The Aussie Pinball Arcade
Aussie Pinball Forums => General Discussion => Your Collection => Topic started by: v8racefan on August 02, 2009, 09:16:08 PM
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Evening all...
I have recently added a late model pinball machine to my modest pinball collection. As most of you know I'm a huge fan of motorsports and classic/muscle cars, and have been looking around for some months for a car - motorsport themed pinball. I stumbled across a 2005 Stern Grand Prix pinball that was located at a retailer in Newcastle, NSW. This particular machine was released in August 2005, and I had played this title (during the wedding week) back when I got married to my wife (Helen) at local Timezone in Christchurch NZ. I enjoyed playing this pinball back then and had never found one in Queensland since to play. This pinball had been on my wish list since January 2006. Another reason I decided on this title is that I have played many other late model Sterns, and liked the quality and design of these late model pins.
So I purchased this pin site unseen, and must say I was very impressed with the excellent condition of the machine. See pics below...
This title was designed by PLD (Pat Lawlow Design Team) as Pat is a racing car fan like myself, who still races a Short Tracker speedway car at Rockford Speedway in the US. This Stern title was based on the NASCAR "brand" of racing for the North American market, then Stern produced Grand Prix for the European market. They later relaesed a limited run of 500 pins under the Dale Ernhart brand as well.
One of the most captivating thing about this game is the race track. The race track goes all the way around the entire playfield, and when you start a ball the ball races around the track, awesome!!. Similar to the Getaway accelerator. The game play is rather easy, however its a fast flowing game that simply ticks all the boxes for this racefan.
I have had this pinball for a few weeks now, and have totally stripped the topside of the playfield and cleaned and polished every part. This pinball is now as close to new condition as I will probably get to own. When I arrived home with this machine I noticed that the date stamp on the rear of the pinball was 31st July 2006, so it was newer than first thought, as this pin was released in 08/2005, bonus!!
I found a complete NOS Dale Ernhart playfield plastic set for $19.95USD on ebay (bargin!!) and have just added some Roadshow target decals from Treasure Cove as well. I got from mark @ PSP a transulscent blue shooter rod, and blue flipper rubbers which just set this game off!!
This machine is 100% a keeper for me, hope you enjoyed my story.
Cheers
Leon aka v8racefan
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here's a pic of me and my Stern Grand Prix $!&
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good write up,game looks great , heaps of colours. how much is a game like that worth? It seems it's found the right owner
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There was one of these at the Melbourne meet, and for some inexplicable reason I didn't get around to playing it!!!
Great story; sounds like a worthwhile machine to own.
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I played one when it first came out, and as a GP fan didn't mind it at all, especially the ball lapping the machine. It was the first of the Stern's that had a more familiar "williams" style feel to it, no doubt due to so many having moved across at that stage and started to influence game design/play.
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nice score there leon $#$
wouldnt mind a game,havnt seen it here in chch tho,prob some crazy pin collector has snapped it up %.%
are you still heading over in october?
thanks mike
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congrats on a nice purchase...real nice looking machine.....looks like new.....shld be a keeper for sure..well done. #*#
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good write up,game looks great , heaps of colours. how much is a game like that worth? It seems it's found the right owner
Thanks for your comments, it sure has found the right owner, late model Sterns generally sell for $4,000 to $5,000 depending on the title & supply & demand etc...
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There was one of these at the Melbourne meet, and for some inexplicable reason I didn't get around to playing it!!!
Great story; sounds like a worthwhile machine to own.
Its an easy pin to play, fast flowing, next time you get the opportunity give it a go, any pinhead who's into cars or motorsport will enjoy this title.
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I played one when it first came out, and as a GP fan didn't mind it at all, especially the ball lapping the machine. It was the first of the Stern's that had a more familiar "williams" style feel to it, no doubt due to so many having moved across at that stage and started to influence game design/play.
Thanks for your comments, yes this pin does have a "williams" feel to it, playfield is not too busy, lots of good long shots, it ticks all the boxes for me, another great Pat Lawlor design..
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when I got married to my wife (Helen) at local Timezone in Christchurch NZ.
You married the Mrs in a TimeZone - man thats dedication :lol :lol
Congrats on the new game- I have never played it but it has always looked pretty interesting.
