Picked up a 1970 Mario Andretti postcard (thrift store find)

Wow, what a timely podcast for Kzoo on this board. I usually listen to the "NASCARD Radio" podcast, which is a podcast about racing collecting. Well, this week's episode had a collector by the name of Justin Channels on the show. Channels detailed his quest to buy a 1972 STP Richard Petty card and to get it autographed.

Channels purchased the card in early October, then called up the Petty Museum that very day to ask about getting the card signed. Channels found out that Petty is at the museum nearly every Wednesday and decided to travel to the Museum from California shortly before Thanksgiving to get the card signed in person rather than sending it through the mail.

Petty initially pulled out his white paint pen to sign the card, Channels quickly asked Petty if he would use the Sharpie Channels brought instead. Petty said sure and he even inscribed a "200" below his signature, which was something employees at the museum said he usually does not do. Channels said that Petty could not have been any nicer or more receptive about signing the card.

From the podcast, it really sounds like if Kzoo has any way to make it to the museum in person, that would be the way to go.

The story about Channels traveling to the Petty Museum to get his 1972 STP Petty card signed in person starts shortly after the 10 minute mark of the podcast.

https://nascardradio.podbean.com/e/e...d-by-the-king/

Hey, Matt, if you go for it, can I send you a Petty card I don't want to mail in for signing?

I finally got my most recent pick up scanned. The 1974 Panini Niki Lauda went crazy price-wise during Covid. The sticker has come back down to more reasonable levels, and I was able to add one to my collection.

I know the sticker does have flaws. The left side is wonky. In addition, the scanner really picks up the spot on Lauda's forehead. To the naked eye, the spot is not so prominent.

Nice pickup.

I just got around to seeing the "Ford vs. Ferrari" movie (which probably should have been titled "Shelby vs. Ford" instead).

I thought it was a cracker of a movie despite it's many inherent flaws/cliches, and the obvious artistic license which is taken with movies such as these.

I had not been familiar with Ken Miles before seeing this movie, so it sent me down the rabbit hole of this very interesting character.

It was odd seeing all the bigger name characters on the FordGT team I was more familiar with, completely backgrounded as actual characters, along with the entire Ferrari team.

It was a long movie already, so probably a good choice to concentrate on the personal dynamic between Carrol Shelby and Ken Miles that kept you emotionally invested in the storyline. Would love to see an expanded series about the Ford vs. Ferrari endurance race rivalry of the late 60's, similar to what HBO did with the 80's Lakers/Celtics rivalry in "Winning Time".

Hey Eddie......Thanks for posting this story! It was a great listen with some interesting information. I hadn't checked this thread since just before you posted it, so that's why I was delayed in responding. I'm going to have to get a plan together to get mine signed. I watch his Facebook feed for upcoming appearances and he seems to be on the road a fair amount. An appearance somewhere between NC and Michigan would be great! Adam, I'll keep you in mind if it works out.

Glad you liked the episode. As soon as I saw the topic of that week's podcast, I thought of your post on here. :)

Thanks; I appreciate it.

I am working on my postcard checklists and if anyone has any PCs with the small numbers on the backs that are not on my checklist above, please post the name and number. I hope to get as complete as possible with the numbered cards and then work on the unnumbered issues.

38092F is Buck and Buddy Baker

The NASCARD Radio Podcast hosts are doing a neat poll right now in which they have a list of 40 listener submitted cards in a vote to select the top 10 racing cards of all-time. They are primarily a NASCAR podcast, and the list is very heavily skewed toward NASCAR, IMO, they are missing at least 5-6 major Formula 1 cards that should be on any ballot of greatest racing cards. But working with the 40 choices given, I have bolded my top 10 choices.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hCEWiscu4k


1911 T36 Barney Oldfield
1961 Marhoefer Meats A.J. Foyt
1969 Panini Mario Andretti
1972 STP Bobby Allison
1972 STP Fred Lorenzen
1972 STP Fred Lorenzen with car
1972 STP Richard Petty
1979 Avalon Hill A.J. Foyt
1982 Kidco Dale Earnhardt
1983 Uno Dale Earnhardt
1983 Uno Darrell Waltrip
1983 Uno Richard Petty
1986 Sportstar Photo-Graphics Dale Earnhardt
1987 World of Outlaws Jeff Gordon
1988 Maxx Cover Card
1988 Maxx Dale Earnhardt #99
1988 Maxx Richard Petty
1989 Maxx Dale Earnhardt
1991 IROC Dale Earnhardt
1991 Pro Set John Force
1991 Traks Jeff Gordon
1992 Grid Michael Schumacher
1992 Traks Autograph Jeff Gordon
1992 Traks Richard Petty/Dale Earnhardt Autograph
1993 Texaco Davey Alllison Autograph card
1994 Wheels High Gear Dale Earnhardt Jr.
1994 Wheels Day 1 Gold Dale Earnhardt Jr.
1996 Pinnacle 7 Wonders 7 Diamond Dale Earnhardt
1996 Press Pass Burning Rubber Dale Earnhardt
1996 Press Pass Sheet Metal Dale Earnhardt
1996 Upper Deck Dale Earnhardt
1998 Press Pass Signings Dale Earnhardt Jr.
1999 SP Authentic Dale Earnhardt Jr. Auto
2000 SP Authentic Jimmie Johnson #39
2000 SP Authentic Sign of the Times Dale Earnhardt
2000 SP Authentic Upper Deck Racing Jimmie Johnson #38
2002 Choice Rising Stars Kyle Busch
2011 Wheel Elements Chase Elliott
2020 Topps Chrome Lewis Hamilton #1
2020 Topps Chrome Max Verstappen #6

