Attention All Autograph Chasers: Press Pass® Optima Features
a Contest like No Other
October 14, 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 October 14th.
RC2 (www.rc2corp.com) is a leading producer and marketer of high
quality, innovative collectibles and toys targeted at adult collectors
and children, as measured by sales and brand recognition. The
Company's diverse product offerings include: agricultural, construction
and outdoor sports vehicle replicas; automotive, high performance
and racing vehicle replicas; traditional children's toys; sports
trading cards and 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®, Learning Curve™, American Muscle™,
AMT®, W. Britain®, Press Pass®, Eden™, Feltkids®
and JoyRide Studios™. The Company supports its brands and
enhances the authenticity of its products by linking them with
highly recognized licensed properties from John Deere, Harley-Davidson,
HIT Entertainment, Lamaze, Case, Polaris, Honda, Caterpillar,
Ford, GM, DaimlerChrysler, NASCAR, NHRA, Texaco, Universal Studios,
Warner Brothers, DIC Entertainment, Nintendo, Sega, Electronic
Arts and Microsoft. The Company's products are marketed through
multiple channels of distribution, including chain retailers,
specialty and hobby wholesalers and retailers, OEM dealers, corporate
accounts for promotional purposes and direct to consumers. The
Company sells through more than 20,000 retail outlets located
in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
