Q:  What is RC2’s position in relation to entertainment properties?

A:   RC2 Corporation feels that the entertainment category was an untapped market and just like American Muscle cars, people seem to gravitate to their past when collecting. Re-runs, big screen movies and DVD seem to be inevitable in the entertainment industry, so releasing die-cast to coincide with these gives the collector something tangible.

Q:  How important are entertainment properties to RC2?

A:  Entertainment properties are popular items within RC2.  Here, we expand our auto die-cast collectible line into a creative and fun alternative that pleases both the car enthusiast and pop culture enthusiast.  We always have to look at the business environment and ask ourselves what makes sense.

Q:  What has been the most popular entertainment property?  The Fast and The Furious is certainly a very popular property. 

A:  RC2 continuously searches for hot properties that could be the next trend, therefore we have been able to jump onboard with a variety of properties including The Fast and The Furious, American Chopper, Scooby Doo, Austin Powers, Grease and the like and are currently developing product for Battlestar Galactica. 

Q:  I understand the entertainment lines are being moved under the Joy Ride banner.  Why the move?

A:  We feel that Joy Ride is a better brand fit and long-term strategy.  The popularity in the entertainment property products continues to grow, and we plan to keep up with that growth by introducing exciting, new products. 

Q:  Does that mean we’ll no longer see entertainment-related cars under the Racing Champions or American Muscle banners? 

A:  We intend to continue to build the Joy Ride brand, so you will see all entertainment under this brand. 

Q:  Can you describe the process of pursuing TV and movie licenses? 

A:  Many factors come into consideration when determining which license to pursue.  Things that are considered, are license availability, it’s current representation in the market as well as analyzing how we can best utilize the license.

Q:  What factors would you have to consider to create a new and unique casting for the entertainment line?  The Beverly Hillbillies truck, for example, or Mad Max's Interceptor. 

A:  We continuously look at new entertainment opportunities as we plan on building the Joy Ride brand within RC2. 

Q:  Most of the entertainment cars that were created in 1:18 scale were followed up with 1:64 versions.  Is that a conscious decision?  Is it easier to do a casting in 1:64 scale after you already have it in 1:18 scale?  Examples:  The Munsters Koach, The General Lee, Bandit Trans-Am, XXX GTO, Gone in 60 Seconds Eleanor. 

A:  Once the large-scale vehicles are produced, it does make it simple to produce the smaller scale.  In all cases, we look at where our business opportunities can best be served before choosing scale.

Q:  I think your 1:18 scale The Car is amazing.  Will we see a 1:64 scale version of The Car?  Collectors are asking for it.  How about the Challenger from Vanishing Point?  Greased Lightning?

A:  Again, we constantly look at the business and competitive arena to determine if creating a new version makes sense.  At the current time, no plans are in the works.

Q:  Let me ask you this… obviously, you had the license to Smokey & The Bandit if you were able to produce the Trans-Am.  Your company produces beautiful semi-trucks in 1:64 scale.  So why haven’t we seen Snowman’s semi from the first film?  Custom versions of this truck sell for hundreds of dollars online.  There is a huge demand for it.  It seems like common sense. 

A:  Again, we always look at what opportunities serve our categories.   

Q:  I’m curious about something.  I think your company does a great job with die-cast in both scales, but when it comes to the entertainment properties, I notice occasional oversights and mistakes.  Here are some examples: 

-  The interior of your 1:64 Bandit Trans-Am is beige, yet it is black in the film and in your 1:18 scale version.  It seems like that would be an easy fix.

-   The police lights on the Sheriff’s Pursuit car are blue in the film, yet they are red on your 1:64 scale version.  Again, it would be an easy correction, I think.

When you set out to do a die-cast version of a famous car that so many people are familiar with, isn’t accuracy important? 

A:  RC2 realizes they have had quality control issues in the past.  As there are many factors involved in creating the final product, we have dedicated a team to continue improving the quality of all our products. 

Q:  You’ve revisited cars from your vintage line, i.e. Smokey & the Bandit, The Dukes of Hazzard, Hardcastle & McCormick and the A-Team  Will you be revisiting any other vintage lines, such as Cannonball Run, The Fall Guy or Blade Runner?

A:  Again, we always look at what opportunities serve our categories.

Q:  Do you have the license for this spring’s Starsky & Hutch movie? 

A:  Yes!  Be on the lookout for the car to be released in line with the movie.

Q:  Finally, can you give me any scoops on what collectors can expect this year?  I know about some of the great cars you have coming out in your 1:18 line of cars, such as National Lampoon’s Vacation, Ghostbusters, Austin Powers, and Animal House.  Are there others farther down the road you can tell us about?  What about your 1:64 line? 

A:  There has been absolutely no news about what to expect this year in 1:64 scale.  Some additional items we are looking at in 1:18 is the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine, Flintstones Flintmobile, Greased Lightning (already released) and The Munsters Dragula(already released).  Unfortunately, I cannot tip our hat on everything.  I can tell you that there are some very exciting items in the works.  Continue to check out our web site for sneak previews for upcoming news.

Thank you Kari for your time.