Nascar Shopping Resources

Yes, Danica Patrick is overhyped. Deal with it.

2010-02-15T08:06:00.000-08:00

Sat Feb 13, 2010 7:08 pm EST

By Jay Busbee

Danicamania hit its full stride on Saturday, with the Danicapocalypse descending on Daytanica and ... you get the picture. Danica Patrick is the most hyped driver in years, maybe decades. That media scrum there is only one of many such scenes all over Daytona International Speedway this weekend. (Here's another, one I took, from my Twitter feed.) Insane, right?

Right. But here's the thing -- Danicapalooza is an unquestionable benefit for NASCAR. One little five-foot-two driver in a neon green firesuit has been able to do in two weeks what years of gimmicky pseudo-playoffs, prefab driver personalities and rules changes and re-changes haven't -- inject new life and new blood into NASCAR.

Don't believe me? Check this. The media scrums noted above happen for a simple reason: people want to know about Danica. For whatever reason -- whether she's an object of worship or desire -- she's drawn people's interest. Everybody's numbers -- mine, ESPN's NASCAR's, everybody's -- are up as a result of Danica. This isn't the media forcing Danica down people's throats -- this is people wanting more, more, more Danica.

I know the counter-arguments, and they've got merit. She hasn't done anything. She hasn't got the talent. Women shouldn't be on the track. She's taking away attention from other, better drivers.

To which I say: quit your whining.

Sure, she hasn't done much in IRL, but she's run well enough in that series to merit a look in NASCAR. (All joking about Danica needing to do her nails or run carpools during races aside, the idea that a woman doesn't belong on a track is beneath contempt.) As for the idea that she's taking attention away from other drivers -- well, anybody who says that must not know their NASCAR history. From Day 1, the sport was built on drivers who knew that an outsize persona was just as essential to success as on-track skill. You wouldn't catch Richard Petty in a GoDaddy ad -- thank heaven -- but there's a direct line between his self-promotion and Danica's.

Is the hype at times too much to stomach? Of course it is. There are only so many times you can see the progress of a 20th-place car. But if there's anything more tired than the hype, it's people talking about how sick they are of the hype.

Danicamania won't be around forever. But with any luck, some of the new fans she's bringing in will be. So let's just deal with the hype and enjoy the ride.

Unless you're scared of a girl, that is.

The Danica Patrick NASCAR Era Begins

2010-02-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

Saturday was the first race of the NASCAR Nationwide Series season and NASCAR fans everywhere are stoked for the new NASCAR season which constitutes 36 races and runs from the middle of February until late November. Today's opener on the Sprint Cup side was just won by Jamie McMurray after nearly three hours of delays due to potholes in the pavement.

A good race to be sure, but no one wants to talk about the Daytona 500 or Jamie McMurray right now. Instead, more people are concentrated on Saturday's race and a superstar bigger than any superstar racing has seen in a long long time.

Quick question...does anyone actually know who won the Nationwide race on Saturday? I'll save everyone from having to test your google skills and tell you that it was Tony Stewart who won the race (I'll admit, I had to look it up as well). The real story behind that race was not Stewart, however, it was Danica Patrick's NASCAR debut.

If you don't believe me, believe the newspaper. In today's sports section, they had the 2010 NASCAR preview. The No. 1 story they mentioned was not Jimmie Johnson's pursuit of an unprecedented fifth championship in a row (his current streak of four in a row is already a record). It wasn't about Hendrick Motorsports trying to continue its domination of the Sprint Cup Series.

It wasn't about Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, Juan Pablo Montoya, or any of the other extremely talented drivers trying to end Jimmie Johnson's record run. It was about none of those things. The No. 1 headline in the NASCAR preview section today read, "Danica Patrick can compete with the big boys."

If we look back at Patrick's week, we can see that it was a week full of ups and downs. On the first day of practice, Patrick managed to clock just the 27th fastest time (down). However, on day two of practice she was fifth fastest (up) and ended up qualifying 15th for Saturday's race (also an up).

The good times did not last long, however. Patrick started losing ground almost immediately after the race began, falling from 15th to 18th to 23rd to 27th to 33rd. On more than one occasion she fought her way back up into the low-mid 20's, but it was clear that she did not have the car, nor the confidence in the car, to compete with the leaders.

Then on lap 69, she became collateral damage in a wreck that took out 12 cars. The wreck was certainly not her fault, and she did her very best to avoid it, but she had nowhere to go and her day ended on lap 69. She finished 35th.

I give Patrick all the credit in the world for going out there and trying something new. Racing stock cars is nowhere near the same thing as racing Indy cars. Just ask Sam Hornish Jr., who left open wheel racing for NASCAR a few years ago and has never come close to competing at the NASCAR level.

Or Dario Franchitti, whose journey to NASCAR was so successful that his team was shut down half way through the 2008 season and resulted him crawling back to the IndyCar Series with his tail between his legs in 2009. Racing is racing, but comparing stock cars to Indy cars is like comparing apples to oranges—they are just two very different entities.

Anyone who thought that Danica Patrick would come to NASCAR and compete right away was only fooling themselves. This is going to take some time.

My issue here is not that Danica Patrick has decided to try her hand at NASCAR. If she wants to do that, I think that's great. My issue is the amount of coverage she gets without doing anything on the track to justify it. My issue here is headlines like "Danica Patrick can compete with the big boys" after she finished her one and only race with these "big boys" 35th. Let me say it again in case you missed it—she finished 35th!

That's like saying the Slovakian national hockey team can compete with the Canadian national team after Canada beat Slovakia 18-0 in the Olympics on Saturday. Yeah, they sure can compete if your definition of competing is being on the same ice as the Canadian team. That goes the same for Danica Patrick. She was on the same track as Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, and Clint Boyer, but that is the only way she competed with them.

She was never able to directly compete with them—she never found herself running up front with the leaders. That isn't saying that she won't get there eventually, but she is not to that point yet. Headlines like "Danica Patrick can compete with the big boys" are a little premature. How about we wait until she actually does something on the track before making declarations that she will be a dominate force in NASCAR.

Now, you are reading this and some of you are probably thinking, "He's just a Danica Patrick hater." This is not the case at all. Danica Patrick is a talented driver and is very important to the sport of racing as a whole. All I am saying is that we should not overpraise her until she does something that justifies our praise. I don't care if she's a man, woman, or martian...a 35th place finish should not be celebrated like it is the best thing that ever happened.

If her name was Dan Patrick and she finished 35th, there would not be word one spoken about Dan. No one would pay any attention to Dan until Dan did something that warranted that attention. I believe we should apply the same standards to Danica Patrick that we would anyone else.

Keep racing Danica. When you actually show that you are a competitor in NASCAR, I will be in the front of the line, ready to declare you one of the elite drivers. But you have to show me that you are before I am ready to do that.

Do You Know What Makes Sports Memorabilia Truly Unique And Valuable?

2009-02-13T09:43:00.001-08:00

Author: teahupoo

The sports memorabilia genre is a large one including collectibles of all types. While some people will immediately think of football or baseball when thinking about sports collectibles, but the fact of the matter is that there are many more kinds of sports that have valuable collectibles.

To be valuable as collectibles, the vast majority must be kept in flawless condition. The more aged and less flawed an item is, the more it will be worth in the future. A lot of people will invest in memorabilia like this for the sake of their children and grandchildren and guard it as if it were invaluable. It is an honor to be given something of such importance and is a matter of personal pride for the person who originally got the item.

Sports memorabilia covers a wide range of topics, including everything from the conventional trading cards to things owned and even worn by the sports figure that became celebrated. One area that is overlooked many times as an area of interest is that of books. Many famous sports figures have written autobiographies about their lives, both private and public. Many books like this are considered valuable just because of the individual's popularity with the public, even if they were known for being ruthless or rude. As a matter of fact sometimes this creates eve more interest. For example, Keshawn Johnson, the former NFL football player who is now a commentator for ESPN has a new book out called "Throw Me The Damned Ball"

NASCAR is an area of the sports collectible realm that has a diverse assortment of merchandise from toy cars to leather jackets and even furniture. My dad is a huge Jeff Gordon fan and he probably owns just about anything that is available featuring Jeff Gordon.

