When Santa did a re-run of Christmas Day 1985
27 years ago to this day, when I was 13 years old, Santa delivered what is still to date my most memorable and treasured Christmas present, a fantastic Tamiya Hotshot kit deal, via Beatties model shop. The deal included the kit, Techniplus RC equipment, 7.2v racing pack and dodgy Acoms quick charger that got worryingly hot & smelly whilst charging. Oh yes, and not forgetting the Beatties carrying bag with artwork featuring RC cars imprinted on its sides.
It was no small thing being given one of these in 1985 as they were phenomenally expensive back in the day, GBP179.99 for the deal from Beatties to be exact. To put it into perspective that translates as roughly GBP450 in today's money, which goes a long way to explaining why so many of us are hell-bent on having as many of these things as possible now as adults, ie they were simply way, way out of many of our parents' budgets. Imagine if you were 13 now and asking them for a present costing that much! To add to that my parents were anything but wealthy and although I had always been well spoiled in previous Christmas years this one was really pushing the boat out.
My love affair with Tamiya, and the Hotshot in particular, had started in that summer of '85 when I was introduced to these great radio controlled cars that my friend had seen in Beatties, so off I went into town to see what all the fuss was about and when I got there it was the promotional video of the time that swung it for me. Seeing that stunning looking red machine doing jumps and blasts that I'd never known possible before had me instantly hooked. I went home and told my Mam and then counted down the days, hours & minutes until Christmas.
It was Christmas Eve when I actually first got to see my Hotshot as I went with my Mam to the shop to pick one up as she didn't have a clue what to ask for so I directed her a bit. On the way home I wasn't really allowed to look at it much but I still could not resist having a read of the print on the side of the box, as it poked out of the bag, which explained all of the various parts and features of the car. Then it was taken away from me, not to be seen again until the following day.
That night of Christmas Eve, after spending the previous 6 months waiting for this moment, I simply could not sleep. After 2 hours of being in bed, at about 2am I went into my parents' bedroom and asked if I could go downstairs and start opening my presents. By this time I think I had worn them out with this thing so they reluctantly let me go down. And off I went and cracked on with my first ever Tamiya build.
The only trouble was that not long after I had got started I encountered a big problem. Any Hotshot enthusiast may know what I am about to say here....yes, those tiny C clips that secure the output joints to the gearbox casing! I just couldn't get them on...so up I went back upstairs and asked my Mam to come down and help me fit them. (Dad was not going to be much use as he had been out that day in the pubs and was so merry he would probably have made the situation even worse, lol). So there I was with my mother at 3am in the morning fiddling with tiny metal components all over the carpet. You don't really forget moments of your childhood like that!
The rest is history of course. I got the kit built, it was a blast and I was hooked on the hobby for another 4 years, selling the Hotshot & buying a Bigwig and Kyosho Optima Mid, before discovering girls and alcohol. Fast forward to 2004 and it all started again. Stumbled upon this place, bought all three of my original kits as NIBs once more and built them. Over the last 8 years I have had many, many Hotshots but have for a while now been wanting to have a great condition original NIB, just so that I can relive the moments prior to Christmas Day, whereby I used to gaze in awe at the fantastic box art and blister packs that were a feature of this kit.
Vintage Hotshot kits do still come up on ebay quite frequently but unfortunately most of them have boxes that are in average-to-poor condition or the seller simply wants silly money for them. Finally though, this one came up recently for a great price and it is outstanding. A near mint box lid with only a tiny loss of whiteness and truly pristine internals.
To top it all off though I didn't even pay for this. My Mam recently took part retirement and got a little payoff so when I told her about this kit she decided to buy it for me as a Christmas present as she still has 'fond' memories of me waking her up at 3am on Christmas Day 1985 asking her to come downstairs! I guess even at 40 years old one is not too old to be spoiled by your parents at Christmas. :)
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The best box art of all the vintage buggies!
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Box in truly great condition.
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The print that I read to death on the way home.
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Oh yes, all of those lovely hop-ups.
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Stunning internal presentation....
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....with immaculate blister packs.
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The goodies hiding underneath.
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Manual, featuring 'Mk1' illustration. Naughty!
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Also came with lots of mid '80s promotional bumph.
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Screenshot of that fantastic vid that seduced me..
If you liked those pictures, you should see these...
Hotshot Evolution.
Comments
RACECRAFTERS
Awesome story Wandy and Mums are seriously very special people. Happy Xmas lad
and may you enjoy those memories for many years more.
Wandy
Thanks mate, and the same to you. Have a cracker and hope Santa was good to ya.
RACECRAFTERS
Cheers Wandy, Santa was pretty good - He was a She!
