Attention All Autograph Chasers: Press Pass® Optima Features
a Contest like No Other
September 11, 2003 Charlotte, N.C. - The Press Pass Signings
autograph program is the longest running and most comprehensive
NASCAR autograph program in history. This year's program features
over 70 different racers and legends from Dale Earnhardt Jr. to
Richard Petty. For the first time ever, one lucky collector will
win a full set of 2003 Press Pass Signings autograph cards
in the Press Pass Signings Contest featured only in 2003
Press Pass® Optima. Releasing in mid October, 2003 Press
Pass ® Optima brings the collector closer to the action
as the 2003 NASCAR championship title chase heats up. The addition
of the Press Pass Signings Contest is only one of the reasons
that make 2003 Press Pass® Optima a set worth collecting.
The successful Signature Series program continues in 2003
Press Pass® Optima with Signature Series Thunder Bolts,
autographed race-used lugnut cards featuring such drivers as Jeff
Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and current points leader Matt Kenseth.
Each Signature Series Thunder Bolts card is sequentially
numbered to the driver's door number. Also, there are driver edition
(1:180, hobby only) and team edition (1:240, retail only) Thunder
Bolts to collect featuring race-used lugnuts from 18 of the
most successful teams in NASCAR. Collectors can also look forward
to finding NASCAR Busch Series memorabilia cards. Top Prospect race-used
memorabilia cards feature the first ever memorabilia cards from
such future stars as Brian Vickers and Scott Riggs. There are four
different cards to collect from each driver (1:130, hobby only).
The 2003 Press Pass Signings program concludes in Press
Pass Optima 2003 and features autographs from over 70 NASCAR
drivers and legends (1:84 hobby packs and 1:196 retail packs).
"Press Pass Optima is the last 2003 Press Pass
product commemorating our 10th anniversary," stated Tom Farrell,
Director of Marketing for Press Pass, a division of RC2 (NASDAQ:
RCRC). "This product features four levels of autograph cards
as well as an exciting chance to win an autograph card of every
driver."
Press Pass Optima 2003 consists of a 50-card base set and
Fan Favorite, a 27-card "set-within-a-set", that features
information on each driver's fan club and website. In addition to
autographs and memorabilia there are several exciting inserts to
collect, including the Dale Earnhardt "10th Anniversary"
Series, featuring special replicas of Dale Earnhardt's greatest
Press Pass cards ever produced. Product release is slated
for October 14th.
RC2 (www.rc2corp.com) is a leading producer and marketer of innovative
collectibles and toys targeted at males of all ages. The Company's
diverse product offerings include scaled die-cast replicas of John
Deere agricultural equipment and NASCAR stock cars, other licensed
vehicle replicas, pre-teen toys, sports trading cards, racing apparel
and souvenirs, and collectible figures. These products are sold
under the Company's market-focused brand names, including Racing
Champions®, Ertl®, Ertl Collectibles®, American Muscle™,
AMT®, W. Britain®, Press Pass®, and JoyRide Studios™.
The Company reinforces its brands and enhances the authenticity
of its products by linking them with highly recognized licensed
properties including NASCAR, NHRA, John Deere, Harley-Davidson,
Case, Polaris, Honda, Caterpillar, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Texaco, Universal
Studios, Warner Brothers, Hit Entertainment, Nintendo, Sega, and
Electronic Arts. The Company's products are marketed through multiple
channels of distribution, including mass retailers and specialty
and hobby wholesalers and retailers, OEM dealers, and to corporate
accounts for promotional purposes. The Company sells through more
than 20,000 retail outlets located in North America, Europe, and
Asia Pacific.
