya?
The general public think I am nuts. Other collectors warm up to the idea after you have proven you know what you are doing and talking about, you are just not there to try and score with the men, LOL.

15. What has been your best find yet?
So far it was just a couple months ago when I found like 6 of the clear wing flight 03’s at Dillons.

16. How long do u spend on the boards checking all the posts etc.?
I used to be a board junkie, would check like 3 to 4 times a day. I believe I burnt myself out on them last year, I went a month without checking a board and now I do them once a day if I have the time and energy.

Now a bit about Yourself.

17.. Are You married?
Yes, will be 21 years this June.

18. If so Does Hubby Collect?
Yes he does. He is more into the old bw’s and redlines, than the newer cars, he lets me deal with them, so one is more knowledgeable about different types of collecting.

19. Children?
 Have 2 great kids, David who is 6 and knows it all, Gabbrielle who is 4 and tells you how it will be.

20. If so, do they collect?
 Not so much collect so far but they do have their favorite cars and just love to play with them.

21. Pets?
Well we have 2 dogs, Willie (which is female) mutt who is about 10 years old and our puppy, Apache, who is a one year old 70 pound doberman. And not to leave the various cats out of which there are approximately 20 here about any given time of day.

22. If so, do they collect?
We would be in serious finical troubles if we would let the pets collect too.

23. Alley Ratty Nows your chance to tell us all in your own words, your good and bad thoughts on Hot Wheel collecting, People that u talk to on the boards and in Chat, and what ever else you would like to say.

I really love this addiction of mine. Really the best part of collecting is all the great people I get to know from the boards and chat. I believe you really get to know them better than you do your own relatives, you actually spend more time with them and you don’t have to, they are not related to you. Really for me that is what makes this hobby so great is the great people you meet. One of the fun things is to get on the phone and talk to buddies you have only typed to and they sound just like what you imagined, or you get totally fooled. Really all the cars started it for me but the people I meet keep it going.