Days of Thunder Electric Racing is a slot car set based on the 1990 film of the same name, starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, it was manufactured by Tyco Industries and released on markets worldwide in 1990.
The Film
“Days of Thunder” was a Paramount Pictures production, directed by Tony Scott, set in the high-speed, high-drama world of professional NASCAR racing. It hit theatres in 1990 and despite its luke-warm critical reception, was a highly popular movie at the time, delivering a hardcore adrenaline rush, leaving you rooting for the films hotshot driver Cole Trickle (played by Tom Cruise), his love interest Dr. Claire Lewicki (Australia’s own Nicole Kidman in one of her first Hollywood films), and his seasoned crew chief Harry Hogge (Robert Duvall).
Its simplistic plot doesn’t matter, as it’s the drama, pacing, acting, and directing that makes it brilliant, couples with its real NASCAR race scenes, it’s one of those films I’ll always remember from my childhood, watching at home with my parents a few years after its release in theatres.
By 1990 Tyco had already delved heavily into the Stock Car scene, with several earlier models, among them the 1986 Turbo Stocker Motorcraft and Turbo Stocker 7-Eleven, and the 1989 Pontiac Stocker Valvoline which were all well received and decent kids RC cars despite their 4xAA powertrain.
Securing the license for Days of Thunder was a no-brainer then, allowing Tyco to release several Days of Thunder RC cars using their well proven formula, as well as this electric racing set.
Features
Unlike other licensed properties where it felt like much of the cost went into the license itself, leaving little leftover for the product, Tyco seems to have put more on the table this time with the larger than expected Triple Loop circuit with twin over/underpasses and twin squeeze-tracks, with a cardboard-cutout grandstand to add to the authenticity.
And honestly, I’d expected to see a single figure 8 track design – ie. the minimum needed, given this was an expensive licensed property. Perhaps Tyco’s toy designers were encouraged by Tony Scott, the films no-nonsense director who surely had a stake in the films toy sales and wanted to ensure the toy provided a nice long track worthy of the races seen in the film. I’m not sure, but whatever happened the result is better than expected.
Vehicles
While the film has several hero cars, only two are included in the set and I couldn’t even recall who drove the Hardees car at first, having to go back and have a look. Honestly I’d have preferred another one of Cole Trickle’s cars, but I guess they were going for the competitive angle. Or, you know, the make-more-money angle by encouraging people to go and buy another car.
For those who need a reminder (like me), the Hardee’s car is driven by character Russ Wheeler (played by Cary Elwes), a rookie driver who is a colleague for Cole early in the film, but later becomes his rival.
Also included is the Mello Yello Chevy Lumina #51, simply a must have in any Days of Thunder set.
Available separately is the Superflo car also driven by Cole. It’s my personal favorite due to its unique pink and white color scheme, an interesting choice for a film made between 1988-1989 with such a masculine theme. I can remember as a kid that this car stood out and looked cool because it was so different than anything else on the track.
Contents and Track Layout
As previously mentioned, the track is a decent size, with three loops and two over/underpasses, and twin squeeze tracks.
Included in the electric racing box set are:
- 2 x Magnum 440-X2 Stock Cars
- Track pieces including:
1×6″ Straight
1×15″ Straight
8×9″ Radius
2×15″ Squeeze Tracks
1x Terminal Track - 10 x Piers
- 2 x Plug-in Controllers
- 1 x Power Pack (U.L. Listed)
- 8 x Guard Rails with Poles and Flags
- 1 x “Days of Thunder” Grandstand
Tyco’s marketing material
This new “Days of Thunder” set features two Super Stockers—Mello Yello and Hardee’s—and 13 feet of racing action. Licensed to TYCO, the name comes from the blockbuster movie of 1990—“Days of Thunder” about the daring rookie driver. You’ll have a hard time deciding which is more exciting, this hot new racing set or the thrill-packed movie! Set includes the “Days of Thunder” Grandstand, and 2 Squeeze Tracks!
– 1990 Tyco Catalog
Availability and Collectability
If you’re a fan of Days of Thunder and slot car racing, then you’re in luck. This set must have sold like hot cakes off the back of the major Hollywood film, as there are plenty available online, though not so many that they’ve reduced in value as prices remain comparible to other popular 80s/90s Tyco slot car sets.
A brand new unopened boxed set recently sold for $330 USD, with incomplete opened sets going for about half that, and various prices in between. Spare cars, flags, and grandstands also are generally available to complete a collection.
But is it worth collecting? Typically anything with dual-audiences, like a slot car set based on a popular Hollywood movie will have a following and be valuable to collectors, and it seems Days of Thunder is no exception.
Other Days of Thunder items
Of course, Tyco being known for RC cars also released several Days of Thunder radio controlled cars from the film, as well as officially licenced real-life NASCAR RC.
These included the Days of Thunder SuperFlo, Days of Thunder Mello Yello, Petty STP Stock Car, Pontiac Stocker, Kodak Stock Car, and several more similar vehicles.
Hollywood legend Tony Scott
The films director, Tony Scott, was one of the most influential of his generation, directing some of Hollywood’s most popular and highest grossing action and drama films including…
Top Gun (1986), Beverly Hills Cop 2 (1987), Days of Thunder (1990), The Last Boy Scout (1991), Crimson Tide (1995), Enemy of the State (1998), Spy Game (2001), Man on Fire (2004), and more.
What an incredible career, he was truly a talented director with few peers. And yet like so many brilliant men and women, his greatest struggle came from within. In August of 2012 he took his own life by jumping off the Vincent Thomas Bridge in Los Angeles. His body contained medicinal levels of anti-depressants and sleep medication, and his family had said he was suffering from cancer, though none was found in the autopsy.
If you or someone you know is finding life to be a greater struggle than you can bare, please reach out for help. The world needs more people like you.
United States: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
United Kingdom: Samaritans – 116 123 Germany: Telefonseelsorge – 0800-1110111 or 0800-1110222
Canada: Canada Suicide Prevention Service (CSPS) – 1-833-456-4566 Australia: Lifeline – 13 11 14
New Zealand: Lifeline – 0800 543 354 or Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
France: Suicide Écoute – 01 45 39 40 00 Spain: Teléfono de la Esperanza – 717 003 717
DAYS OF THUNDER™
© 1990 PARAMOUNT PICTURES ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
wpDiscuz