Certain product endorsements can also provide collectible items that are deemed valuable. Timex featured Barbara Ann Scott, a female skater and a Canadian. She won an Olympic victory in 1948. That motivated sales of thousands of dolls of her likeness. These days it seems almost any sports star of any reknown at all has dolls, coffee cups, watches, and any other imaginable item with there likeness on them.

Of course,one of the most distributed collectibles in the sports memorabilia world continues to be trading cards. It's a fairly affordable way to get a child started with a baseball card collection or some other sports card collection. Even still it can become a high cost undertaking as the child grows to be an avid die-hard fan and learns to know the value of sports card collecting. A sports collection is something that might take many years to obtain and might never be thought complete. This kind of interest will help instruct the child about responsibility among other matters. They have to keep the cards away from curious friends who may not have learned the value of collecting and as well as greedy adults who may try to take advantage.

SportsClick Inc. Announces Acquisition

2009-01-26T07:30:00.000-08:00

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, Jan 19, 2009 (Marketwire via COMTEX) ----SPORTSCLICK INC., (TSX VENTURE:SCV) ("SportsClick") listed on the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. under the trading symbol "SCV" is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Letter of Intent to purchase all of the outstanding shares of Southprint Inc (operating as Checkered Flag Sports) ("Southprint"). Southprint is a private US company based in Martinsville, Virginia and is a leading manufacturer and wholesaler of authentic, licensed NASCAR apparel.

Established in 1992, Southprint has evolved from a provider of custom printed NASCAR apparel to retail outlets into a manufacturer of head-ware, outerwear and die-cast collectibles. Southprint also provides high volume, top quality contract screen printing for many nationally recognized brands. Southprint owns 19 product manufacturing licenses including rights to Dale Earnhardt Jr., CoorsLight Racing and Jim Beam Racing. Located in the heart of NASCAR country, Southprint operates from corporately owned facilities in Martinsville, Virginia. Its 90,000 square foot office, warehouse and production center is in a prime industrial park location. Southprint last year had annual sales of approximately $15 million USD.

Under the terms of the Letter of Intent SportsClick will acquire Southprint for $3 million CND in an all stock transaction. The closing, scheduled for February 27, 2009 (subject to due diligence, certain conditions in the Letter of Intent and Board approval.) Sportsclick will issue 6 million shares to Southprint shareholders at a deemed price of $0.50 per share and acquire 100% of Southprint. The deal is also subject to the successful negotiation and execution of a purchase and sale agreement and such agreement will contain conditions, representations and warrantees customary to transactions of this nature. The acquisition is arm's length and is also subject to regulatory approval.

Jack Ross, SportsClicks' CEO said "The Southprint acquisition positions Sportsclick as a major player in the sports merchandising business in North America. We have been looking for an acquisition that can provide us with an established manufacturing and distribution capability in the United States. Southprint's existing operations and nationwide retail customer base represent an outstanding opportunity for us to leverage our direct buying relationships with apparel manufacturers."

Mr Ross went on to say, "In our business direct product manufacturing licenses for high sales volume merchandise are vital to growing market share and maintaining profitability. We look forward to working with Butch Hamlet and his able Southprint team as we merge our product lines to create a dominant sports merchandising business across North America." Butch Hamlet, Southprint's' founder and CEO said, "Southprint's NASCAR licenses, distribution network, manufacturing expertise, and importing experience are a perfect fit for SportsClick's growth model."

Mr Hamlet also said, "SportsClick's state of the art systems enable real time inventory controls and online purchasing. Integration of these systems into Southprint's operations will significantly extend the reach of our NASCAR licenses. Jack Ross and the Sportsclick team are terrific people, and we expect great economies will result from our combined operations."

SportsClick is a leading wholesaler of licensed, authentic sports merchandise and apparel across Canada. Its distribution network includes both independent and leading retailers including Ultramar and Petro-Canada convenience Stores, Husky Markets, Loblaws, London Drugs and Calgary Co-Op stores. The company is committed to expansion through strategic acquisitions of leading businesses in the specialty apparel and promotional merchandising sectors.

SportsClick is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "SCV".

Web Sites

www.sportsclick.ca

www.checkeredflagsports.com

Certain statements contained in this document are "forward-looking statements". The projections, estimates and beliefs contained in such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements. SportsClick believes the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable; however SportsClick cannot provide any assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct.

SOURCE: SportsClick Inc.

2009-01-26T07:21:00.000-08:00

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A Look At Some Of The Newer Lines Of Collectible Cars

2009-01-23T10:25:00.001-08:00

For all of those who retire to the television for hours at a time to gaze at colorful machines whizzing around an asphalt track, the idea of taking a front seat to the action is quite enticing. However, for most this is just a childhood or even grown up fantasy which is unlikely to result in the shifting of gears and pit stops to frantically change smoky tires. For some, there may be a way to quench, or at least wet, the thirst for first hand NASCAR excitement: diecast cars.

In today's modern market of video games and computer overuse, there is a concept being revived in popular culture: the collectible car. While many may remember the days of the matchbox car, few children today can appreciate the true popularity that was once there. With the dawn of a new miniature car series, this notion may change. Kids may just hang up their joysticks and stop to take in the most recent release from Racing Champions.

Who can turn down a good duplicate? Americans everywhere enjoy the hobby of collecting valuables, and sometimes not so valuables. Mini cars are no exception. In the Ebay age, collections have ranged anywhere from Beanie Babies all the way to cigars. In an almost revival effort, Racing Champions has introduced a new mini car line geared at both a collector's audience as well as an audience of kids who like cars.

NASCAR driver Rich Bickle partnered with well known restaurant Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits in announcing a new line of diecast collectible cars which will feature the signature #91 style renowned to Bickle fans. The new series is targeted at NASCAR fans of all ages who can appreciate the value of striking miniature reproductions.

Youngsters may value the cars for the cool look or simply to crash into their other matchbox cars or slide down their car racing tracks. The vibrant animated appearance will surely please the eyes of kids while the fine detail will tickle the fancy of serious car lovers. The reproduction is uncanny and the vivid colors and movable parts will entice even the most discriminating collectors. Bickle has partnered with Ed Smith of Ironworks and Jon Luther of Popeyes to create the line, and the shared expectation is that cars will fly off of store shelves and into collections nationwide.

This type of pop culture memorabilia gives character to a society. While some families pass down fine jewelry, other pass down collectible cars. To some it may seem frivolous, but to the man who watched NASCAR with his father and grandfather, these items are priceless.

For anxious collectors these cars can be purchased online at a variety of sites.

About the Author: Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as a collectible cars at http://www.diecast-racing-collectibles.com

A Look At Sports Memorabilia And Collecting

2009-01-22T16:43:00.000-08:00

Collecting sports memorabilia is a hobby that can fill your spare time with importance and give you a distraction to the everyday drudgery. What you decide to collect is a matter of personal preference. Some people collect items from a broad range of different sports while others only collect items that pertain to a particular sport or a particular athlete.

There are many different ways to display your collection; depending on what it is you collect. If you follow a particular team for example, and you collect newspaper clippings and sports cards it can be done by creating scrapbooks. You can even put ticket stubs and photographs in this type of collection.

If you are the type of person that collects larger physical items such as jerseys, game balls, and helmets then you will need to do a little more work. These items can be displayed on shelves, in glasses curio cabinets, or with the jersey even hung on the wall.

For the collector that collects items from a wide range of sports small metal pins with team insignias are available from most sports and because of their small size they are very easily kept and displayed. These pins from sports teams and those depicting the Olympics are a very hot commodity these days.

Sports cards like those that we used to get in bubble gum packs as kids are still very popular. Baseball cards were the first of this genre of sports memorabilia that has now evolved into including football, basketball, and more. Some of the older cards with players such as Babe Ruth or Joe DiMaggio are worth thousands!

Another area of sports memorabilia that has become extremely hot is NASCAR. You won't find more rabid fans anywhere, okay well maybe with the exception of Packers and Steelers fans in the NFL. Anyway, NASCAR offers a wide range of collectibles for the sports fan who follows a particular driver. You can get anything from a replica of the car they drive to authentic team jackets.

