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SSP Racers
by Kenner
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Read memories from others. |
This memory was added on: December 30,2006
Me and my brother loved playing with those SSP's, we had the Cobra one (if I recall that was the one with the red hour glass on it) I think we had one that was a motorcycle too, and we also had this one that looked like a Roman Chariot (those were the days!)
Frank
1964
snapplehubbs@aol.com
This memory was added on: December 29,2006
I had one SSP Dragster and the thing was amazing. Given the Sizzlers, Hot Wheels and SSP toys I had as a kid I thought the SSP were extremely cool.
Bring them back. I'll buy two!
Jm
1965
This memory was added on: December 29,2006
Pull the rip cord alone was a rush!
This memory was added on: December 22,2006
I had more fun with these than any toy. Every boy in the neiborhood had at least 1. Hours of fun, then I moved to a 'subdivision' (new word in 1974) where I was the only kid to have SSP's. I wish they would re-release them like the Hot Wheels Sizzlers that I just bought "for my 5 year old" I'm sure "he" would love the SSP's Too.
Astro
1965
martyastro11@yahoo.com
This memory was added on: December 19,2006
Recalling fond memories on these toys. I decided to google SSP and found myself here, I guess I'm not alone. Playing with these cars was more fun than playing with matches! SSP cars were my most favortie toys.
Ray
1962
Rays89@yahoo.com
This memory was added on: December 15,2006
I LOVED my SSP Racers. I had several of them and I remember toward the end of my time with them they came out with a line in mettalic colors! I had a gold one that looked like a three-wheeler with two big wheels in the back and one little one in the front. Of course it really just went on the single wheel in the middle somewhere. Remeber the great sound they made when you yanked the rip-cord out? WHIIIIIIIiiiiiiinnne! I wish I could buy one for my nephew.
Old Bahamian Fart
1966
This memory was added on: December 8,2006
I loved SSP's. Now that I'm a parent, I think of all the cool toys I use to have. I also remember getting wheel burns after pulling the "T" cord too fast. Ouch!
Michael
Michael
1963
divittokelly@hotmail.com
This memory was added on: December 6,2006
Where can we buy one of these bad boys?
Chuck
1962
This memory was added on: December 3,2006
A purple Laker.....ahh the memories ! Loved just revving that thing with a mighty pull of the T-stick and then letting it go. Would smash into/through anything and keep on going. I see that Rock'em Sock'em Robots is back in production.....why not the SSP's ?!?!?!?!?!
Jim
1963
hoyvenon3@tds.net
This memory was added on: November 27,2006
'Crash Bang Smash 'Em Up, Put 'Em Back Again' or however the commercial went... There's nothing like a great gyro-scoping weighted wheel to create some major havoc. Remember 'Whizzers'??? Face it, your sister pisses you off, just pull the rip cord and place the SSP's wheel in her hair!!!
Ok, I was a deviant child, but who wasn't back in the early 70's?
Smegma
yeahright@hotmail.com
This memory was added on: November 19,2006
I am the oldest of five kids, all boys within 11 months apart in age. We played hard. Very few things were "owned" by one of us, we just shared. My parents got each of us our own SSP's though. My dad thought it was important that this toy be something we could call our own. I have kids that age now, and when they saw my old one, they had to have one of their own too. I am having fun seeing their personalities come out in the cars they choose.
Robert
1966
fijidreamer@yahoo.com
This memory was added on: November 16,2006
I remember bringing my sidewinder ssp to school. during recess, we would take a piece of chalk and draw a "start line" and "finish line". we would have about 5 kids on line, we would yank the cord and never just let our cars gently touch the ground (we would cheat by throwing the cars down the asphalt road like you would a bowling bowl). my friends had the ram jet, black jack, too-much, dodge daytona 500 and eliminator. My yellow sidewinder would always win!!!!! those were the good ole school days!!!!!
joe
1965
aprylandjoe@hotmail.com
This memory was added on: November 15,2006
I begged for an SSP for Christmas one year...I was snooping around in my parents bedroom couple weeks before Christmas, looked under their bed and found presents, some wrapped and some not. and what did I see...a brand new purple SSP. I took it out of the package and played with it for a while...what a blast, carefully put it back in the package and know one was the wiser other then my sister I think. I still managed to look surprised XMas morning when I opened it.I loved it and wish I still had it.
