Michael Zarnock
Encyclopedia
Michael Zarnock is an American writer of collector guides and articles about Hot Wheels
toy cars and accessories. Zarnock is known for a massive Hot Wheels collection that earned him a Guinness World Record title in 2003 and 2007 for owning the largest collection of different model cars (8,128) and is featured in the 2008 "Ripley's Believe It or Not!
" book Prepare to Be Shocked
. And the 2011 "Ripley's Believe It Or Not!
" book "Utterly Crazy!" By his own account he has collected more than 20,000 toy cars; since 2004 some have been on display at the Children's Museum of Utica, New York
. The local Utica newspaper reported Zarnock as saying: "I’ve been in love with Hot Wheels since 1968."
In February 2009 Zarnock was inducted into the "Diecast Hall of Fame" and later that year Mattel
Hot Wheels reproduced his altered roadster racing car as part of their nostalgic "Drag Strip Demons" series.
; while still in high school he built and drove show car
s and drag car
s. Some of the drag cars were used by other people for illegal street race
s; Zarnock claims that at one such unsanctioned street race he was kidnapped
for a time. This story made its way all the way out to Los Angeles where he was asked to write it as a screenplay for actor–producer Christopher Titus
. Zarnock later rewrote the script for publication as a novel.
Zarnock lives in Deerfield, New York
with his wife Tina and youngest son Cody. His grown son, Christopher, lives in Mount Airy, Maryland
and is also a Hot Wheels collector.
Zarnock's obsession with toy car collecting prompted him to write the book Ultimate Guide to Hot Wheels Variations (Krause), now out of print after two printings (2002 and 2003). He has subsequently written 10 more books and contributed chapters on Hot Wheels collecting for the Standard Catalog of Die-Cast Vehicles II & III and six editions of Toys & Prices.
From 2002 through 2008 Zarnock wrote a monthly column for Toy Cars & Models. He wrote a monthly column in Car Room. until its closing in mid 2011. Mike is also a member of the ToyPedia Advisory Board.
Zarnock has appeared at schools, conventions, toy shows and Hot Wheels club functions across the United States and Canada, and has also appeared in movies. He made his screen debut playing Artie, a sleazy comic book publisher, in the film Detour. He later portrayed talk show host Freddy Grecko in The Death of Daniel Whately and Chester Greenfield, the wealthy father of the main character in Anchor Eddy's.
Hot Wheels
Hot Wheels is a brand of die cast toy car, introduced by American toymaker Mattel in 1968. It was the primary competitor of Matchbox until 1996, when Mattel acquired rights to the Matchbox brand from Tyco.-Models:...
toy cars and accessories. Zarnock is known for a massive Hot Wheels collection that earned him a Guinness World Record title in 2003 and 2007 for owning the largest collection of different model cars (8,128) and is featured in the 2008 "Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Ripley's Believe It or Not! is a franchise, founded by Robert Ripley, which deals in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims...
" book Prepare to Be Shocked
Ripley's Believe It or Not Annual
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Annual is a hardback reference book of unusual stories and images. The books consist of hundreds of snippets and longer in-depth articles, illustrated with glossy photographs. Seven books have been produced since 2005 and they are published worldwide by Ripley Publishing...
. And the 2011 "Ripley's Believe It Or Not!
Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Ripley's Believe It or Not! is a franchise, founded by Robert Ripley, which deals in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims...
" book "Utterly Crazy!" By his own account he has collected more than 20,000 toy cars; since 2004 some have been on display at the Children's Museum of Utica, New York
Children's Museum of Utica, New York
The Children's Museum of History, Science and Technology, also known as The Children's Museum of History and Science in Utica, New York, is a hands-on learning center with emphasis on local history, environmental science, the arts, space science, technology and science...
. The local Utica newspaper reported Zarnock as saying: "I’ve been in love with Hot Wheels since 1968."
In February 2009 Zarnock was inducted into the "Diecast Hall of Fame" and later that year Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
Hot Wheels reproduced his altered roadster racing car as part of their nostalgic "Drag Strip Demons" series.
Life and work
Born into a working-class family, Zarnock worked 45 hours a week as an auto mechanic while attending John F. Kennedy High School in Utica, New York, where he graduated in 1976. As a teenager he raced MotocrossMotocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
; while still in high school he built and drove show car
Show car
A show car, sometimes called a dream car, is a custom-made automobile created specifically for public display, rather than sale. They are shown at auto shows and other exhibitions.Show cars generally fall into one or more of three categories:...
s and drag car
Drag racing
Drag racing is a competition in which specially prepared automobiles or motorcycles compete two at a time to be the first to cross a set finish line, from a standing start, in a straight line, over a measured distance, most commonly a ¼-mile straight track....
s. Some of the drag cars were used by other people for illegal street race
Street racing
Street racing is a form of unsanctioned and illegal motor racing which takes place on public roads. Street racing can either be spontaneous or well-planned and coordinated. Well coordinated races are planned in advance and often have people communicating via 2-way radio/citizens' band radio and...
s; Zarnock claims that at one such unsanctioned street race he was kidnapped
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
for a time. This story made its way all the way out to Los Angeles where he was asked to write it as a screenplay for actor–producer Christopher Titus
Christopher Titus
Christopher Todd Titus is an American comedian and actor. He grew up in Newark, California. Titus came to national attention with the eponymous FOX show Titus, of which he was the star, executive producer and co-creator...
. Zarnock later rewrote the script for publication as a novel.
Zarnock lives in Deerfield, New York
Deerfield, New York
Deerfield is a town in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 3,906 at the 2000 census.The Town of Deerfield is on the eastern border of the county and northeast of the City of Utica.- History :...
with his wife Tina and youngest son Cody. His grown son, Christopher, lives in Mount Airy, Maryland
Mount Airy, Maryland
Mount Airy is a town in Carroll, Frederick, Howard, and Montgomery counties in the U.S. state of Maryland.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.-History:...
and is also a Hot Wheels collector.
Zarnock's obsession with toy car collecting prompted him to write the book Ultimate Guide to Hot Wheels Variations (Krause), now out of print after two printings (2002 and 2003). He has subsequently written 10 more books and contributed chapters on Hot Wheels collecting for the Standard Catalog of Die-Cast Vehicles II & III and six editions of Toys & Prices.
From 2002 through 2008 Zarnock wrote a monthly column for Toy Cars & Models. He wrote a monthly column in Car Room. until its closing in mid 2011. Mike is also a member of the ToyPedia Advisory Board.
Zarnock has appeared at schools, conventions, toy shows and Hot Wheels club functions across the United States and Canada, and has also appeared in movies. He made his screen debut playing Artie, a sleazy comic book publisher, in the film Detour. He later portrayed talk show host Freddy Grecko in The Death of Daniel Whately and Chester Greenfield, the wealthy father of the main character in Anchor Eddy's.
External links
- Zarnock's website.
- Zarnock's Facebook Fan Page on Facebook.
- Hot Wheels Collection at the Children's Museum, Utica, NY.
- Zarnock's YouTube Channel
- Podcast interview with Michael Zarnock
- "Ask Michael" Hot Wheels related questions at "All Experts.com"
- Clip of Zarnock from "The Death of Daniel Whatley".
- Anchor Eddy's movie trailer
- News interview with Mike Zarnock about his feature in Ripley's Believe It or Not!.
- News Interview with Mike Zarnock about "The Car Room Magazine Internet TV Show"