Jalopnik: holiday gift guide

Yes, You Can Buy A "Shabbat Shalom, M*FR" LeMons Team Shirt!

Murilee Martin — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST

Many, many readers were all in a tizzy after they saw the LeMons Team Shirt-stravaganza last weekend, because they needed to obtain a Team JDL BMW team T-shirt. Well, now you can- just in time for Hanukkah shopping!

Yes, your loved ones will look like the Chaim Witz of endurance racing when they honor the team that came in 75th (out of 123 entries) at the Yeehaw It's Texas 24 Hours Of LeMons, just by wearing this T-shirt. Just go here and take care of all your holiday shopping needs!
[Zazzle]

BMW M Tie: For The Overlooked Man In Your Life

Wes Siler — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Barely know anything about your father/husband/brother except that they drive a BMW with fruity stripes on the back? Then this tie could be the perfect Christmas present.

Here's the complete and completely frightening press release:

Munich. Used every day but rarely on the shopping list. That is the fate of the tie. Although it is often a must-have business accessory, men don't like buying ties. According to a survey, 54% of the 4,622 men questioned have never or only very rarely bought themselves a tie. And why should they? After all, women really like giving ties as a present – especially at Christmas.

Red and classy.

The new tie from the BMW M Collection in fiery red with anthracite-coloured inner detail completes the outfit for any business appointment and is a real eye-catcher compared to the average tie. It is made from 100% Italian silk and has a woven, colour BMW M logo embroidered on the front and reverse, which makes it the perfect gift for car fans.

The BMW M tie is available from selected BMW dealers and online at www.bmw-shop.de.

Facts and figures:

BMW M tie

Material: 100 per cent Italian silk

Details: Red, anthracite-coloured inner detail, colour BMW M logo

Price: 60 euros

Amuse, Offend The Literate Gearheads In Your Life: You Are What You Drive

Murilee Martin — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST

The mating call of the TVR owner? "I'd love to, but let's use your car." 24 Hours Of Lemons Chief Perpetrator has teamed up with racing artist Hector Cademartori to psychoanalyze… well, us.

Anyone who's read the 24 Hours Of LeMons rules knows that Jay Lamm has a twisted sense of automotive humor; a Stockton native who relies on a cage-equipped Alfa GTV as a daily driver for 10 years tends to end up a little funny in the head when it comes to writing about cars. No car- or car owner- is spared; everything from the AMC Gremlin X ("Only pretends that Pat Benatar 8-track collection is ironic") to the 1980 Ferrari 308 GTS ("Occupation: Celebrity assistant, porn stand-in [no face shots], co-owner of valet parking business). Just the thing for the thin-skinned obsessive car freak on your gift list!
[Amazon, thanks to Da Judge for reminding me about this]

Lego Pneumatic Car Engines Now For Sale!

The Auto Insider — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 09:30:00 EST

Remember the crazy 1440-RPM V8 engine built from Lego Mindstorms parts we showed you back in May? Now you can buy your own from LPE Power's recently opened online store.

Nicjasno, the original creator of the Lego Mindstorm V8 is now giving you the opportunity to purchase an inline-3 or inline-4 version of their amazing little engine from their site's sale center at LPE Power. They promise that V6 and V8 models will soon follow after they build up enough business. We’re hoping that business picks up quickly because we want the V8 model. Now.

The lego-loving folks build the pneumatic engines using the Scotch Yoke of operation in order to keep size to a minimum, and to maximize usable torque, giving better overall power output. The 2000 rpm inline-4 model features a cross-plane crank, a gear-driven valvetrain and a side-mounted dual cam with one valve-per-cylinder. The inline-3 model features a similar setup but delivers 600 rpm more.

