Norris McDonald's gifts for the motorsport fan

Every November, Wheels editor Mark Richardson sends a memo to columnists and contributors outlining his plans for the annual Christmas gift guide issue, which you are now holding in your hands.

In short, he wants everybody to submit a short, snappy article with three suggestions for Christmas gifts in three categories, which is hardly my style.

So every year I go to him and ask the same question: "Does this mean me, too?"

And every year he says, "Stop blubbering. No, it does not apply to you. You can ramble on endlessly, just as you always do."

But there is always a catch.

One year, before he gave me his approval to break the rules, I had to arrange with the people who run the Star cafeteria to replace the 18 per cent creamers with 10 per cent so that he wouldn't put on any extra weight when he drank his coffee.

This year, he looked me in the eye and said these very words:

"You will have to dress up as Santa and pose for a picture that, if good enough, I will put on the cover of the Wheels section Dec. 6. Only after you do that will I agree to allow you to write several more thousands of words than everybody else."

I will do just about anything – within reason – to get more space. But dressing up as Santa? I had a better idea.

So I pulled some strings and got the Big Man himself for the Wheels photo shoot. After all, who else could stand around in the cold and snow for hours on end and still keep a big smile on his face?

(I don't want to get off-topic, but Santa will tell you, the life of a male model is not all it's cracked up to be.

Try standing around in the cold and snow for two hours while some photographer shouts at you for the 80th time: "Move your hand an inch to the right. No, make that an inch to the left. Hold it, HOLD IT, HOLD IT!!! SMILE! EYES WIDE!"

Mission accomplished, I will now embark on my annual tour of Toronto-area specialty shops that are in the business of selling books, clothing, DVDs, souvenirs and what-have-you for the motorsports enthusiast in your life.

I will say this right at the green flag, though: the prices quoted are those found at the individual stores. You might very well find the items featured for a lower price online or at another retailer.

MINI GRID

608 Mount Pleasant Rd.

Toronto

416-488-7663

minigrid.com

Mini-Grid owner and auto racer Scott Maxwell – who might very well be the only Canadian this year to have won an international racing series, the Grand Am KONI Challenge – is big on the DVD Can-Am: The Speed Odyssey ($39). In fact, he asked producer Robert Nevison to ship me a review copy.

Let me say, right off, that I highly recommend this film. Yes, I have some nits, but the positives greatly outweigh any negatives.

The film focuses on the glory years of the Can-Am Challenge Series that ran originally from 1966 until 1973. The 98-minute film also includes a sports car race at Riverside, Calif., in 1965, and one at Mosport in mid-'66 that precede the actual coverage of the Can-Am.

People who regularly read my columns know of my passion for oval supermodified racing and that explains my affection for the original Can-Am: the cars were unlimited in just about every way and anything the builders wanted to do to make them go faster was not only legal but encouraged.

Take Jim Hall, for instance. Hall – who narrates the film along with retired driver Sam Posey – built his first Chaparral in 1966 with the biggest honkin' wing on top of it that you ever saw. Man, as the DVD shows, it was gorgeous.

In 1969, it was banned (no fault of Hall's – some of the wings on Formula One cars started collapsing and racing organizations overreacted by outlawing them all), so he went the other way and invented the first ground-effects car.

The Chaparral "sucker car" or the "vacuum car" made its debut in 1970. It had a big-block Chevy engine behind the driver as well as a snowmobile motor that drove two exhaust fans that sucked all the air out from under the car and gave it better grip than any wing could ever provide.

You can watch Jackie Stewart wheel that car around like it was glued to the road.

I'm not going to go through the whole film, but all the famous drivers we remember are in it and they are all young and gorgeous: Dan Gurney, Bruce McLaren, Mario Andretti, Peter Revson.

There's a lot of Mosport footage. He's not identified, but you can watch famous Mosport starter Wallie Branston, resplendent in red sports coat, leaping into the air as he waves the checkered flag over any number of Can-Am winners during that most romantic era.

And the aerial footage of Quebec's Le Circuit-Mont Tremblant is breathtaking. Thousands of people went to the races there in those days and you wonder how they all got in and out as there was just one road.

Autobahn

Sherway Gardens, Toronto

416-626-9495

autobahn.ca

Calling itself the "ultimate store for the car enthusiast," Autobahn has been selling everything from children's Ts to Corvette key chains (both $20) from its location at Sherway Gardens since 1996.