Rick G
1966
rgoneau@sympatico.ca
This memory was added on: November 9,2006
Got ramps? As I remember these these were absolutely indestructible. Now that I am a parent, I have a new appreciation for simple, well-built toys. These were out around the same time as the TTPs I think. Both provided hours of fun. Kenner did toys right!
mr fitz
1966
This memory was added on: November 3,2006
I was about 5 years old when I got my Smash-Up Derby. That is one of the toys that really made me happy and it is one of the few vivid memories of my mother and I spending great quality time
Jose
1968
This memory was added on: November 2,2006
What a great flashback. My brother and I would race the SSPs all the time. They would make incredible jumps off the bump at the base of our driveway. I loved my Black Widow and to this day it is the only Xmas present that I ever peeked at before Christmas Morning!! (Don't tell my mom)
Dave C
1962
DavidC1994@aol.com
This memory was added on: November 2,2006
I remember bringing them to school and racing them, that was fun. I also had the Smash up derby set too, that was a blast!
Glenn
1964
glennwillis2000@yahoo.com
This memory was added on: October 28,2006
My Brother and I had this toy growing up in the 70's. Can we buy them today for my kids?
Nick92065
1965
nick92065@optonline.net
This memory was added on: October 10,2006
My older brother of 4 years and I had this toy income. It was cool enough for him to play with. We would have races almost throwing them down the street, just to win and the toy touch the abuse. I'm car enthousiast today and this toy is great memory.
ron
1965
rhkirkwood@comcast.net
This memory was added on: September 24,2006
SSP's were my brother and my absolute favorites. We would spend rainy Saturdays watching them crash down the basement steps. Week after week. And they kept working.
Bought a couple of full-sized Lakers on ebay and they just arrived. Funny, they feel small, because the last time I saw one, I was small.
Can't wait to give them to my bro for hanukah. Thanks for the forum. -David, Baltimore
D
This memory was added on: September 11,2006
I LOVED THIS TOY ,I HAD THE BLUEBIRD AND MY BROTHER HAD A RED ONE WITH A TURBINE ENGINE ON EITHER SIDE,ONE OF MY FRIENDS HAD THE SIX WHEELED YELLOW ONE AND MY OTHER FRIEND HAD A LIME GREEN ONE IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.MY FRIEND LIVED ACCROSS THE ROAD FROM A SCHOOL THAT HAD A REALLY LONG STRETCH ODF CONCRETE AND WE WOULD ALL GATHER THERE AND HAVE RACES,BUT NOTHING COULD BEAT MY BLUEBIRD,SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SHAPE,I THINK. I REMEMBER THESE THINGS WHERE INDESTRUCTIBLE,AND WOULD OFTEN TAKE A SERIOUS BEATING,I ALSO REMEMBER THAT THE LITTLE BLACK WHEEL COULD GIVE A NASTY BURN IF IT MADE CONTACT WITH YOUR SKIN.
DARREN HILL
1962
dazza888@optusnet.com.au
This memory was added on: September 10,2006
I was born in November of 1970 and got only one set in 1973 for Christmas. I was 3 years old and fell in love with the 1957 Chevy Nomad and 1957 Ford. My older brothers broke both cars in three days and I was devastated. This one toy had become my most favorite toy of all times. I never forgot it and thought about it often in the past 33 years (at least once a year at Christmas). However, I had forgotten the name and who made it, etc. I had made google attempts in the past to find my long lost "Toy of All Times", but never found it. However, I just did 15 minutes ago tonight( 9/10/06 12:30AM EST). At last, the quest is over. The toy still exists and is not gone forever. I was led to this site as others I read before me. I'm going to buy it for my one year old son now and spend saturday mornings in the hardwooded hall reliving my childhood vicariously through my son while showing him the greatest toy ever made. I thought I was the only one.
Mark
1970
mark.johansen@alliantechnologies.com
This memory was added on: September 9,2006
WE are in the decade of retro. Why is there knowone bringing this toy back on the market. I see people from all over the world on here talking about the coolest toy they ever had. Lets quit talking and make some toys and some money.
Guy
1963
gdurrwachter@sbcglobal.net
This memory was added on: September 6,2006
I got my first SSp set in 1973, the Smash-up Derby with Bug'em and Tough Tom. Played with them for hours. Shortly thereafter, I got a Laker Special. The last one I had was a White Laker special with an angry shark on the nose. It was one of the final generation of SSP's with the sparking feature (it affected your top-end speed, but was an awesome effect). Great memories playing with my best friend Todd Harris in our driveways. They just don't make toys like that anymore I'll tell you.