Wandy
Excellent mate, lol.
sunnyjai
Very nice story mate, and I can relate similarly to my childhood and my uncle's HotSHot. It was the 1st proper 1/10th and Tamiya I ever driven and paved the way for my own 1st Tamiya, the Hornet. I was in awe with the cool suspension, red paint, owh that name 'HotShot', the speed and handling and the sound of the oval block tires spinning! And yes they were expensive in Malaysia! Aah memories! Plus Mum's are special, I agree with you and RACECRAFTERS, as my momma was the one that influenced my dad to get a Wild Willy for me but were out of stock so Hornet it was. Merry Christmas buddy!
neobrunox
i totally understand this childhood, i think most of us spent a such unforgettable wonderfull moment . I remember my first RC car for Xmas, i were as impatient as you to have it, and it were at this time that i fall in love with RC cars
have a nice Xmas with this fantastic kit 
Wandy
Thanks guys. Yeah, I think most of us have very similar tales to tell from their Christmas childhood days. Happy times indeed.
hot rod
superb kit you have there and i guess we all have had a happy memory of that first foray into tamiya- mine was the grasshopper and i remember well being so proud of assembling it all by my self, well apart from the r/c gear which my older brother set up as the year before he had assembled his fast attack!!! sadly the hopper is no longer around but the fast attack is being rescued a couple of years ago from his garage and now in my collection, great memories mate and a happy christmas to you and all members
Wandy
Cheers hot-rod, and yeah I too was very proud that I built mine all by myself, especially since it was probably the most complicated Tamiya buggy up to that date. Have a great day yourself bud.
acprc
A great story and another example of why these kits have special memories for us kids. Enjoy it. Adam
Wandy
Thanks Adam, all the best to you.
Crash Cramer
Like others, I love the story. I can't say I can recall such a memory with RC cars, but I don't want to get everyone down on Christmas Day. Your mom and mine must have gotten the same 'owners manual' though as she spoils me as well. This example is just as awesome as any in the stores today, so I would be a very happy guy to get it back then all the way up to today. I wouldn't mind having a good look at those MRC order and parts sheets, HINT HINT. Lastly, we all know you will be spoiling your mom as she ages in the fact you will take care of her, just like I know I will take care of mine. Cherish all your family that is still with you as we never know when we won't have them around, to simply spoil us with their presence. Merry Christmas everyone.
Wandy
Great words Crash, and I wholeheartedly agree of course. Anything you need to know from the MRC sheets just give me a shout. Merry Christmas to you.
davidr2007
I love the Hotshot and remember that Video playing in Beaties so well. Your still young and hope you enjoy this kit as much as you did in 85
Thanks.
JWeston
Quality Mother. Nice one mate
berman
Wow your mum just went to the top of the 'Legendary Mums of RC' list! She's pretty magical! I hope you have given her a big hug and let her read your showroom entry! Also.. er umm.. is she adopting? J/k
have a great hotshot Christmas again Wandy 
blackfoot dave
Moms ARE the best, Merry Christmas!!
stickerbod
Excellent story, i'm sure you'll enjoy it just as much this time around too
Wandy
Thanks guys, and yes your right. She is a diamond and always has been.
matman
Well ! , What a hell of a fantastic story & WOW!! what a mum you have , too get up & help you in that time of the morrning . Maybe you should have got a re re as well & relived that moment of getting up in two in the morrning & then getting your mum up @ 3
. You know , I bet she would have helped .... Next year , you should get her some thing special as all mums deserve it ...
I never got a Tamiya for christmas , As we never had the money , But my mum did what she could . So i had to get my own . Ok there was NO way i could buy a new one , But my M8 at the time had two cars for sale . Both $100. each , One a hornet & the other the boomerang . The boomer need alot of work & i didn't have the money . So i got the hornet , but it was not long & i wanted to change it & get the boomerang . So this is where my favourite came from .
So merry christmas too you & your family .
Mirrorman
Such great memories Wandy .. and yes, Mums are very special.
mongoose1983
I'm touched by the story on how you got this one. God bless your Mom. Merry Christmas and a super happy 2013 to you!
Tamiya Era
Hope all ur moments are a happy once..
Great kit ..cheers
ukzz4iroc
Lovely story, sounds mighty familiar. Live those memories mate, it's what it is all about.
Wandy
Thanks for your comments, hope you all had a great day yesterday.
ralphee
I think this story rings true to so many of us here, around this age bracket, its uncanny.
Lucky guy, to have a NIB 'shot OE release......pretty special, this was my first car too.
lee
Crash Cramer
I forgot to mention that you have mentioned in your description the large amount this would have been back then and how kids don't ask for things that expensive. Well, IPads don't come as cheap as half of what Tamiya is selling these days, so to all those kids wanting IPads, you want Tamiya instead.
Wandy
LOL, fair point Crash.
scalamon
Great story wandy! I can relate to it mine was with a bigwig! I'm building a rere hotshot with gold rims & underguard as we speak! It's a stunning looking car, Purchased from Stella on release heaven knows why it's stayed in the box for 5 years!!
Wandy
Cheers scalamon, can't beat a Hotshot with the gold wheels.
Lancia
Great story! Brought back memories of my own Hotshot, thanks for sharing! Merry Christmas to All!
Tjaard
Wow, we (my wife and me) took your story with a big smile. This means a HUGE compliment from my wife, because she always teases me with the (so called...) silly hobby we have. I probably couldt find the right words to decsribe our ''madness'' but thx for helping mate haha!
Wandy
No worries mate, anything I can do to help etc.
kasparov
Really beautiful kit Andy......!'))
Wandy
Thanks Max....not quite on a par with your Mk1 but good enough for me.
coki76
Which car is better...hot shot or grasshopper?
Wandy
Hotshot. It's 4WD so has more traction, and also handles better.
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