Regardless of the sport you choose to follow you can find huge resources online to help you add to your collection.
Article Provided By: My Articles Directory
About the Author: Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. For great selections of sports memorabilia go to http://www.sportscollectiblesandmemorabilia.com

The Advantages Of Purchasing Gifts Online

2009-01-22T16:33:00.000-08:00

Author: nbisea

The world of shopping has changed dramatically over the past decade. Now, you can go to a store without actually leaving your house. More and more people are choosing to make purchases for goods, services and gifts online. Now, this definitely doesn't mean that an in-store shopping experience will soon be long gone, but many people are taking advantage of the convenience of internet shopping.

There are a good number of reasons why people look to the internet for their shopping needs. Even if you are a shopper who does a little bit of both, there is always a good bit of variety to be had when you take the time to mix online shopping along with shopping in some of your local stores. However, when it comes to holiday shopping, the internet cannot be beat for convenience.

No crowds to contend with and your present can be wrapped and sent by the retailer directly to the recipient. You can get corporate gifts or personalized wedding gifts. If you have a Macys, a Target or a Visa gift card, then all of these can be used for online purchases. This is the sheer ease of shopping online. And with the security systems that most online retailers utilize, online shopping is also safe.

The biggest thing going for internet shopping is the sheer variety of items available for buying gifts online. This is especially helpful if you have a wide range of people on your shopping list. Online shopping is one of the best ways to get your shopping done and all from the convenience of your own home.

Add to that a world full of products at your fingertips. Even if you do not have a good idea of the type of gift that you would like to buy, you also have the option of purchasing a gift card for your holiday gift giving needs.

Shopping online brings a good bit of convenience to your life. Whether you are somebody who is short on time and you need to shop quickly from your computer or you are a person who cannot make it out to the stores, online shopping is a fast and easy way to get the presents that you need. Even wedding presents for special friends and family can be purchased online.

With all of the thousands of amazing online stores that you can browse through daily, it is almost impossible to think that there could be any better way to shop. Even when there is a person on your shopping list who lives far away, you can simply have the gifts that you purchased online shipped right out to them, cutting out long lines at the post office. Perhaps we are spoiled with the ease, variety and convenience of shopping for gifts online.

How to Shop on A Limited Income!

2009-01-13T10:11:00.000-08:00

How to Shop on A Limited Income! by jill

With the holidays just around the corner, everyone is trying to figure out how to save money. Along with holiday shopping, we still have to do our every day shopping, which can make it really hard to get that holiday list finished.

With just a few changes in the way you shop, you can save hundreds of dollars. Who knows, you might find that perfect gift in the most unexpected place!

Goodwill Stores

People may not realize that goodwill stores are open to the public. They carry a variety of new and used items from clothes to house ware to furniture. This is perfect for the college student or someone who just wants to save a few bucks! What's really great about shopping at Goodwill is that about 85% of the revenue they receive goes back into the community for education and career services as well as other programs.

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is similar to Goodwill. They carry a variety of new and used items, ranging from furniture to toys. They take the revenues they collect and help the community by giving back to the unfortunate. So not only are you finding great items at a bargain, you're helping people in need.

Thrift Stores

What an awesome place to find some really nice things, especially clothes! Most the clothes in thrift stores are brand new, with the tags still on the garment! There are many thrift stores throughout the Austin area, many of which have great sales. Some have what is called a "Grab Bag" sale; Customers go into the store, get a bag and what ever they can fit into the bag is only $10.00, that's $10.00 for the entire bag, not each item! What a deal!

Garage Sales You've heard the saying, "Someone else's garbage is your treasure." Spring cleaning means spring shopping! Check out your local paper and look for listings for garage sales, especially estate or moving sales. You can find some really good bargains this way. Anything from priceless antiques to simple collectables; many people just want to get rid of the items before they move or are just simply making room for newer things. Don't be afraid to ask for a lower price on an item you really like! Many people having garage sales will offer an "Everything for one price" deal. You're bound to find some unique treasures by hunting at garage sales.

Church Bazaar's

Everyone loves bazaars! Check your church's bulletin and other church's in your area for their bazaar. You can find some very unique and wonderful items at bazaars. Most of the items are usually hand made with much love and time. You can find blankets, afghans, quilts and much, much more. There are usually homemade baked goods also. So not only are you finding a cool quilt, you might even get a homemade cake or some cookies!

Store Sales Watch your television or newspapers for store sales. You can find some really good bargains, especially for closeout sales.

Nascar Fans - How Much Does it Cost to Be One?

2008-12-27T07:24:00.000-08:00

Being a serious Nascar racing fan can be a very expensive hobby. Millions of people throughout the USA love the excitement of Nascar racing and will do and pay anything to see it live and in person at least once per season. As a devoted fan there are dozens of different types of memorabilia, tickets, weekend getaways and Nascar events to take advantage of through any racing season. Let's go through the general expenses of Nascar fan throughout an average season of thrilling racing events.

First, there is no doubt that you are going to want to attend at least 2-3 top races throughout the season and these tickets can be expensive. For two tickets you can be sure to spend at least $100 for decent seats at a highly rated race throughout the year. It is likely that you are not from the area where the race is taking place which means you are going to have travel expenses to include as an add-on to your existing ticket prices. From the Nascar website you can find ticket and travel packages that include your hotel stay for a 3 day weekend plus the tickets to make for an easy purchase and travelling experience.

When you are not travelling across the country to see a Daytona 500 race, you are most definitely watching these races on your TV. This of course means that you have to get a special cable or satellite package to utilize these Nascar channels. Because there are so many Nascar fans today many of the cable and satellite companies have created special Nascar fan viewing packages that contain all the channels you need to catch every race of the year. Comcast is quickly becoming one of the leading Cable Companies today and they too have created the perfect Nascar viewing package for loyal fans like you. You will have access to all 70 races of the season on the Nascar FOX channel, ABC HD, ESPN 2 HD, ESPN, ABC and Fox. This package will cost you anywhere between $50-$80 per month depending on the other services and channels you include in your package.

During the Nascar racing season it becomes easier and easier to find Nascar memorabilia like Nascar personalized checks, t-shirts, mugs, flags, car decals, lights, bedding, wallpaper and so much more. As a loyal Nascar fan there is no doubt that you already have some form of Nascar memorabilia and when you visit the races throughout the year it is impossible not to buy a new t-shirt or flag to support your favourite racers. With top drivers like Michael McDowell, Regan Smith and of course Jeff Gordon, why not buy the memorabilia to support these great drivers? It is safe to say that the average fan spends about $65 per racing season on Nascar gear.

When you take the time to outline the different costs throughout the season it can be hard to believe just how much it costs to be a true, loyal Nascar fan! When you add up the $300 for race tickets, $400 for weekend stays for the races, $80 for Nascar cable channels and $65 for Nascar gear you are looking at about $845 per racing season in extreme Nascar fan expenses. When it is all laid out for you like this it can be really hard to believe just how much you can spend during the racing season but at the time, it is money well spent and without a second thought!

Ryan Gilbert has made a career of writing and photography but his favorite subject is Nascar racing. He believes that life should be lived to the fullest, that integrity is the most valuable asset a person can have and that life is too short not to spend as much time as possible fishing. Since most vendors don't accept Nascar race stubs as payment, he also markets personal checks and particularly likes the ones that Unlimited Checks offers. You may want to browse his website and the many ways you can personalize your own Nascar checks

Shopping For Authentic NASCAR Memorabilia

2008-12-27T07:21:00.000-08:00

The rush of seeing those cars go round and round at almost 200 MPH...the excitement of engines roaring and cars pulling into pitstops, vying for the front spot...it must be NASCAR! There’s good news for all you die-hard NASCAR fans. If you want to get your hands on some great memorabilia, you don’t have to go very far. You can find terrific mementos all over the place. Autographs, clothing, decals - whatever your heart’s desire, it’s out there. You just have to know where to look.

My first suggestion is to search the World Wide Web. With over 30 billion web pages available, many of them are just for NASCAR admirers like yourself. Auction sites like eBay or Yahoo Auctions are a good place to start. eBay, for example, had 329 items found for NASCAR collectibles (in April 2008). Bear in mind that when searching for anything on eBay, you may have to try various search phrases to maximize results. You’ll want to search for the words “NASCAR”, “racing” and “auto racing” to describe the sport. For the collectibles, try words like “memorabilia”, “antiques”, “collectibles”, “old”, or “historic”. It takes some time, but it’s worth it. And of course, don’t just limit yourself to eBay and Yahoo. There are plenty of online sites (including NASCAR.com) who sell items you’d be interested in. Try Googling the same search words if eBay doesn’t turn up anything you’d be attracted to.

