Memories of Christmas past

[Joemailman]

[Joemailman]

On Christmas day night, we used to shovel off the lake, put up goals (garbage cans), saw off brooms, deflate a basketball and play broom ball. No skates, just 'galloshes'. Sometimes our parents would park the cars down close and we'd have a 'lighted' rink.
Got better as we got older, we had our own cars for lights, and replaced one of the garbage cans with a keg of beer.....................those were good times.

Looking back I'm shocked at some of the stuff my parents let us do out on that ice rink. My brother had a jeep and used to tie a rope to the jeep and then to an innertube and pull us around. Now that seems dangerous. (does that mean I'm getting old????)

That toy rifle I showed actually shot hard plastic bullets. My brother got a different one the same year that had a 6-bullet clip in it. We would set up plastic army men and then shoot them down with our guns. Times have changed...

[Iron Mike]

That toy rifle I showed actually shot hard plastic bullets. My brother got a different one the same year that had a 6-bullet clip in it. We would set up plastic army men and then shoot them down with our guns. Times have changed...

This one?

[Iron Mike]

Too bad your Dad didn't spring for the uber-rifle:

[Iron Mike]

However, the only toy gun that would actually inflict damage on the sister was a potato gun:

[Joemailman]

That's the one!!!

[Iron Mike]

Too bad your Dad didn't spring for the uber-rifle:

Check out this baby in action:

One Man Army

[oregonpackfan]

One of the best Christmas memories I had was not about the presents but about the snowfall.

On that Christmas up in Rice Lake, we must have had 12-14'' of snow on Christmas Eve. We were all snowed in. All the church services closed for the day. Since everyone had stocked up on gifts, food, drink, etc., we just enjoyed the presents and frollicked outside in the snow drifts.

[packinpatland]

One of the best Christmas memories I had was not about the presents but about the snowfall.

On that Christmas up in Rice Lake, we must have had 12-14'' of snow on Christmas Eve. We were all snowed in. All the church services closed for the day. Since everyone had stocked up on gifts, food, drink, etc., we just enjoyed the presents and frollicked outside in the snow drifts.

Nice....................................

[MJZiggy]

One of the best Christmas memories I had was not about the presents but about the snowfall.

On that Christmas up in Rice Lake, we must have had 12-14'' of snow on Christmas Eve. We were all snowed in. All the church services closed for the day. Since everyone had stocked up on gifts, food, drink, etc., we just enjoyed the presents and frollicked outside in the snow drifts.

Was that the time when the power went out all over the place for something like 3 days? I remember being really little all huddled up and sleeping in front of the fireplace worried that my dad would roll over on me and squish me.

[Badgepack]

MJ, I don't know your age or what part of WI you grew up in, but that sounds like the ice storm of 1976.

[Badgepack]

[Scott Campbell]

I didn't find a very good picture.


SSP
"World's Fastest Big Racers"
By EuphratesIt's Christmas morning and the year is 1973. You impatiently rip off the Christmas Tree-patterned paper on the box that you have had your eye on all morning. As the graphics on the box start to become visible, you realize that here it is, the Smash Up Derby set that you have been seeing on TV during your favorite cartoons. As soon as the sun comes up, you ring up a friend and he arrives at your door, shivering, just moments after breakfast. You set up the two ramps facing each other in the hallway. You both insert the rubber zip strip or t-stick in the back of the cars and on the count of 3, pull them out as quickly as you can causing the two cars to rev up to 20,000 rpms. The vehicles clatter over the ramps and meet violently in mid-air, spraying car parts everywhere. Is the life of the toy over? Nope, just snap the pieces back together and do it over and over again.

Kenner's SSPs, which stands for Super Sonic Power, have names influenced by Hotwheels and everything else inspired by the antics of Evel Knievel. The majority of the cars were not manufactured to "break up" on contact, just the cars from the Smash Up Derby set. The rest of the cars were for racing and performing stunts. These gyro-cars first started screaming up and down sidewalks in 1970 and the line continued for many years after.

If you read the first paragraph, it should come as no surprise to you that these cars are hard to find in nice condition today. The wheels usually have wear from running on sidewalks, the cars are scuffed and decals are torn or missing. If, somehow, you find a car that has made it through time in good shape, the odds are that it will be missing the zip strip. Good cars can run $35-$45. The hard-to-find cars like the Blue Monday with it's red zip strip and the Creature from the Black Lagoon can set you back over $100.

Here is a parital listing of some of the cars and playsets that Kenner made in the '70s.

Cars - Partial List
Black Jack
Blast 'Em
Blue Monday (HTF)
Bonneville Bike
Boss Henry
Bush Burner
Can-Am Racer
Copper Cart
Creature from the Black Lagoon (HTF)
Darth Vadar Van
Detonator
Deuces Wild
Elephant Eater
El Camino
Eliminator
Flair Pair
G.T. Coupe
Hustlin Hoss
Indy Racer
Jet Star
King Cobra
Knight Rider - (HTF)
Laker Special
Mini-SSPs - Bush Burner, Dune Dragger, Formula Mini, Mini-C, Mini-T, Outlaw, Pinto, Stripper
Mod Mercer
Mod Vans - Dirt Digger, Shark Shifter, Slammer, Smokin' Dragon, Star Wars (White and Black)
Moovin' Marvin - (HTF)
Mustang II
Paddy Wagon
Pee Wees - Short Snort, The Bugster, Circuit Breaker, Dynamo
Rail Bird
Ram Jet
Siamese Slingshot
Sidewinder
Ski-Baller
Skorpion
Super Stocker
Superbird
Tee-Riffic
Tigera
Though Tom
Two Much

Sets - Partial List
4-N-1 Collectors Racing Set - Cord Roadster, Bullitt Bob, Scan Cam Racer, Classy-Chassis Buggy(HTF)
Classy Crashers
Flying Finish Action Set
Herk Stunt Set
Launch Pad and Jump Set
Six Pack Carrying Case
Smash Up Derby - Tough Tom, Buggem
Tournament of Thrills - 1975

Similar Cars
Kenner TTPs (Turbo Tower of Power)
Hasbro Blasters
Hasbro Hot Foot Racers
Hasbro RailBirds
Hasbro Ricochet Racers
Hasbro Stick-Shifters
Remco Power Masters
Remco Road Devils

[Freak Out]

Don't forget about "Ants in the Pants"...another great game.

I'm laughing with all the great memories your post's are bringing back.....except for the memories of my mother beating me with sections of Hotwheel track.

[GrnBay007]

except for the memories of my mother beating me with sections of Hotwheel track.

LOL! I bet that stung! What a weapon those were.