Despite chilly temperatures in the low 30s, more than a hundred determined shoppers turned up at the 7am opening of the Mills Fleet Farm store in Stevens Point, Wisc. And yes, I was one of them.

   When I pulled into the lot at 6:45 munching on a bagel from the grocery store nearby, there were a dozen or so cars besides mine. Halfway through the bagel another couple of dozen vehicles arrived. Then semi trucks began arriving in the massive parking lot (the store is located near I-39) and I knew some serious shopping was about to take place. I polished off the bagel, scooped up my camera and notebook, and joined the line.

   Just as the sun crept toward the horizon, the store managers opened the doors. I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside the building, but I did get a couple of shots while waiting outside with the crowd. They are posted below.

   So what did I find? I snagged the latest wave of 30th Anniversary Star Wars figures from Hasbro, giggled just a little at discovering the concept Darth Vader figure, then made my way to the farm toys.

   With the exception of some Norscot Caterpillar vehicles, Ertl was the only manufacturer of die-cast farm toys on the shelves. Last year's offering did include toys from Scale Models, but this year, John Deere toys from Ertl dominated the scene. I noticed an increase in 1:32-scale toys, but the selection of 1:64-scale toys was smaller than last year, and the majority of the toys were, of course, 1:16-scale.

   They restock regularly throughout this season, so regular trips are now on my agenda. I found a nice Farmall A in 1:16-scale, and a John Deere Barge Wagon to match the IH one that I use as a candy dish at toy shows.

   What did you find at Fleet Farm today?

   Farm toy collectors in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Fargo ND, and Mason City, Iowa, will rejoice tomorrow at 7am when the doors to Toyland open at Mills Fleet Farm locations. In addition to all of the other games and toys, this is the only time of year the stores stock a complete line of farm toys in all scales. Looking for that Ertl Farmall M I reviewed? You’ll see it on the shelves tomorrow.

   For those of you not Familiar with Fleet Farm and its Toyland, you can liken it to the toy sections of the Sears stores that you grew up with. Remember when the Sears Wish Book arrived in the mail and you and your siblings scoured each page and circled all of the stuff you wanted? Well, receiving the Fleet Farm Toyland flyer in the mail is a comparable experience, but all of the folks I know who have been pouring over it this week are grown-up collectors.

   For more information (and to find a store near you) go to their Web site: www.fleetfarm.com

   I’ll see you folks at 7am tomorrow!

   A call from dad confirmed that he and his buddies are making the trip this Saturday (October 13) to Morris, Illinois, for the Hunnert Car Pile-Up. And I really wish I could go—after all, it was MY idea to go in the first place—alas, commitments in Wisconsin will prevent me from witnessing the Pile-Up in person.

   What’s the Hunnert Car Pile-Up? No, it isn’t a demolition derby (good guess, though) it’s a traditional hot rod show open to 1940s, 1950s, and early 1960s style hot rods, custom cars, and custom motorcycles. The show organizers are serious about the admission criteria and have posted the requirements on their Web site www.hunnertcarpileup.com. As they state, “You wouldn’t want a sport tuner Honda Civic at your Model T show…would you?”

   This show is a must see for anyone interested in traditional style customs. The Pile-Up also includes a full line-up of rockabilly, honky tonk, and garage pop bands—dancing in the aisles is encouraged. So stop watching old reruns of American Hot Rod or Hard Shine, and get out to the Grundy County Speedway and Fairgrounds on Saturday to live the real thing. Gates open at 9am.

   A Toy Shop reader recently asked how I determine the topics I select for my column “Leave it to Karen.” Long-time readers know that the column generally focuses on toys of the 1950s and 1960s, but I do enjoy writing on pre-WWII toys every chance I get. Editor Tom Bartsch selects different themes for each month, and I try to adhere to that schedule (although my recent two-part story on Star Trek was a departure, I had a lot of fun with it and Tom didn’t seem to mind).

   That brings me to my current conundrum. The theme for the March ’08 issue is PRESSED STEEL. Hooray! I collect pressed steel, I love pressed steel, and there are a bunch of prewar and postwar companies to write about. Hence my problem.

   What pressed steel company should I select? I’ve written stories on Ertl, Metalcraft, and Nylint recently, so with those exceptions, I leave it to the readers to select the pressed steel company that I’ll focus on for that issue.

   Click “Comments” below to suggest a pressed steel company and tell me why you think I should write about it! You have until November 5, 2007, when I’ll announce the winning topic. The person who suggested the winner will receive a free copy of Toys & Prices 2008.