Have a look at them in action:

Inline-4

Inline-3

For good measure: The V8

Here are the specs from both:

Inline-4

Bore: 2 studs
Stroke: 2 studs
Crank-throw: 1 stud
Main bearings: 5
Valves: 1 valve per cylinder (double cam)
Lubrication: Silicone-based lubricant
Max speed: 2000 rpms (4 bars)
Recommended operating pressure: < 6 bars / 90 psi Max tested pressure: 8 bars / 120 psi Min operating pressure: 0.3 bar / 5 psi Block length: 15 studs Block width: 9 studs Block height: 11 studs Weight: 300 gramms Number of elements: 385 Inline-3

Bore: 2 studs
Stroke: 2 studs
Crank-throw: 1 stud
Main bearings: 4
Valves: 1 valve per cylinder (double cam)
Lubrication: Silicone-based lubricant
Max speed: 2600 rpms (4 bars)
Recommended operating pressure: < 6 bars / 90 psi Max tested pressure: 8 bars / 120 psi Min operating pressure: 0.3 bar / 5 psi Block length: 13 studs Block width: 9 studs Block height: 11 studs Weight: 260 gramms Number of elements: 338

We can't wait to get our hands on one of these and try it out for ourselves.

[via: LPE Power via Nicjasno]

Jalopnik Holiday Gift Guide: Busted Knuckle Garage Trapper Hat

Murilee Martin — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:30:00 EST

They don't call it the 24 Hours Of LeMons Arse-Freeze-A-Palooza for nothing; weather conditions at Thunderhill in late December usually oscillate between "horizontal stinging sleet" and "bad day even by Ivan Denisovich standards." The folks at the Busted Knuckle Garage, realizing this, sent me one of their trapper hats, which I had the opportunity to test out in the 37-degree morning weather at the 25 Hours Of Thunderhill last weekend.

The hat is pretty damn warm, just the thing for the Arse-Freeze pits (last year I made the mistake of thinking that the Arsenal Gooners knit cap given to me by my soon-to-be-ex-friend in London would actually keep me warm at the race, in addition to getting my spleen kicked out by enraged Spurs fans). Perhaps more importantly, it tells the world that you're a man or woman of exceptional ~~automotive geekiness~~ taste and sophistication. And for you Midwesterners, chortling condescendingly at what we soft, lotus-eating Californians dare to call "cold weather," wearing this hat will make you look like the gearhead version of the Slush Sweeping Guy in Fargo, which you totally want. It's $34.95; Tru-Coat™ is extra.

Busted Knuckle Garage

Happy Holidays From Jalopnik

Ray Wert — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 12:30:00 EST

We'll be taking a quick break from the rigors of posting automotive goodness this week, taking a half-day here at Jalopnik today and tomorrow. But if you're still in the mood for what we've been wanting all year, check out our Holiday Gift Guide to see what we're hoping Santa (or Chanukah Harry) leaves under the tree (or bush) tonight. Of course Santa (or Harry) may pull something for us out of his Ho-Ho-Hummer from our Jalopnik Holiday Re-Gift Guide, which probably means we were naughty (or a schmendrick) this past year. But regardless of which list we end up on, we're hoping you're all on the good list this year and whatever holiday you celebrate (if any) is a happy one.

Holiday Gift Guide: Mario Kart Slot Cars

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:30:00 EST

Though it doesn't quite have the realism or history of Gran Turismo 4, we've been addicted to the Mario Kart series for as long as we could chuck a red homing shell. We've spent countless hours unlocking tracks and cars on the digital version, which often leads to sore eyes. But what to do when you're taking a break? Why not play a slot car version of the same game? Wario v. Mario. It's a good way to keep your intricately detailed Le Mans replica track away from the kids. Chomp Chomps not included.

Product Information

The Carrera ""GO!!!"" is now available as a new starter set from Carrera in a scale of 1:43. "GO!!!" also sets new standards with regard to the speed. The turbo hand regulators included in all basic packages, all have an extra turbo key with enough power to enable you to manage 4 loops straight from the start! The track also underscores the fact that ""GO!!!"" is a perfect starter model: The completely new easy-to-fit system allows the track to be put up or taken down very easily.

Thanks to the new type of locking and support systems, the track can be constructed very quickly. Carrera fun with turbo power The new turbo hand controller is part of all basic packs and guarantees real fun. All sets come with ""Turbo speed controller"" with race boost. All sets include numerous action features like lap counter or loops. [Amazon]

Jalopnik Holiday Gift Guide: Racing Stopwatch

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:30:00 EST

That egg timer you got from Target may look sweet on the dash of your old Datsun 510 when you go solo-crossing with your buddies, but it's probably not the best way to measure your lap times and the lap times of your buddies. That's where a good stopwatch comes in handy. On the low-end, most stop watches will let you keep track of multiple lap times across a single or double display. On the high end is the MultiChron, which allows you to record up to 99 laps for four different racers. It's rugged, good looking and at $145 is more than a stocking stuffer. Product details below:

MultiChron Stopwatch

The MultiChron stopwatch is a versatile hand-held digital lap timer that tracks up to four different racers simultaneously. Its generous memory lets you quickly see best laps and scroll through all of the laps to review the race, up to 99 laps per driver. But we didn't stop there - you can also have up to 9 splits per competitor, per lap.

