C4 Goes On a March

The C4 Crew setting up for the days buying, selling, trading and most importantly... Racing!!!

It’s nice to see that spring is in the air, but there is still snow on the ground.  The grip of winter didn’t keep people away from the hot C4 sponsored meet.  The monthly Maryland Die-Cast Trade Show continues to be a hit with people from neighboring states as well as right here in the old line state.  Representatives from Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey were in attendance.  The crowd is getting bigger each month and the downhill racing is getting even fiercer!  The C4 Crew discussed opening a second meeting room to accommodate the ever growing vendors and racing events.  We also discussed upcoming events and started taking orders for t-shirts.  Nick Sickle held another raffle for die-cast prizes that excited the crowd between the two racing sessions.  Also, we have a ton of new ideas for the rest of the year and we are looking for volunteers to help us accomplish our goals.  I am personally excited to see how far this group has come and also can’t wait to see where it is going. 

Now to the races… 

No surprise to anyone, Owen Nesslage came prepared to defend his Downhill Racing Hot Wheels Stock Class Title for an unprecedented fourth time.  He has won all three DRHWSC Events since December and it seems like he has an eye for fast stock Hot Wheels.  This month’s competition would put Owen’s entries to the test. The DRHWSC had a full bracket of 32 entries with 7 of the field being Funny Cars.  Bruce Nesslage, Owen’s Father, brought a Porsche 911, a formidable racer, to the event.  The Porsche moved passed Tim Raley’s Preying Menace in the qualifier, then beat Cole Raley’s Rivited in the heats and Jon Izzy’s Mustang GT in the quarter finals in the upper bracket to race against his son’s Ford Probe Funny Car in the semifinals.  Owen’s Ford Probe Funny Car dominated the qualifier beating James Fortenberry’s Subaru WRX, then smashing Bobby Horton’s Sidekick in the heats and pounding Tim Raley’s Ferrari Testarossa into submission in the quarters. The lower bracket saw a new face…Bobby Horton’s Ford Probe Funny Car made its presence known quickly winning in opposition to a Firebird Funny Car of James Goolsbee Jr. in the qualifier.  Bobby’s Funny car cleared the heats and quarters dominating Jon Izzy’s Fast Fish and James Fortenberry’s Ford F-150 only to meet another Thunder Chicken, own by the master of the HWSC races, Owen Nesslage, in the semis.  Owen’s Firebird Funny Car decimated his opponents beating Tim Raley’s Ford Probe Funny Car in the qualifier, then Steve Langenfeld’s Mustang Funny Car in the heats and finally Wayne Heede’s Ferrari 599XX in the quarters.  Three Funny Cars made it to this point with one lone Porsche and that Porsche was tested quickly against the Ford Probe Funny Car of Owen Nesslage.  Owen’s Ford Probe Funny Car blasted passed his dad’s Porsche, even with threats, of having to find a ride home, from his dad.  In similar fashion to the qualifier, Bobby Horton’s Ford Probe Funny Car took out another Firebird Funny Car, this one owned by the three time champ, Owen Nesslage.  The last race was set and it would be a Ford Probe Funny Car Final!!!  Would Bobby be able to dethrone the King…he did have an equal car…but was it enough???  Would they have to go head to head, pedal to pedal, or would the cars settle it on their own with an equal drop? The pins were set, the cars were set… the drop went without an issue, but Bobby would not be able to unseat the kid… the King of the Hot Wheels Stock Class!  Owen went on to win an unprecedented four straight DRHWS Class Events since the month of December.  Would James Fortenberry be able to do the same and set the record for number of wins in the Run Whatcha’ Brung Class???

Congratulations to Owen Nesslage and his Yellow #3 Ford Probe Funny Car, March 2015 Winner of the Downhill Racing Hot Wheels Stock Class and Four Time Winner in a row in this class.

