Gifts That Will Put a Grin on That Gear Head’s Face
A cheery blaze in the fireplace and an even warmer family gathering. The heavenly aroma of a holiday meal. And the keys to that Jaguar XKR Silverstone or Mercedes-Benz S500 (black, of course) sitting in your driveway. Now these are the things that will be sure to bring joy to the world of your favorite car enthusiast this Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa season.
What’s that? You say 90 large or so is, uh, a little more than you wanted to plunk down for the gear head in your life? Don’t worry. We present a smattering of items--fun, wacky, practical, techno, even insightful--that should fit about any budget and get the car lover’s motor racing:
Headlight envy, be gone. Those high-intensity-discharge headlights on high-sticker-priced cars will have nothing on you when you’re packing the CC Expedition, an LED flashlight from C. Crane Co. Seven light-emitting diodes produce a dazzling cool white light that lasts more than 40 hours on three C-size alkaline batteries. And because they don’t have breakable filaments, the LEDs will last thousands of hours, the maker says. Price: $59.95. Information: (800) 522-8863; https://www.ccrane.com.
Embarking on a power trip? One of Subaru’s most notable models this year lacks the auto maker’s vaunted all-wheel drive. At 23 pounds, the UltiMite portable generator is easy to lug and doesn’t take up much space. Its 40cc, 2-horsepower two-cycle engine delivers 1,100 watts AC or 90 amps DC. Intelligent circuitry tailors the output to match demand, which extends engine life, decreases noise and fuel consumption and prevents overcharging. $595. At Subaru dealers; dealer locater: https://www.subaru.com.
It isn’t flashy, it isn’t cute, but the Costar P-1 personal carbon monoxide detector-alarm could mean the most precious gift of all: life. Each winter we read heart-wrenching stories of people being killed by the colorless, odorless gas from vehicle exhaust, faulty heaters or unsafe indoor cooking. Quantum Group’s P-1, designed for passenger vehicles, is slightly larger than a pager, weighs 5 ounces and runs on a 9-volt battery. Other models are designed for home use and recreational vehicles. $49.95. Information: (800) 432-5599; https://www.qginc.com.
The LifeHammer is designed to shatter glass and cut through seat belts in the event of an accident that traps driver or passengers. A mounting bracket for the lightweight tool includes a luminescent pin to make it easy to spot in the dark. The Belgian manufacturer says the device is used by fire and police departments around the country and in Europe; LifeHammer is sold in the U.S. through Innovation Distributing of Santa Barbara. $29.95 to $35.95, depending on handle (safety orange plastic, burl wood, chrome or silver). Information: (888) 343-8688; https://www.lifehammer.com.
Pickup and minivan drivers and even motorcyclists can do a better job of signaling their intentions with Muth Mirror Systems’ Signal Mirrors. The mirrors, available in regular and wide angle, contain high-intensity LED displays whose red chevrons indicate your intention to turn. From about $150 to $340; professional installation is advised. Information: (800) 844-6616; https://www.kwmuth.com.
In the Magellan 750M, the directionally challenged have a more versatile means of employing Global Positioning Satellite technology. The battery-powered mobile auto navigational system, designed for those who own more than one vehicle or who travel frequently, provides visual and voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions and shows the driver’s position on detailed maps of streets and highways. $2,799. Information: (877) 422-7628; https://www.magellangps.com.
Are you a Palm pilot seeking guidance? The Earthmate Road Warrior Edition from DeLorme works with the Palm address book, finds points of interest or specific addresses and shows street-level maps (in color on the Palm IIIc). Multimedia laptop users can also use the package, which includes Street Atlas USA software and GPS antenna, to navigate with the help of these friends in high places. $199.95. Information: (800) 452-5931; https://www.delorme.com.
For the person whose idea of a perfect home is one with two bedrooms, three baths and a six-car garage, there’s Allied International’s LumiRatchet, which incorporates a swivel-head flashlight in the handle. It’s just the thing for hard-to-reach places, breakdowns at night or if you’re on your back, under the car, trying to reconnect your exhaust system after a day at the drag strip. $9.99 for a 3/8-inch socket handle or $19.99 for a set that includes the handle and 19 sockets. Information: (800) 248-6657; https://www.alliedtools.com.
Put a grin on your gadget lover’s mug with Victorinox’s everything-but-the-torque-gauge Swiss Army AutoTool. You get pliers, wire cutters, wire crimper-stripper, Phillips and regular screwdrivers, ice scraper, flashlight, removable fuse puller, a serrated blade, can and bottle opener and digital tire pressure gauge--all in 12.5 ounces. $79. Information: (800) 442-2706; https://www.swissarmy.com.
Washing a car or truck yourself is not only economical but also convenient. Make tackling the nitty-gritty stuff less of a chore with OXO Good Grips Automotive Care Tools, including purpose-built squeegee and brushes for car, wheels and tires. All feature soft, nonslip elastomer grips and bodies that will protect against dings to the vehicle’s finish and hold up to oils and cleaning agents. $10 to $20. Information: (800) 545-4411; https://www.oxo.com.
Fragrance is a traditional holiday gift. Why not one for your favorite ride? Give the floor mats a couple of squirts of Leather Interior Car Scent from Griot’s Garage and it should last about a week (unless you smoke cigars). Also available in vanilla, if you’re not into leather. A 4-ounce spray bottle costs $6.95. Information: (800) 345-5789; https://www.griotsgarage.com.
Revenger 2K from Hoopla Inc. is a road-rage defuser. This cheesy but fun toy, resembling a dashboard radar detector, has a pop-up “gun sight” and eight buttons that play angry sounds (glass breaking, machine guns, photon torpedoes) or utterances. (“Get off the phone and drive!” or “Move it, blue hair!”) At $19.99, though, don’t expect Bose-quality sound. https://www.revenger.com.
When the holiday hubbub is over, enjoy the quiet with two books that look at automotive legends from the ‘60s: one a machine, the other a driver-thinker-engineer. “The Most Famous Car in the World: The Story of the First E-Type Jaguar,” by Philip Porter (Sterling Publishing Co., $29.95, 256 pages), is a loving look at the 9600 HP, the press car that started it all. It’s an educational view of a time when important cars were sometimes driven, and driven hard, to auto shows.
“The Unfair Advantage,” by Mark Donohue with Paul Van Valkenburgh (Bentley Publishers, $49.95, 353 pages), not only chronicles Donohue’s coming of age as one of the best drivers of his time, but is a gripping history of sports cars and road racing. Donohue was killed while preparing for the Austrian Grand Prix in 1975. His sons have written a preface to this 25th-anniversary edition, which features more than 100 new photos.
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Jeff Yip is a Silicon Valley-based journalist. He can be reached at jeff@cyberspeed.com.
