05/11/2026
Windy City Hot Wheels Show/Club
Next Show Sunday May 17th 2026
Windy City Chatter news and information
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 May 17thth 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 (See Details Below) May Races – Import Cars – Honda, Nissan, etc… Race Start Time 11:00AM in “The Loft”
2026 Monthly Meeting Dates:
May 2026 Sunday May 17, 2026
June 2026 Sunday June 21, 2026
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 CHANGE WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE DOOR.
NOTE: WE ARE NOT A CURRENCY EXCHANGE. WE DO NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO MAKE CHANGE FOR LARGE BILLS AT THE DOOR. IF YOU COME WITH LARGE BILLS TO COVER YOUR $2.00 ADMISSION YOUR ADMISSION COULD BE DELAYED. TRY STOPPING AT AN ATM “BEFORE” YOU ARRIVE.
IT APPEARS THAT A GOOD NUMBER OF YOU CONTINUALLY FAIL TO DO THIS
*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 May 17th show.
DOWNHILL RACING “IN THE LOFT”
***MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL***
JUNE IS MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL MONTH
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:
This will be open but limited to anyone who wants to be a formal member.
The tier II membership rate will be $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” this table can be used in the future (based on availability at 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. 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 May or June.
If this membership is of interest to you, we will have a sign-up sheet at the May event, see Vickie.
The sign-up window is the May or June show. New members will be selected and can pay their yearly dues at the June 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.
Windy City Hot Wheels
Racing Results for April 19, 2026
Greetings Race Fans. April’s Domestic Car Race had an amazing 80 Racers and an awesome selection of domestic cars racing. Always great to see a great turnout with new racers joining.
Our winner Brendan Ruiz with his green Buick Wildcat
Congratulations Brendan ! ! ! ! !
May Races – Import Cars – Honda, Nissan, etc…
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 (any color), the Monopoly Pass N Go and the ’65 Mustang Convertible 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 TBD
June Winner TBD
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…
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 – 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
As you know you will not be able to race the Ford F150 (any color), the Monopoly Pass N Go, ’65 Mustang Convertible and Buick Wildcate for the remainder of the year.
*Races are open to everyone! have fun and find out who will dominate the track at the April 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, $$$ and trophy? There are nine places left to fill. Will you hold one of them? Make sure to race at this month’s show and remember that each monthly winner also receives a $$$ prize.
News bits!
*Plan ahead for the upcoming: 40th Annual Convention Collectors Convention that 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 May.
Paul
Official website of the Annual HOT WHEELS Collectors Nationals, a national convention for HOT WHEELS collectors.
