They were 1.5 inches wide and 24 inches long. Pale orange in color. Made of a hard, yet somewhat flexible, plastic. And I seemingly had hundreds of them pieced together in the basement of my childhood home.

These, of course, were the vintage Hot Wheels tracks of the late 1960s. They were hand-me-down toys from my two older brothers, but I didn’t care. They kept my imagination racing throughout the 1970s.

The starting point was at the top of our basement stairs. The Hot Wheels cars would pick up speed on the downhill straightaway while leveling out over track that balanced on kitchen chairs and cardboard boxes. They had to slow down enough to stay upright through the hard plastic curves. A battery-operated supercharger would then speed them back up so they could make their way to the pool table, where they would again catch speed while going downhill to the floor.

This was one of the many courses we set up with our Hot Wheels track, piecing them all together with those pink connectors. These were simpler times, before Mario Cart and the even more complex video games of today. Hot Wheels were not even the fancy slot cars. They were metal die-cast cars that were just heavy enough to pick up speed using gravity alone, and they were wonderful.

Hot Wheels also offered some great competitions for us kids, as we would set up dual tracks and see who could cross the finish line first. We even had the 1971 version of the Mongoose and Snake Drag Race Set, which had a checkerboard that would indicate the winner and chutes that would release to slow the cars down. Now, that was cool.

The Hot Wheels track, though, is what really amazed me. So simple, yet so much fun — and not just for racing the cars. My brother Steve and I discovered they were also a great material for tug-of-war battles when placed under a closed door, giving the loser of the challenge a faceplant into the door panel.

I saw some of this vintage track for sale recently, complete with the super-chargers and lap counters. The memories were coming back, and I considered making an offer. I doubt Jolene would let me set it up in the house, but I do have some room in the garage. I also have a grandson now — the perfect reason to revisit “the fastest metal cars in the world!”

Have a wonderful Wednesday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

See more of Shane Goodman's columns here.

PEOPLE & PETS
Wildlife rehabber

By Jackie Wilson

An abandoned nest of baby bunnies. An injured squirrel on the side of a road.

These are the subjects of some of the calls Melinda Austin fields from members of the public who are seeking advice on how to take care of these animals.

Austin is a wildlife rehabilitator for small animals. She is licensed by the DNR to assist with small mammals, such as squirrels, rabbits, fox, opossum and more that have been injured. She says the animals are protected by law.

An unforgettable ride
Residents share the joy of their first car.

By Ashley Rullestad

What kids, strapped into the backseats of their parents’ cars, gazing through the gaps between the front seats and watching the road ahead, don’t think how great it will be when they are in the driver’s seat? And not just any driver’s seat, but the seat of their very own car. The power of the machine in their control. The freedom to choose the destination. The total control over the stereo. It’s no wonder people’s memories of their first auto stay vivid, and the stories remain a thrill to be told.

Teen dream
Like many teen drivers, Hailey Swanson wasn’t worried so much about safety or reliability in a first car — she was just hoping to get one. And maybe have it be blue.

She will be 15 in March and just received her school permit,” her mom, Candice, says.

“We wanted something safe that would last her through college,” Candice says. “She wanted something blue.”

These celebrities were born on this date: Nicholas Turturro, Heather Graham, Sara Gilbert, Kelly Packard, Justin Hartley, Madison Bailey, Oprah Winfrey, Adam Lambert, Tom Selleck, Charlie Wilson, Romário

SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

The answer to the last riddle: What do you get when you cross a fancy, patriotic American with a curly-haired dog? A Yankee Poodle Dandy. Answers that were along that track were received from Irving Stone, Gail Tomlinson, Carolyn Rogers, William Snyder.

Today's riddle: What’s the greatest historical inaccuracy in any Indiana Jones movie?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or the Winterset Living magazines, contact:

Kristine McDonald
Account Executive
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 321
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kristine@iowalivingmagazines.com

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