The MultiChron stopwatch features 2 different starting modes to match a variety of racing situations.

"One Start Mode" allows you to activate the start for all drivers by pressing only one button for races where all drivers start at the same time.

"Multi Start Mode" allows you to activate the timer for each driver independently, for races where drivers start at different times.

Innovative programming allows you to select "Multi-Key" or "One Key" timing modes, depending on the racing situation, making it easy to get accurate times even when your racers are close together at the lap marker.

What's Included?

With a rugged, attractive case, and bright backlight display, the MultiChron stop watch and handheld lap timer will be your new best friend at the track. Priced at $145, the MultiChron includes a neck lanyard, batteries and is available in various colors including Titanium, Black, Yellow, Red (translucent) and Blue (translucent). [AIMSports]

Jalopnik Holiday Gift Guide: A CB Radio

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:15:00 EST

While you probably wouldn't want in your new Bentley, nothing classes up an old rig for a long road trip more than a CB Radio. You can relive your Smokey & The Bandit fantasies by calling out a 'Bear in the Air' just outside Bull City, or letting others know that there's an Evil Kenevil 'shooting you in the back' along the expressway. So if that car fan in your life is driving a 70's era vintage wagon or a Subaru Brat, a CB Radio might be a nice edition. We recommend the Cobra 19 DX IV for first timers, as it comes with all the equipment you need for under $70.00. Product details below the jump.

Compact 40 channel illuminated LCD display, RF gain, S/RF meter

Reflecting the trends in new vehicle designs, sculpted features and muted graphics which give it a dynamic look that will compliment any of today's vehicles. Adjusts receiver sensitivity to match incoming signal. Allows you to decrease sensitivity for strong signals and increase sensitivity for weak ones.

Unit Dimensions 1.75" H x 4.5" W x 7" D (44.5 mm H x 114 mm W x 178 mm D)
Unit Weight 1 lb., 3.9 oz.
Microphone Type 4 Pin Screw-On Dynamic
Frequency Control Phase Lock Loop Synthesizer (PLL)
RF Output Power 4 Watts (Maximum FCC allowed)
CB Channels 40 channels (26.965 to 27.405 MHz)

[Cobra]

Jalopnik Holiday Gift Guide: Battery Powered Mini Convertible

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:00:00 EST

This one's for the kids, though we'd imagine Santa might have a hard time carrying this one down the chimney. If you're greatest aspiration is to turn your son/daughter/neice/nephew into an anglo-autophile, a good first step might be to buy them this battery-powered Mini Cooper Convertible. For Just $350 you can have your little one outpacing and outclassing the neighbors and their boring F-150 Powerwheels. Throw in some leather gloves and an open-faced ~~Helmut~~ helmet and you'll have a little Paddy Hopkirk. Product details below:

BATTERY POWERED MINI CONVERTIBLE

Single-seater with forward and reverse gears, adjustable seat and maximum speed of approximately 2.5 mph. Batteries (and charger) included.

For children ages 3 to 5 and complies with ASTM/F963-96a. [Source: MINI MOTORING GEAR]

Booze Cruise Radio-Controlled Car Game

Murilee Martin — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:00:00 EST

We're not suggesting that folks playing a few spirited rounds of Radio Controlled Highball Navigation are necessarily going to feel inspired to hop in a real car and cause a gory 25-car pileup, but there's something a bit, you know, unsettling about the Booze Cruise Radio Controlled Car. It looks as if you set your drink in the roof-mounted cup holder and then attempt to drive it through an obstacle course straight to your powerful thirst. [Car Crazy Gifts]

Jalopnik Holiday Gift Guide: Exotic Car Rental

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:45:00 EST

We're getting closer to Christmas Day, so it's probably time to start considering gifts that don't require that much shipping. What if you could get your significant other an Aston Martin Vanquish, Murcielago Spider, Ferrari F430 or a Benz SL65 AMG without having to get a 400 month lease? If your pockets are slightly swollen, may we recommend an exotic car rental certificate?