Next, try searching trading posts, newspapers, and garage sales. They might seem like a long shot, but folks still use these outlets to sell NASCAR memorabilia. Then consider shopping at local antique stores and/or memorabilia shops. They display all kinds of collectibles—some brand new, and some used.

A good way to get NASCAR memorabilia is by going to an actual race. Granted, when you think of memorabilia, you think of something nostalgic. Most people don’t think of items you buy at a race as a collector’s item. But think of this—the merchandise of today is the memorabilia of tomorrow. So the next time you go to the race, be sure to purchase something. Ten or twenty years down the road, you may have a very valuable item, especially if it’s a memorable race!

There’s one thing to be aware of when buying collectibles (whether it’s NASCAR or anything else). Anybody can claim that an item is a collectible. That, of course, doesn’t necessarily make it so. Be sure your item has a certificate of authenticity and a return policy that’s acceptable to you. With online purchases, you also have to worry about websites wanting to infect your computer with spyware or fake sites stealing your identity. So go out and have fun searching for cool stuff...just be smart about it.

Matt D Murren owns and operates http://www.nascar-racing-fan.co

NASCAR Mobile

2008-12-24T13:36:00.000-08:00

Nascar Mobile site - News, Stats, Links and Info for mobile phones

Nascar Mobile

Still Time For Holiday Giving, NASCAR Style

2008-12-14T08:02:00.000-08:00

December 13, 2008

By Rebecca Gladden

No doubt these are tough economic times for almost everyone.

But if you've finished your Christmas shopping and still a few dollars left, or are looking for a last-minute gift for the NASCAR fans on your list, please consider a donation to NASCAR Foundation family of charities.

The foundation serves as an umbrella organization for a number of philanthropic groups with ties to the NASCAR community.

A number of studies have indicated that charitable giving is down this year across the board, making it even more imperative for all of us to support these organizations as they carry out their critical missions.

NASCAR fans are known for their generosity, even in a difficult economy. Here are just a few of the NASCAR Foundation charities - some well known and some lesser known - that could really use your help this holiday season:

* Speediatrics: The entire sixth floor of the Halifax Health Medical Center in Florida is a NASCAR-themed pediatric general and intensive unit nicknamed "Speediatrics." The unit treats more than 2000 children annually with a staff of highly skilled doctors, nurses and technicians, and offers special amenities for patients to help make their hospital a little less frightening -- including visits from top NASCAR drivers.

* The Formula Smiles Foundation - Started by NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya and wife Connie, the foundation funds educational and sports programs in Colombia that teach values and improve the lives of children living in the most vulnerable zones of the country. One example is a youth soccer league that helps underprivileged children escape from a cycle of violence, drugs and gangs.

* Racing 4 Literacy - A project of Morgan-McClure Motorsports, Racing 4 Literacy challenges 4th-6th grade students to improve their reading and writing skills by fulfilling a contract signed with their teachers. Upon completion of the program, students receive a visit from a team representative who presents them with a certificate, t-shirt, driver postcard and more. Racing 4 Literacy students have read and written book reports on more than 25,000 books as a result of the program.

* The Denny Hamlin Foundation - The foundation supports a variety of children's charities - primarily the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation - along with the Children's Hospital of Richmond, Virginia, and the Victory Junction Gang Camp. Hamlin formed the foundation earlier this year, noting that he has a family member with cystic fibrosis.

* The Dale Earnhardt Foundation - One of the many beneficiaries of the foundation honoring the late NASCAR star is Feed the Children, which distributed 200 tons of food in 16 states where Earnhardt once raced - food that was used to feed more than 10,000 hungry children. The foundation's website offers several options for Earnhardt fans wishing to "continue the legend" of NASCAR's most revered driver.

The above is just a small sampling of over 30 charities listed on the NASCAR Foundation website (Foundation.NASCAR.com) with ties to NASCAR drivers, owners, families, team members and tracks.

Whatever group or cause you're interested in helping during this season of giving, chances are there's a NASCAR Foundation charity just waiting to receive your donation. Whether you contribute in your own name or on behalf of a loved one, you'll be making the holidays brighter for everyone touched by your generosity.

You can contact Rebecca
at.. Insider Racing News

Sports Merchandise Makes Unique Christmas Presents

2008-12-09T18:05:00.000-08:00

If you're looking for some fun and unique Christmas gifts for friends and family members this year, consider sports merchandise. You can find sports decor that is perfect for any room of the house or for the office.

If you're interested in a complete bedroom makeover for yourself or for your child this holiday season, then sports bedding is the way to go. You can find comforters, sheet sets, bedskirts, and pillow shams featuring many of your favorite NFL, NHL, and NCAA teams.

Maybe you only need a few accent pieces to give a bedroom the ultimate fan look. Consider items like toss pillows, bedrests, wall border, and window coverings with your favorite team's logo for that extra something special.

You can even bring the sports fan look into the bathroom with a jersey mesh shower curtain showcasing your favorite NFL, NHL, or NCAA team colors and logo.

How about some items that the sports fans in your life can hang outdoors to let all the neighbors know who they are rooting for? You can find a huge variety of flags and banners for NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, and NCAA teams, as well as for many NASCAR drivers.

Everyone could use something to snuggle under during the cold winter months. Extra soft and plush sports throw blankets are the perfect gift for anyone who is a fan of the NBA, NFL, NCAA, NHL, MLB, or NASCAR.

There are even some great sports decor items available to make a statement in a home office or corporate office. Waste baskets and wall clocks featuring favorite sports teams make great additions to the office. For football fans, Riddell mini helmets are a great item to display on a desk or shelf.

Another unique memorabilia item for the football fan is an NFL Photomint. The NFL photomint features photographs and collectible coins from some of the most memorable moments in NFL history.

There is a great variety of sports decor items that make perfect gifts for the sports fans on your list. Your friends and family members, both big and small, will be delighted when they unwrap a treasure featuring their favorite sports team or college. You can find the perfect sports gift for your friend, loved one, coworker, or boss to treasure for many years to come.

NASCAR Gifts For Men

2008-12-06T20:36:00.000-08:00

Do you have a man who is a NASCAR fan? NASCAR gifts are loved by men. Whether that gift is intended to be a Father's Day present, a birthday present, or a just because you want to show him how much you love him. He probably already has a Nascar hat and a Nascar t-shirt. If you would like to purchase unique NASCAR gifts for your father, husband or friend, checkout some of these great NASCAR gifts for men.

With spring and summer quickly approaching, racing themed barbeque tool sets make great gifts for men. Get a barbeque tool set with you man's favorite driver's number printed on the handles. These specialty racing themed barbeque tool sets often come with matching storage cases or bags. These NASCAR grill tool sets are great, but affordable, gifts for men who like to grill outside.

Did you know that they make NASCAR patio sets? Yes they do. An outdoor patio set with a racing theme is a great, yet unique NASCAR gift idea. Now these aren't real cheap so this is probably more suited for a very close family member, husband or dad. Make sure that the racing patio set has your loved one's favorite nascar driver on the seats and table. Some have the names of the drivers and some have the nascar driver's number. A NASCAR patio set will allow your nascar fan to barbeque in style on race days.

Companies also make racing themed canopy sets. These canopy sets are also really awesome gift ideas for men who love NASCAR. And, you will have to look long and hard to find someone else who has a race car canopy set.

What goes hand and hand with watching a race? That's right beer or another cold beverage. You man would love to have a NASCAR compact refrigerator with is favorite driver on it. I would love to have a Jeff Gordon compact refrigerator or may a Dale Jr refrigerator. These compact refrigerators would look great in your game room or a dormroom.

If you are looking for a NASCAR gift for a child, toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary school aged children love NASCAR diecast cars. NASCAR diecast cars make very affordable gifts. In fact, most grown men that I know love racing diecast cars. My son and I play racing all the time with diecast cars. He always plays with his Jeff Gordon diecast car and I play with my Tony Steweart diecast car. He won't let me play with the Jeff Gordon diecast car.

I hope that these gift ideas help you to pick out the perfect NASCAR gifts for men.

