Hot Wheels Racing Day brings kids to College Park
Published 11:58 am Tuesday, June 9, 2020
Dalton Walker, 8, gets some racing advice from Carter Johnston, 11, during the Hot Wheels event Friday at College Park. At left, volunteer Thom Brown, a Hot Wheels enthusiast from way back, wears his 50th anniversary T-shirt from 2008.
Alex Blair, 6, needed a little help from SIP volunteer Thom Brown getting his new Hot Wheels car onto the track during the racing day activity Friday at College Park.
Alex Blair, 6, eagerly opens his new Hot Wheels car during the SIP activity Friday at College Park.
Carter Johnston, left, and Adrieona Ward, 11, competed against each other in the Hot Wheels Racing Day contests at College Park Friday. Adrieona won.
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Girls and boys, start your engines!
Friday was Hot Wheels Racing Day at College Park.
As part of its retro theme “Decades,” the Summer Involvement Program (SIP) invited kids to come and race Hot Wheels toy cars from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and afterward enjoy some cold refreshment.
It was a popular activity for the daily kids program.
“We’ve been open since 10, and we’ve had close to 50” kids come and compete, said Thom Brown, a volunteer who wore his Hot Wheels 50th anniversary T-shirt for the occasion.
Mattel, the toy company, began making the die-cast toy race cars in 1968, and they have been a favorite of kids since.
They’re not just toys for boys, either.
Adrieona Ward, 11, bested Carter Johnston, 10, in some of the races Friday, but he vowed to get her next time.
Dalton Walker, 8, won four times.
Brown said there were no trophies, only “bragging rights.”
Every child got a certificate for participating and a brand-new Hot Wheels car to take home. They also got popsicles, popcorn and lemonade.
The SIP program has activities at College Park on Mondays and Fridays, and events are all online Tuesdays, Wednedays and Thursdays.
“This is our first in-person event,” Brown said.
Children can also pick up “activity bags” with things to do at home, such as toys, coloring books and puzzles from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Monday and Friday at the College Park library.
About Randy Patrick
Randy Patrick is a reporter for Bluegrass Newsmedia, which includes The Jessamine Journal. He may be reached at 859-759-0015 or by email at randy.patrick@bluegrassnewsmedia.com.
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