Enjoy *)*
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when I got married to my wife (Helen) at local Timezone in Christchurch NZ.
You married the Mrs in a TimeZone - man thats dedication :lol :lol
Congrats on the new game- I have never played it but it has always looked pretty interesting.
Enjoy *)*
Ha ha, I wish I had got married in Time Zone, it would have been a whole lot cheaper!! :lol
Thanks for your comments wotto, its a title that may not appeal to every pinhead, but its a fun game to play.
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What a great looking game, looks like she'll fit right in with the decor.
Congrats on the new addition ^^^
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What a great looking game! Congrats on the new addition ^^^
Thanks
Exciting times getting a new pin, only problem is that I have now exhuasted my 2009 pin funds now !!! !!!
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nice score there leon $#$
wouldnt mind a game,havnt seen it here in chch tho,prob some crazy pin collector has snapped it up %.%
are you still heading over in october?
thanks mike
Hey mike,
yep I'm over in November 09, can't remember the exact dates??, flights booked ages ago.. I'll be in ch-ch for one week then invers for the other 2.
Timezone Moorehouse Ave used to have this pin back in 2005/06, yep its probably owned by a crazy pinball collector somewhere in NZ?? !@#
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What a great looking pin!
Thanks for sharing pix and the story of your new toy Leon, you look mighty proud and so you should be!
Lots of colour - just like old school pins ^^^
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Congrats, great pin. I recently got to play a HUO Nascar and I loved it. Are the sounds and speach the same on GP?
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What a great looking pin!
Thanks for sharing pix and the story of your new toy Leon, you look mighty proud and so you should be!
Lots of colour - just like old school pins ^^^
Thanks Tony,
yes very proud pin owner, playfield is very bright & colourful
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Congrats, great pin. I recently got to play a HUO Nascar and I loved it. Are the sounds and speach the same on GP?
Thanks
Cool a HUO Nascar wow, I have never played a nascar but given the limited time they had to roll out GP, I believe the sounds are the same, I do know that the speach is different, as in Nascar they have famous drivers speach.
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I had the pleasure of meeting Leon (V8racefan) tonight when he came over to my house and we got to have a few beers and bourbans and talk allnight about pinnies and arcade stuff and I certainly had a great time.What a top bloke Leon is and and I hope he enjoyed the night as much as I did.
I hope i didnt talk his ears off too much (sorry mate,just hypo by nature. lol. ) :lol
It just goes to show that being a member of this pinball forum/site pays off big time when u get to meet like minded people and make new friends n great contacts. In the coming weeks, if Leon has any other mates or if any other Brisy (or anyone else) wants to organise a meet, I would only been too happy to organise something.
Cheers.
P.S - Leon did bring the camera so maybe he will get to upload some photos of some of the collection ^^^
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hope to be having a beer or 2 with leon in november,hope my hi scores will stand up,might go open up the out lanes on all the pins ^&(
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I had the pleasure of meeting Leon (V8racefan) tonight when he came over to my house and we got to have a few beers and bourbans and talk allnight about pinnies and arcade stuff and I certainly had a great time.What a top bloke Leon is and and I hope he enjoyed the night as much as I did.
I hope i didnt talk his ears off too much (sorry mate,just hypo by nature. lol. ) :lol
It just goes to show that being a member of this pinball forum/site pays off big time when u get to meet like minded people and make new friends n great contacts. In the coming weeks, if Leon has any other mates or if any other Brisy (or anyone else) wants to organise a meet, I would only been too happy to organise something.
Cheers.
P.S - Leon did bring the camera so maybe he will get to upload some photos of some of the collection ^^^
Thanks Brett. #*#
Top night, thanks again for the invite, it was great to meet another local pinhead, I've just uploaded the photo's I took last night on the questionaire post.
I'm happy to help as well in organising a brisbane AP meet, it would be good to meet other Gold Coast/Brisbane AP members too.
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hope to be having a beer or 2 with leon in november,hope my hi scores will stand up,might go open up the out lanes on all the pins ^&(
Yep can't wait to have a few nz beers in november and play & talk pinball, your high scores will probably stand mike, the more beer I drink the worse I get at playing pinball.. %.%