NASCAR Racing Apparel – Insider Tips to Shopping at NASCAR Apparel Websites

2008-11-28T22:12:00.000-08:00

By Kevin Gomez

What can I say. This is one of the best “PitStops” one can make when it comes to sports websites of any kind. A redesigned website, this is a sharp looking place to shop. If you're a NASCAR fan you probably already know that they have a Superstore as well. If you're looking for NASCAR racing jackets, NASCAR hats, or just about any kind of NASCAR merchandise known to mankind, this, pretty much, is the place!

Some Site Features

NASCAR RacePoints

This is the Official Rewards Program of NASCAR. When you purchase a qualifying item, you'll earn points that can be redeemed in their NASCAR RacePoints Rewards Catalog. Multiple ways to earn points and many ways to burn the points for rewards.

NASCAR Members Club

Get VIP treatment at the track, locally and online, get money saving discounts and members-only deals, even a $10 rebate on your next gas purchase.

Navigational Ease

The new look of their website is much neater and user friendly. The variety of links with drop down menus are excellent. Plenty of options for you to choose from. Using their search box is also a quick way to find exactly what you're looking for.

Variety of NASCAR Merchandise

It's an almost, “you name it, they've got it” type of website. They have all sorts of official NASCAR apparel: NASCAR racing jackets, NASCAR hats, NASCAR shirts, NASCAR jerseys, NASCAR women's pajamas, NASCAR night shirts, NASCAR youth/infant apparel and a huge assortment of NASCAR accessories.

The serious NASCAR fan will have a field day in this, what I call, “NASCAR candy store.”

Green Flags

An excellent website with lots of NASCAR merchandise to choose from. Any NASCAR fan will enjoy the other very interesting portions of this site just as much.

Yellow Flags

None that I can see.

NASCAR® is a registered trademark owned by National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. GET A RIDE™ ONLINE is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the NASCAR® organization.

NASCAR Dropshippers - 3 Tips to Selling NASCAR Items on eBay

2008-11-28T16:09:00.000-08:00

If you want to sell NASCAR items on eBay you will need a NASCAR dropshipper or wholesale source. If you want to be successful on eBay, then follow these three tips before deciding which NASCAR items to sell.

Tip 1 - Determine which NASCAR items are in most demand on eBay. One way to do this is to use a free tool offered by eBay called eBay Pulse. This tool allows you to see the top 10 searches on eBay within a given category. So navigate over to eBay and look for eBay pulse. Find the category that you are interested in selling in and then see what people are searching for. You can drill down and narrow the category to get more details. There are other tools available for a fee that will give you more details, but this will work for now.

Tip 2 - Once you find out what is in demand then you need to find a dropshipper. Dropshippers will allow you to list an item for sale on eBay, without having to own the item. When it sells on eBay then you purchase the item from the dropshipper and they will ship it to your customer. There are many advantages to using a dropshipper. You don't have to buy the product up front. You don't have to ship it. You don't have to keep up with inventory.

Tip 3 - When looking for a dropshipper make sure they charge low fees and they have pre-made eBay listing tools. One of the big time eaters on eBay is creating a listing for your product. The dropshippers I use have tools that allow you to list an item they have in stock within seconds on eBay at the touch of a button. This way I can focus on selling and finding products that sell versus creating listings.

Selling NASCAR items on eBay is easy if you follow the steps above.

Holiday Shopping in a Gloomy Economy

2008-11-28T16:07:00.001-08:00

MARION -- A recent poll from ABC news shows only 21 percent of Americans think that it's a good time to buy right now. Certainly not what business owners want to hear. But some are not letting the gloomy economic forecast get them down.

"This month's starting to do real good, I think with Christmas coming up, people are buying early," said William Harmon the owner of Pit Road Racing on the Marion Square.

Harmon opened his store nine months ago. He sells nascar shirts, hats and other collectibles. He says business has been good so far mainly because there isn't a lot of competition.

"There's nowhere else they can go within a couple hours each way, so i'm looking forward to this Christmas holiday," said Harmon.

Harmon hopes to cash in this holiday, but will there be enough customers?

"People will have money to spend, just maybe not as much," said George Trammell, President of the Marion Chamber of Commerce.

Trammell says with the economy in bad shape he expects shoppers to be more picky. So he hopes people will pick southern Illinois businesses like Harmon's. Instead of shopping online or through catalogs.

"That's a good chunk of change that stays here in southern Illinois, the sales taxes that are paid on it helps support local communities, colleges, airports and the schools," said Trammell, "the people that you buy from in turn are gonna buy products and services, they're gonna do their Christmas shopping with that money and it keeps going on and on."

Back at Pit Road Racing, Harmon's stocking his shelves for the store's first holiday season. But he says it won't be his last.

"It takes what,two, three years to grow a business and get everybody telling everybody else, so I think next year will be even better," said Harmon.

Trammell says he expects stores like Salvation Army and charity programs like Shop with a Cop to be leaned on more heavily this holiday season than in the past.

By Ryan Kruger
rkruger@wsiltv.com

NASCAR should reach out to fans in tough economy

2008-11-28T16:04:00.000-08:00

By Dustin Long
The Virginian-Pilot
© November 18, 2008

HOMESTEAD, Fla.

There's a championship to ponder, a banquet to plan and some holiday shopping ahead, but NASCAR might put "find better ways to connect with fans" atop its to-do list.

Other than old highlights on TV and an awards ceremony full of corny jokes, there is nothing for NASCAR nation to feed on until February. Banning testing next year at many tracks - including Daytona in January - means NASCAR truly will hibernate this winter.

The sport saw attendance decline and TV ratings yo-yo in 2008, and next year could be bleaker. Should the economy continue to struggle, as many predict, fewer NASCAR fans might opt to attend races or buy souvenirs.

That's why someone from NASCAR should consider hopping on the phone with officials in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Roanoke or Richmond to hold a fan fest similar to what Winston used to hold each off-season. These specific cities would provide a large and varied population base within a three-hour drive.

If none are able or interested in hosting such an event, NASCAR can move on to the next idea to reach fans.

"I'm sure this sport will find a way to step up and fill the void of not having the (preseason) test, of finding a way to create excitement for the beginning of the year," Jeff Burton says. "I think that would be in the best interest of our fans to create some energy, to create something going on around the sport."

One idea is to bring the drivers together for a one-day event that would benefit Kyle Petty's Victory Junction Gang Camp and other NASCAR charities. Have drivers sign autographs, maybe do a Q&A session. But most importantly, allow the fans to see their favorite driver up close.

Fans want to stand near their heroes and enjoy that sense of connection. It's why autographs mean so much to them. Photos, too. They are keepsakes of a special moment.

Without that bond, which NASCAR worked hard to cultivate over the years, it's easy to lose interest. While Jimmie Johnson fans celebrate his third consecutive series title, many others lament the quality of the racing, moan about the sport's lack of personality and complain about ticket prices.

A fan fest can't solve all the ills, but it would be a gesture of goodwill, one some fans might need to remain loyal subjects. Strengthen the link with fans and make it harder for them to give up those tickets. Make them decide to give up something else, not their NASCAR race.

If NASCAR can't get all its drivers in one place at the same time, another idea might be to send select drivers on a barnstorming trip. Fly half a dozen of them to Chicago in the morning and Kansas City in the afternoon for a day of public appearances. Have them spend at least two hours signing autographs.

Send another group day-tripping to Daytona in January and then to Tampa/St. Petersburg. Hit Portland, Ore., and Seattle with one collection and Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth with another.

This is a time for NASCAR to stretch its reach, not back away as fans leave. By the time fans might realize they can get by without going to a race, it will be too late for the sport to react.

Car owner Jack Roush said Sunday he's a "proponent of the race tracks reducing the ticket prices... to fill up the stands so that the sponsors and everybody that supports the thing can get their value for having the maximum number of people impressed or exposed to what we do."

Some tracks already have done that and even extended deadlines on purchasing tickets for next year.

Attendance wasn't as bad this year as it might have been had so many fans not bought tickets months in advance. Many race fans were committed to attending races even before gas prices soared and the economy dived.

That's not the case now. With money due on next season's tickets in the heart of a recession, some fans might delay purchasing seats or decide they can't afford to go.

Empty seats are lost revenue, and enough of them creates the perception NASCAR is worse off than it really might be.

If NASCAR doesn't reach out to its fans soon, that perception could become reality.