Tom
'66
nfpsib@greennet.net
This memory was added on: September 2,2006
hi,
i remember having one in 1970??? . i was quite young, it may have been my older brothers actually, but i played with it. all i remember about it was that it was purple in colour and i think it had a twin front nose (kind of like a catamaran).
any idea on which car it was>>??
thanks
Lee
LLB997@netscape.ca
This memory was added on: August 19,2006
I grew up in Britain and now live in the U.S. We had these cars too but I don't remember them being sold under the Kenner SSP name. I had the Lime green Laker special or its equivelent. Does anyone know what these were sold as in the U.K. You seemed also to have a far greater range than I remember. Dinky also came out with a Pink Panther car in the U.K. They bruised a few teachers ankles too in the U.K.
John
1964
jb@wayupbluejay.com
This memory was added on: August 17,2006
I beet these toys into the ground. Had the SSP's and the Evil stunt cycle. The blacktop driveway was the smash up derby. What memeories!
Simon
1967
This memory was added on: August 14,2006
Holy Cow, what memories! Used to meet my best friend way back then, set up ramps in the middle of the street and watch them fly. Had one of the green chrome Laker Specials and a Black Jack (or Black Widow.) When at home, used to try to run my little sister over with them....hey, what are big brothers for! It is amazing how many of these are surfacing on eBay...what a treat.
Greg
1965
This memory was added on: August 8,2006
You were only as tough and as cool a kid as the performance and look of your SSP.
Joe L.
1964
joeloveless@verizon.net
This memory was added on: August 8,2006
By the way, as a kid: King Cobra SSP - anytime, anywhere - bring it.
Joe L.
1964
joeloveless@verizon.net
This memory was added on: August 7,2006
I remember getting the Smash-up Derby set for my 9th birthday in 1973.I loved that thing My dad was into cars and loved the fact that They had a 57 Chevy Nomad and 57 Ford included in the set.THose things were fast!and me and my brothers loved to see the parts fly off and then put them back together again!Eventually the parts got lost and the Zip stick wore out.I see them on E-bay and complete sets go for nice prices!It would be nice to see them re-issued as long as they were made to the same specs and not cheapened like the re-issue Rockem Sockem robots were.
philo426
1964
philo426@aol.com
This memory was added on: July 30,2006
WOW! What a fun site!!!! Talk about some really great memories! I was just looking on Ebay to see what some model kits I have are worth and the SSP Tournament of Thrills set popped up. Man, did that bring back some memories!!! I had the Smash Up Derby sets way back when but can remember them well. Funny thing is, I am still a big kid and have a HUUUUUUUUUGGGGGE toy and model collection. (www.picturetrail.com/lotso) I will definately be on the hunt for mint examples of the Smash Up Derby sets to add to my collection!!!!! Its ok to grow old, just don't grow up!!!!!
Ben Wicker
1967
lotsotoys@webtv.net
This memory was added on: July 20,2006
Super Sonic Power at its best ! The first one I got for christmas was an orange ski-doo. It was going so fast, it was unbeleivable, but after smashing in the walls too many time the front sky fell off.
So...a couple of year after, I purchased another one, it was the plymouth charger, but I was dissapointed in this one because it was too heavy and bulky.
Many years later, a friend of mine, who had 2 brothers had received 3 smash up derby sets. When he moved out of the city he gave me all 3 sets! Man I was so happy, I had 6 cars, 6 ramps and all the pieces of the cars. I use to pill up 5 cars in between 2 ramps and throw the 6th one in there ! WOW! all of them blowing up to piece!!! Priceless ! Erik
Erik Goulet
1967
tagsters@total.net
This memory was added on: July 18,2006
Re: Kenner SSP They were the best. I remember wanting nothing more for Christmas in the mid 70's than the smash up derby set. I got one each Chistmas for a few years; loved the Chevy Nomad and dented cars. During non-christmas times the family budget allowed for a Black Widow or Rail Bird from time to time. Ran a Black Widow across the floor last Christmas in front of my brother - he had not seen an SSP for 30+ years but he sure did like to see it again. It's great to go back to the 70's. Signed, SSP forever.
SSP Forever
1966
sspk0809@msn.com
This memory was added on: July 7,2006
I'm 43 and had a front engine dragster in the 4th grade. I would race anyone any time. we had a great black top side walk to race on. My car almost always went strait and don't remember losing any races. But i was a racers son and had to live up to that. Had may other cool toys but this was one of my fondest memories. must have wore out 10 T sticks and rebuilt the front tires a few times with parts from buddies cars. Still have the car after all these years.
