Christmas is Near and Here are Some Gifts to Consider
We are two weeks away from Christmas, Yes, it’s that close. Christmas always sneaks up on me but this year it seemed to come out of nowhere because of the COVID-19 crisis. COVID, with working at home and all, took away time. I could never remember if it was Tuesday or Thursday. I looked at a calendar the other day and thought, “Holy smoke! There’s no time to waste.”
Here are some last-minute Christmas gift suggestions, mainly with a focus on racing. Rather than addresses – we are on lockdown – I’ve supplied website info.
Morry Barmak has owned and operated the Collector Studio in Yorkville for what seems like forever. Whenever I do one of these columns, I tell people to be sure to take their platinum credit card with them when they go shopping there because Morry has some really expensive stuff for sale. He also has memorabilia that is affordable. For instance, a vintage poster of Niki Lauda in his Ferrari for the 1978 Monaco Grand Prix is available, as well as a 1/18 2020 De Tomaso P72. Just prepare yourself for some serious sticker shock if you happen to be attracted to the Porsche Flat Six Engine espresso machine. www.collectorstudio.com.
Ian Law used to write in Toronto Star Wheels and on wheels.ca about how to be a better driver. But he has a real job too and that’s his driving school (ILR Car Control School), where he offers various courses. He writes to remind that he has gift certificates on offer for Advanced Driver Training – Winter Driving School (“a gift that could save your life”); Car Control School, and Track School. Family rates and group discounts are available, Ian writes. Give him a call or go to www.carcontrolschool.com.
Ever sit back and reminisce about an old football or baseball game that sticks out in your memory? Wish you could see it As It Happened? One of my favourite Internet sites is Rare Sports Films and it’s got tons of original baseball, football, golf and auto racing films going back to the 1930s. Want to watch Don Larsen’s perfect game in the ’56 World Series?
I bring this up, of course, because their auto racing library is impressive. IndyCar, NASCAR, sports cars are all there. My favourite is On The Pole: The Story of Eddie Sachs and the Indianapolis 500. In 1961, CBS had a weekly broadcast they called the Summer Sports Spectacular, which was an hour-long examination of a sport and its personalities. On The Pole covered the 1960 500 and Sachs’s speed buildup for his pole run, his relationship with his chief mechanic, Clint Brawner, and other drivers. What’s really neat is that it’s the complete program as broadcast, with commercials for Schlitz beer and Vitalis hair tonic and a summer replacement program called The Twilight Zone. Great stuff. www.raresportsfilms.com
Scott Maxwell is Canada’s most successful international road racer. I used to say “arguably,” but the other guy is retired so Scott’s it. He’s been Multimatic of Markham’s “house” driver and racer forever, which might explain one of the first things you see when you go to www.minigrid.com is a model of a Multimatic Motorsports’ Ford Mustang GT4 – British GT 2019 – that you can buy. Think somebody on your list would like a pair of Ayrton Senna high socks? He has those as well. Next year, 2021, will be the 70th anniversary of modern F1 racing and Autocourse has issued a souvenir calendar. Gift certificates are on offer and, of course, MiniGrid is the home of slot car racing, so everything you would want can be purchased or they will order it for you. Enjoy!
Toronto Motorsports has been in business on Port Union Road in Scarborough since 1995 and is still going strong. Their specialty is replica diecast models and IndyCar but they also deal with memorabilia, artwork and clothing. Go to www.tomotorsports.com and take a look around. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be like a kid in a candy store.
Other book and model stores worth checking out: www.transportbooks.com has everything you would when it comes to the military, aviation, boating and auto racing; Prestige Auto Art and Gift Gallery is out near the airport but this is COVID Christmas and you’ll be doing most of your shopping online anyway. Go to www.prestigeautoart.com and take a look at the diecast models, plus automotive-themed coffee and end tables and so-on.
Merry Christmas, everybody.
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