The five time winner, James Fortenberry, brought his battle tested brigade of entries for the Downhill Racing Run Whatcha’ Brung Class Event and the “Blue Flame” Ford F150 absolutely dominated in the top portion of the bracket beating Gavin Sleeth’s Tow Truck in the qualifier, Owen Nesslage’s Firebird Funny Car in the heats and beating his own entry, a Haulin’ Gas, designated “Ugly” in the quarter finals.  A newcomer, Penny Bisk and her Johnny Lightning Ford GT, was also having success in the upper bracket defeating Michael Wyman’s School Busted in the qualifier, Jon Izzy’s Ford Torino in the heats and Steve Langenfeld’s Ford GTX-1 in the quarters.  Unfortunately, for Penny, she ran into the Fortenberry “Blue Flame.”  The Ford GT was torched like so many others by the Fortenberry “Blue Flame.”   In the lower bracket, Jon Izzy’s Johnny Lightning Ford GT was making waves, surfin’ by Dustin Barker’s Ford Probe Funny Car in the qualifier, His own ’88 Pontiac in the heats and Ken Sleeth’s S’cool Bus in the quarters.  “Ugly Too”, another Fortenberry formulation, also scorched the competition routing the GTO of Jon Izzy if he qualifier, then Jon Izzy’s Dodge Viper in the heats and Mark Markham’s Chevy Van in the quarter finals just to face another Jon Izzy entry in the semifinals.  However, this would be a larger test for the “Ugly Too” and the Ford GT would not go away.  The racing went back and forth… the GT won, then the “Ugly Too”, then the GT, then the “Ugly Too.”  The Semifinals for the bottom bracket would come down to a pedal to pedal battle for the right to race the undefeated “Blue Flame.”  Two test sessions were given…then one final instruction for a sudden win race.  The die-casts were staged, the Christmas tree lit up… yellow… yellow… yellow… GREEN…… Jon Izzy had the quicker reaction time and the GT would not be denied a spot in the finals!!!  Nevertheless, Jon would have to face James again, and this time beside the proven winner…the “Blue Flame.”  The final didn’t turn out to be as dramatic as the semi that ran just prior.  The “Blue Flame” won the first, third and forth runs to claim yet another Run Whatcha’ Brung Class Event!  James Fortenberry has asserted himself as a dominating force in this class, and now a six time victor.  Does anyone have what it takes to end his reign?

Congratulations to James Fortenberry and his Ford F-150 Pick-Up "Blue Flame", March 2015 Winner of the Downhill Racing Run Whatcha’ Brung Class and Six Time Winner in this Class.

Congratulations to Owen Nessalge, our C4 Downhill Racing Hot Wheels Stock Class Four Time Champion and James Fortentberry, our C4 Downhill Racing Run Whatcha’ Brung Class Champion.  Come check us out next month and bring your racers… you never know… you could be the one to dethrone the champs!!!     

C4 would also like to give a special thanks to all who donated to the raffle for this event and congrats to all the winners of that raffle.

Not Even the Chill of February Could Slow Down the C4 Crew

The C4 Crew gathered for their February meet on Saturday the 7th with over 40 people in attendance throughout the day with a full room of vendors to purchase or trade with. In addition to the buying, selling and trading during the meet, there were two exciting Downhill Racing Events held. The first races of the day were in the Hot Wheels Stock Class with all 32 slots filled, including entries of Owen Nesslage who won this class the previous two months in a row. The last races of the day were for the Run Whatcha’ Brung Class with entries of James Fortenberry, a four time winner in this class. The Hot Wheels Stock Class winner received the 32nd slot in the DRRWBC races, a race token, a Hot Wheels 5-pack and a $10 gift card to Toys R Us, while the Downhill Racing Run Whatcha’ Brung Class winner took home a race token, two Hot Wheels 5-packs and a $10 gift card to Toys R Us. Along with the racing events of the day, there was a raffle for die-cast prizes and many attendees took home a little something from the meet. Special thanks form the C4 Crew to all that donated items for the raffle.

The competition for Downhill Racing Hot Wheels Stock Class was brutal. Many veteran challengers were eliminated in the qualifying round, while some newcomers saw early success. The upper bracket was tough, but Owen Nesslage, December & January DRHWSC Winner, proved that he has an eye for picking the best stock racers. His black #1 Firebird Funny Car beat the Team Sleeth Mega Grafix Ford Probe Funny Car in the qualifier, defeated the Fortenberry GT90 in the heats and left the Mid Drift with FTEs of Mark Markham in the dust during the quarters. Owens’ Dad had similar fortune with his Porsche 911 breezing by Mark Starr’s ’70 Superbird in the qualifier, subdued a Monte Carlo entry of Mike Rybar in the heats and upset Cole Raley’s Mustang with FTEs in the quarters. Owen would have to beat his dad to make it to the finals again. Owen wasn’t deterred by threats from his dad of having to walk home or find a ride there. His Firechicken torched the Porsche which was forced to call 911 after two quick race defeats. In the lower bracket, Tim Raley’s Turbolence beat Team Sleeth’s Symbolic in the qualifier, dismantled Ryan Zubalic’s Mustang Funny Car in the heats and squeaked by his son Cole’s Blue Hot Wheels Team Firebird Funny Car in the quarters only to meet another Funny Car in the semis… of James Goolsbee Jr. LJ’s (Little James) T-Rex Firebird Funny Car dominated races through to the semis, laying waste to Nick Sicle’s 1980 Corvette in the qualifier, Owen Nesslage’s Speedway Spray Ford Probe Funny Car in the heats and Nathan Zubalic’s Dodge Charger in the quarters. Tim’s Turbulence didn’t have enough to beat the T-Rex decaled Funny Carand his run had ended. The Final was set for the DRHWSC and it would be a Funny Car Final! Owen Nesslage and his Blue #1 Team Hot Wheels Firebird Funny Car versus James Goolsbee Jr. and his Silver T-Rex Firebird Funny Car for all the marbles… The races were close, but the Blue Team Hot Wheels Funny Car would give Owen his third DRHWSC win in three straight months as well as the DRHWSC Prize Pack.

