MC Editorial - Fasthouse x Hot Wheels

A CELEBRATION OF ACCELERATION

At the crossroads of high speed and good times, you'll find the timeless cool of the Southern California motocross community. We pay tribute to tradition with the new Fasthouse x Hot Wheels capsule collection. Here's a peek behind the scenes.
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THE ROOTS OF RAD

Before it was a groundbreaking motocross brand, Fasthouse began as a creative spark in the epicenter of the emerging Moto movement, circa 1968.

Fasthouse founder and Hollywood stuntman Kenny Alexander explains:
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"I was very fortunate to be around a lot of creative people growing up. My mom was one of the best hairdressers in the entertainment industry. My dad was a desert racer and creative thinker who helped create legendary Indian Dunes Motocross park. They put on some of the coolest races ever."
"I was very fortunate to be around a lot of creative people growing up. My mom was one of the best hairdressers in the entertainment industry. My dad was a desert racer and creative thinker who helped create legendary Indian Dunes Motocross park. They put on some of the coolest races ever."
The convergence of the Hollywood film community and the emerging motocross scene attracted heavy hitters like Steve McQueen, and filmmaker Bruce Brown, who documented it all in the landmark On Any Sunday.

But to Kenny, the community of desert racers was like family:

"All the fast guys used to come over to my grandpa's house after the races. It was just a place where they hung out—"the fast guys' house." That's how it all started. My grandmother made race jerseys and race vests for us little kids to look like our heroes."

THE HOT WHEELS CONNECTION

After spending time together, we realized Hot Wheels and Fasthouse share some common threads: Both were born in 1968. Both in Southern California. Both driven by speed, stunts and creativity.

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Kenny recalls: "I remember my grandpa's house, I had that orange track all over the house with the 360° loop, track going up and over couches, underneath chairs. It used to drive grandma crazy. As little kids, we would go and watch the stuntmen on movie sets; guys like Glenn Wilder, Ronnie Rondell, and Hal Needham flipping cars and doing crazy stunts, fire burns. I used to take Hot Wheels and act like there were stuntmen in there doing all this stuff. I've been around these people my whole life, and it's about creativity. Just like when you're a kid playing with toys, your mind gets creative."
Kenny recalls: "I remember my grandpa's house, I had that orange track all over the house with the 360° loop, track going up and over couches, underneath chairs. It used to drive grandma crazy. As little kids, we would go and watch the stuntmen on movie sets; guys like Glenn Wilder, Ronnie Rondell, and Hal Needham flipping cars and doing crazy stunts, fire burns. I used to take Hot Wheels and act like there were stuntmen in there doing all this stuff. I've been around these people my whole life, and it's about creativity. Just like when you're a kid playing with toys, your mind gets creative."

SURROUNDED BY COOL

Drop by Fasthouse HQ and you sense it right away: you’re in a garage full of machines, surrounded by memorabilia and the camaraderie of moto enthusiasts. These are lifers, chasing what they love. This is the lightning we tried to capture in this collaboration. Clean lines, classic feel, the roar of fun, freedom and friends.
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"Making the Fasthouse brand was a dream of mine— to have a place where like-minded people could gather, tell war stories, be surrounded by cool, and learn about these legends that we're honoring," says Kenny.

Fasthouse artist Scott Dickson adds: "The Fasthouse showroom feels like you're someplace where all the legends would hang out. We took the original guys and brought them back to life."

Amanda Moldavon, VP, Global Brand Creative on Hot Wheels, explains how they captured that attitude: "Hot Wheels has always been about inspiring and celebrating the challenger spirit – that try, fail, repeat attitude – which is at the heart of action sports. We want to fuel the passion of this incredible community that’s driven by their relentless pursuit of greatness."

Adds Kenny: "Hot Wheels embodies the spirit of play when it comes to motocross. We're trying to create a fun atmosphere, a cool vibe."

The resulting capsule collection meets the need and evokes the speed. Spanning 25 key pieces, you'll find staples like T-shirts and caps to weather-ready items including jackets, beanies and umbrellas. All of it feels pit-legit and track certified.
"Making the Fasthouse brand was a dream of mine— to have a place where like-minded people could gather, tell war stories, be surrounded by cool, and learn about these legends that we're honoring," says Kenny.

Fasthouse artist Scott Dickson adds: "The Fasthouse showroom feels like you're someplace where all the legends would hang out. We took the original guys and brought them back to life."

Amanda Moldavon, VP, Global Brand Creative on Hot Wheels, explains how they captured that attitude: "Hot Wheels has always been about inspiring and celebrating the challenger spirit – that try, fail, repeat attitude – which is at the heart of action sports. We want to fuel the passion of this incredible community that’s driven by their relentless pursuit of greatness."