There are companies all over the ~~company~~ country that offer this service with varying rates and fleets. One of the larger companies is Gotham Dream Cars, which offers fleets in Florida and the Northeast. If you're in the NYC area, prices range from a somewhat reasonable $695 for a full day with a BMW M5 to an outrageous $11,950 for a week with a Lamborghini Murcielago. It's not the most original gift, but it might be nice for someone who has an important event coming up and feels a little insecure. [Gotham Dream Cars]

Jalopnik Holiday Gift Guide: The Ultimate Garage Fridge

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:15:00 EST

No one likes to be troubled with getting a beer from inside whilst in the middle of serious repairs, but there's something about a yellowing Frigidaire that sort of ruins the feng shui of most garages. That's where the Microfridge Garage Refrigerator enters the picture. This 53 cu-in fridge mimics the black and red exterior of typical garage storage yet holds a world of gastronomical delights within. At just $299.00 (plus $65.00 s/h) it's a steal! Product details below:

Original Garage Refrigerator

Product Code: MFRA4GF

Beverages on Wheels for the Garage and Workshop

Single-door 4.4 cu. ft. 100% refrigerator ENERGY STAR rated - uses only 325 kWh annually.

Product Features:

* Toolbox red exterior with rugged door pulls
* Door lock
* Heavy-duty, locking casters
* Durable, easy-clean counter top surface
* Lighted interior
* Dispense-A Can can-stacker
* Upright storage of 2-liter & 1/2 gallon bottles
* 3 full-width shelves

Product Details:

* Fridge Capacity: 4.4 cu. ft.

* Height: 37 in. (with casters)

* Width: 18.625 in.

* Depth: 22.625 in.

* KWH Per Year: 325

* Weight: 55 lbs.

* Shipping Weight: 62 lbs.

[Source: Garage Fridge]

Jalopnik Holiday Gift Guide: A Big Red Bow

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:30:00 EST

We're sort of being coy when we suggest a "big red bow" for a gift, as we really think a vehicle of the automotive kind is probably the best gift you can get an automotive enthusiast. That being said, we'd spawn all kind of trouble if we suggested what car to get for that special someone in your life. We'd hate for a MOPAR fan to get a Z06 when they really wanted a Charger (though, who would turn down a Vette?). With that said, here's some information on getting those large bows they use in Lexus commercials.

The company that seems to have a large selection of automotive bows is King Size Bows, which are 30" in diameter and 12" high and therefore good enough for a Fit or a 7-series. Prices range from $49 to $99 depending on size and durability, plus $10 S&H. Has anyone given/recieved a car like this?

Jalopnik Holiday Gift Guide: Transformers Generation One Box Set

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:30:00 EST

As far as we can tell, the cheapest way to get into "Generation One" Transformers, a.k.a. the original Transformers series, is this Complete DVD Box Set with all 98 episodes plus the movie. That's Optimus Prime on 15 discs in an attractive tin case. Just a slight heads up, the discs are imported from China and therefore are primarily in Chinese. They do have an English audio track and we can easily vouch for it working.

You'll be the talk of the block, and you'll be able to remember how awesome it was relative to the Transformers Movie on DVD. Just saying. (thanks Vanessa).

Jalopnik Holiday Guide: Dickies Coveralls

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 12:30:00 EST

Better than a faux-Ferrari polo made of a cheap polyester, the real grease monkey in your life could get a lot of miles out of a pair of good coveralls. We can definitely recommend any of the Dickies line of coveralls, as they offer comfort, durability and value. Murilee manages to burn through a pair of these every couple of months. It's the best way to protect your nuts and bolts during repairs.

The prices range from a little over $30.00 for the basic cotton/poly short-sleeve coveralls all the way up to around $64.00 for the fully insulated, water-repellent version. We'll take ours in brown with a "Gordon Liddy" nameplate. [Dickies]

Jalopnik Holiday Gift Guide: Speed Racer Season 1 DVD

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:45:00 EST

Known as Mach Go Go Go in Japan, Speed Racer holds a special place in our hearts from when they replayed the show on MTV (we'll see about the Speed Racer) film. It was a great introduction to the world of auto racing (though, it sort of skewed our view of it for a time). Some may think the show cheesy, but the show was our Le Mans until we saw that film many years later. At under $10.00, this makes a great stocking stuffer.