Congratulations to Owen Nesslage and his Blue #1 Team Hot Wheels Firebird Funny Car, February 2015 Winner of the Downhill Racing Hot Wheels Stock Class and Three Time Winner in a row in this class.

Almost a full field of die-casts, 32 in all, took the stage for the last race event of the day. Mark Markham out of Virginia brought a Johnny Lightning Boogie Van to the show and the van boogied through the competition sliding past opponents to the semis… The Cameron Daly Hippie Van was the first victim losing to the Boogie Van in the qualifier. Then the Team Raley Hershey Ford Probe Funny car lost to it in the heats and Wayne Heede’s Ford Pick-up proved no match for it in the quarters. Jon Issac from Southern Maryland had similar fortune To Mark with his Johnny Lightning Fort GT, also dominating races all the way through to the semis. The Ford GT defeated Cole Raley’s ’77 Corvette in the qualifier, James Fortenberry’s SuperVan in the heats and finally the Penny Bisk Ford Focus in the quarter to get into the semis. The Ford GT seemed to be the class of the field and that didn’t change beating the Boogie Van in the semis marking its place to do battle with an opponent from the lower bracket. The lower bracket saw Cameron Daly’s second bullet, a Chevy Van, speed through to the semis with a bye in the qualifier, a win against Michael Wyman’s VW Bus in the heats and a win versus a Team Raley Hershey’s Ford Probe Funny Car in the quarters. Unfortunately, for him, Mr. Daly would run into some heavy competition in the semifinals running against the winningest Run Whatcha’ Brung Mod Beast Builder…James Fortenberry, out of Pennsylvania. The Fortenberry Haulin’ Gas Beast blew by his opposition without much ado; it snacked on LJ’s WH Modded Mini Cooper in the Qualifier, chewed through Owen Nesslage’s January DRHWSC winning Firebird Funny Car and devoured Owen’s February DRHWSC winning Firebird Funny Car. Cameron Daly’s Chevy van was just another meal for the JF Haulin’ Gas Beast on its way to the finals where it would meet the Ford GT of Jon Issac. Sadly for Jon, James know what it takes to make his mods fast and the Haulin’ Gas Beast overwhelmed the Ford GT.

Congratulations to James Fortenberry and his Haulin’ Gas Beast, February 2015 Winner of the Downhill Racing Run Whatcha’ Brung Class and Five Time Winner in this Class.

Also, thank you to all of the competitor who tried their luck.

The Wheels Keep Turning Right Into 2015

Our little meeting space continues to fill up each and every month.  The C4 Trade show had over a dozen vendors on hand, a full 32 entries filled the Downhill Racing Hot Wheels Stock Class, and 18 entries battled in the Downhill Racing Run Whatcha’ Brung Class.  There was a raffle and a ton of prizes given away and the race winners took away more than bragging rights.  The Winner of the RWBC received a Hot Wheels Five Pack, a Free Race Token, and a $10 Gift Card for Toys R Us, while the Winner of the HWSC received a automatic entry into the RWBC, a 2015 Classic Cars Calendar, a Hot Wheels Five Pack, a Free Race Token, and a $10 Gift Card for Toys R Us.

The Downhill Racing Hot Wheels Stock Class was packed with a full field of 32 entries and one of those entries dominated the field.  Semi-Finalist James Goolsbee Jr. and his Cadillac Escalade with FTEs breezed by Nathan Talbert’s HyperTruck in the Qualifier, dusted off Dustin Barker’s Firebird Funny Car in the Heats with a small chuckle, and shrieked by Autumn Florendo’s Screamin’ Hauler in the Quarterfinals.  Owen Nesslage’s Black Firebird Funny Car saw similar results clearing away Tim Raley’s Porsche Carrera in the Qualifier, then showing Gavin Sleeth’s Hershey’s Ford Probe Funny Car the end of the road in the Heat Round, and hammered another Porsche Carrera, entered by James Goolsbee Sr., to move into the Semifinals in the top part of the bracket.  The bottom of the bracket pitted Funny Car versus Funny Car.  Tim Raley’s Firebird Funny Car bested Nathan Talbert’s Two Timer in the Qualifier, his son, Cole Raley’s Porsche 911 in the Heats and then James Fortenberry’s Ferrari F40 in the Quarterfinals to get to the Semifinals.  The other Funny Car to make the Semifinals in this part of the bracket was the Side Splitter, another entry from the Owen Nesslage Stable.  Owen’s Side Splitter made short work of Ken Nozka’s VW Beatle in the Qualifier, Stopped Nathan Zubalik’s Two timer in its tracks in the Heats and simply crushed the Porsche Carrara entered by Eric Florendo in the Quarterfinals.  In the top bracket, Owen’s Firebird Funny Car proved to be faster than James’ Cadillac and Owen’s other entry, the Side Splitter, also beat out its opponent, the Firebird Funny Car of Tim Raley.  Either way, Owen was going home with the top spot and some goodies for his win.  We still needed to see which of his entries was the fastest of the day.  After the first two runs tied up the entries at one apiece, the Firebird Funny Car took the last two in a row to become January’s Hot Wheels Stock Winner and receive the HWSC Provisional Spot for the Run Whatcha’ Brung Race.

