New Exhibit at the California Oil Museum: Hot Wheels: 40 Years of Playing and Collecting

On Sunday September 21st, the California Oil Museum premiered its new exhibit, Hot Wheels: 40 Years of Playing and Collecting. On Sunday September 21st, the California Oil Museum premiered its new exhibit, Hot Wheels: 40 Years of Playing and Collecting. Running through February 17th 2009, this new exhibit will be available for viewing every Wednesday through Sunday 10:00-4:00. Admission to the museum is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, $1 for youth, and free for members. Additionally, every visitor to the museum will be automatically entered into one of three raffles for special Hot Wheels collectibles, to be drawn on the following Sundays: October 26th, November 23rd, and December 14th.We were happy to have the expertise of retired Hot Wheels Vice President in Charge of Production, Tony Miller at our reception. Mr. Miller has been a key figure in the toy automobile industry since the 1960s, working as an engineer, designer, marketer, and executive for companies such as Mattel, Tonka, and Lakeside Games. It was a great opportunity having such a seminal figure in collecting culture at our museum! Hot Wheels: 40 Years of Playing and Collecting is hosted by the Santa Paula Historical Society and features the extensive collections of hobbyists Brian Hernandez and Clark Laurence. Mr. Hernandez, one of Santa Paula’s most noted collectors, was inspired to begin searching out these much sought after cars one holiday while adorning his family’s tree: “One Christmas I bought a few (Hot Wheels) to put on the Christmas tree; that put the twinkle back in my eye.” Clark Laurence, a resident of nearby Oxnard and woodworker by trade, began collecting Hot Wheels in 1995. Next time you go to a flea market or toy convention, keep an eye peeled for Mr. Laurence while he peruses the aisles with his mother, searching for “that perfect Hot Wheel.”