Adds Kenny: "Hot Wheels embodies the spirit of play when it comes to motocross. We're trying to create a fun atmosphere, a cool vibe."

The resulting capsule collection meets the need and evokes the speed. Spanning 25 key pieces, you'll find staples like T-shirts and caps to weather-ready items including jackets, beanies and umbrellas. All of it feels pit-legit and track certified.

NEW SCHOOL SPEED, OLD SCHOOL SPIRIT

The first lap around the track between Hot Wheels and Fasthouse was reserved for the Fasthouse Am team riders, supporting their journey on the AMA racing series. Fueling the new generation of talent was core to the partnership, and an important test to see if we could bring the past, the present, and the future together. When the kits were unveiled at the summer race in Mammoth, California, the response from the Fasthouse team was full throttle excitement.

"They're stoked. They've reached the big time when a company like Mattel is supporting what they're doing. Being part of a team that means something, makes them feel so good," Kenny explains.

During the Mammoth test weekend, team Fasthouse’s squad of young rippers turned heads. But when it comes to representing the heart and soul of motocross, Kenny is quick to note that earning sponsorship status is not all about chasing gold on the podium:
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"We look for the kid that has character. Their personality is about having fun, somebody that everyone wants to hang out with at the races. We're trying to create a fun atmosphere. We don't pressure them into winning. If they have fun, they help us realize our goals in creating a cool vibe. What we did in Mammoth was perfect. We got the buzz going."
"We look for the kid that has character. Their personality is about having fun, somebody that everyone wants to hang out with at the races. We're trying to create a fun atmosphere. We don't pressure them into winning. If they have fun, they help us realize our goals in creating a cool vibe. What we did in Mammoth was perfect. We got the buzz going."
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SHIFTING GEARS

If the moment at Mammoth was the trial run, the next stage for the FH x HW collaboration is a pop-up premier at this year's Day in The Dirt, aka the MX Woodstock. Known worldwide as one of the funnest events on wheels, D.I.T.D is also the brainchild of Kenny Alexander and one of his stunt buddies, Jimmy Roberts.

Explains Kenny: "In 1998 we decided to throw a race like old races that we used to go to when we were kids. Just enjoying spending time with friends. We were expecting a couple hundred to come out, and over 1000 came through the gate at our first event. Year two, Red Bull came on board as title sponsor of Day in the Dirt. And the rest is kind of history. We're going on our 24th year now and it’s always our biggest event of the year. It's been one hell of a ride. So it’s pretty special that we're launching this collaboration here."
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HERE'S TO THE LONG ROAD

Chasing the stoke requires creativity and commitment. But that lifelong drive is what attracts community, and the ability to share it with new generations. The true meaning behind it all? Kenny sums it up:
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"It has not been a quick road. It's been a long haul. We came up with A Day in the Dirt because we wanted to bring back the joy we felt when we were kids going to all those cool races. Our crew was friends and family. And we didn't know what we were doing.

I've been lucky. When you build something really slow over the years, you gain street cred. I think that's what gives us our strength. Some of us are born into this sport—it comes pretty easy. It's natural. Others find it along the way. I feel if we guide the people that didn't grow up with a dad or a mom who took them to the desert, we can guide them down the path of how motorcycling can be cool, and not just about racing. We want to help people feel the true meaning of being into motorcycles. It's riding, it's being with friends, it's camping. It leads to escape. It leads to a way of life."
"It has not been a quick road. It's been a long haul. We came up with A Day in the Dirt because we wanted to bring back the joy we felt when we were kids going to all those cool races. Our crew was friends and family. And we didn't know what we were doing.

I've been lucky. When you build something really slow over the years, you gain street cred. I think that's what gives us our strength. Some of us are born into this sport—it comes pretty easy. It's natural. Others find it along the way. I feel if we guide the people that didn't grow up with a dad or a mom who took them to the desert, we can guide them down the path of how motorcycling can be cool, and not just about racing. We want to help people feel the true meaning of being into motorcycles. It's riding, it's being with friends, it's camping. It leads to escape. It leads to a way of life."
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GIDDYUP

GIDDYUP

Witness the coverage and carnage at dayinthedirt.com. Twist the throttle and roost over to fasthouse.com/store to score a clutch piece from the Fasthouse x Hot Wheels capsule collection.
Witness the coverage and carnage at dayinthedirt.com. Twist the throttle and roost over to fasthouse.com/store to score a clutch piece from the Fasthouse x Hot Wheels capsule collection.
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