January 10th 2015 Downhill Racing Hot Wheels Stock Class Video

The 18 entries for the Run Whatcha’ Brung Class were made up of varying types of die-cast from stock Hot Wheels and Johnny Lightning’s to full custom creations with some extra weight added to help speed them down the drop.  In the top section of the bracket, Owen Nessalage’s HWS Class Winner from December made a great showing beating Tim Raley’s Chevy Silverado in the Heats and moving passed Ismail Rashada’s Ferrari F40 in the Quarterfinals.  Both of those entries were stock Hot Wheels, but unfortunately for Ismail, his remaining entry would go no further.  James Fortenberry’s new creation, which he dubbed the Supervan, weighed in at 180.0 grams and absolutely dominated in the Heats laying to waste Tim Raley’s Wraith and squashing Cameron Daly’s Spiderman Van in the Quarterfinals.  The lower portion of the bracket saw Cameron Daly’s second entry, which some of the race fans called the “Hippie Van”, demolished James Goolsbee Jr’s Dodge Pick-up in the Heats and crushed Cole Raley’s Hulk entry in the Quarterfinals.  Also in action in the lower section was James Fortenberry’s proven winner, the Ford Pick-up… this modified beast has won this event in the past two previous times.  The Fortenberry Ford mauled Tim Raley’s “SuperVan” in the Heats then ending Owen Nesslage’s Firebird Funny Car’s chances of reaching the Finals.  The Semifinals were set… James Fotenberry’s “SuperVan” versus Owen Nesslage’s Ford Probe Funny Car and Cameron Daly’s “Hippie Van” versus the Fortenberry Ford Pick-up.  Disappointingly, for Owen and Cameron, both Fortenberry Creations prevailed and there would be a Fortenberry Final.  This final would be no different than the previous outings for the Fortenberry Pick-up winning back to back runs and the top spot in the Run Whatcha’ Brung Final!

January 10th 2015 Downhill Racing Run Whatcha' Brung Class Video

Congratulations to Both Owen Nesslage, Winner of the DRHWSC, and James Fortenberry, Winner of the DRRWBC, for January 2015.

Owen - DRHWSC Winner

James - DRRWBC Winner

Check out the racing on our YouTube Channel...  C4 Downhill Racing 

Also, special thanks to Nick Sickle for running and donating prizes for the first ever C4 Pick a Prize Raffle.

Down the Stretch they go…

With only a few days left before the first meet of the New Year, I am excited… no, I am ecstatic… I am cheerful…  The group that we have created is headed in the right direction.  We started this crazy idea some years ago with only a handful of individuals sharing a common interest. 

The Chesapeake Bay Hot Wheels Club was born.  For a couple of years attendance started to grow and the club gained popularity.  There were activities for everyone… trading, buying, selling, telling stories and even racing down that signature orange track were what we did.  Not long after, things started to change and with numbers growing, some of the key members struggled against what the core reasons as to what this organization would be changed.  Instead of a club for the members and by the members, the group became a sales platform and out of necessity, the CBHWC would soon be no more.  But, there was still a need for some of these individuals without personal agendas to get together…

A few months later… These individuals, with common goals, create another organization and agree to meet once a month at an arranged location.  For the first year of this organization’s early life, the meets were brief and attendance was small, but trading, buying, selling and swapping good stories were the keys to what we did.  Above all else… we looked out for each other as hobbyist.  The club has grown and suffered through growth and downturns in attendance, loss of locations for meets, and the occasional unilateral thinking of a few individuals outside of the core group.  It’s taken us some time, but we’ve landed a home for our monthly shows and created a name for ourselves. We still stick to that common idea that brought us together in the first days of the CBHWC.  We are now the C4… the Charm City Collector’s Club, the die-cast specialist!!!

