Remember the badass-looking Hot Wheels Urban Shredder vehicle by Dynacraft (and Mattel) that I wrote about last Fall? IT'S BEEN RECALLED. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission sent out details on "unexpected acceleration" that can cause the rider to "lose control" of the vehicle. I thought this thing looked awesome. My wife said from day one that it would be a problem. Turns out, she was right... and now nearly 9,000 of the $349 ride-on toys are destined for a landfill. Full recall details below...

Is it Halloween in April? Weird to follow-up a post about toys based on THE MUNSTERS with this...

I've known about these for a bit, but now that photos for all of them have surfaced online, it's time to discuss a forthcoming wave of the Hot Wheels "Pop Culture" cars... UNIVERSAL HORROR.

Earlier this month, I posted a blog regarding the MATCHBOX 60th Anniversary Celebration that Mattel is currently promoting (read it here). One thing I didn't mention in that piece was that for the first time ever... MATCHBOX has issued a "chase" vehicle - a variation produced in limited numbers and randomly distributed - similar to what the MATCHBOX cousins at HOT WHEELS do with their "Treasure Hunts." While the 60th Anniversary Commemorative Edition Line of MATCHBOX is said to include 24 Vehicles, there is actually a 25th - the unnumbered Routemaster Bus in Red Chrome, with special artwork.

Times may change, but over the past sixty years, one constant has been the presence of MATCHBOX cars and toys, both on store shelves (and pegs), and in the homes of families everywhere. While the line has seen some ups-and-downs since it's launch in 1953, six decades of MATCHBOX memories have been created for parents and kids alike.

The Hot Wheels situation here at Rock Father HQ just got serious. What started as some simple fun with cars between my octane-obsessed daughter and I has gone well beyond rekindled childhood fun for me, and is now hitting my retro-radar at full speed. While the little one and I have a ton of fun with Hot Wheels, nothing really triggered my own "have to have it!" reaction until now. Thanks to Mattel, the Hot Wheels Retro Entertainment Assortment has hit the streets.

At the in-progress American International TOY FAIR in New York today, MEGA Brands revealed their new line of MEGA BLOKS HOT WHEELS Building Sets, created in partnership with Mattel. 

My daughter thinks that "the Batcave" is the large hole on the sub-woofer next to my desk. Actually, she calls it "Batman's Cave," and though I don't recall doing so, I probably told her that it was awhile back and thus she just repeats it all the time. I like Batman a lot.

I've been on a real retro-kick lately, and while my wife hasn' been too keen on my thoughts of remodeling my office space into a retro-styled world of fun, I've still been recapturing some feelings of youth as my daughter and I continue rockin' the Hot Wheels. While I've mentioned my daughter's car-obsession regularly, I've really been catching the bug again myself. Case-in-point: I stopped at Dollar Tree today and picked up a pair of Hot Wheels' "The Hot Ones" funny cars that are re-tooled versions of ones I had growing up in the 1980s. From that same era came something that popped into my head tonight that I hadn't thought of in many years... the Hot Wheels Crack-Ups Crash Course!

The folks over at Mattel Shop just got in touch with The Rock Father about another one of their rockin' after-hours sale events. Those looking for some awesome Holiday Savings on great gifts can take advantage of the "Night Sale." 25% off ALL orders from Mattel Shop, plus free shipping when you spend $25+! Sale starts 12/6/12 at 9PM EST and ends at 12/7/12 9AM EST. No code required! Some exclusions (Barbie Custom Dolls, Fisher-Price, Sale Items).

My girls are way too young for this, but if my speed-demon/daredevil daughter Addie saw it, she'd probably be off and racing quicker that we could possibly move to stop her. I'm talking about the new URBAN SHREDDER by Hot Wheels and Dynacraft, a $349 vehicle touted as "part motorcycle, part skateboard, part super engine — all beast." If I were about 12 (or they made an adult version), I'd be all over this thing. Check out the commercial below...