Racers Den: March of the Toy Soldiers

For those of us that collect more than just lap times…

There are so many “traditions” out there, a plethora, all of which we can’t possibly be aware of. But within the club portion of Gran Touring Motorsports (GTM) there are staples like field trips to the DC Auto Show, Summer Bash and the Animal House. There are up-and-comers like Ski Club and there are still others not everyone might remember, like our Fantasy Football and Virtual Racing Leagues. But there is one more tradition at GTM that many petrol-heads within our group get excited about each year … and that’s the “Greater York (Pennsylvania) Toy Extravaganza.” 

This year marks the 40th anniversary of this iconic convention. In keeping with tradition, it is held at the York Country Fairgrounds in York, PA and the show is open to the public only on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. It utilizes the square footage of both wings of “memorial hall” packing in more than 800 tables worth of antiques and new/old collectibles. Vendors come from more than 15 states, making this the second largest show of its kind in the country. You can buy, sell and trade items from 9am through 5pm and admission is $5 for adults, while kids 12 and under are FREE. #whoknew?

The show experience

I was introduced to this convention back in 2011 by a former coworker (Randy, also a fellow car enthusiast – with a really radical Hot Wheels inspired Generation-1 Acura NSX) who moonlights as a Hot Wheels dealer and has had a booth at the show for over a decade. Granted, I’ve been “collecting cars” since I was a kid, but it wasn’t until I was an adult (and later talking with Randy) that I realized “how to collect them” and “what to look for.”

Even though my custom-made acrylic 1/64 display cases (seen earlier) can hold 300+ cars, I’ve purposely left open space so that I can curate additional cars that I fancy. This means that what you saw there only scratches the surface of my collection, or the surplus I have available for sale; which means there’s tons of reasons (excuses) I make to drag my family on this pilgrimage each year.

There’s plenty of “new-old stock” and carefully preserved vintage items for all types of collectors (as seen above). Are you missing that 1978 holiday-edition Hess Truck? No worries, a couple of vendors have that – new, in the original box.

Wandering from table-to-table, you’ll find tons of items that disappeared off the shelves of your local Walmart or Target now offered with a considerable markup, but you’ll also pause and say, “I didn’t even know that existed” like the (above) “LeMans” board game, from 1961 that was made in… Baltimore, MD.

Outside of the expected Legos, Barbies, vintage Action-figures, etc., you’ll find dealers with booths specializing in specific types of Motorsports as well: Formula-1, NASCAR, Outlaws and more.

Not just “toys,” but collectibles, including memorabilia. I’ve picked up many vintage racing stickers (or 3 dozen) to use in decorating my garage. Or maybe you stumble across some officially licensed ALMS/SCCA merchandise from 2003 (below). #boxofchocolates.

Collecting has been an evolution…

In the beginning, if it was a miniature and it had a VW/Audi logo on it, I *had* to have it. Then it became, “no more Beetles, but if it’s GTI, Scirocco, UR-Quattro or 914 – must have!”  But the upside to a show like this is that every year is different and as it changes so do our tastes in collecting, which keeps us coming back. Fast forward to 2022… we’re getting through the show in less than 3-hours and I’m only looking for T1/T2 buses with Motorsports “Service Liveries.”

Going to this show with friends and family is a lot of fun, especially when you experience that: “I had one of these as a kid!” moments of nostalgia. Sharing in that wave of excitement makes you feel young again, but there is a sobering moment of remorse when you look at the price tag and say: “Dang! I wish I’d kept mine… This is worth a fortune!” #thanksmom. … and so the treasure hunt continues! #happyholidays.

Stay tuned for Part-2 of our Racers Den “Holiday Special” during your lunch break!