SCF Official Review: 2011 Press Pass Eclipse

**Enigma** · 03-12-2011, 01:33 AM

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

24 packs per box
5 cards per pack
Current Retail Price (online): 99.99 - 119.99

Product Description

Experience the "Art of Speed" with 2011 Press Pass Eclipse! Press Pass builds on the success of last year with a unique artistic touch and exciting new inserts! Again in 2011, Press Pass Eclipse has four hits per hobby box - three memorabilia cards and one autograph card!

CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS:

- ONE AUTOGRAPH AND THREE MEMORABILIA CARDS PER HOBBY BOX!
- BURNING RUBBER "CHASE" WIN TIRES - Race-used win tires from the 10 Chase for the Sprint Cup Races
- SPELLBOUND SWATCHES - Race-used memorabilia cards that spell out drivers' last names!
- PRESS PASS AUTOGRAPH CARDS - Limited edition program found only in Press Pass 2011 & Eclipse 2011.
- Signature Series Memorabilia Cards - HOBBY ONLY
- Four-Wide Memorabilia Program - HOBBY ONLY

WHAT WE PULLED

Base: 89/90 (98.9%)
Dupes: 17
Gold /55 (2): #11 Fed Ex Toyota, Marcos Ambrose

Encore (3)
In Focus (1)
NASCAR HOF (1)
Rides (6)

Burning Rubber Clint Bowyer Tire /150

Spellbound Jimmie Johnson "H" Tire /150

Spellbound Mark Martin "M" Tire /150

Press Pass Blue Danica Patrick Auto /10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FINAL RATINGS

Base - 4/5
Design - 2.5/5
Fun - 3.5/5
Value - 4/5
Rebuy - 4/5

Total - 18/25 (72%)

Over the last couple of years, Press Pass has played with the theme of Eclipse. This year it has focused on "The Art Of Speed". The key word though seems to be art. Three of the subsets (Horsepower, Sandblast and Speedscapes) are quite cartoonish to the point they are enjoyable to look at. On top of that, two of them are devoted to the cars. While I understand that the cars are important to the sport and recognizable, I'd prefer the focus stay on the drivers. Heck, you could have had pictures of various pit crews in one of the subsets. But the biggest flaw is managing to stuff 17 duplicates without packaging a complete set. How hard is it to add that one final card.

While Eclipse does offer the random hot box, it typically contains three race used cards and an autograph. The Spellbound series resurfaces with two noticeable changes. The first is the vertical layout of the card. Second, and more disconcerting, is the smaller die-cut window for the letters. In comparing it to previous years, it appears about 25% less than the size of its predecessors. This means less of a race used piece for the collectors. And yes, I realize that a Danica Patrick Autograph is an amazing card as seen with my exclamation points above, but it does not do enough to cover up what feel like a lackluster product from a company that normally excels in giving the collectors a bang for their buck.

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, visit them at www.presspassinc.com.