I sent these off TTM some time ago and basically forgot about it until they came back today:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...d%20cards.jpeg

The two are 1976 (real auto is in the middle) and 1981 promo pieces from Penske and Allison himself, respectively.

Mario Andretti:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...20-%20Copy.jpg

1968 Opel Kadette promo PC. Love the football theme, though it does look like the chimp is trying to lay a brick on the roof of the car:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...ize/img388.jpg

This a really interesting list for what is missing. There are so many of the NASCAR guys with much earlier postcards than these 'rookie' cards. I get it, there is a debate about postcards being 'cards' but for my collection I cannot pay up for a RC that is issued years after a promo card or a PC. I just picked up 1979, 1980, and 1981 Earnhardt PCs for example.

A few recent adds:

2021 Topps Now:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...Verstappen.jpg

2023 Panini Chronicles:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...%20of%2025.jpg

This one is the case hit:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...%20Patrick.jpg

This shiny stuff is challenging to scan.

Target makes some nice trade cards: thick, well designed.

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...ize/img396.jpg
https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...ize/img397.jpg

Great pick ups, Adam. I have liked that Hamilton/Verstappen Topps Now card ever since it was released. A title fight like that comes along once a decade in F1, if we're lucky.

I have been going to dirt track races since I was just a few months old, so I like any driver that comes from a dirt background. Kyle Larson really looks to have shortened up his signature compared to his early days in Cup. But I do get it. He is also a willing signer at dirt races all season long.

New adds:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...fer%20Ward.jpg

My first Marhoefer.

2022 Lights Out:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...s%20F1%201.jpg
https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...s%20F1%202.jpg

Norris has to be in the running for the worst on-camera look ever. Looks like he is standing in front of the principal after doing something naughty in the girls' bathroom.

Lawson is F2 but had a heck of an F1 debut.

Great pick ups, Adam. I don't think I have ever seen an autographed Marhoefer card before. In general, the Marhoefer Indy car cards don't show up on eBay much at all anymore. That is a nice card, doesn't look like it was in a package of hot dogs.

Thanks, Eddie. I've always veered away from hot dog cards because they are usually gross looking, so this one definitely perked up my interest. Probably should go to PSA for a dual grade/authenticate effort.

I'm surprised more early cards aren't signed given how decent drivers are as signers but I guess when you start with a baseline of a rare card, it tracks.

I liked the Larson card because it was shot here at the Coliseum.

So what are you saying, my Foyt Marhoefer looks gross? :D I have shown it to a couple friends that are big racing fans, and they didn't even understand why anyone would want it when it is something that should have been thrown away when the hot dogs were gone.

I have seen different posts from people saying that the Marhoefer cards that were included in hot dog packages can have a stink to them, but I have not noticed that. I have seen a good looking Foyt without stains go for anywhere for $500-1,000 on eBay at auction. I picked this one up for a little over $100 from Sterling Auctions several years ago. I went several years without seeing a Foyt Marhoefer card of any kind show up for sale before I picked up my wiener stained card.

Maybe a year ago, there was a clean set of Marhoefer cards from one of the years that went for $1,500 or $1,700 on eBay, IIRC.

"usually gross"; words matter. ;) I get the same reactions with my Kahn's cards from the insert era. The few Marhoefer's I've seen in the wild have been really rough and stained up. Yours is one of the nicer ones.

At least they aren't package cut-out cards. Those are usually wrecked by the kid's poor motor skills with scissors.

https://dyn1.heritagestatic.com/lf?s...oduct.chain%5D

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...ike%20drop.gif

NICE addition.
I still like looking at Nascar items, mostly vintage like this.
And yes, i still watch the races. COTA this weekend.

Petty
 

Congrats on the Petty, Adam. I was the under bidder and if it wasn't for my unsigned copy thay I'm hoping to get signed soon, I would have pushed it more.

Congrats from me as well on the signed 1972 STP Petty, Adam. I think his auto looks so much better in black than the white paint pen he seems to be using regularly these days. With how much Petty's '72 STP card has exploded over the past couple years, I think you got a good deal on an autographed example. :)

Thanks, Eddie, I hope so. Now to pick off a signed Dale Sr. RC.

