1981
IT HAPPENED IN…1981
The U.S. economy continued to weaken with
inflation at 14%, unemployment at 7.4% and worsening, automobile
production falling, and medical care costs rising 12.5%.
President Reagan was shot and underwent surgery
for a wound to his left lung.
Sandra Day O’Connor became the first woman
appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The first space shuttle was launched.
The USDA responded to school lunch program cuts
by counting ketchup as a “vegetable.”
Although they sold the Hires brand in the United
States in 1980, Crush International Inc. continued to own the rights to
the Hires brand in Canada until 1984, so Hires was included when the
“Mini-Indy Sweepstakes” was launched in the spring of 1981.
The illustrated poster pictures one of seven “mini-racer”
one-third scale cars (3 horsepower motor with a fiberglass body) that
served as the major prizes.
Thirty-six Tyco Super-Sound slot cars sets were the second prizes.
“Thousands of instant prizes” were available “under the cap or in
the can” of both Crush and Hires bottles and cans.
The contest closed July 24, 1981.
(Figure 1981-01, paper poster)