Shopping Local, Shopping Online

2008-11-28T16:00:00.000-08:00

By WBNG News

Story Created: Nov 26, 2008 at 5:25 PM EST

The stores will be packed on Black Friday, but its the internet that will see some heavy traffic come Cyber Monday.
Multimedia

With a click of the mouse, you can typically find some great deals
without leaving home.

Action News Reporter Jessica Light tells us why this Cyber Monday, some local businesses are hoping you'll surf onto their site.

From model cars to Nascar apparel.

07 Racing Collectibles in the Town of Union stocks all things race related.

And its all featured on the business's website.

"With the increase in the Nascar popularity we've gained business from all parts of the country. Plus a lot of local people use it as a reference to when new items come in." says Tom Schwarz, the owner of 07 Racing Collectibles.

Schwarz hopes his site sees more traffic this Cyber Monday.

That's when thousands of people will be searching the internet for that perfect gift at a perfect price.

07 Racing Collectibles is one of the few local companies that actually sells its products online.

"It is a little hard to do because um you have to kind of keep track of your inventory of what you have in the store and what you sell on the website to make sure if someone orders something you have it in stock." says Schwarz.

Our Country Hearts uses its website to generate foot traffic at its furniture store.

You can't buy online, but you can see some of the stores rare inventory.

"We use it to show people what we have and bring them into the store or make it easier to see if they should come into the store not necessarily to sell the things online." says Jason Shaw, the co-owner of Our Country Hearts.

Shaw expects his site to see more hits on Cyber Monday.

Its show-casing all the steals at the store.

" I'm putting my clearance items on there so people can say oh I did like that 3 months ago and its still there! I better go get it before it disappears." says Shaw.

But you won't see too many of the store's gift items online.

Shaw says that merchandise changes daily, and its too hard to keep tabs.

The reason so many local stores have websites, with no shopping cart attached.

In the Town of Union, Jessica Light, WBNG-TV Action News.

Cataloging merchandise in cyberspace is a great way for businesses to go green.

Our Country Hearts says it would cost thousands of dollars to print up catalogs of all its furniture.

And it says most paper catalogs go from the mail box, straight into the garbage can.

Big NASCAR souvenir sale to last longer this weekend

2008-11-28T15:57:00.000-08:00

Usual Friday-only event expanded until Sunday
because vendors have surplus of hats, T-shirts and other fan gear.

By Jefferson George
jgeorge@charlotteobserver.com
Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008

A day-after-Thanksgiving tradition at Lowe's Motor Speedway will run through the weekend this year, due partly to the sour economy's effect on spending by NASCAR fans.

The Concord speedway's Souvenir and Race Ticket Blow-Out Sale usually is the Friday following Thanksgiving. Race fans across the region and from other states come not only to buy discounted merchandise, but also drive their own vehicles on the speedway oval.

But with NASCAR fans spending less on T-shirts, die-cast cars and other items in recent months – the result of high gas prices and the credit crunch – the speedway and race teams closed the season with more merchandise than usual on shelves. That was one factor in expanding the sale, now in its 16th year, to three days.

“It's no secret that we have product we want to move,” said Don Hawk, vice president of business affairs for Speedway Motorsports, the parent company of Lowe's Motor Speedway.

But, Hawk added, the annual sale also was ripe for a marketing boost – the speedway bought radio, print and Internet ads this year. And stretching the event through Sunday gives people who work Friday a chance to find bargains on NASCAR merchandise, with hats and T-shirts starting at $2.

“A lot of them are shopping for Christmas,” he said. “We decided to muscle up what we were doing already.”

Hawk oversees SMI Properties, a Speedway Motorsports subsidiary that designs, manufactures and licenses racing merchandise. The idea to hold the three-day souvenir sale came from speedway owner Bruton Smith, Hawk said. If turnout is light, he added, the event could revert to one day next year.

For now, though, the tough economy has left plenty of race teams with a surplus of memorabilia, clothing, posters and die-cast cars.

While merchandisers always have some obsolete items each season – especially when drivers switch numbers or sponsors – the current downturn has resulted in “somewhat more inventory” than last year, Hawk said.

When looking at sales for all 43 Sprint Cup drivers, “I have never seen it this tight,” said Hawk, who has been with Speedway Motorsports for a year and involved in NASCAR merchandising for 15 years.

Merchandise sales were strong early this season, Hawk said, boosted by demand for new Earnhardt items. NASCAR's most popular driver switched from Budweiser to AMP energy drink and the National Guard as sponsors, and from No. 8 to No. 88.

But those gains soon were offset by fans who curbed spending as gas prices soared above $4 a gallon. Prices have since tumbled below $2 a gallon, but other economic pressures – from the Wall Street crisis to tighter credit – have led some fans to keep their wallets closed.

While the situation could be worse, Hawk said, SMI Properties and other merchandisers likely will stock fewer items next season, figuring it's better to sell out than again have too much inventory on shelves.

“The old days of just ordering a boatload (of merchandise) and not worrying about” how quickly it will sell, he said, “we can't do it that way.”

Speedway Souvenir Sale

The 16th annual Souvenir and Race Ticket Blow-Out Sale is this weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.

The sale will have 28 sellers, including teams for popular Sprint Cup drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. Vendors will be at the speedway's front entrance.

Fans who spend at least $50 on souvenirs or race tickets or donate $25 to Speedway Children's Charities on Friday can drive three laps on the speedway's 1.5-mile oval in their own cars, trucks or SUVs. The oval is reserved for driving school Saturday and Sunday, so shoppers who spend $50 or donate $25 those days get a free souvenir and tour of the zMAX Dragway.

For more information, call the speedway gift shop at 704-455-3202 or visit www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.

2008-11-27T20:30:00.000-08:00

How to shop for products online and save at the same time!
by: Jonathan White
What’s one of the most annoying things that you find when shopping online?
One of the most annoying things that I find when shopping online is that when I try to find a product, I have to go to a few sites before I find the product that I am looking for. Once I have found my chosen product, I then have problems comparing this merchants product against other merchants that sell the same product so that I can try to find the best deal for this individual product online.

So if you are also having problems like this when you are also trying to find a product online, then I would personally recommend that you try using some sort of product price comparison search engine/directory. The reasons for this are because these product price comparison search engines/directories list a large amount of products from a large amount of top quality merchants.

By using a product price comparison search engine/directory you can easily find and compare a product of your choice. You can do this by comparing the same product from individual merchants within the same product price comparison search engine/directory that sells the same product so that you can find the best price for your chosen product.

For example, http://www.simplysearch4it.com offers a product price comparison directory that also includes search facilities so that you can narrow down your search for a product of your choice. This product price comparison directory can be found at http://products.simplysearch4it.com where it lists over 250,000 products and is still growing daily. You can easily find products from garden equipment to housing goods. Within most product price comparison search engines/directories you can also order your results by price so that you can rank the lower priced products first followed by the highest priced products last.

As you can see, from using a product price comparison search engine/directory first, all you have to do is one search for the product that you want to buy and then you should receive a large number of results. Doing it this way is a lot quicker than going to individual merchants sites doing individual searches for the same product. If the product price comparison search engine/directory doesn’t list the product that you are looking for then you can always search through individual merchants sites after using a product price comparison search engine/directory.

How To Tips On Buying On Ebay

2008-11-27T20:27:00.000-08:00

Buying things on eBay can be a great alternative for out-door shopping. Shopping on eBay gives the buyers a convenient way of looking for the right stuffs or things that they need. However, it is a must for every eBay shopper to take note of these important reminders before buying on eBay so as to avoid scams and fraudulent activities.

Here are some tips for the buyers:

1. It is important to know the item first.

The eBay management strongly suggests that a buyer should first read and understand carefully the item listing before proceeding to bidding. He or she must grasp the seller's shipping requirements and the fees that are attached to it.

2. Buyer should be aware of the return and refund policy of eBay.

Buyers should know this first before bidding so that there wouldn't be any problems when wishing to do a refund.

3. The buyer should check first the seller's feedbacks before bidding.

Checking on the seller's feedbacks will give the buyer an impression if the transaction is trustworthy or not.

4. The buyer should choose a secured payment method.

The only secured way to get through a transaction on eBay is to make sure that the mode of payment required by the seller is protected. This should be clear on the buyer so as to avoid imminent danger of fraud or scam.