Raymond Williams
5/5/63
thekid5563@yahoo.com
This memory was added on: May 25,2006
I had at least half a dozen of them. I think their some of the names were "Slingshot", "Two-Much" and "Black Widow". The latter was a long, black, sinister-looking thing with a red hourglass insert.
I also had the drag racing staging tower, that would cycle through several orange lights before hitting green and starting a timer. You put an arrester hook that stuck up in the car to grab the checkered flag and stop the clock. They gave you a conversion wheel to calculate your "scale m.p.h.". Very Cool. I also had the smash-up derby set. But being an only child, it was hard to get them both flying into each other at the same time.
Perhaps the most underrated part of the SSP. When I was in 2nd grade, on my walk home from school, a bully at least three grades above me tried to give me a hard time. I gave his head & face a good going over with my T-Stick and he ran off crying and never messed with me again.
There's a gold mine awaiting the company that brings these back to market.
Mike B
1965
bake65@hotmail.com
This memory was added on: May 13,2006
In 1970 I use to live right across the alley from a place in Baltimore called Putty Hill Park. It was a great park filled with a monkey bar cage, a whirley-bird, a sliding board, a sandbox (where I lost all my Hot Wheels and Matchboxes), belt swings, and the "orange thing", and the blue "thing" (we didn't know what these playthings were called). We kids basically had the whole park to our disposal and this was back in the day when mothers would let there kids play over in the park without fear of them being abducted.
Anyhow me and my friend Carl Herbst and Frankie Kissner use to go over to the park's tennis courts and in 1970 SSP's were HOT! I had a purple Eliminator and at this point in time have no idea what the other guys had. But all I know is we spent hours racing our SSP's across the tennis courts while the adults played basketball. They'd smash into the fences. We'd try and smash them into eachother. Our favorite was setting up ramps and watching them fly into the air. Eventually we all had wheel trouble (or the T-sticks broke).
I also remember how cool the car felt in your hand after you pulled the ripcord. That gyro effect!
In 1973 I moved to Harford County and my Dad bought me a new SSP. It was a red chrome car. And it was either the Ramjet or the Laker Special. I'm thinking it had a round cylinder on the top, like an air intake. So if anyone has pics I'd love to see them. Not sure which car I had and can't find a pic of the Ramjet.
Bob Smith
1963
powerbob5@hotmail.com
This memory was added on: March 25,2006
Does anyone know of a website that lists all the models that were made with pics? I used to have a purple Ramjet that I don't think ever lost a race, and from hearing me talk about them, my 6.yo now wants to get some. He has some of those "tires" that use the same zip strip, but the cars are a lot more fun and easier for him to control.
Michael
1965
airborne001@verizon.net
This memory was added on: March 21,2006
I remember back around 1973, (when i was in 3rd grade in Philadelphia, PA.) My friends and i would bring our ssp race cars to school. the BEST part of school was recess, we would meet behind the school, where there was a small hill that was on a smooth asphalt surface. we would ask the teacher for a piece of chalk and draw a "starting line" and about 70 ft down the hill, we had drawn a "finish line". we all lined up, somebody would yell, "on your mark, get set, go!!!" at that point, we'd all yank the rip cord and NEVER, EVER just let the cars take off on their own, we would ALWAYS "cheat" by swinging our arms forward and tossing the car forward, giving the cars an extra boost of speed. I had a yellow sidewinder, my friend michael had a blue "too much", tommy had a black "blackjack" and greg had a red "laker special" and we laughed when our friend, bryan brought an old beat up "smash em up derby" car to our ssp races. needless to say, my sidewinder never lost. i am 41 years old and remember racing our SSP's as though it was just yesterday - we had lots of fun with those cars!!!!!
joe
1965
aprylandjoe@hotmail.com
This memory was added on: March 2,2006
Ah, the many fun memories I have of these toys. The "Smash up Derby" by far was the king of vintage toys. Nothing was better than whipping yourself with the "T" handle in hopes of creating the winning run! Get that wheel going and touch someones arm, (like your brothers or a good friend) your sure to get a reaction! Pull on...
don stewart
donks@berger-transfer.com
This memory was added on: February 25,2006
I have absolutely no idea what made me think of it, but just yesterday the SSP Racer popped into my head. I could picture it so clearly. So I went on ebay and there it was, my purple SSP! Then I googled "Kenner SSP" and found this site. Until I did, I had no recollection that we saved all those HI-C labels to get it... but I sure remember now. And I can't believe that there are so many of us out there with such great memories of the SSP. We had this huge, really long basement and we'd race 'em from one end to the other and crash 'em into the walls. Just couldn't kill 'em. Man I loved that car and sometimes, I really miss being that little boy... (sigh).
