I look back to the summer of 2006, and if it hadn't been for Leak Less or Nitroade, I may have stopped with the desert-backed CARS right then and there.

But something pushed me on: the thought that maybe one day, I could probably have all those racers we saw in the opening of CARS.

However, after almost 3 1/2 years, and all sorts of variations on the Cars product (mini's, lenticulars, color-changers), it seems like I should have just attempted to get the hugely limited 'Speedway of the South' set when that was released.

As of now, collecting these racers individually has proven to be a "collective headache" for many. The planned release of them as singles eventually turned to them being released as launchers-a product that has had sporadic time on store shelves. Many are still searching for such elusive launcher vehicles as "Fiber Fuel."

As it stands, we've probably seen more re-releases of Leak Less than of lesser-seen vehicles like "Mood Springs," or "Transberry Juice."

A fear that has creeped into my spine came about with the lenticular 4-pack release at Target, featuring 4 racers with lenticular eyes...including View-zeen. Are we suddenly going to get a 'reboot' of these racers before we've even found them all? It is very similar to the KMart releases, in which the special plastic wheeled versions eventually gave way to 'real rubber tires' variants.

These racers pretty much are the carrot on the end of the string for me, but as we have yet to see racers such as "Tach-O-Mint," "Gask-Its" or the always elusive "Apple iCar" reach our shores, will I die a broken man, unable to obtain his dream unless he forks over $150/per vehicle on eBay?

Discuss amongst yourselves.

we have seen Gask-Its as a promo in France, hopefully we will see him in the states as a promo as well!

Apple, in my opinion we will never see again, other than the back door ones that pop up from time to time on ebay.

Let's not also forget that the Dale Jr in the SOS set is different than the typical JR we see in stores as they used a Nitroaid body with his decals/tampos.

I have seen Fiber Fuel more now in stores as a lightyear launcher so keep an eye out.

Tach-O-Mint is sechuled to be out as a launcher soon so I am sure they will go quickly in stores for the first few weeks it hits stores.

Good luck!!! I know all I need is Tach-O-Mint and Gask-Its to finish my "second hand" SOS set.

Hi Deano,

Thanks for the information. My topic was mainly my way of hoping others out there also shared my sentiment.

I did hear rumor we were scheduled for some kind of TRU-promo for Gaskits that supposedly never materialized.

I actually did find a Fiber Fuel lightyear launcher at TRU a couple months ago...but I've never seen another one since.

I'm still wondering when Faux Wheel Drive will appear. Isn't he due for a launcher of some kind?

I'm just not one to want to pay eBay prices for these. I can't help but feel that what I'm paying for these separately, in box sets, in launchers or special promos, is going to end up totalling more than if I dipped into my credit back when and bought the SOTS set...of course, I would have had to purchase some kind of Hot Wheels memebership.

I agree, $10+ for a single racer is robbery in my opinion but everyone said the SOS set at $10 a car was crazy as well.

I would love to see 5 car racer sets comeout, with every racer being released, no dupes!!! They could charge $24.99 a set an make a killing. If only Mattel was that smart.

I would also hope that we would eventually get all the racers with rubber tires on them from Kmart as well. One can dream!!!

"I agree, $10+ for a single racer is robbery in my opinion but everyone said the SOS set at $10 a car was crazy as well."

The most I paid for any one car was basically the Target 4-pack to get Revolting way back when.

When Mattel released the latest 4-packs with only one new one, I passed on the Fiber Fuel one and held out hope for the launcher.

I was always upset at the Sidewall Shine promotion. During the entire run at the TRU near my place, they never restocked the shelves, and I was NOT going to buy 5 Lightning Ramones or regular McQueens. Though one has to wonder why N20 Cola got the rubber tires and launcher treatment before Sidewall. Hopefully, we can shake those bandits on eBay with their $100+ Sidewall Shine auctions.

'I would love to see 5 car racer sets comeout, with every racer being released, no dupes!!! They could charge $24.99 a set an make a killing. If only Mattel was that smart."

You know what would be cool? Maybe 4-packs (but with 9 different sets of racers, no repeats), that when combined side-by-side, looks like a long stretch of the Motor Speedway of the South, with maybe little connectors at the base when you take the roadways out of the box. I'd love to be able to display something like that at my workplace.

"I would also hope that we would eventually get all the racers with rubber tires on them from Kmart as well. One can dream!!!"

This makes me a little on edge, just because Kmart's first CARS Day was the standard plastic tires, and then, with the rubber tires, it means starting all over again. I just hope noone gets the idea to restart this promotion with lenticular eyes. I'd write angry letters if that happened.

Hope the U.S. Has the promo again all the cardbacks are stacking up. It has been cancelled a couple of times. Just registered, nice to meet everybody!

Will all the Speedway of the South racers be released non-lenticular eyed?

I hope not...but I wouldn't be suprised to see if they were released. They've already got a Lenticular 4 Boxed set's exclusive to Target. After all, there are Lenti Lover's out there! I've kinda wondered how a Lenticular SOTS Dale "Aggro" Jr. be? Wouldn't be a good look but I'm pretty sure matty will figure that out. Lol...