07/11/2026
Windy City Chatter for July 2026
Next Show Sunday July 19th 2026
WINDY CITY CHATTER
Club mission statement: “to make each meeting friendly and inviting while educating the new collector and providing a fun atmosphere for the entire family.
Hot Wheels Collectors Club Since 1992
The next Windy City Hot Wheels Toy Show/Club event will be on:
Sunday July 19th 2026 9:00AM to 1:00PM
Who: WINDY CITY HOT WHEELS TOY SHOW/ CLUB
Where: Willow Springs Community Center 8156 Archer Ave. Willow Springs, IL 60480
When: Sunday of every month see calendar below
Time: Vender Set Up 8:00 AM
Show 9:00AM to 1:00PM
General Admission: $2.00 kids free, family friendly, Tables $10.00 Always open to the public. Tables available on a first come first serve basis.
What’s happening every month: *Buy-Sell-Trade all brands of diecast toys/collectibles *Free multiple door prizes. Drawing at 10:30 AM, 12:00, 12:30PM *Exclusive Raffles for a HTF Convention piece or T-Hunt. Drawing at 12:30PM *Themed monthly Downhill Racing – Cash Prize (See Details Below)
July Races – Ultra Hots – cars with Ultra Hot Wheels only – all years
Race Start Time 11:00AM in “The Loft”
2026 Monthly Meeting Dates:
July 2026 Sunday July 19, 2026
Aug 2026 Sunday Aug 9, 2026 NOTE DATE CHANGE
Sept 2026 Sunday Sept 20, 2026
Oct 2026 Sunday Oct 18, 2026
Nov 2026 Sunday Nov 15, 2026
Dec 2026 Sunday Dec 13, 2026
GENERAL SHOW/CLUB INFORMATION AND ACTIVITIES:
*We chose to be a “not for profit” group and any residual $ go back to the group at our December/Xmas meeting.
*Our monthly gatherings offer the normal (toy show) buy sell and trade plus free door prizes, a monthly raffle for an exclusive limited hot wheels item and exclusive monthly themed downhill racing.
*ADMISSION: Please come with small bills we do not have a large bank at the admission table and it is difficult for us to accept larger bills even twenty-dollar bills are sometime a problem. Thank you.
*NO COINS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE DOOR.
*There is an ATM at the Mobil gas station down the street from our meeting place. Smaller bills also help with sales transactions at the vender’s tables.
TABLES:
Tables are available on a first come first serve basis. Table fee is $10.00/table. Sign up for the upcoming month at the admission table.
Current Club Members are allowed one free table. Second tables are $10.00 each. If you want to assure a table space and we have run out of tables “but still have physical space available” you can bring your own table to set up but the current table fee will still apply.
Check in at the door and we will direct you to your assigned table. ONLY TAKE THE TABLE THAT HAS “YOUR” NAME ON IT.
“AUTUMNS SNACK SHOP”
Beverage, snack and food items will be available at the July 19th show.
DOWNHILL RACING 11:00AM “IN THE LOFT”
***MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL***
JULY IS THE LAST MONTHMEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
Club membership dues are payable in June or July
New for 2026:
*Grandfathered membership: Members who were active and paid membership dues last year (2025) will retain their club status and table rights at their grandfathered past renewal rate. Windy City will not offer this type of membership any longer. Your membership will remain active as long as you continue a yearly renewal. Any attrition will no longer be filled.
*A second table if one is desired will be $10.00.
*General admission is now $2.00 if you are not using a table.
*New TIER II membership:
We had eight new members sign up in June. Our first free table winner was Frank Zaragoza. This membership is still open but limited. Anyone who wants to be a formal member can still sign up in July.
The tier II membership rate is $30.00 per year and will go from June 2026 to June 2027
It includes:
• An annual Windy City Hot Wheels Club “Club Car”.
• Your email will be added to our roster and you will receive monthly news updates i.e. our Windy City Chatter
• You can post a free ad or inquiry in this newsletter
• Free Tables:
Out of the new membership there will be a draw every month for a “free table”. Your table can be used at the next show or in the future per club officer approval (free table usage is based on availability at each monthly sign up). If for example we have 10 new members sign up 10% of the new members will get a free table every month. Depending on the number of new memberships the monthly number of free tables can increase based on the new membership total. The club officers will determine the number of monthly free table draws. You can also sell your table win or exchange it for $10.00 in raffle tickets at any show even our Christmas event.
If you want to be a member with the above club benefits sign up in July this is the last month to join.
If this membership is of interest to you check at admission table to join. New members can pay their yearly dues at the July event.
Please note: Membership is not required it is an option. Anyone can participate in any of our activities i.e. door prizes, raffles, downhill racing, buy-sell-trade etc. at any of our meetings including our Christmas show.
