Once again, I'm trying to remember the name of a brand of toy:
They were on sale in the early 80's I believe.  I don't remember a
thing about them except for the main fature:  they were vehicles that
shot remote control lasers (infra-red?) at each other, and would
trigger spring-loaded explosions.  pieces would go flying.
i barely remembering anything but that.

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Request for Question Clarification by sweetblue44-ga on 14 Sep 2004 12:30 PDT

I think I know what you're talking about. Did they come with a
videocassette that you would point the toy at the TV and pretend you
were shooting the baddies? I remember at one point if you didn't hide
behind the couch a certain flash would trigger the wings to fly off
and the pilot to eject. I'll have the name for you with enough
daydreaming about this

skomand:

Thanks for using Google Answers!

Yes, it finally hit me. The name of the toy series was CAPTAIN POWER
(and the soldiers of the future). It was one of the coolest toys
imaginable, you could "shoot" the toys at each other or interact with
the TV, jumping around the room trying to avoid the time when the
screen would flash and destroy your fighter. Find a whole lot of these
toys for sale at this site:

http://www.toyarchive.com/STAForSale/NEW2001+/CaptainPower/FSCaptainPower.html

Find a closeup of the said figher ship here:

http://www.toyarchive.com/STAForSale/NEW2001+/CaptainPower/PowerjetMISB1a.jpg

See the controversy this toy sparked here:

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/6213/powerCNN.html

Find eBay auctions listing toys for sale (if you are intersted) here:

http://search.ebay.com/captain-power_W0QQsokeywordredirectZ1QQfromZR8

I would play with these at FAO Schwartz in NYC back in the mid 80s.
Fond, fond memories, and I don't know why with today's wireless
technologies we don't have toys like this making a comeback... I used
search terms such as "Captain Power" and "VCR-interactive toy."

Hope this helps you, thanks again for using Google Answers, and do not
hesitate to contact me for additional information or anecdotal data!

sweetblue44 (child of the 80s)

Thanks so Much!!!!

I think I remember the "big track" having an IR beam on it. 
http://www.robotprojects.com/bigtrak/bigotrak.htm 
should give you stuff to look for.
Do you remember color? Approximate size? More than one type of vehichle?

Maybe micronauts, or something similar?

Nah, it wasn't either of those.  But thanks.  The truth is, I really
don't remember much.  A friend one mine who died recently used to be
into them, so I don't have much to go on.