MATCHBOX USA CONVENTION/TOY SHOW

Report by John Yanouzas

The 2006 Matchbox USA Convention/Toy Show held at the Durham Fairgrounds on June 10-11 is history and Charlie Mack made some new history. The weekend began on Friday with about 70 Matchbox collectors visiting the Matchbox & Lesney Museum.

On Saturday as the vendors were setting up, some collectors came to the Fairgrounds to socialize and get an early deal on models.  The in-room trading that occurred in previous years was replaced by the Saturday morning trading at the Fairgrounds. There were over 80 tables of old and new Matchbox models as well as other brands such as Hot Wheels and Corgi. The Commercial Building at the Fairgrounds is a huge building over 10,00 square feet that allowed the tables to be spread out and Plenty of space to walk around and not be crowded.

On Saturday afternoon the Mattel staff arrived including John Coyne, Felix Holst and Tracey Smith. Mattel provided the two models it had prepared for the show, a Police Car and the 1957 Chevy Convertible dealer's model. Both models sported a specially designed Mattel logo for the West/East Matchbox Toy Show.

Saturday evening festivities began at 6:00 with a beverage-hors d'oeuvres reception followed by a sit down dinner in the Fairground's building prepared by a local restaurant included several main dishes of barbecued chicken and meatballs, pasta and salad followed by a 25th Anniversary cake for dessert. Each dinner guest received a dinner model, the newly casted 1961 Jaguar E-Type and one person at each table won by lottery a white Delivery Truck with a special West/East Toy Show logo.  The Powerpoint presentation made by John Coyne and Felix Holst after dinner provided a wrap-up of what is happening in 2006 and a brief peek into the plans for 2007 and some thoughts about 2008 product.