Sure, the DVD speeds up some of the sequences from the last episode. But it's still the best way to get the episodes without having to go through the trouble of tracking down the torrents. And Trixie! Surely, we're not the only ones who carried the thought of Trixie in their adolescent hearts.

Holiday Gift Guide: Hydrogen Power Kit for your R/C Car

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:45:00 EST

We're hoping to appeal to both the weekend R/C racers and the alternafuel fans on the site with this choice. Horizon Fuel Cell technologies offers a hydrogen fuel cell power supply for your R/C car that incorporates on board hydrogen fuel canisters! Even better, the kit is designed to fit in the battery compartment of the venerable Tamiya TT-01 chassis. This means we can live the dream of owning a hydrogen-powered Ford Escort Cosworth Rally Car. The kit promises top speed near 20 mph, quick acceleration and charges that last nearly an hour. It's a significant cost savings over the $600 monthly lease for the Clarity FCX. Product information below the jump:

Horizon built on its expertise in small-size fuel cell power systems to create a unique hydrogen fuel cell upgrade kit called the H-cell, designed for well-known battery powered model RC hobby cars you can buy in your local hobby store.

Designed to fit into the original 7.2V NiCad battery slot located on Tamiya TT-01 car chassis, the fuel cell power unit is designed as a futuristic power source using light emitting air cooling fans.

The new power source combines an ultra-compact air-cooled PEM fuel cell system with a scaled down fuel storage unit that includes a rack of 3 metal hydride canisters each including 10 liters of solid-state (low pressure) hydrogen gas. [Horizon Fuel Cell]

Jalopnik Holiday Gift Guide: Actron Pocketscan Code Reader

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:30:00 EST

If you drive older cars you're going to find yourself in a situation where you are nowhere near home and a check engine light suddenly appears. What does it mean? Is it just a bad spark plug? Is your engine going to explode? That's where the Pocketscan OBD II Pocket Scan Code Reader comes in handy. For around $90.00, you can carry the power of being able to securely diagnose your ride before an out-of-town mechanic tells you that you need a whole new transmission. Of course, you're going to need an OBD-II compatible car, so your Datsun 510 wagon may not work. Product details below the jump.

First Time Diagnostic Tool Buyers will find PocketScan Code Reader is the Right-Sized Tool, at the Right Price

PocketScan Code Reader CP9125 is an easy-to-use tool for novice and light-to-moderate DIY customers. It enables the user to read diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) from the on-board computers of 1996 and newer OBD II compliant vehicles. This gives the user the ability to quickly determine the cause of the "Check Engine" light coming on. Once repairs are made, the PocketScan allows the user to clear the trouble codes and turn off the light. All Actron code readers and scan tools are CAN compliant.

Features
# Reads and erases Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) and turns off check engine light

# Displays MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp) status

# Displays supported emissions readiness monitor status (I/M Monitors)

# Bilingual Manual of DTCs and Definitions (English and Spanish)

# Enables user to quickly and easily link to their vehicle

# Compact tool, fits in your palm

# Includes CD software that contains 3,000+ Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) and their descriptions

# Attached OBD II 16-pin connector cable provides both data and power connections

# 1 year warranty [Actron]

Jalopnik Holiday Gift Guide: Autobahn Adobe

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:00:00 EST

If you're disgustingly wealthy, a Lego version of a Ferrari F1 Car may not leave the same impression on you that it would on the average car nut. For that reason we recommend a luxury condo at the Autobahn Country Club Joliet in lovely Joliet, Illinois. For just $300,000 you can own a condo with storage for your vintage race car and enjoy racetrack privileges. Of course, then you have to go to Joliet, Illinois. Product info below:

"Own a luxury condo starting at $300,000 in the Autobahn Country Club Joliet with permanent indoor auto storage space. Imagine driving your exotic sports car or racecar on a safe, fast road racing circuit on your own schedule! There are 40 luxury condos within the 125,000 sq. ft. speed pavilion."

[DuPont Registry]