Join us, January 10^th for the very first meet of the year… Admission, as always is free.  Do you have something to sell?  We have tables for lease!  Are you ready for some racing???  We have a 25ft Downhill Drag Strip with scoring lights and timer.  We have a test and tune session prior to and after our bracket races.  If you want to get into the racing action, you can.  We have two different racing classes that will compete for prizes for just $1 per entry.  If you just want to see what we are all about, stop on in and just say hi to the C4 Crew… Doors open at 10 am… hope to see you there!

For anyone looking for a free race entry or a free table to sell some of your extra die casts can look for two hidden tokens that we’ve put together in one single hidden location.  These tokens are in a small plastic box not too far from where the C4 lays there blocks.  Travel south from this place, not far or you may lose your race.  It used to be Jeffrey’s abode, now look before you get to the cross road.   To the east side of this structure you will be took, to a row of trees should you look.  Now, if you miss the rock with our name, I can believe that we will look down on you with shame!  Once this is found, please let us know!!!

The Last Leg of Two-Thousand Fourteen

The past three months worth of meets have been great and our attendance has been growing which makes our meeting room seem smaller than what it really is.  Unfortunately, we've only held two races in the past three months and our numbers of race entries are down.  We hope to reverse this trend in the new year by implementing some new ideas to make the racing more fun and quick.   In contrast, the swapping of die casts at these meets has been more than abundant and the C4 Meets are what that is all about.

On to the Racing News…  We held a Hot Wheels Stock Class Downhill Race in October & December with sixteen entries each.  It seems that the HW Stock Class is being dominated by an extremely commanding force… But, we’ll get to that in a few.  The October Race would have a diverse group on entries along with some newcomers to the event.  These rookies learned quickly which die-casts rule the downhill.  Tom B’s Phantom Cosair drew an unlucky match-up pitting him against the Ford Probe Funny Car #3 of Mike Rybar.  Tom B’s other entry, a Side Kick, had the same unfortunate outcome losing quickly to Piper Langenfeld’s not so funny Ford Probe Funny Car ironically enough with a clown on it.  The next rookie, Michael Wyman, took his chance with a Project Speeder and was also thwarted by another Ford Probe Funny Car belonging to Piper.   This bracket held six Funny Cars, five of which were Ford Probes with one being a Firebird.  One third of the entries were funny cars and they controlled the bracket.  Four battle tested funny cars would clash in the semi-finals.  Piper’s Hershey Ford Probe Funny Car beat her other “HaHa” Ford Probe Funny Car in the upper bracket while Mike Rybar’s #3 Ford Probe Funny Car defeated James Goolsbee Jr’s lone Firebird Funny Car in the lower bracket for a Probe Funny Car Shoot-out!  The races were super close, but mike Rybar’s #3 Ford Probe Funny Car would be number one for October!

The HW Stock Class Races for December would be just as awesome.  This time only two out of the sixteen entries were funny cars and the Steve Langenfield “Bonneville” Ford Probe Funny Car would not make it past the Qualifier Round, losing to the rookie, Bert Hoenig’s Firebird. (Not a Funny Car.)  The Semi-Finals landscape would look a great deal different this time with a Screamin’ Hauler, a Mazda MX-5, a Mustang, and only one Ford Probe Funny Car.  Michael Wyman did his homework and brought a Mazda MX-5 that would best James Goolsbee Jr’s Screamin’ hauler that had the weight to beat the Mazda to the bottom of the downhill, but lost ground once it slowed on the flats.  James Fortenbeery’s Mustang was no match for the White Ford Probe Funny Car of Owen Nesslage who would rule the track in December’s Race.  Owen’s Funny Car didn’t lose a single race and that would prove no different in the final when it obliterated the Mazda MX-5 to take the Downhill Racing Hot Wheels Stock Class Win!

The team completed the last Downhill Racing Hot Wheels Stock Class Competition, pulled names for the 1^st Annual Secrete Santa for 2014 & bounced around a lot of ideas for the upcoming 2015 season.   All in all, these past three months have been great.  We are looking to make 2015 even better and we hope to see you at our next event, January 10th!

C4 Ramps Up the Racing with Fall Around the Corner

Downhill Racing is a big part of what Charm City Collector’s Club is all about.  A family fun atmosphere… So, with fall looming around the bend, the C4 Crew revved up the racing with two Downhill Racing Classes on September 6^th.  The Hot Wheels Stock Class had 19 entries and the Run Whatcha’ Brung Class had 16.

