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The one important factor being overlooked is the European market...if that goes south then from the RTR standpoint this sector of the slot car hobby will be severely affected. This is a recent rise in oil which not only affects the shipping cost, but many of the petro-based parts that make up a slot car.

Though there have been a great many cars already produced as well as in the pipeline for set future releases for this year - if 2009 shows a drop off then cause for eyebrow raising concern may be warranted.

For those like Mark and many others here at HRW who enjoy creating their own cars, life goes on with nary a hiccup.

The $50.00 price "tipping" point for all RTR's is quickly approaching and once that comes to be I can see stagnation until the economy becomes stable again.

To use a Wall Street term, ever since Fly brought their Viper and other companies soon followed suit, the 1/32nd side has been in an ever increasing "bubble" with more and more releases and companies entering over these years. Many of us had joked that there'd be beans for supper for awhile so to purchase the newest gotta have release...that joke ain't as funny nowadays as it becomes more of a reality.

A slight aside and quite pertinent to HRW is the oval racer part of this hobby...these folks will be far less affected since there have been far less releases of left-turners being offered - other than differrent paint schemes, the only "new" cars coming this way are the Scalextric & SCX COT's and the Carrera '57 Chevrolet and '60 Plymouth. Considering the long list of "new" cars for other than ovals, the above mentioned are just a drop in a very full bucket.