Collector’s Corner for September 2016: Greg McLaughlin

Splash ‘n Go returns with its monthly installment of Collector’s Corner showcasing the die-cast collection of one NASCAR fan per month. This popular installment

Back in May, Splash ‘n Go introduced Collector’s Corner for the first time and it quickly became one of the site’s most popular features. Apparently, collectors like looking at other collectors’ collections and how the die-cast are displayed. It is our extreme pleasure to be the conduit that allows this to happen.

If you are interested in having your collection featured in an upcoming month, please send us a private message on our Facebook page stating your interest and your email address. Be warned, however, that we do have several collections already in the queue, so it could be several months before your collection is shown.

This month, it’s Greg McLaughlin’s turn to have his collection shown off to all of his fellow die-cast collectors. Greg lives in Chesapeake, Va., with his wife, Rachel, and their two-year-old daughter, Anna. Greg works for Norfolk Naval Shipyard as an outside machinist. Norfolk Naval Shipyard does a lot of work overhauling and repairing America’s fleet of aircraft carriers and submarines.

We hope you enjoy the photos of Greg’s collection and his answers to the questions we posed to him.

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When did you become a NASCAR fan? I became a NASCAR fan in 1992 thanks to my uncle.

Which drivers/teams/car manufacturers do you root for? I am the biggest David Ragan fan you’ll find anywhere! I am also a fan of Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chris Buescher and Ryan Blaney.

What tracks/races have you been to? Which drivers have you met? I have been to Richmond, Martinsville, Bristol, Charlotte and Homestead-Miami Speedway. Being a Ragan fan, I have met him countless times, but between races, special events and autograph sessions I have had the privilege to meet just about every driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup garage.

What is on your NASCAR bucket list? My goal as a NASCAR fan is to make it to every track at least once in my life.

How many die-cast are in your collection? 1:64s? I don’t collect 1:64s. 1:24s? As of right now, I have 347 1:24 die-cast in my collection. I have every David Ragan car that has been made and countless prototypes and door numbers. 1:18s? I don’t collect 1:18s.

What year did you start collecting die-cast? What year did you become an RCCA member? I really started collecting in 2005 and became an RCCA member in 2015. I wish I would have done it sooner!

What was your first die-cast? Most recent? My first die-cast was a 1:24 Mark Martin Valvoline bank that I still have and my most recent die-cast was the 2016 Ryan Blaney 1:24 Motorcraft ARC. Can’t wait for the ELITE version to get here.

What is your favorite die-cast and why? My favorite car in my collection is my 2011 1:24 David Ragan UPS Coke Zero 400 win prototype. It took a long time to find and I think it will probably go to the grave with me. (My wife is rolling her eyes at me while reading. LOL)

What die-cast would you love to add to your collection and why? I would love to add Ragan’s 2013 Talladega win prototype. I know one is in David’s collection, but I can’t seem to find another. I’ve been looking for that car for almost two years.

What die-cast would you love to see produced and why? Honestly, I enjoy seeing any Ragan car made. With him being on a smaller team like BK Racing, it’s a little more difficult to get enough support to make sure a die-cast gets made. So, I typically have three or four pre-orders in to try and help it get it made.