5. The buyer should use the "ask a seller questions" section.

It doesn't hurt to ask. It is best for a buyer to use this section first before bidding on an item. After all, it really pays a buyer to ask and clarify things first before proceeding to the bidding activity.

6. The buyer should know, by all means, the seller's contact details before sending the payment. This is one way of protecting one's money.

7. The buyer should take extra precautions on most of the international item listings because this is where most fraudulent activities happen.

8. The buyer should avoid any transaction that involves wire transfers as mode of payment. The eBay management does not approve it and will offer no protection in the event it is a fraud.

9. The buyer should make a documentation of all the transactions and the items purchased on eBay. This will be very handy in case there is a discrepancy in the future.

10. The buyer should be aware and get rid of spontaneous offers and counterfeit escrow services. The eBay management only allows protection for transactions made with eBay-approved escrow services.

Give the Gift of Nascar This Holiday Season and Win over His Heart

2008-11-26T08:06:00.000-08:00

The holidays are coming up and that means only one thing: presents. Many people on your list can be pretty easy to buy for, while others can be a real challenge. For me, buying for the men in my life has always been a bit of a hassle. I wanted to find something that they liked and would get a lot of use out of at the same time.

Are you looking for a good gift idea for the man in your life? Are you never quite sure what to get him, and worry about buying the wrong thing? Does he have t-shirts and ties you have gotten him hidden in the back of your closet? Even if your man is hard to buy for, there are great ideas out there. If you cannot think of a good gift for your man or are tired of giving him the same old thing, consider a gift basket filled with his favorite goodies. Most men have some type of hobby- and our personal favorite is of course NASCAR.

You can purchase gift baskets online, but if you do not have enough time for it to be shipped, you can check your local stores. There may be stores that specifically make gift baskets listed in the phone book. If not, you might contact a local florist as many of them also make gift baskets for special occasions. If you cannot find a local shop and you do not have time to order online, do not panic. Making your own basket is easy enough. You can purchase a basket at any crafts store, use a blanket, apron, or paper to line it and stuff it full of goodies for your man!

Here is our favorite gift idea for the Nascar fan of the household:

NASCAR Gift Basket - NASCAR fans love almost anything NASCAR gift related. You can fill your man's basket with his favorite driver's toy replica cars or a coffee cup with his favorite driver's number and colors. You can add to the basket a hat, t-shirt, bumper stickers, coasters, magnets, or a key chain. Does your man like to play darts? There are even NASCAR darts! If you really want to give him something extra special, order tickets to his favorite NASCAR race ahead of time and hide those in his basket.

You really have no excuse to get him something old and boring this holiday season. Nascar is hotter than ever and there are so many gifts centered around the sport, that you can easily choose something to keep him happy with! So start searching for fun Nascar goodies and give your man something this holiday season that he will really be proud to call his own. Enjoy!

A Look At Some Of The Newer Lines Of Collectible Cars

2008-11-26T08:05:00.000-08:00

How To Find Great NASCAR Collectibles And Memorabilia Online

2008-11-26T07:57:00.000-08:00

NASCAR is a fast paced sport to enjoy, it is the National Association for Stock Car Racing. Racing has gotten more popular in recent years and NASCAR is at the top of racing news. So it should be no surprise that collecting NASCAR memorabilia is a favorite pastime of many.

Whether shopping for a loved one or for you there are plenty of the popular merchandise to choose from. If you are trying to find the perfect gift for someone else that loves the sport, you can begin a search on the Internet.

Online you can find almost anything. If you want to order tickets to game or even set up a complete vacation revolving around NASCAR, researching prices online at least will save you some money.

If you are looking for NASCAR clothing you will find plenty online. You can also find books about the sport, personalized gifts for fans and replica cars. Getting an autographed picture or shirt is one way to let that special fan in your life know you care.

If you are looking for collectibles for yourself, you may find an array of ideas online. NASCAR pictures are a great search and find item on the Internet. There are so many different ones posted on a variety of sites. With little effort you can find some pictures that not everyone has right now. They may not be quite originals but it is fun to find pictures that are different than the ones in all the stores.
When you do find those uncommon pictures you can use your computer to make calendars, mouse pads, iron on for shirts and hats. You can customize your own clothes and gear.

Looking online you can also get ready for all the races with all the racing schedules. You can also find plenty of history about how the sport began and where it is going now.

Most fans have at least one favorite racecar driver and online you can read the bibliographies of all the drivers. You can also get stats and information on up and coming drivers before the races. Finding out about the latest changes and updates to NASCAR is easy since it is readily available online.

Most websites are free or the charge is minimal to print pictures and read about favorite drivers and races. If you happen to miss a race on television a lot of sites will allow you to watch clips and some even allow complete video segments for viewing online.
If you are looking for a biography about a particular driver, looking online is the best play to start your search. Some of the sport's drivers are into writing their own books and they are readily available online also.

Rare collectible NASCAR items are also worth searching online for. As more and more people connect to the Internet you will be able to buy sell or trade with other fans easily no matter where they are located.

Buying Sports Collectibles and Memorabilia for Sports Gifts

2008-11-26T05:04:00.000-08:00

Buying Sports Collectibles and Memorabilia for Sports Gifts

Buying sports gifts and collectibles can sometimes be the easiest and most fun way to buy gifts for your family, friends and colleagues. If they are a fan of a particular sports team in baseball, basketball, football, golf or NASCAR, you can bet that there are some sports gifts, collectibles and memorabilia that you can choose from to ensure that you buy a great sports gift.

Sports have become a wonderful pastime for many people and a lot of us have gotten wrapped up in what our favorite team in our favorite sport is doing and where they are going. There are so many sports gifts to choose from such as –

· Posters
· Car Stickers
· Rugs
· Pictures
· Die casts
· Bobble Heads
· Clothing such as t-shirts, hats, baseball caps, sweatshirts, boxers, underwear, Jerseys and more
· Knick Knacks
· Other Collectible or Decorative Items
· Sports Cards
· Signed Memorabilia

Buying Sports Gifts for Him –

Buying sports gifts for him can be pretty easy, as men are usually easy to buy for as long as you know what they already have. Determine what his favorite sport might be; baseball, basketball, football, golf or NASCAR. For each sport, there is a team or individual that truly stands out from the crowd. That team or individual will be a good starting point for finding collectibles or memorabilia for a sports gift. Find out their special team or individual and the sports gift will be even more personal. Guys are not that picky, but some thought should be put into that sports collectible or memorabilia for that great sports gift. Authentic, signed memorabilia is always a great sports gift. Add a display case for that signed collectible, and the gift is complete.

That should cover buying a sports gift for him, but what about for her?

Buying Sports Gifts for Her –

Buying a sports gift for a woman can be a little more difficult than buying something for a man. She might be a little more picky than he is. The great (and bad) thing about women is that they tend to buy luxury and collectible items for everyone else, but never for herself, especially if she thinks it’s too expensive. You can almost always get it right when you think about what you know she would like, but what she would not dare buy herself. If you can figure that out, I can almost guarantee that she will love the sports gift you have chosen for her. If she likes accessories, see if there are any necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings or other pieces of jewelry that have her favorite team or sport on them. She would most certainly love that! Nearly all women love handbags. Is there a handbag you can find that has her favorite team’s logo on it? How about a tote bag with a hockey stick and puck for the all time hockey fan? Change purses are also becoming big these days with all sorts of sizes and styles available. Yes, women love to watch television, seriously! Does her favorite sport or team have a DVD collection out? Maybe there is a bloopers DVD out there you could get for her. She would love that. Just make sure she has a DVD player first. If not, buy her one! You could find a DVD set with the best bloopers, the best games, the best times, etc.

No matter whether their favorite sport is baseball, basketball, football, golf or NASCAR you can be sure that there are plenty of sports gifts for your fan including memorabilia and collector’s items. Just make sure you keep in mind the person you are buying for to ensure you are getting a sports gift they will love!

How to Start your Collection of Nascar Racing Memorabilia

2008-11-26T05:02:00.000-08:00

Many racing enthusiasts are avid collectors of both Formula 1 and NASCAR racing memorabilia and collectibles. Most die hard fans collect nascar racing memorabilia as a series of something related to the sport. In case you are interested in acquiring sporting memorabilia, then you can also start buying stuff related to your favorite sport persons. The kind of memorabilia that you can collect depends mainly on the money as well as the effort you are prepared to spend towards collecting sports memorabilia.

