Legendary toy maker Fisher-Price has teamed with the Stock Car Racing Collection at Appalachian State University to provide viewers for stereographic photo images of Southern AllStars dirt track racing. The ViewMaster images depict racing action from 2003.

Russell Thress, a race fan from Athens, Tennessee, produced and donated multiple copies of ViewMaster reels of racing action accompanied by printed driver interviews autographed by drivers Jeremy Clements, Shane Tankersley, Brandon Kinzer, and Clint Smith. Stock Car Racing Collection librarian Suzanne Wise saw great possibilities of using the sets to promote the Collection and raise funds for the purchase of additional research material, but was missing the key component of viewers. "I contacted Sandy Kensinger at Fisher-Price, asking for their help but not really expecting anything," Wise said. "To my surprise, Sandy replied almost immediately that Fisher-Price would be happy to provide ViewMaster viewers. They arrived in five large boxes shortly afterward."

"This is another wonderful example of corporate support of the Stock Car Racing Collection's mission to document stock car racing and preserve those materials for future generations," Wise continued. "United Parcel Service worked with us several years ago to bring a large donation from New York to North Carolina, and now Fisher-Price has really stepped up to the plate."

The sets, containing two ViewMaster reels, a viewer, and four autographed printed driver interviews, will be used as thank-you gifts to donors to the Collection.

The Appalachian State University Library Stock Car Racing Collection contains more than 500 books, periodicals, and audio and video tapes, as well a large collection of clippings, race programs, and other printed and imaged material documenting the sport. The Collection is open to the public. For more information, visit the Stock Car Racing Collection web site at http://www.library.appstate.edu/stockcar/index.html.