I’m an Innova fanboy, through and through. And while I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a “disc collector,” I’ve acquired some Innova plastic I’m proud of – some of it’s rare, but most of it’s just stuff I wanted: Champion Rhynos, CE Eagles, Luster Whippets, Brinster Destroyers, etc.
My most PRIZED of the lot, though?
I’ve got a pair of new, identical CE Classic Rocs from circa 2002 – of the “zipper-top” variety. Well, they were both new when I bought ‘em – only one’s still a 9/10 on the Sleepy Scale. The other gets the bulk of my short, straight throws. That is, until it smashes into a million pieces, following an untimely tree hit …
CE plastic: It comes with the territory … maybe.
[More On That Later]
How much did I pay for them, exactly?
Not so fast, Jack: That’s a secret I take to the grave.
I understand that not everybody’s obsessed with a single disc manufacturer the way I am, and that’s perfectly fine. Brag all you want about your mixed bag, but I bet you wouldn’t even think about bailing on that iPhone in your pocket and converting whole-heartedly to “Androidism.”
* Note: Just for the record, though I mainly bag Innova, other brands are in there, as well.
Anyway, if you’re new to an obsession with Innova, there are some not-so-familiar terms with which you’re going to want to familiarize yourself – one of ‘em, I actually used earlier on …
“Zipper-top.”
“Zipper-top” is a term used to describe an earlier run of a disc mold, many of which come from Innova’s Ontario location. This is why so many Innova collectors seek them out – they’re older. And because of it, they’re more collectible. With age, comes scarcity; with scarcity, comes value.
As rumor has it, zipper-tops are MORE than scarce, though …
When Innova first began manufacturing runs of discs in Champion plastic, it was known as “Champion Edition” (or CE) plastic. The earlier runs left tooling marks atop the flight plate. They were circles, extending from the edge of the disc inwards – almost like a vintage record.
This is where the “zipper-top” name comes from.
Scratch your fingernail along the flight plate, and you’ll hear it …
Calvin Heimburg demonstrates this beautifully – his Champion Rhyno is a zipper-top:
Anyway, while many runs of CE plastic (see above) are known for being brittle, cracking and exploding on impact, the ones with zipper-top tooling are believed to be INDESTRUCTIBLE.
Whether any of that’s true or not, I have no earthly idea. One thing’s for certain, though: They’re old and rare. And wouldn’t you know it, the CE Classic Roc I’ve been throwing for well over five years? It’s smacked its fair share of trees, and it’s still going strong – so there’s that.
No, you don’t need to dip into savings for an old-school, zipper-top disc …
Having read this, you’ll sound smart, at least – that’s all that matters.
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