The DRHWSC included a mix of die-casts from all metal funny cars to the all plastic Clear Speeder.  Nick Sickle’s Ford Transit saw early success in the heat round against Cole Raley’s Time Tracker and then again in the quarter finals when he thrashed the favored Ferrari 365 of James Goolsbee Jr.  However the Ford Transit’s luck would run out in the Semi final round by another Ferrari, but this one, an F-40, owned by James Sr. The F-40 pounded Gavin Sleeth’s ’71 Mustang Funny Car that seemed to have a wheel issue, obliterated James Fortenberry’s Ford F-150 entry in the Heats, and eliminated the Firebird Funny Car of Mike Rybar in the Semis. Tim Raley dominated the upper part of the bracket with a GT Racer and a Firebird Funny Car.  Tim’s GT Racer moved past Dustin Barker’s VW Bug in the Heats, James Sr’s Clear Speeder in the Quarters to face his own Firebird Funny Car in the Semis.  The Firebird cruised through the Heats beating a Side Kick entered by Mike Rybar and then didn’t even give the Fortenberry Probe Funny Car a chance in the Quarter. Only one of Tim’s entries would move on to the Finals and it would have to be quicker than the Ferrari F-40 from the lower bracket portion.  The Firebird Funny Car put the GT Racer to rest with two straight wins, but wouldn’t have as easy of a time with the Ferrari.  The Funny Car beat the Ferrari in the first race but lost the second only to batter the Ferrari for the third and forth races to win the Downhill Racing Hot Wheels Stock Class Trophy and get an automatic berth in the Run Whatcha’ Brung Races.

Team Raley, Tim & Cole, entered a team of Four Hershey Ford Probe Funny Cars for the DRRWBC as well as the Firebird Funny Car that won the DRHWSC earlier, but only one of those Hershey mobiles would make it to the semifinals.  It quickly dispensed with the HWSC winner in the qualifier, devastated the Mod Ride entered by James Goolsbee Sr. in the heats, beat one of it’s clones in the quarterfinals, only to be shocked in the semis by the Fortenberry Ford F-150..  Now, just like the DRHWSC had a dominating force in the upper portion of the bracket, so did the RWBC.  A pair of James would have their monster mod creations dispatched the competition like paper to a buzz saw.  Fortenberry’s Haulin’ Gas trampled two Hershey clones, one in the Heats and the other in the quarters, while the Goolsbee’s Ford Galaxy crushed a modified Trim Trak out of the Raley Team Stable in the heats and then slipped by another Goolsbee entry, the Way 2 Slow, in the quarters.  The Way 2 Slow would be no match for the Haulin’ Gas, so the final was set. The Fortenberry beasts in both semifinal rounds prevailed and would face off in the finals…  The Haulin’ Gas and the Old Blue Ford F-150 fought through three races only to witness the F-150 triumph races two and three to seize the Run Whatcha’ Brung Class Top Prize!!!

October 4^th will be the next stop in the year for these two classes… who know what die-casts will dominate…  there’s only one way to find out…  bring your best and see if you can hoist the trophy… or fall to the beasts of Downhill Racing!!!     

Get ready for racing in December… not one, not two, not three, but four classes… mail-in are welcome… HWSC, RWBC, HWSTHCC and the new Death Race!!!  Stay tuned!!!

      

Racing through the Summer with C4

The Downhill Racing has seen a decrease in participation. However, the racing is highly competitive with just enough entries to run the Hot Wheels Stock Class.

July 12th was the day that would see Piper Langenfeld beat all the guys with her Yellow #3 Ford Probe Funny Car. With a 13 die-cast field, Ray Ritchie thought he had the car to beat. His Yellow #3 Ford Probe Funny tip toed past the JG Jr. White “Hershey” Ford Probe Funny Car in the Heats, toasted Gavin Sleeth’s Bone Shaker in the Quarters, and finally spilled Ken Sleeth’s Hot Tub hopes for a run at the finals where he would be stopped in his tracks by the mirror imageentry of Piper. Piper’s Funny Car motored past Gavin Sleeth’s Ratified ride to qualify, then beat the James Goolsbee’s Sling Shot in the Quarters and breezed past Dustin Barker’s 2009 Ford F-150 in the Semi-finals. Piper would be the final victor!

James Fortenberry made a run at the top spot in the Downhill Racing Hot Wheels Stock Class held on August 2nd. James’s White Porsche 911 was a great deal faster than James Goolsbee Sr.’s Blue #1 Lumina Stocker and swiftly dispatched Devin Batty’s Silver Ferrari F12. James Jr. thought he had the answer for the Fortenberry Porsche, but saw his Gold Ferrari F-40 loss to the Porsche in the semi-finals. Nick Sickle’s Screamin’ Hauler did just that through the qualifier against Devynn Barker’s Arrow Dynamic and James Goolsbee Sr’s 360 Modena in the Quarter’s. Nick’s Hauler stopped Screamin’ when it met the Silver T-Rex Firebird Funny Car of Steve Langenfeld who promptly past Dustin Barker’s ’83 Silverado in it’s qualifying round. The T-Rex Funny car also beat up on the Mustang Funny car of James Goolsbee Jr. in the quarter finals prior to meeting with the White Porsche belonging to Mr Fortenberry. Steve’s T-Rex Funny car would give him the final victory against the Porsche and also pu Steve alongside his daughter as a Downhill Racing Hot Wheels Stock Class Monthly Winner.

