Jay's Race Place is selling them on Fleabay. So looks like Lifelike did release them. Just thought you guys might want to know this.

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Release-Life-Like-HO-1-Dodge-Charger-Set-Cars_W0QQitemZ5995821077QQcategoryZ2619QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem


Wes

I have never seen this posted. It is Walther's press release on the aquisition of LifeLike Road Racing Products:

Walthers expands hobby portfolio with Road Racing slot cars

Milwaukee, Wis. -- Wm. K. Walthers, Inc., a leading model railroading manufacturer and distributor, purchased the assets of the Toy and Hobby division of Maryland-based Life-Like Products, LLC. on Thursday July 14, 2005. One of the key brands acquired is the HO Scale Road Racing slot car line.

Life-Like Road Racing slot cars are known for their quality and speed among slot car aficionados of all skill levels. Popular sets, featuring officially licensed NASCAR® cars, deliver action-packed fun using MAXX TRAXXSM traction technology. Each Fast TrackerTM slot car is engineered with precision windings, custom armature, quad magnets and micro-balanced axle. Road Racing also offers a patented Dura-LockSM track system that snaps track into place with no clips needed.

Based in Milwaukee since 1932, Walthers is well known for manufacturing and supplying a diverse range of hobby products for the model-building market. Walthers manufactures popular passenger and freight cars, buildings, and the model train market's most comprehensive reference book and Web site -- walthers.com. Family-owned for three generations, Walthers also distributes to a large dealer network that spans the globe.

Regarding the acquisition of Life-Like, President and CEO Phil Walthers stated, "Walthers is pleased to enter the growing slot car market with Road Racing. This new acquisition is an important step in continuing our long-term commitment to our toy and hobby customers."

Walthers Vice President of Marketing & Sales John Sanheim added, "Walthers has introduced several innovative hobby products over the years and Road Racing presents more such opportunities. It is a great complement to our expanding toy and hobby portfolio."

Randy Kennie, Director of Sales for Road Racing, stated, "Road Racing leads the slot car market with a wide selection of paint schemes and state-of-the-art technology. Our biggest slot car set, the Championship Four Lane Speedway, features four NASCAR® stock car favorites -- The UPS® #88, the Tide® #32, the Valvoline® #10 and the Dodge® Dealers #19."

Both parties feel that this transaction will significantly benefit the industry. Jerry Kandel, President of Life-Like commented, "This acquisition by Walthers will allow Life-Like to use its management team and resources to focus on its core business of retail foam, industrial foam, refrigerant gel and gliders."

Walthers agreed, "This venture is a great opportunity for Walthers to offer high-quality toy and hobby products for a wide variety of interests. The inclusion of Life-Like brands allows us to create a complete range of products from entry level to expert, from model railroading to slot cars. It's a winning situation for Life-Like, Walthers and hobbyists."

Life-Like Toy and Hobby will remain based in Baltimore, Md. Through this transition, Walthers expects no interruption in production and delivery of all new Life-Like products. Walthers also plans to increase Life-Like product availability

http://www.walthers.com/exec/page/press/2005/roadracing

Looks like they got the body right. Beats the heck out of that Intrepid they did. :thumbsup: rr

nice cars, I just avoid lifelike because most of their stuff is "nascar" based, which I don't collect.

Looks like they got the body right. Beats the heck out of that Intrepid they did. :thumbsup: rr

oh yeah big time!!!

Wes

Encouraging news from Walthers. I hope the new Life-Like Dodges show up soon in retail channels and have some more authentic badging. They definately do look much better than what we've been seeing from Life-Like of late.

The real question is, what the heck are the Walthers PR people smoking? The Pinocchio statement "Life-Like Road Racing slot cars are known for their quality and speed among slot car aficionados of all skill levels." What???? Who the heck are they talking to? Employees, family members, paid consultants, "special" invisible friends, undocumented residents of Area 51? I don't know anyone at any level who would associate "quality" with the recent Life-Like slot cars, especially the cost reduced T-chassis. They are a disposible junk chassis selling at a premium chassis price. Try replacing the front wheels, guide pin, or the motor when the brushes wear out. Look at the cheesy pickups and pickup springs. Listen to the gritty whine of the sloppy gear mesh. Look at the bulbous, bloated look of the Intrepid body or the disfigured cartoonish characitures of the Pontiac and Chevy stock cars. Who are they kidding? It's the fancy NASCAR decals that have been selling Life-Likes, not anything having to do with quality of the product. Nobody races Life-Likes any more at any level other than box-stock, and even then most groups only allow the older and serviceable M-chassis.

Dang, the auction images are blocked here where I work. I wanted to see them.

--rick

I hope the new Life-Like Dodges show up soon in retail channels and have some more authentic badging.....

Check out the Life-Like site and you will see that they do!

dw