Well its the end of the Season for 2006 Cards and its time for the replys for Press Pass. Once again I am working with the Director of Marketing trying to get him real feelings from the collectors. This is your chance to tell what you think of the products from 2006.
Try to think of things like:
Best/worst Product (Looks, price, pulls)
Best/worst insert
Best/worst Raceused
Best/worst Base cards
Ideas for new products.
Any changes you would like to see.
Any overalll opinion on anything related to the cards

I know it seems like when we all have something to say that and no one will listen. BUT I know for a fact that over the last two seasons working with Tom that the input people have given to me has went into Press Pass. And they have put some of the ideas to use! So your opinion does count, give your honest opinion (good or bad). Lets all remember that if they do not know the problems they can not fix them. And if they do not know what is going good they may change it.
Thanks everyone,
Rick

Hi Rick, do you want us to post here or PM you?

Al.

Post it up here, sorry guess I should have said that one...
Thanks
Rick

i guess i will start. there were many things i liked this year and many things i didn't.

optima was a waste of money. the pull odds were horrible and the set is just not desireable. i would rather see busch and truck drivers instead of racing foundation or driver pet cards.

i missed trackside. traks was a poor substitute. needed some inserts and the set wouldn.t have been half bad.

legends autos in the signings and wheels and press pass autos need to go. you now have a legends set so keep them in there.

i like the serial numbered cards but they need to saty at like 100. the multi tiered legends is a waste as well.

the raceused were awesome this year. i like the double burners in most productc/ but why not put them in high gear and american thunder too. the vip tradin paints were great this year and the rookie relics i think were the best raceused set this year. the rookie stripes was a good idea as well.

we all like the clear acetate inserts and would love one in each release.

now a suggestion. keep the bronze, silver, and gold signings. maybe add a platinum 1/1 in red ink.

i also think a raceused set of maybe a helmet or visor or bring back the tear offs. and please bring back the pitstoppers and lugnuts. and maybe a few more signature series with a better variety of drivers.

dave

I want to say EXACTLY what Dave said with one exception. Their are too many levels of the Signings. We already have two other autograph releases with the PP Autos and Legends autos (I won't mention Traks because hopefully that whole set will be trashed), we don't need three levels of Signings, and some with different color ink. Because of this I have dumped my Menard collection and the Lester collection is soon to follow because I simply don't have the time, the money, or the will to fight those crazy people on Ebay to complete all the levels of autographs for my drivers.

Two more things, more obscure Busch and Truck drivers, less sets with 6 and 7 cards of Gordon, Johnson, Stewart, etc.....

Press Pass and Mikey need to get something worked out, I want to get back to the basics of my collection and it needs new stuff!

Ryan

I don't like the Rookie Short Prints!!! OK maybe have them in one release but be sure to put them AFTER the check list! In the middle of the set like in Premium was a nightmare. If you want Rookies Short Prints in every release make them a separate insert set!

I agree with Dave on the Legends. Keep the "Legends" cards in the Legends sets - that includes autos, race used, inserts & base cards!

In any release a base card & a numbered Parallel is PLEANTY! Three and four levels of the same card with just different color text is a waste!

Race used multi levels - if your gonna have three levels make the patches multi level. Bronze = 1 color, Silver = 2 color, Gold = 3 color. It is truly annoying to pull one of each level {as I did with Undercover} but each patch looked EXACTLY alike. The only difference with the color of the lettering on the card and the numbered to.

I like the Tradin' Paint, UnderCover, Hot Threads and GearGrippers. Not real thrilled with the Corporate Cuts. I too miss PitStoppers and LugNuts. Would LOVE to see larger patches on the Pushin Pedal and Single/Double/Triple Hats.

I would like to see a release done on a not glossy stock for TTM and at the track autographs. Would like to see more Busch & Truck drivers in the set. Make it drivers only - no cars or crew.

I'd say the worst set was optima just for the simple fact that it cost too much for what you could pull, and like dave said, i'd much rather see truck and busch drivers that a drivers pet

Contrary to what most others feel, I didn't think traks was too bad...the price just needs to drop considerably to make it even with what you have the potential to pull

Legends, I thought, was the best set...There is no unneeded cards, and all the stuff you had the potential to pull made it fun to open...I would just like to see one of the parallel set s go away 5 different versions of the base card is just too much

On a side note I'd really like to see one giant set, somewhat like topps total, have all the crew members ont ehir individual cards, drivers from all three series, all the tracks, printing plates, parallels etc, instead of a cookie cutter set with all the cup drivers their cars, etc

I also wouldn't mind seeing a chrome base set as well

As for race used, I too would like to see lugnuts again...way better than corporate cuts...it would also be nice to see more people inserted into the race used sets instead of the same 10 or so guys

Lastly, I REALLY liked the NHRA set you did last year...it would be nice if you could do another box set like that or even a box with packs in it!!!

Well, here are my thoughts on this years products:

In the fast lane: VIP, well done, the pictures and concept was excellent. The black and white and color pictures made this a veru eye catching and appealing set. The Short Print rookies being added at the end of the set made it easier to forego them if a vcollector didn't want to take the time or spend the money tracking them down, and they were not impossible to get.

Middle of the road: Premium, As always Premium rankss high in my book as the set always looks good and gives a challenge to set collector's with the multiple levels, but the SP Rookies in the middle of the set was a definite move down. Also the fact that the SP's were too short printed was another mark against.