As a true blue racing fan, it would definitely look good for you to have at least some nascar memorabilia and the best and the cheapest way to start your collection of memorabilia is to create some yourself. Carrying stuff to be autographed to the races or other places where you might have chances of coming face to face with your favorite racers is the least expensive method of getting your collection started , provided you planned to go to the races anyhow. Buying costly tickets in the hopes of getting an autograph is a foolish move while taking along something to be autographed when going to see a race just in case you get the opportunity to meet someone important is another thing altogether. You can even manage to lay your hands on extremely valuable memorabilia if you can somehow get an item of clothing or an accessory like a jersey or a baseball cap from some nascar stars. Keep one thing in mind however, that while this method is the cheapest way of getting nascar memorabilia, it is by no means the easiest.

Collecting memorabilia personally is definitely the toughest way of doing it. Buying them is definitely easier and much more convenient. You can buy NASCAR racing memorabilia from a number of sources like sports stores, online memorabilia stores, sporting goods auctions and from personal collectors. The best option here is to buy from reputed sports or memorabilia stores if you can. Some private collectors might also have impressive memorabilia collections for sale. One thing that you should keep in mind is that you should be able to see for yourself what you are paying for before buying it. While this is possible in one to one real life transactions, it is almost impossible when you are buying stuff online.

So what do you do when the memorabilia you want can only be found online? Do not worry and go ahead to buy it if you feel that you are getting a good deal. But make sure of two things first. One, the product should come with a complete money back guarantee in case you do not feel satisfied with its authenticity, or if it is different from what was promised to you before the sale. Secondly, it should come with a certificate of authenticity stating that the piece of racing history you are buying is original and authentic. In fact, no matter where you are buying your nascar racing memorabilia from, remember that all authentic sporting and nascar racing memorabilia always comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Nascar Merchandise Keeps the Feeling

2008-11-26T05:01:00.000-08:00

Have the thundering roars and zipping speed of stock car racing been your passion? Is there a certain driver who has the competitive qualities in a person that you admire? Do you look forward to each NASCAR race with a fervor that surpasses all of your other activities? If so, NASCAR collectibles may be the ingredient that’s been missing in your life to keep the feeling alive 24/7.

Think about it. Does your life take a dive in excitement after race day is over? You may well feel a void sensation after the stock car contest is over and have a longing to bring back the action. Deep down there’s an empty feeling that needs a proverbial shot-in-the-arm to get the juices flowing once again. This is precisely when NASCAR collectibles are needed. They kick-start memories of racing that make our lives more sharp and electric.

There is an expansive menu of NASCAR collectibles. This means that there is bound to be something appealing to each stock car racing fan out there. There are die-cast cars for specific drivers, furniture, authentic race memorabilia, and home décor items. There are tons of other items for the more budget conscious shoppers such as rugs, mats, pillows, clocks, throws, and blankets.

Treasured racing thoughts can be awakened also by the multitude of clothing options available as well. There are various types of shirts, jackets and other apparel for men, women and infants that can remind everyone of what you’re all about. You can advertise your enthusiasm in no uncertain terms by wearing something that speaks your mind about what turns you on. Why not take a stand for what you live for?

StockCarUSA.com believes that your life needs a little boost of enthusiasm now and then. Consider NASCAR collectibles as a way to make the week in-between races more tolerable for you to bear while waiting for the real rush. Take a victory lap every day whether there is a race going on or not!

Nascar Collectibles Keep the Racing Flame Going 24/7

2008-11-26T05:00:00.000-08:00

Stock car racing fans are within a league of their own. Rumbling engines amid fierce rivalry between racing legends and young gunners is what gets them excited. This type always knows who the leaders are and where the next track competition is. They are wired to be in the midst of these thundering battles and will never lose that grip.

Are you within this description? Does your life get truly charged when the topic of racing crosses your mind? Do you share a camaraderie with others of the same spirit when race day draweth near? Well here's another question. What can keep this flame alive 24/7 within the souls of those who truly love this great American sport? ...NASCAR collectibles!

What are NASCAR collectibles? There are multitudes of these including blankets, pillows, rugs, mats, clocks and even bean bags. Die-cast cars, men's and women's apparel, authentic race memorabilia and even home décor and bedding items can be found and purchased to either wear or embellish your domain. These clearly tell others where your loyalty lies!

NASCAR collectibles offer a broad range of affordability so it's possible for pretty much anyone to get in the game. There surely are high-ticket items that are reserved for the more well-to-do out there. Their homes can be wreathed with authentic pieces of past action that are autographed in full glory. There are also countless more affordable items that would appeal to any fan no matter what income bracket he or she is in. There is something for everyone!

Consider stock car racing merchandise as a way to get your life more in focus with your passion. Officially licensed NASCAR collectibles also may be the precise gift to give to someone that you know who lives in the fast lane of this racing world. Why not let yourself and other speed diehards relish in the excitement that makes life bearable before the engines are started for the next dogfight duel on the tracks?

What Do Nascar Collectibles Mean to You?

2008-11-26T04:59:00.000-08:00

Many a physical object is purchased not only as an ornament for the home or work area or for a simple article of clothing. There’s a deeper reason beyond mere practicality for many of the various goods that we bring into our surroundings. This is true as well for the NASCAR collectibles that many of us have collected in the past. How so?

Let me ask you a question. Do you go to a sporting event merely to be a spectator? No, because you go to support a team or individual that you have a level of passion for. This entity being a team or person means something to you and you wish others to recognize that fact. There’s a spirit that is shared between you that you most certainly are proud of. It’s a channel that describes what you are all about to the world around you.

NASCAR collectibles fit into this description. There are certain drivers whose characteristics you wish to emulate and be reminded of. For instance, the cool, calm and collected demeanor of some drivers may be something that you have or wish to have. There could also be a driving fire that you wish to demonstrate that some drivers have shown. Also, the simple NASCAR name itself declares a niche that describes your personality. In essence, NASCAR merchandise means much more than just “stuff”.

There are many items that declare your loyalty to the world of stock car racing or one of its competitors in particular. There are shirts, jackets, die-cast, car mats, entry rugs, clocks and dozens of other examples to choose from. Each of these products says something about you. They advertise your personal theme to others. You let them know something about you without you saying a word. Is it fierce determination? Is it the trait of being a noble sportsman? Is it being identified with a proven winner?

It’s your call and no one else’s. Let NASCAR collectibles tell the world what is important to you. Let your personal domain or manner of attire send both a reminder to you and a message to others what you are all about!

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2008-11-26T04:51:00.000-08:00

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Being Safe When Shopping Online

2008-11-25T21:55:00.000-08:00

The online shopping industry continues to grow. A lot have been turning towards shopping online instead of the conventional way. Because of this, the number and variety of products that can be bought online have also grown. You can shop for items ranging from fruits to CD's to clothes, and the items, which you want, could be bought and delivered in literally one click. Now that is convenient and hassle-free shopping.

However, you would need to consider a couple of pointers if you are planning to land the greatest deals and find the best online stores. You would also have to be extremely cautious when doing business online due to the issues concerning security. Here are some fairly simple tips in order to make your overall shopping experience online fun, practical and safe.

First, you would need to purchase from a reputable company whose online business has been experienced by a substantial number of people. A lot of the larger companies have also begun selling their products online, and so if you would be purchasing from these bigger companies, the risks for fraud or receiving items of poor quality are definitely lower.

You might also want to opt for a secure server as you shop online using your credit card. Make sure that you are using an updated version of your internet browser, as this would also increase security. Also, a lot of shopping websites already use encrypted information so hackers are prevented from stealing personal details.

Make use of an online directory in finding the best shopping websites and deals. Shopping directories are also great when you are searching for shopping websites since the stores are categorized, making it easy to locate the kinds of stores you are looking for. Sometimes these stores also have store reviews that would also be very helpful for online shoppers.

Also make sure that you shop around first so that you will be certain that you will be making the best purchases available. There are a lot of special offers and discounts online - you would just have to look for them.

Finally, remember to read the company's return policy and privacy policy so that you would know exactly what to expect. If you could, try to print the page for future reference.

Nascar Shopping Resources

2008-11-25T21:29:00.000-08:00

Nascar Shopping- Resources for Nascar Shoppers !

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