Eric
1959
killian211@aol.com
This memory was added on: February 5,2006
These were banned from Lexington School in Grand Rapids Mi. when the playground teacher took about five or six of these off her ankle the week after Christmas break in about 1971. Also, one girl in my class wound one up in her long hair. The teacher had to cut a big clump out. Ah, the memories!
Pete S
1964
pete szczepanek@accessbusinessgroup.com
This memory was added on: February 4,2006
Yea, I had one too. I had the purple drag railbird. Wicked fast. Great fun! I think I killed the pull stick teeth pretty badly too. I went on ebay this morn and found it again. I couldn't help but bid! Gotta show my son what a really cool toy is! Ya man!
Bill
1964
bill.bairtsow@verizon.net
This memory was added on: January 23,2006
I can't remember how many cans of Hi-C I had to drink to get my SSP, but it was worth every drop. We collected can labels for what seemed like eternity for a 5 year old, followed by mad dashes to the mailbox to see if it showed up. I wish I still had my purple racer. Hours of fun. Everyone in the neighborhood would drag race.
PSS
1965
lordguano@comcast.net
This memory was added on: January 19,2006
wow a site about my favorite childhood toys 39 years old now my last memories of my ssp racers was as a child travelling to new zealand from austailia on a ship....must have been before planes i guess had my birthday on board and got to sit at the captains table cool but my best memorey is zooming my ssp racer dowsn the hall way on board i thought i was alone in my memory of the fastest coolest super toy ever....i should realy get one
bob
1966
richard churchouse
This memory was added on: January 11,2006
I loved SSP racers. Although I always had trouble with the rail dragsters falling to one side, the smash up derby SSP's ruled. People who bought our old house are probably still finding the pieces.
t lepley
1965
This memory was added on: December 23,2005
I had the fastest LAKER SPECIAL (rocket car) SSP at Loesche School in Philadelphia. They banned the toys in school after some dumb kid whipped the T-Stick (activator) into his eye during a school yard race. The car was also fun to run in the snow as it would spray ice thru the gyro wheel. SSP's rule!
SEP007PA
1962
This memory was added on: December 23,2005
I had several different toys I loved growing up, but none as much as my SSP Racers!. I had 3-4 different ones, but the Sidewinder (an orange one)and the Dragster (the chrome green) were my favorites. I remember racing them with friends on the playground during lunch...having distance contests...jump contests...etc.
If anyone knows where I can get the two I mentioned above, shoot me an email! markrdickinson at hotmail dot com
Mark
1964
This memory was added on: December 21,2005
I got the "Tournament of Thrills" for Christmas one year. I remember playing for hours out in the kitchen with the thing. What a great toy. I remember having a lime green SSP shaped like a rocket car. It didn't have any wheels, just the gyro wheel. I lived next to a school yard and we would let that one rip on the smooth asphalt. It hauled!
Mike
1966
toycruiser71@hot-shot.com
This memory was added on: December 20,2005
The SSPs were great! I had a couple in the early 70's and remember one was a Plymouth Barracuda. The other was a rail type race car.
Dave
1965
This memory was added on: December 19,2005
Where can I get these again!!!
These are my MOST fav mem from childhood. All the kids in the hood had them, we would race and crash!! SO GREAT!!! Ya I agree,the rip cords did begin to break down. BUT if you did it stead, it would last longer.
I really would like to get some of these again. Would it be great for someone to make retro toys?
dave
1964 BEST YEAR EVER
This memory was added on: December 17,2005
I remeber getting the SSP Demolition Derby set for Christmas. It was my favorite Christmas gift for a long time.
Bruce hammitt
1962
This memory was added on: December 15,2005
I had a couple of these, and loved them. My 4 and 7 year old sons have a similar toy called a Fly Wheel. It works under the same principal, but it is just a wheel. It can still do some pretty neat stunts though.
Traci
1971
This memory was added on: December 14,2005
My parents would always allow my brother and me to open one gift Christmas Eve. Imagine how delighted my brother and I were to each get an SSP Racer!! The next day we opened the toys quickly just so we could get back to drag racing!
