Awana Grand Prix Billy's Red Neck Investigative Reporting; What's Up With The AWANA Supply Line

Being born and raised in an area where the median income is $16,807.00 less that the rest of the country, Billy's Momma always said "Son, it's ok to be a red neck but you don't have to be a dumb one". And just like that Billy went on to play football for the great state of Alabama. And that's all Billy's gotta say about that. Billy loves the Grand Prix and the AWANA Program but there seem's to be some conflicting reports about what comes in the kit vs OEM AWANA replacement parts. Being the Woodward and Bernstein sleuth that he is, he went under cover and ordered from the official AWANA replacement parts page to bring you this special report.

He ordered a complete kit #71669 and a 5 pack of extra wheels #16029 and here's what he discovered. The kit had the standard AWANA block, 4 axles and 4 DULL looking smooth inner faced wheels without the little plastic nub. The replacement wheels were SHINNY with the plastic nub.

So he's curious as to what other AWANA builders are experiencing and would like their input. Happy building Y'all.......RRR

 

The no ejector pin wheels are older. I don't care for them as they are a bit more challenging to get raceworthy. The standard Awana block became non standard this year. We saw some that were pine, some poplar and one maple!!!!! I've been building Awana cars for 25 years and this year we had ridiculous wood quality and it seemed they were going through old stock with respect to parts. Different from past years for certain.

 

I called Headquarters and they said it must be a dis-connect somewhere within the supply.(I'll say) IMHO I think they either use multiple vendors of change vendors occasionally possibility thru a bid process.

 

I think that there must be two vendors as the molds are slightly different as are the mold numbers on the wheels.

 

Agreed !!