My introduction to Hot Wheels collecting came early on in my professional career. As a store manager for a national retailer, I was always amused by the familiar sight that greeted me every morning when I opened the doors for business. Without fail, a handful of middle-aged men were congregated at the entrance of the store, nervously pacing back-and-forth, uncomfortably making small talk with one another. As I approached the doors, they began to jockey for position, and with the thud of the lock sliding back into the door, they were off to the races. First one to the toy aisle won the right to claim first dibs on newly stocked Hot Wheels! Talk about fanatical collecting!

Such fervent fandom peaked my curiosity in the genre of Hot Wheels. Here’s what I learned. Read more