Launching apparatus for toy vehicles

A toy track set and toy vehicle kit, comprising:

• a plurality of toy vehicles;
• and
• a launching apparatus including:
• a track body that includes:
• an inverted support region that is structured to support the plurality of toy vehicles in an at least partially upside-down orientation;
• and
• a launching section that is connected to the inverted support region;
• a release element that is movable between a blocking position where the release element retains the plurality of toy vehicles on the inverted support region, and a launching position where the release element permits at least a first toy vehicle of the plurality of toy vehicles to be released from the inverted support region onto the launching section;
• and
• wherein the launching section is oriented relative to the inverted support region such that the at least a first toy vehicle of the plurality of toy vehicles which is released from the inverted support region travels onto the launching section under the influence of gravity.

A launching apparatus for sequentially launching a plurality of toy vehicles, the launching apparatus comprising:

• a track body that includes:
• a holding section that is structured to support the plurality of toy vehicles in a sequential line, at least part of the holding section being formed as an inverted support region that is structured to hold at least some of the plurality of vehicles in an at least partially upside-down, first orientation;
• and
• a launching section that is connected to the holding section;
• and
• a release element that is movably connected to the track body for moving between a blocking position where the release element retains the plurality of toy vehicles on the holding section, and a launching position where the release element permits at least one toy vehicle of the plurality of toy vehicles to be released onto the launching section from the holding section under the influence of gravity;
• wherein the launching section is structured such that the at least one toy vehicle is held in a second orientation when the at least one toy vehicle is released onto the launching section;
• and
• wherein the second orientation is less upside-down than the at least partially upside-down, first orientation.