We had a big long wooden hall and would race up and down it from one end to the other! The racers never broke but the rip tie's teeth eventurally broke.
Dale Powers
Dale Powers
1967
dsp1967@adelphia.net
This memory was added on: December 14,2005
I love these toys I remember that that was the only thing i got for Christmas one year,{times were hard that year} I was happy to get the set of smash'em up derby! It kept me busy for hours. I one great toy! As I wright this,I Remember the time I had it going like crazy...And,I watched the heavy wheel spin and spin,then as it slowed down I got the great idea of putting it on my lip...LO LOL LOL LOL...Bad idea!! IMISS THOSE TIMES!!!! e-mail me!!! Rick at g8r66@hotmail.com
Rick Sr.
12\04\1966
g8r66@hotmail.comn
This memory was added on: December 11,2005
We had 5 boys in my family and not alo of money, the ssp's were all our favorite toy. They seemed to last forever and could handle the all punishment. the smashum derby was my favorite. Why did they quit making such a great toy?
dean helton
09/12/65
deanhelton@verizon.com
This memory was added on: December 8,2005
I'm sitting here shopping online and listening to christmas music, when I come across this site. For an ever so brief moment I was 8 years old again. Thanks for the memories.
r. tennant
1969
randyheather@juno.com
This memory was added on: December 6,2005
I remember running ssp chicken races in the hall wood floor we would run at eache other at head on speed snake - mongoose no doubt GC
Guido
1962
revcontino@hotmail.com
This memory was added on: December 5,2005
I had so much fun with my SSP car. I can't remember which one I had, but I do remember it was purple. We used to race them on the playground at recess. I liked to pull the handle real quick and watch it spin out on the sandy playground surface. I was always amazed at how fast they went and how much fun it was to set up ramps and jump them. Great memories.
Drew
1963
drewroyall@aol.com
This memory was added on: November 6,2005
WOW! i will never forget my ssp's. these were my favorite toys of all...i remember them being a tough, heavy toy...remember when they put the flint on the wheel... and all the sparks ,, YES! fire ! no way that will happen today. i remeber getting burned by the rubber wheel.
adam
6/1/71
This memory was added on: November 2,2005
OMG! I am SO glad to have found this site! I was racking my brain a few days ago, trying to remember the name of this particular line of toys. I was on a Hot Wheels web site and we were talking about other toys from the 60s and 70s. I see that I wasn't the only tomboy who played with these. Kat - still a tomboy at 45
Katarina
1960
This memory was added on: November 1,2005
What a fun toy this was! I remember setting up our "crash site" in the basement. We lived in a rambler with half the basement finished, leaving 25 plus feet of cement floor and a cement wall on one end. We made our own ramp and sent the cars down towards the wall. One of us would mark the spot where the car hit, the highest being the winner. The smash up derby cars were really great for this. Amazingly, these toys could take the punishment over and over again. Try that with most of the toys sold today!
Mark
1963
robmarnel@hotmail.com
This memory was added on: November 1,2005
My SSP Smash-Up Derby set was a favorite. I was also an avid plastic car modeler at the time (still am), so the 'realistic' features of the 'smashed' cars really got my attention.
Mike
1966
This memory was added on: October 27,2005
Wow! I had the exact same Smash Up Derby set you have pictured on the site - Though I actually had more fun smashing up the non-smash up cars...I remember parts, used to really fly. The thing I liked best about them was you felt like the things really had a lot of power when you pulled the T-Stick. It felt like a big gyroscope - Well, at least for a little kid. And the sounds were really awesome too. Best of all - they really took a beating!
Stan
1964
sjt4803@excite.com
This memory was added on: October 21,2005
I just stumbled across this site and couldn't believe I had found something on the SSP cars! How cool! When I was about 8 or 9 back in the mid-seventies my older sister (tomboy) and I each got one for Christmas. I wanna say mine was a black widow model, but have no recollection what hers was. My dad and uncle spent more time playing with them that afternoon than we did. Not because we didn't want to, it was just that our little hands had no chance of prying them from their bigger hands! I remember a ramp was fashioned out of a checkerboard and two encyclopedia's in the linoleum front hallway that led to the kitchen. One of us would send the SSP zipping down the hallway toward the ramp and over or through a stack of tupperware and coffee cans. After the third or fourth time that the avocado face of our new dishwasher absorbed the impact from the SSP, my mom put a stop to our hijinx, fearing, I think incapcitation of the dishwasher and being forced back to hand washing all of the holiday dishes. Once my dad and uncle tired of their (our) new toys and then found the girder and panel building set, my sister and I were free to enjoy hours, days and months of SSP joy. We did eventually strip all of the teeth from the plastic pull cords, but a nearby five and dime carried replacements. What luck! A super toy and a super memory. Thanks.