Windy City Hot Wheels
Racing Results for June 21, 2026
Greetings Race Fans. June Races – New for 2026 had 56 Racers and a great selection of New for 2026 racing. We had some great racing as always. Appreciate everyone that comes out to race 😊
Our winner Kevin Phillips with his Fiat Beast of Turnin
Congratulations Kevin ! ! ! ! !
July Races – Ultra Hots – cars with Ultra Hot Wheels only – all years
Remember: Mainline Castings Only, New in Blister Pack, Multi Packs. Any Year Ok – unless specified, must be opened at the track. NO Faster Than Evers will be allowed this year, except for our August Race
As you know you will not be able to race the Ford F150, the Monopoly Pass N Go, ’65 Mustang Convertible, Buick Wildcat, Ferrari F40 and the Fiat Beast of Turnin for the remainder of the year.
January Winner Frankie Taylor - Purple Ford F150
February Winner Brendan Ruiz – Monopoly Pass N Go
March Winner Sasha – Classic Rock ’65 Mustang Convertible
April Winner Brendan Ruiz – Green Buick Wildcat
May Winner Brendan Ruiz – Black Ferrari F40
June Winner Kevin Phillips – Fiat Beast of Turnin
July’s Winner TBD
August’s Winner TBD
September’s Winner TBD
October’s Winner TBD
November’s Winner TBD
December Winner TBD
2026 RACING WILL BE A YEAR OF THEMED RACING
RACE CAR RULES
Mainline Castings Only
New in Blister Pack, Multi Packs
Any Year Ok – unless specified, i.e. our New for 2026 Race
Must be opened at the track
NO Faster Than Evers – Except for our August Race
January Races – Pick Up Trucks – COMPLETED
February Races - New for 2026 –must state New for 2026 COMPLETED
March Races – Mustangs - COMPLETED
April Races - Domestic Cars, Ford, Dodge, Chevy, etc… - COMPLETED
May Races – Import Cars – Honda, Nissan, etc… - COMPLETED
June Races – New for 2026 – Package must state New for 2026
July Races – Ultra Hots – cars with Ultra Hot Wheels only – all years
August Races – Faster Than Ever Wheels
September Races - Buses – Any Main Line Casting – NO VW DRAG BUSES
October Races – New for 2026 – Package must state New for 2026
November Races - Funny Car
December Races – Kids Race, Race for the Treasure and our
Grand Champion Race
ANY QUESTIONS ON RACES OR THE CARS – ASK OUR RACE MASTER – RUSS
COST TO RACE - $3 FOR EACH CAR ENTERED, a portion goes to the “club” with the remainder in your pocket
RACE CAR RULES
Mainline Castings Only
New in Blister Pack, 5 Packs or 8/9/10 Packs
Any Year Ok – unless specified, i.e. our New for 2026 Race
Must be opened at the track
NO Faster Than Evers, except for our August Race
ONCE A CAR HAS WON YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RACE THAT CASTING FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR
REMINDER you are not able to race the Ford F150, the Monopoly Pass N Go, ’65 Mustang Convertible, Buick Wildcat, Ferrari F40 and Fiat Beast for Turnin for the remainder of the year.
*Races are open to everyone! have fun and find out who will dominate the track at the July races. Enter some cars and race to win. The winner automatically secures a free spot for the 2026 Grand Champion race that will be held at our December 2026 show. Each monthly winner will race against one another for “all of the marbles”. Who will be the 12 contenders. Who will be the future 2026 Grand Champion and take home the prizes, $$$ and trophy? There are six places left to fill. Will you hold one of them? Make sure to race at this month’s show and remember that each monthly winner also receives a $$$ prize.
News bits!
*Plan ahead for the upcoming: 40th Annual Convention Collectors Convention will be held in Los Angeles this October 7th to 11th, 2026. Check www.hwcollectorsconvention.com
The 27th Annual Collectors Nationals is scheduled to be held in Louisville KY from April 14th through the 18th 2027. Check www.hwcollectorsnationals.com produced by Collectors Events.
If you would like to see or do something different. Feel free to share your ideas with Paul or Russ
Our group has knowledgeable collectors on almost every aspect, segment and time line of Hot Wheels collecting. You have a great opportunity to learn as well as have fun ask questions and seek opinions to improve your knowledge of the hobby from 1968 redlines to the present.
Face Book friends; if you have something that you want to buy, trade or sell feel free to join one of our Show/Club events and set up a table alongside other Hot Wheels/Diecast collector. All brands of collectibles are welcome.
Invite a friend to come along this month or someone you met at the pegs to share the fun, trade, shop or view the many items on the tables.
The power of toys generates many friendships and it is a bonus that comes from being part of a group that prospers the hobby.
Remember more toys always equal more fun!
See you all in July.
Paul
Official website of the Annual HOT WHEELS Collectors Nationals, a national convention for HOT WHEELS collectors.
