Hot Wheels Going High Tech

One of my favorite past times growing up was playing with my collection of diecast cars from the likes of Hot Wheels and Matchbox. Out of the dozens I had, the two I recall the most was a green and orange motor home that reminded me of Scooby Doo's Mystery Machine and a late-70s Pontiac Firebird with a Firebird decal emblazoned along the front. I would dig up my dad's garden to create ramps and trails out of dirt for my cars to rally around on - and this was before I even knew rally car racing existed. I'd imagine driving along these dirt roads pulling some dukes of hazard stunts to end up in a muddy puddle of water. Who didn't pretend they were in a minature car as it performed some unrealistic front-to-backwards spin for the longest jump in the word?

Seems that kids today won't have to pretend too long as Hot Wheels will be introducing a line of cars called "Video Racers." Well, at least they will be able to record a small clip of the action from a bumper POV. Attached at the front of each car is a small VGA camera that can record 12 minutes of video. Once done recording you can check out the bottom of the car to reveal a screen that will playback the carnage you had recorded earlier at 30-60 fps. If that wasn't enough you could actually download the videos off the car onto your computer via cable and share it with your friends. It'd be awesome to see your cars run through those plastic tracks into a loop or two around your living room floor, but not so awesome catching a glimpse of the car attempting to be swallowed by a toddler. If it was me, at 5 years old, it probably wouldn't even last a day on my dirt road course with the final super jump into a pool of murky water. Sucky. Still though, if you want one, Hot Wheels Video Racers will be out this coming Fall.

via Engadget