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Hot Wheels Patch Racer Playpk

Hot Wheels ZipBin Patch Racer BackPack BlackWhat’s the flashiest way to bring your Hot Wheels hot rods everywhere? Race track or city road, this Hot Wheels Patch Racer ZipBin@ Backpack doesn’t come close to any other driver. Unzip the graphic, bold, patch adorned exterior into a 2-lane drag strip with a winding cityscape in the background. The car’s body is perfectly integrated into the shape of the backpack - with a sewn on Hot Wheels patch on the hood! Throw it over your shoulder and watch the other cars fade to dust. Just don’t get caught speeding….Hot Wheels and associated trademarks and trade dress are owned by, and used under license from, Mattel, Inc. ©2010 Mattel, Inc. All Rights ReservedProduct Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.5 x 13.5Recommended Ages: 3 years & Up

A picture taken later in life, showing KGR in re-liveried form. The issue of where to put the AEC badge was a difficult as there wasn't really space for it anywhere, but it had to have one. The location is Caernarfon harbour, in the shadow of the castle. I was there on a long weekend and one of my passengers, a one time haulage driver and part time comedian, occupies my seat temporarily. I guess that it would have been circa 1994.
As I pointed out in the previous posting, the coach was a wonderfully reliable performer, but to discuss it's two indiscretions gives a misleading view, however, as it's been requested :-
The other instance to which I referred was possibly my most embarrassing day in business ever. We'd been chartered to take a party for whom we regularly worked to a well known Matlock Bath childrens' venue. The approach to the coach park was via a steep incline on a narrow road, part way up which was a hairpin bend which you may or may not negotiate in one. The day weather wise was deplorable which added to the sense of foreboding. The coach turned off the main road and began it's ascent, slowing as it encountered the hairpin. Now even though I'm a dyed in the wool AEC enthusiast, I would concede that the power steering fitted to the rival Leyland Leopard was superior in it's operation. As the revs dropped, so to did the power assistance, and the coach failed to make it in one. Setting back to take another bite as the only option on the awkwardly angled 1:6 the driver selected bottom gear prior to becoming stationary. The full laden weight of the reversing coach met full engine power attempting to go in the opposite direction ... and something was going to give... and did, the prop shaft sheared. Thankfully in two senses, a. the handbrake was in good order, and b. we were the last coach arrival that particular day, as the one and only access route was now thoroughly blocked. The passengers disembarked and walked the final hundred yards, and the driver phoned for help. There was absolutely no way that a recovery lorry could have assisted on this occasion if we'd have been able and willing to pay, except by maybe winching the rear wheels sideways across the incline. To cut a very long story short, we were able to get the driver to lift the floor trap, and gain us a rudimentary measurement of the distance between gearbox and diff. flanges. He'd no measuring implement, so I seem to recall it was something of the order of 12 Bic biro's and a fag packet! Using the relayed description we were able to ascertain that the one on redundant ex SWT BWN 462K was ostensibly similar. This was removed by a fitter, then he and I bundled it into my Granada and set off at break neck speed out of Staffordshire and into Derbyshire. By now the weather was dire, and raging torrents ran down the hillside and under the length of the coach. By the time the replacement shaft was fitted ... and it did perfectly, Joe, my mechanic was soaked to the skin from lying underneath. Miraculously, no-one seemed to have been adversely affected, KRG was re-started, and resumed it's drive to the coach park, Joe and I returned to the yard. By now it was about 4.15, and the only human thing to do was to get poor soaked Joe off home. When locking up the garage, the phone rang. Against my better judgement, I went back in to answer. Horror of horrors it was the same driver, with the same coach... in the same place! This time for some unbelievable reason an air pressure regulator valve had seen fit to stick, denying a supply to the air operated gears. Once more the coach was immobile on the bend after a failed shunt. At that time, another coach arrived in at our yard, and after a quick check we decanted the tools and equipment from the car and into it. Joe agreed that we'd have to go back, if only to rescue the passengers who's patience was wearing thin... and they were neighbours of his! Before departure, the phone then became red hot, with the theme park complaining bitterly and making threats to get the coach recovered at out expense and put other coach and car users into local hotels whilst we got the situation sorted. TPD 12S, the replacement coach thrashed across country, literally up hill and down dale. Thankfully as we descended into Cromford we noticed the ailing KGR had reprieved and was waiting in a more suitable location! Shortly afterwards we received a letter from the park headed 'Re- runaway coach' informing us that we would no longer be welcome at their venue!! (for the record, there was no 'run away' merely controlled disaster. lol)... oh, and the hirers of the coach declined to use us again ;-(

I love party rings!
Iced gems aren't too shabby either!
:)