Loyd's BONUS video-clip(s)!!--- # 39!!-- 'The guy with one of the COOLEST careers in THE WORLD!'

 Well gang, I can't think of  a better way of celebrating 100 POSTS on this here blog-a-wing-a-ding-thingy-thang, than to keep on having FUN with those REALLY cool little 1/64 scale vehicles I dig on SO MUCH! What better way to continue to do that, than getting to know a little about 'Mr. Hot Wheels' himself, Mr. Larry Wood!

I should say here, that Larry wasn't the original 'design guy' at Hot Wheels. That honor belongs to Harry Bradley. Larry came along about a year or two after the start of the whole thing. But---- he's the guy that definitely stayed around the company (that would be Mattel, of course!) long enough to be so closely associated with the brand, that he's known all over the WORLD--by the nick-name, 'Mr. Hot Wheels'.

I first learned about Larry, WAY back in the late 80s (if my sometimes-short-circuit-prone memory isn't failing me, that is!), through an interview and biographical piece that ran in the old 'Street Rodder' magazine ( I STILL have that issue, by the way!). Then, as now--- he's always seemed like the type of guy that would've made a VERY cool uncle! One that just happened to have one of the most AWESOME  jobs / careers in the WORLD!---- and obviously had a BLAST doing it all through the  years!

The man did NOT retire, until he was 75! After 40 years at 'The World's COOLEST Car Company'! Even then, he was still a consultant and advisor. The guy just OBVIOUSLY loved what he was doing! Here he is in an interview from several years back, talking about that career.-----

AND--- Here's Larry again, from some years back, hanging out at the 'Hot Wheels test facility' (just how WICKED-NEAT-O-NIFTY-COOL must THAT place be???), talking a little about his career--- and doing a little time behind the wheel of the 'FULL-SIZED' version of the 'Bone Shaker'! (One of his all-time CLASSIC Hot Wheels designs!)---- 

Thanks and gratitude, to 'Uncle Larry' Wood! There were a LOT more smiles and FUN in my childhood (as well as my 'over-grown-KID' adult-years, to be honest!), thanks to ALL of those tiny vehicles designed by him! LONG LIVE 'Mr. Hot Wheels'!!!