I really like the FAST 201. It was the first “Good YoYo” I bought many years ago. Here is the info from Yoyo Wiki-“YoYoFactory is a yo-yo company that was founded by Benjamin McPhee and Hans “YoHans” Van Dan Elzen. The first yo-yo the company made was the F.A.S.T. 201. F.A.S.T. is an acronym for “Fully Adjustable Starburst Technology” which meant that the 201 made use of adjustable teeth that acted as starbursts and allowed you to change how responsively the yo-yo plays. After securing a contract with Hasbro for the F.A.S.T. 201, the YoYoFactory Contest Team was started, and competitions around the world in the form of the Fast Challenge were launched.”
The first picture shows my well worn (RETIRED) 1st 201, it had green caps at one time. 2nd and 3rd pictures are the one I play today. 4th and 5th pictures are a couple of unboxed ones in my collection. 6th and 7th pictures are of my NIB original “Arizona” release in 2003. The first release was limited to only 2500. 8,9 and 10are pictures of a Green one in the spinner box dated 2004 with the Hasbro makings. 11, 12, 13 and 14 are the same but in Purple and Yellow. 15 and 16 is the current packaging, and 17 and 18 are the new Neon run.19, 20 and 21 are of the 201 Gold edition no date. The last two pictures are of my FAST 201 shirt.
Thank you for posting this. The fast 201 was my first “good” yoyo as well. The memories brought up by this thread are some of my best yoyoing memories.
Anyone else have any rare ones like the 2003-2004 nationals? Would like to see pictures.
tim
Here’s the one I got back from '04
http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa447/Page_Preinfalk/IMG_0963.jpg
http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa447/Page_Preinfalk/IMG_0964.jpg
http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa447/Page_Preinfalk/IMG_0965.jpg
very nice.
tim
I remember when these were popping up everywhere. They were in Walmart, Target, etc. I was almost going to get one back then as I wanted a wing-shaped yoyo with a bearing but the horrible grinding noise (from the response) turned me away. I do wish though that I had grabbed those original Freehands that flooded the shelves.
Just a couple years ago, I finally tried one of these guys out. It was smooth but very responsive, could probably loop with it. Still noisy as I remembered.
I’m friends with a guy with a fast 301, the metal version of the 201 but it didn’t work to well so it never made it past prototyping. I took some pictures of it and thought you would be interested.
One side:
http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j330/sirnaq_MN42/IMAG0201.jpg
The other side:
http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j330/sirnaq_MN42/IMAG0202.jpg
A gut shot to show the teeth:
http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j330/sirnaq_MN42/IMAG0203.jpg
Also he noticed that there is one package that you are missing. If you pm me your email I can have him send pics to you to add to your time line. He also has some more shirts. Just tell me what you want pictures of and if he has them he said he would take pictures for you so yeah…
i got a couple to add 
Left was Australia and Uk 2004. Right was the first Hasbro pack (teat markets and initial launch).
older than them
100 301 were released.
the USA nationals pack was for the US nationals launch edition 2003
Spinning Art was a ‘build your own’ set early 2004.
Very nice. If want to ever move those, think of me. Got some new in the boxes Playmaxx X-Ray Bes I would trade. Only about 800 made.
tim