Scott housholder
1966
scott@michaelshealth.com
This memory was added on: October 14,2005
I loved these toys. I have no idea what ever became of them. Wish I still had em somehwere, bet they'd fetch a few bucks on ebay. I had the Evil Knievel set too, which had the same actions without the smashing up part (if you don't count the hard landings after each jump off the ramp).
Rob
1967
rkorte1@mac.com
This memory was added on: September 22,2005
i had got 2 sets of the ssp smash up derby (with all four cars) for christmas in 1973 and my brother and i played with them for days until the strips completly wore down to nothing (we got more) but we always found the body parts and lost the strips. till we found that mom was hiding them so she wouldn't here the crashes and the really loud laughs (also running into walls and my sisters feet while they were walking )
vinnie
04/24/62
racnjag@aol.com
This memory was added on: September 20,2005
You know what is quite amusing? I was in a dollar store the other day and saw cars that someone had made using the exact same principle as the SSPs and the pull action. I was excited and bought 2 for my twin 7 year-old sons. I was thinking they could get the hours of fun that I had with them. My sons are strong for their age but it may not have mattered. They were able to get a couple of minutes out of them and the pull cords snapped and one of the flywheels popped out. Man, you get what you pay for. I guess someone in our peers used his memories and tried to re-invent them. Co-incidentally I found Zipz on sale at Toyz are us yesterday. Anyone recall Whizzers? Again, same principle, inferior product. They are smaller and don't spin well enough to do any tricks even though the parts are there.
Tim Scammell
1963
timrs2001@myway.com
This memory was added on: September 10,2005
Five days before I turned seven years old, the exact date was July 6 1971, Grace and Ron called me into their room. They told me that it was time for me to go home to my father. They gave me a lovely parting gift – a turquoise SSP “Laker Special” racer with a red pull cord. I was looking forward to seeing my sister again, but that wouldn’t happen for another 15 years. I loved that car...
Scott F
1964
fellcrew@sbcglobal.net
This memory was added on: July 30,2005
Smash Up Derby was my ALL TIME FAVORITE toy growing up and would KILL to get my hands on a complete set again. I still have the 2 black ramps, the ripcords, and a few of the pieces that came off the cars. I have no idea what I did with the rest of the stuff, but I assume my Mom threw them out. I was just talking about SUD and HUGO(the man of 1000 faces) about a week ago and am excited just to see pictures of these toys. If they ever do reissue this toy I really hope they don't change a thing(although it's not likely they don't!). I have a picture of me opening this present for Christmas when I was 5 and will never forget when I saw what it was. My friend had it before me and I wanted it so bad. SMASH UP DERBY WAS THE BEST!!! Thanks Mom!!!
C.S.
1977
pooperbum@gmail.com
This memory was added on: July 14,2005
SSPs, how fun were these cars!? What a fabulous toy creation these dynamos were! I’ll always remember the great fun my friends and I had when we all received our wish gift for Christmas, SSPs cars! Trying to jog my mind here for the names of some of the cars... the Ram Jet, the Siamese Slingshot, the Flair Pair, and one of my favorites, the Two Much! One of the best designed toys to ever hit the market and I also feel that it’s time to resurrect this classic for my son’s enjoyment as well as mine!
Dave
1964
This memory was added on: July 10,2005
I can remember the Christmas we got a Smash Up Derby Set - what began as a small hole in the wrapping paper was about 4 inches across by the time we opened it up. They were great. Who has the rights to make these anyway? Surely if they made them again they would sell heaps to all of us who have sons we want to show them to.
Azza
1973
This memory was added on: May 30,2005
You were not a kid if you didn't own the smash up derby! I can still hear the *Whhhhaaaaam whhhaaam whhhaaammm* before that great plastic crash.
Tattooed Steve
1969
sales@tattooedsteve.com
This memory was added on: May 26,2005
I had a purple one that after searching for a while on the internet found out the name of it was "Ski Baller". It had skis in the front and snowmobile tracks in the back. I don't remember haveing a guy sitting there on mine. I remember a black windshild. Maybe I am wrong.
Anyone out there rememeber the same style?