Featuring automobile and motorsports clothing, watches and clocks and die-cast models of racing cars, Autobahn owner Manny Silva says you can find just about anything you want at his shop.

"Our `Ferrari Corner' is always popular," he said when I stopped in for a visit, "because Ferrari is more than racing and cars, it's a brand."

A hooded Ferrari sweater is $119; a Ferrari travel mug is on sale for $39. A Ferrari flag can be yours for $35.

There's an eclectic mix of die-cast models on offer, from the 1966 Batmobile ($59 – "it's one of our top sellers," says Silva) to a DOG-RVR licence plate from the hit Canadian TV series Corner Gas ($12).

CAR BUFFS AUTO GIFT CENTRE

Square One, Mississauga

905-949-9707

When you walk into the Car Buffs Auto Gift Centre in Square One, you feel – in the words of clerk Matt Abrego – "like a kid in a candy store."

Anything having to do with motorsports can be found there – from DVDs to coffee-table books to die-cast models and apparel.

You can spend an afternoon in this shop, owned by John Cuschiere, and walk out enthralled – as well as a little lighter in the pocketbook.

One DVD that caught my eye was Evel Knievel's Spectacular Jumps ($19.95), which includes his successful performance at the CNE just before he attempted to leap Snake River Canyon in 1974.

Fancy a Dale Earnhardt poster? It's yours for $20. How about a Dale Jr. clock? It was going for $38. A Tony Stewart Home Depot lunch bag was priced at $24. If you're a big Jeff Gordon fan, and want to walk down the street wearing a jacket that looks just like the top of his driving uniform complete with DuPont, Pepsi and Nicorette crests, you can have one for $188.

If you feel like being politically incorrect, there's a lovely leather jacket there for $129 that says "Marlboro Racing" on the back. (I'll be honest, I really like that one because it reflects my libertarian values.)

The most unique gift on offer is a beautiful framed print of the late Greg Moore, which is autographed. It was priced at $3,500 but I was told it can be yours for 20 per cent off.

THE TOY TRUCK PLACE

24 Ronson Dr.

Toronto

416-241-8697

jrskeff.ca

Every Christmas, I like to feature one non-motorsport business that is still automotive in nature. For a couple of years, Fast Eddie Racewear up in Stouffville got a plug. Then Performance Garages over on Warden Ave. got the treatment.

This year, J. R. Skeffington's Toy Truck Place is getting the nod and it's because he called me up and asked.

I like that kind of initiative.

First of all, the Toy Truck place features all kinds of 1/18, 1/24 and 1/43-scale tractor-trailer trucks ($80), dump trucks ($112) and tow trucks ($112). There are Corvettes in stock ($39-$150) as well as station wagons ($49) – virtually anything on wheels, including double-decker buses from England ($199).

Skeffington ("just call me J.R. please") boasts that his shop is the largest Canadian distributor of First Gear products and accessories.

COLLECTOR STUDIO

MOTORSPORT GALLERY

136 Yorkville Ave.

Toronto

416-975-5442

collectorstudio.com

Owner Morry Barmack is one of my most favourite people when it comes to this time of year because he is so passionate about his business.

Ask him a simple question about a product in his shop and he will talk your ear off about how you absolutely must have it.

This year, Morry is particularly enthusiastic about the following:

A lovely 1/18 model of the 1961 Ferrari 156 F1 Sharknose number 4 as driven to victory by the late F1 World Champion Phil Hill at the Belgium GP. No detail has been left out. This has more than 1,400 parts (that's correct: one thousand, four hundred) including a fully wired and plumbed engine, cockpit with glass-faced gauges, authentic Ferrari paint and real rubber tires. Morry has this for sale at $399.

Aintree, 1961 by Alfredo de la Maria. This is a stunning canvas of Wolfgang Von Trips in the Ferrari 156 F1 Sharknose leading the pack at the British GP. It's 40 inches by 30 inches and you can have it for $1,975.

A 1/4-scale operational model Maserati 250F model. It's four-feet long and capable of speeds up to 130 km/h. Only 15 were built in the 1990s, so this is very rare. Just $40,000 will make it yours.

TORONTO MOTORSPORTS

283 Port Union Rd.

Toronto

416-724-7223

tomotorsports.com

Co-owner Derrick Kostka (his partner is Ian Fraser) used to promote his business as Paul Tracy Central. Sadly, not any more.

"The big talk around town is, `Where's P.T.?'" Kostka said on the phone the other day.

