
                                  EXHIBIT 23.1
                                  ------------


                               ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP





                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS



As independent  public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the  incorporation by
reference in this registration  statement of our report dated November 25, 1996,
included in Action Performance Companies,  Inc.'s Form 10-KSB for the year ended
September 30, 1996, and our report dated  December 13, 1996,  included in Action
Performance Companies, Inc.'s Form 8-K/A relating to the audits of Sports Image,
Inc. for the year ended  December 31, 1995,  and the period from January 1, 1996
to  November  7,  1996,  and to all  references  to our  firm  included  in this
registration statement.



                                              /s/Arthur Andersen LLP


Phoenix, Arizona,
March 5, 1997