Todd Marx
1963
tmarx@visi.com
This memory was added on: May 7,2005
I loved these gyro cars ... cool ULTRA CHROME MIRROR FINISHES ! I collect and have some for sale. Smash up derby sets also. Thou we cound never have them hit each other as in that great SSP demo commercial ! If you are intrested in capturing a childhood SSP ... I probally have the car your looking for. Contact me thru my e mail ! Thank you.
Mr SSP
09/64
ert113@hotmail.com
This memory was added on: April 18,2005
Loved my SSP Racer, It was the coolest, really flew, then came the day I pulled the rip cord and stuck it in my sisters hair. Well I never had one again, but still have the fond memories....
Gerry H
1962
gjh1117@adelphia.net
This memory was added on: March 26,2005
I had Tourney and Smash.... My god... such memories.. I might still have the hood from that Chevy Nomad somewhere
Jimmy
1967
Jlouis@design-theory.com
This memory was added on: March 21,2005
years ago , about 1970-71 i recieved a ssp ' smash -up derby , i remember the orange 57 ford sedan + 57 blue chevy nomad. this was a great toy . up until that time , i was a hot wheel / johnny lighting fan . but i forgot all about them when i got that set for christmas. i never had any other ssp cars , but i had a friend who lived down the street , who had several. i remember playing in his long driveway with them - boy, was that fun . these cars made a scary sonic - type sound when you pulled the rip cord. i found two old ones [with out rip cords ] at a second-hand store last week / price $1 laker car [ red ] + turq motorcycle - i only wish i had a couple of rip cords, so i could show my 3 sons . i loved my smash up derby until my grandma bought me a cox dragster in 1972. then i forgot all about ssp cars. thank you for reminding me of something i forgot about - god bless you
JOHN L. ZVERLOFF
1960
fatdaddyz@ sbcglobal .net
This memory was added on: March 19,2005
Yeah...I remmeber these things. Its funny...and all you guys can attest to this..how one certain toy was always soon after replaced by another. Just like today. But for a brief moment, each toy had its own moment in the spotlight of your childhood. I remember around 1973-74 these were quite popular and while we lined up outside school(wearing our NFL jackets) we'd have race offs. I had the one(shame on me-cant remember the name-gonna look it up in a second here) with the Skis in front. But the common ones were the dragster one and the Black Widow. Seems like those were everywhere! Mine was orange. Childhood memories...man, whata time eh? Hotwheels, NFL helmets and jerseys(crappy ones too as i recall) GI. Joes...Boy our toys kicked the girls toys Butts!!!!!!!
Michael Stohlin
Aug. 21. 1965!
Stohlin@Livingonline.com
This memory was added on: February 25,2005
I had the Smash Up Derby set. After I got bored smashing up the cars that came with it, I'd take my Hot Wheels and smash them together on the ramps. I also had a shiny blue funny car that I took to school one day. Out on the playground, the car flipped and slid quite a way on its roof and hood. Scratched it all up. Was I bummed!
Tom Beiter
1967
tombeiter@netzero.net
This memory was added on: February 13,2005
hi there
when i think off my toy playing years,i think off mine alltime favorite toys ever!!!!! SMASH UP DERBY!!! or like we call them here in HOLLAND(EUROPE) CRAZY RACERS. they were and still are the best toys ever. i still collect them today and try to find as many boxes from as many different country's. thanks KENNER. REGARDS RICK
RICK
1969
batmobile_13@hotmail.com
This memory was added on: February 6,2005
I agree that the toys of the 70's were of much better quality than the toys of today. I certainly do miss those ssp's that I would get at least once a month. Let us relive those times again through these memories left on this page.
Billy F.
1964
wilfles@aol.com
This memory was added on: January 9,2005
Even though I'm a girl, I loved playing w/ cars as well as my dolls. We lived near a Citgo Gas Station, and I remember they offered 6" SSP racers as a premium in 1971. I thought I was the coolest 5 year old around when my dad bought me a Blue Citgo Laker Special. I'd race it in the hallway of our apartment. The dog would keep away from me when she saw that thing! Me and my friends in kindergarten would drive our teachers nuts singing the Smash-Up Derby song! Hee-hee! I just got blue and red Citgo Laker specials from Ebay. Funny how they seem so much smaller than they did when I was 5. I took them to school, (I'm an after-school teacher), and my kids loved them! Some of them mentioned BeyBlades and I told them where did they think that idea came from? LOL! These cars rocked. LONG LIVE THE 70'S!
Sharry A.
1966
HardyGirl66@aol.com
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