The C4 Racing committee would like to thank all of the participants over the past couple of months. Next month’s racing slots are already being filled, so get your entries in!!! Two classes will run this September… The hot wheels Stock Class & the ever so popular Run Whatcha’ brung Class. See you at the races!!!

Back in Action with some Firworks of Our Own...

First, I want to apologize for the lack of current information on this blog. Every year around this time, I have to set aside a good four months for something else that I am extremely passionate about. Nonetheless, the Club Post is back and the C4 Crew has a bunch of events scheduled for the upcoming months starting in July…

The Maryland Die-Cast Trade Show for July will occur on the second Saturday of the month due to the holiday. The July 12th event will include two Downhill Racing Events and the roll out of a brand new Build Off Competition. The racing will kick off with the Hot Wheels Stock Comp challengers like, James Goolsbee Jr., Cole Raley, and John Catron who will have their racers picked out; ready to contend for the top spot and automatic entry into the Run Whatcha Brung race. Also, veteran modifiers, Tim Raley, James Fortenberry, and Tim “Smitty” Smith, just to name a few, will have their creations ready to battle for the Run Whatcha Brung Competition Crown. If you are unable to make the event, but would like to enter this races you can. For more details, call or email us, information below. Please leave us a message with a good contact number or email address, so that we can get back to you.

Check out the C4 sponsored events every month at the AMF Country Fair Lanes on Pulaski Highway in Middle River just minutes from I-95 and I-695. For more details about C4 Events, call 410-709-8694 or email us at c4hotwheels@hotmail.com.

Charm City's Die-Cast Show Races into February

The Downhill Racing Events were extremely exciting this month. All three classes for February saw a bunch of upsets and even a crash in the Hot Wheels Stock Class.

The DRHWSC was the first racing event on the agenda with an almost full field of entries. Twenty-six Hot Wheels Die-Casts would battle until there would be only one. Tim Raley’s Purple Tail Dragger would demolish Jim Rakitsky’s Split Vision quickly in the Qualifying Round and beat Dwayne Immell’s 1967 Camaro decidedly in the Heat Round. In the Quarter Final, Tim’s luck would continue when he dusted off John Catron’s Speedbox without giving up a single run. Ultimately, Tim’s TD would be no match for Gavin Sleeth and his Side Splitter Funny Car. The Side Splitter didn’t make any friends breezing through the Qualifier against the Team Hot Wheels Buggy; another entry out of the Rakitsky Stable, and then chewing up the James Goolsbee sponsored Rigor Motor in the Heats Round.
In the lower section of the Bracket, Cole Raley was making an attempt to meet his dad, Tim, in the Final. Cole’s Silverado received a bye in the Qualifying Round and wouldn’t be tested much in the Heat Round by another Goolsbee entry, a Funny Side Up Funny Car, or even in the Quarter Finals where he beat one of his dad’s other entries, a Mustang Funny Car that seemed to be having some technical difficulties. Cole was stopped short, just like his father, in the Semi Finals by an entry from Nick Sickle. Nick’s last-minute entry, a Boulevard Bruiser, disappointed its completion, first winning in the Qualifier against Tim Raley’s Dairy Delivery, secondly, beating Jim Rakitsky’s F1 Racer in the Heats. Subsequently, the Bruiser would take two of three races against James Jr’s Daytona Charger before handing the Raley Silverado its defeat. The stage was set, Gavin’s Side Splitter Funny Car would take on the under-rated Sick Nick Boulevard Bruiser. Ultimately, the Boulevard Bruiser would take the win, a Hot Wheels Test Facility five pack and a berth into the Downhill Racing Run Whatch Brung Races.

Link to the Video for this class... Downhill Racing Hot WHeels Stock Class Races Video