My favorite Earnhardt auto card is the 2000 Sign of the Times card. I can't remember the last time I saw one at auction. They are several that have been on eBay for a long time at sky-high prices.

I also like his 1999 Press Pass card, which can be had at a more reasonable price with patience.

I'd rather have an early postcard, pref. the 1979.

Came across these long forgotten stickers in my toolbox yesterday. Tried to remember where they came from or who gave them to me, but I'm drawing a blank?

Looked them up and although there is hardly any value here that I could find, it did seem like the Petty sticker with the actual STP logo on it was a little tougher to find.

Coupla Parkies:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...awes%20Wax.jpg

1969 Andretti PC:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...dretti%201.jpg

Bob Sweikert's 1955 win at Indy came in one of the 500's most noteworthy and tragic races. Bill Vukovich was killed leading the 1955 race while going for an unprecedented three Indy wins in a row.

Sweikert himself was killed in a Sprint Car at Salem (ind.) just a year after winning the 500. His widow, Dorie, just passed away a few years ago. After her husband's death, she stayed away from Indy for 30 years until returning as a guest of the speedway in the mid 1980s. Dorie Sweikert wrote a sentimental book about her marriage to the Indy 500 winner 42 years after his death.

https://www.amazon.com/Along-Ride-St.../dp/0915088819

Sweikert was on the cover of Sports Illustrated May 28, 1956, then was killed just 20 days later. He is one of the examples that is usually cited when there is talk of a "Sports Illustrated Jinx."

https://www.ebay.com/itm/360289504488

A well-founded concern, I'd say; IMO this does not look good:

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/9ssAA...v5/s-l1600.jpg

Let’s go back to 1911.

Wow, Richard. that is a great looking Chevrolet. I have been stuck at 11/25 on a basic T36 driver set for a while now. They don't show up often on eBay anymore. Even the PSA 5.5 Lancia T36 that had been on eBay for a long time sold recently.

Hard to believe this was 24 yrs ago today.

May 12, 2000 (age 19 years), Loudon, New Hampshire, United States
https://twitter.com/Kenny_Wallace/st...B-5AcILGXST1WQ

The awfulest aspect of these skull fracture deaths is that they had the tech but not the will to mandate its implementation until after Dale Sr. got killed.

Not a card but close enough:

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/UXwAA...I/s-l1600.webp

i picked up one of the Rose postcards over the weekend too but no scan yet.

The vintage Indy 500 tickets have fantastic graphics with bright colors and an eye catching 'streamlined' design from that era. A week from today, I'll be attending the 500 with my 15 y.o. son for his 1st time (my 4th). We're also going to attend the racing collectibles show while in town, so I'll post anything cool we find.

Attending the Indy 500 has been on my bucket list for a long time. Definitely let us know how the collectible show is. I have read some passing comments about it over the years, but would be interested in hearing another collector's viewpoint.

Have fun with your son. Many of the best memories of my life are of races I attended with my parents.

Sounds like fun, Matt. My bucket list racing event is the Monaco Grand Prix. Yeah, that's gonna happen...If you happen to see a Daytona International Speedway PC of the Bakers, i'd appreciate it if you could please get the seller's info and pass it on to me. I'd like to finish my set.

I thought that the Rose ticket was fun because it is one of the few tickets that shows the winner of that year's race, since he won back to back. I also picked up a 2002 Castroneves for the same reason:

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ncwAA...b/s-l1600.webp

I would also love to go to Monaco as well. Realistically, I may get to Indy in my lifetime; Monaco will never happen. Even by Formula 1 standards, the cost to go to the Monaco Grand Prix are eye-watering.

Looks like you could pull it off (as part of a France trip) for anywhere from about $200 for the worst seats on Sunday on up to $4,000 to go deluxe for three days. I've been pondering a retirement present of a trip to Lyon anyway, so I might just figure out how to work that trip around a GP weekend and make the trip to Nice for the weekend. My wife can visit Nice, and I can catch the train into Monaco for the GP each day.

Or I could just buy more cards :)

That is much cheaper than I saw when I was messing around and just looking at the average cost of an F1 trip at each stop on the schedule. Monaco always looked more expensive than almost anywhere else on the schedule by several multiples.

My parents began taking me to local dirt track races when I was just a few months old, so all the bucket list trips that I have fulfilled in my life have been to dirt track races like the Knoxville (Iowa) Nationals for Sprint Cars, the Chili Bowl for Midgets in Oklahoma or to Quebec to see Northeast style Modified series races.

How do we feel about 1977-79 Sportscasters? I found a few at a recent card show and picked up Villeneuve, Sheckter, Cevert, Andretti, and Moss. Nice looking cards. Also found a 1970 Fleer Graham Hill for a buck.

This isn't a criticism of what anyone chooses to collect, but I am not a huge fan of the Sportscasters. I don't have an issue with oddball sized cards. I had lots of Sportscasters when I was a kid, but I guess I just never really thought of them as a "card" when I was a kid.