"I've talked to everybody – his father, his manager – and there's nothing in the works for him for next year so we're kind of winding down our Paul Tracy inventory. But never fear – when he lands on his feet somewhere, we'll pursue that."

Meantime, Kostka says Lewis Hamilton items are hot.

"We've got the model of the car ($54.99) he drove to his first Grand Prix win, which happened to be right here in Canada at Montreal in 2007. The 2008-model car will be available soon.

"And Valentino Rossi. His motorcycle models ($54.99 to $109.99) are setting off a storm. You can get them all here," as well as racing books and artwork.

AUTO GROTTO

Distillery District, 55 Mill St., Building 59, Suite 104, Toronto

416-304-0005

autogrotto.com

This automobile and motorycle memorabilia store is a must-see if you're ever in the Distillery District.

To call the selection of merchandise "eclectic" isn't doing the place justice. "Everything under the sun" would be more like it.

Do you want a vintage 7-Up sign like the ones you used to see on the front of country stores back in the two-lane-blacktop 1950s? One can be yours for $195. How about a Phillips 66 Gas Pump CD holder? Everbody should have one of those, shouldn't they? It's on offer for $825.

You can purchase a Goodyear Tire ash tray for $50.

Go and check out the place. Trust me, you'll love it.

Mosport/Bridgestone Racing Academy/Brack Racing

It's still only 2008 but Mosport International Raceway has already released its 2009 racing schedule and I'm excited already!

The highlights include the annual American Le Mans Series weekend in August, two rounds of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (in June and August) and the Parts Canada Superbike Championship in July.

Tickets for the six-event schedule are already on sale and would make great stocking-stuffers. Holiday gift certificates can be purchased online at mosport.com or by calling the Mosport Ticket Hotline art 1-800-866-1072.

Meantime, would you like to give your husband/wife/sweetheart a thrill? Or give your son or daughter a really unique gift? How about a "Thrill of a Lifetime" gift certificate from the Bridgestone Racing Academy?

There is still time to check available dates and to purchase your personalized gift certificates by either calling 1-905-983-1114 or going to race2000.com/giftcertificates.

TRANSPORT BOOKS AT

DRB MOTORS LTD.

 

 

16 Elrose Ave.

Toronto

416-744-7675

transportbooks.com

Every year, when I get owner Jim Roseborough on the phone, he has a witticism for me.

"Has another year really ripped past?" he asked. "You know, every year now I start earlier and I seem to finish later ..."

Thank you, Mr. Roseborough. I assure you that all of us who are getting older feel exactly the same way.

For Christmas this year, he suggests any of a series of books he has in stock on legendary car builder Carroll Shelby.

"Shelby, The Race Driver, by Art Evans ($33.95) is a good one because people forget he (Shelby) was a driver before he was a builder," Roseborough said.

"But after that, there's Cobra and Shelby Mustangs: 1962-2007 Photo Archive ($33.95) and Shelby Cars in Detail, by Frank Barrett and Boyd Janes ($199.95).

"Or how about Peking to Paris: The Ultimate Driving Adventure, by Philip Young. I have it here for $65."

I'll be right over, Jim.

JOE RUSSO'S PRESTIGE

AUTO ART & GIFT GALLERY

101 Yorkville Ave.

Toronto

416-929-9090

prestigeautoart.com

I traditionally wind up this annual essay by calling the enthusiastic Mr. Russo and asking him what's new.

"This year, I have Ferrari sunglasses in stock and although I can't say they're the ones that Michael Schumacher wears I can say with confidence that a lot of people in Europe are wearing them," he said.

"I know, Joe," I replied. "I've seen the ads with Kimi Raikkonen. He's got a pair perched on his head. His wife is actually wearing them in the ads I've seen. They make a beautiful couple, don't they? How much?"

"They run from $250 a pair to $500," he replied.

Okay, what else, I said.

"I have a beautiful model of Ferrari's 200th Grand Prix victory. Raikkonen was the driver and it was at the 2007 Chinese Grand Prix. It is part of a plaque on which is listed all the race wins, the cars and drivers and dates."

That, I said, sounds fabulous. And the price?

"Only $120," said Joe. "A bargain."

I agree and I have put it on my personal Christmas list.

Along with that Marlboro Racing jacket. Merry Christmas.

Norris McDonald writes about motorsport each week in Wheels nmcdonald@thestar.ca

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