The C4 Crew has been trying to put together a race for pinks style of event for several months, and what better way to do that than a Hot Wheels Treasure Hunt race. This race has been in the works for several months, and it finally took place on Saturday after the DRHWSC Races. The races consisted of 13 Hot Wheels Treasure Hunts still in the blisters, and the winner took home all of their competitor’s entries. Cole Raley’s 16 Angels made it to the Semi Finals with a bye in the Qualifier and a win over Chris Taylor’s Nightburner, which was one of several diecasts that were mailed in for our events. The 16 Angels would eventually fall to Wayne Heede’s Pink Cadillac V-16. Wayne had the unfortunate luck to draw the second slot in the Qualifier which positioned his Cadi against James Fortenberry’s 1971 Mustang Funny Car. Luck, however, was on Wayne’s side as he cruised by the ’71 Mustang and then Mike Catron’s Subaru WRX Sti with FTEs in the Quarter Finals. Mr. Milton Fox’s Mazda RX-7 had the same fate as the 16 Angels after first dusting Tim Raley’s Hot Bird and Cole’s Nissan Skyline. The Fox Mazda fell to a Mustang Funny Car out of the Tim Raley’s Garage. The Mustang was pretty impressive, making short work of the James Goolsbee Bad to the Blade in the Qualifier and ironically enough another mailed in Mazda RX-7 entry from Chris Taylor. It really appeared that the Mustang would be the car to beat, but that’s why we race. Wayne’s Pink Cadillac V-16 dominated Tim’s Mustang and took top-prize all the T-hunts from this race. With such decisive victories in this race, Wayne decided to enter his Pink Cadi in the final race of the day… The Downhill Racing Run Whatcha’ Brung!

Follow this link to see footage of... The Downhill Racing Treasure Hunt Challenge Class (Winner Takes All!)

The final event of the day and the most anticipated was the Downhill Racing Run Whatcha’ Brung Class. It doesn’t matter what make, model or brand of the vehicle as long as it fits on the track, in the starting gate and through the finish-line gate. There were 24 entries into this class, two winning entries from the previous events of the day and nine entries that were mailed in. Cameron Daly’s 1967 Johnny Lightning Camaro made tracks over the competition beating James Fortenberry’s Mod Lambo in the Qualifier. The Camaro took two in a row in the Heats Round over Chris Taylor’s Chrysler 300C, which lead on the drop until the Camaro seemed to find a second gear in the flat. It was almost a repeat performance for the Camaro in the Quarter Finals where it battled back down the flat section of the track to beat the Dwayne Immell Modified Horseplay. Smitty’s Dragstrip Donna put an end to the Camaro’s run at the winner’s circle. The Dragstrip Donna had a bye in the Qualifier and made short work of Tim Raley’s Cadillac V-16 in the Heats and Milton Fox’s F-150 in the Quarters before ruining the JL Camaro’s chance for the top spot in this class. James Fortenberry had two heavy weight F-150s in the field that met in the Semi Finals. The Silver version took out Nick Sickle’s Hot Wheels Stock Class Champ Boulevard Bruiser in the Qualifier, then squeaked by the mailed-in Way Sweet 16 of Chris Taylor in the Heats and final hammered past the 1969 Corvette of Mrs. Fox. James’ Pink F-150 had a difficult road to the Semis making his way by Smitty’s CC Madfast in the Qualifier, Cole Raley’s “Hershey” Ford Probe Funny Car, three-time champ of this event in the Heats, and, finally edging out Wendell Brown’s Mustang Funny Car in the Quarter Finals. The lighter Pink F-150 was able to beat its sibling in the Semi Finals taking two races in a row. This DRRWB final was set, Smitty’s Dragstrip Donna versus The Fortenberry F-150 in pink. In the finals, you have to win two races in a row to take the top spot, to be crowned champ and take home the prize. The first race went to the F-150 by a nose. The second race went to the Donna by a nose. The third race saw a repeat of the first… it looked like we were going to have a tie. The fourth race would decide it all. The F-150 was able to just slide past the Donna in the last inches of the track and win the Downhill Racing Run Whatcha Brung Division. James Fortenberry took home top honors and a brand new Hot Wheels Nine Pack. He will also be able to enter the Pink F-150 this year, without an entry fee, for any DRRWB event.

The heavy hitter of racing... See the races here, The Run Whatcha Brung Class!

Congratulations to all of our winners and a big C4 Thank You for all of the participants. Also, a special thanks goes to all of our mailed-in entries. Hopefully, we will see more mailed-in entries at our upcoming events.

Copies of the brackets can be viewed here: February 2014 - C4 Racing Brackets

Our next Event on Facebook... The Maryland Die-Cast Trade Show & Downhill Racing Events

C4 Sponsors Maryland DieCast Trade Show & Downhill Racing Events

The C4 Crew hosted their October Die-Cast Show this past weekend. The number of attendees continues to increase. We are hoping that this trend continues since it is always a fun time and the admission is free.

There was a bunch of trading, buying and selling at this show… as well as story swapping. Vendor’s tables were packed with all types of remarkable die-casts. Some of the harder to locate pieces can be found at our shows, such as convention Pieces, Treasure Hunts, Variations, Short Runs and Customs. If you can’t find what you seek at the show, just ask one of our resident experts and they will help you find someone who can or find it for you themselves. I, myself, was given a brand new Subaru WRX STI Treasure Hunt for nothing. I feel like this would be a good die-cast to enter the Downhill Racing Treasure Hunt Challenge in February.

We can't wait to see you at our next event in February.