SCF Official Review: 2010 Wheels Element

**Enigma** · 01-28-2010, 01:43 PM

First and foremost, I'd like to thank our sponsors at Press Pass for providing us with this box.

24 packs per box
6 cards per pack
Current Retail Price: $74.99 - $84.99

CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS:
- 1 MEMORABILIA CARD + 1 AUTOGRAPH CARD PER HOBBY BOX!
- MEMORABILIA CARDS - Authentic Race-Used Flag Cards including single, double, triple and oversized memorabilia cards (1:24)!
- SPECIAL INK AUTOS - Featuring authentic Autograph Cards signed in drivers' sponsor colors!
- ELEMENT MYSTERY PACK - Blind-wrapped box topper featuring one numbered Blue Base Set Parallel Card or one Undiscovered Elements Autograph Card!
- 100 CARD BASE SET

ONE AUTOGRAPH PER BOX...featuring:
- Wheels Authentic Autographs
- Special Ink Autographs - signed by drivers in their primary sponsor color
- Undiscovered Elements Autographs - signed by NASCAR's "diamonds in the rough"

ONE MEMORABILIA CARD PER BOX...featuring:
- Flagship Performers (race-used flag cards #'d to 50 or less ) - look for three sets with each featuring a die cut of the driver's total wins, starts or championships!
- Green-White-Checkers (#'d to 50 or less) - race-used triple memorabilia cards
- Finish Line - features an oversized swatch of race-used tire, green flag or checkered flag
- Recycled Materials - Dual race-used fire and sheet metal memorabilia cards featuring the top NASCAR drivers.

HALF CASE INSERT SUMMARY
- TWO Multi-Swatch Memorabilia Cards
- TEN Wheels Authentic Autographs
- TEN Race-Used Memorabilia Cards
- TWO Undiscovered Elements Autographs

WHAT WE PULLED

Base - 100/100 (100%)
Dupes - 25

Green Border (4)
Eclipse Promo (1)
High Octane Vehicle (4)
NASCAR HOF (1)
10 In '10 (4)
***There are no box loaders in review boxes.***

Joe Nemechek Auto
Finish Line Jeff Gordon Tire /99
Recycled Materials Dale Earnhardt Jr. Tire/2-color Sheet Metal /25

FINAL RATINGS

Base - 5/5
Design - 2.5/5
Fun - 3.25/5
Value - 3.5/5
Rebuy - 3.5/5

Total - 17.75/25 (71%)

Press Pass unveiled Element last year to rave reviews. It was a new idea and executed well. But unfortunately, they were unable to follow up on that success. The base cards are basic in design. They do not display well (which you can see this a lot better with the cards in hand and not from scans) and that is probably due to the use of recycled cardboard (which is truly commendable). The use of yellow on the backs of some of the cards make reading the card numbers almost futile. There is a green border parallel and a blue (numbered to 35), but those can only be found in the mystery pack box loader.

Quite confusing are the inserts. Last year, each set followed a theme that centered around Elements. I know the HOF series is a continuation and have no issue with that (100 card set being released 10 cards per release throughout the year). However, why do we need an Eclipse promo card to show off the next release? That's like saying this release is a throwaway and get ready for the next one. Though I do like the painted look to the cards. I can see the High Octane Vehicle set in part as this release is focused around "Going Green", but the 10 in '10 series is something I would have expected in a previous product.

At an average of one auto and 1 memorabilia card per box, there's a point of anticipation on what you might find. The memorabilia cards are nice as there's a mix of the type of race used items you will find from tires, flags and sheet metal pieces. However, the autos are perplexing. For instance, the one we pulled has a green flag and "Drive" as a design on it. But there are other auto versions that have different colors and words on them. Does that mean there are variations for each auto, a select few drivers per color theme or something else?

There was a lot of hype behind the release of Element this year and it looks like it has underachieved. While the idea of using recycled materials to make the cards (which was a wonderful thing to do), it made the cards appear lackluster. Outside of the box loader potential, there are no numbered parallels (really miss the Radioactive cards). The memorabilia and autograph selection has a wide variety of subjects. While we were fortunate to pull an extra memorabilia piece, not everyone will be so lucky. The big marketing ploy is the random appearance of a $20 or $100 (USD) bill in boxes. That does provide an interesting twist to opening up boxes, but there's no word on how many boxes over the run have these. Typically, Press Pass puts out great products, but I think this is one that will need to go back to the drawing board should it return next year.

Once again, I'd like to thank our wonderful sponsors at Press Pass for giving us the opportunity to open and review this release. For more information on all their products, you can check them out at www.presspassinc.com.

**skippy** · 01-28-2010, 04:57 PM

Thanks for the review T, as said in my review of the product in Preview & Review. Not impressed with the product. I think thwey really missed the boat.