In The Ditch: Traks, to lose Trackside, and gain Traks definitely two thumbs down. Traks just did not give anywhere near the value for the price. Base cards and stickers, for pretty close to the same price as a ny other pack of cards, and the autos being seeded 1 in every 2 boxes to boot? Bad move PP.

Best insert set (even though I didn't get either one) A tie between Rookie Relics and Triple Threads. I loved the look and ideas in both sets. Rookie Stripes came in right behind

Worst insert set: Either Corporate Cuts, or Skidmarks/Thunder Roads. I would rather have another race-used set than just a piece of a shirt the driver may have worn in an interview or something, and the skidmarks/Thunder roads are just past their time (Although the new look for the Thunder Road this year was much better than previous versions)
Now, I would like to see this:

For base cards, I would like one set that covered all 3 major series better, have Nextel, Busch and Truck Series drivers, vehicles, teams. Only 1 or maybe 2 parallel sets for each release, as long as the second parallel set is a numbered version to 100 or so.
Only have Short prints in the Premium series, other than maybe a Rookie short print at THE END of another set Maybe VIP, but make it reasonable 2 or 3 SP's in a box, not 1 per box.

Inserts, have an acetate insert set per release instead of 3 in one brand and none in another, and they wouldn't have to be a parallel of an existing insert.
More diversity in the drivers included in inserts, not just Gordon, Johnson Kahne ,Jr. in every set. Have it like the Young Guns with young up and coming drivers, or maybe a Busch series or Truck series champions insert set.

Race-used and autos, not much to say about them , other than larger size pieces for the memorabilia, and only 2 versions Say silver #'d to xxx and Gold #'d to xx or xxx and make the harder to pull version 3 or more color and the easier 1 or 2 color (If Press Pass needs to hire someone to sort and place the patches ...I'm available lol) Same with Autos, go back to regular, and Gold and forget about this silly different color Sharpie nonsense.

Driver selection: Keep the Legends in Legends and current drivers in the other series. I hear so much complaining about the legends being in Press Pass, and VIP etc., but why did we have to have 4 cards of Jeff Gordon in the Legends series? 1, even 2 maybe but 4?, and that didn't even touch on all the ones in the inserts, and parallel inserts.

Al.

well,
i am sure the 2007 lineup is set but here are a few more suggestions. some racing terms

dual race used lugnut/tire called right sides only

piece of steering wheel called oversteer

maybe a piece of roll bar

get rid of the dual covers and make cover/tire or cover/sheetmetal which could be the double burners in eclipse

hat/firesuit for double burner in american thunder

i like the final lap idea in high gear, but how about a double burner in wheels with a green and checkered flag called start to finish

what about a flag signature series or a hat signature series

the triple threads was an excellant idea, kinda like the triple burners (which i miss)

make a four wide called pitstop w/ pieces of pitstopper, tire, lugnut, and tear off

make a strictly busch/truck release

just some ideas
dave

maybe a piece of roll bar

dave

Or what about a piece of roll bar padding called Need a Caution:becky: :becky: :becky:

Al.

Being an old school fan, i like the legends in each release (of course as long as they keep pearson in) its the only reason i buy some of the packs i do is the chance to pull one. It keeps me interested all year instead of one month.

i would like to see the legends release moved up in the year just because.

i also would like there to be a reason you are in the legends release. I do think jeff gordon qualifies however kurt bush does not (yet). that being said i would love to see mario andretti in the release based on his dayona 500/indy 500 win.

maybe you could make the legends release not just nascar but true legends of the racing sport.

i hate having to buy 5 of the same card why not make each level a different picture or design. Something should say that its different other than foil.

i wish they would do away with the solo cards. i am looking now for the 2006 legends pearson solo but if i do not get it my collection has no chance of being complete.

work out a deal with beckett and put the sample card back in the subscribers magazines this would make it a win win for both parties and the ebay preview needs to be 5 cards at least for each card not some being shortprinted. i have the 1/1 preview of pearson from matthebrat (thanks again) but without help once again its not complete.

there is a petty earnhardt dual auto, there is a pearson gordon dual auto, make a Petty Pearson dual auto now please. they are the top two winners in the sport and should share some cardboard time.

corporate cuts is odd, why not just insert a certificate in the boxes and let someone win the whole shirt.

do a hall of fame insert set that mirrors the set put out by maxx in the 90s. they were pretty cards and should have been continued.

put the cards in the products as advertised.

Alright here's my highlights. First of all the WORST pull for me this year was a cup chase card of Ricky Rudd! I didn't stand a chance. I am considering sending it in just for the hell of it! My best pulls: Four Wide Dual Memorabilia card of Ryan Newman, Legends Racing Artifacts Holofoil Firesuit patch of Pearson #10/25! I agree with alot of the points that were made earlier. First of all BRING BACK TRACKSIDE!! Traks stunk. It reminds me of the late 80's or early 90's baseball dead-card era. I also agree to limit the number of cards per driver per set. I think 1 driver and 1 car card per base set is fine. You can leave the extra cards for Busch & Truck drivers. We don't need to know about pets or charities or magazine publications etc.
The Rookie Stripes were nice. I absolutely loved the Rookie Thunder Autographed base cards. I like anything that can add value (& interest) in a base set. Optima also gets a thumbs-down. You win a championship, I consider you a legend (exception: Martin) sorry Jr., Harvick, Hamlin.