Car Gifts for Christmas

     Its that time of year again. The car buff in the family is itching to find out what you got them. For those of us who are car crazy, there can be no better gift then one that appeals to our inner fanatic/ grease monkey. Seems simple, right? RIGHT? Perhaps not so...so I've done my best to compile a short list of must haves for car crazy people (such as myself) for those who must do the shopping. We're a diverse bunch, so this isn't a be all end all list, but these are definitely the must haves....

     This is the ultimate car survival kit for the serious automotive buff. I would highly suggest buying one of these for anyone who is serious about offroading, or lives in a cold environment. It includes jumper cables, a revolving signal light, a folding snow shovel, a flat tire repair kit, a tow rope, a 54 piece first aid kit and many other essentials for cold weather/ rural survival. For the money(89.99), the value of this kit cannot be beaten.

    The Rev is an application that is available through the App store for Ipod and Iphone. This application, which is available for 39.99, allows the user to access vehicle data through your iphone or ipod. The app enables your ipod/iphone to communicate directly with your ECU (engine control unit). The Rev app monitors lateral acceleration, vehicle speed, fuel consumption, throttle position as well as several other parameters. A great low cost addition to any amateur mechanic's garage. 

    Gran Turismo 5. Quite possibly the most anticipated Ps-anything title ever. This game has been in development since 2005, and the extended gestation time was well worth it. Polyphony Digital (the designer) took their sweet time getting (almost) everything right. There ARE some issues with this game (the physics can be a little bit off, but the patches should fix that). Anyone in my generation, 18-25, knows about these games. Most of us have played project gotham racing, forza motorsport, need for speed, burnout and gran turismo 4. All of those games were a tease. Those of us who knew about GT5 have been waiting 4 years for its release. The game is 50-60 Dollars and will make any gamer's Christmas that much better. If there was a more practical side to it, this would be my number 1 item without any doubt. 

This book is a must have for any racing fan.Written by Derek Bell, this book chronicles the history of the iconic motor race. Anyone who enjoys watching the 24 hours of Le Mans will enjoy reading and looking at the pictures in this book. 

    The shoes that i would like to highlight are the Pro Spec Driving shoes by DC. I love these shoes. They aren't for everyone, but they offer excellent pedal feel and are extremely comfortable. They can make any driver with some skill that much better. A great gift for anyone who enjoys track days, drag racing, or just going out for a blast on the weekend. I would highly recommend the Piloti Prototipo shoes as well. They are cut much lower then the DC shoes and can be worn just about anywhere.