Off Duty, Technology - Army Times

Gifts for gearheads

We know what serious gearheads want for Christmas: more horsepower, more chrome, and more turbochargers — preferably on a brand-new ride that’s sparkling in their driveway. Oh, and a free-and-clear title in the glove box, too. If your Santa has other priorities, we found nine great gift ideas that will surely make any car or motorcycle enthusiast spark up.

Deluxe Car Emergency Kit

$59.95

This compact, easy-to-store kit contains everything short of a tow truck. Includes 8-foot heavy-duty jumper cables, slimline air compressor, 14-piece essential tool set, emergency flashlight with Krypton bulb and spare batteries, safety glow sticks, first aid supplies, blanket, work gloves and an emergency poncho.

From Battery Savers; an approved government supplier. See www.batterysavers.com or call (800) 990-9110.

Police siren alarm clock

$19.95

Crikey! It’s the cops! The law eventually catches up with all of us — even in our sleep.

Here’s the perfect gift for the gearhead with one too many tickets under his belt. From the What on Earth catalog; see www.whatonearthcatalog.com or call (800) 945-2552.

Cable-operated/remote hose clamp pliers

$39.99

Anyone who works on modern cars — which often have very tight engine compartments that can make getting at things like radiator/heater hoses a real challenge — will love this helpful tool.

It makes loosening — and tightening — hard-to-reach hose clamps a snap. From Sears; see www.sears.com or pick up in-store.

Desktop Stirling compression/expansion engine

$379.95

This fully functional miniature Stirling engine works like the full-size Stirling engines of the early 19th century.

Heated air actuates a single-cylinder engine, which in turn drives a flywheel at up to 5,000 RPM. From Hammacher Schlemmer; see www.hammacher.com or call (800) 321-1481.

Vehicle security lock box

$99.95

If you’re military, law enforcement, or carry a weapon or anything valuable you’d like to keep secure while in your vehicle, this heavy-duty, stainless steel — and fully portable — lock box is just the ticket.

The removable box slides into a fixed pad that’s hard-mounted to the vehicle’s trunk, floor or under the dash. From AutoAnything; see www.autoanything.com or call (800) 874-8888.

V-Twin Deltran Battery Tender

$169.95

Many bikers have more than one bike — and keeping both their batteries charged up during the offseason can be a hassle — unless you have a battery tender that can charge two bikes at the same time. This tender’s also stylish — with a case shaped like a 90-degree

V-twin motorcycle engine — and built-in sound chip, too! From Deltran; www.batterytender.com or call (386) 736-7900.

Trailer hitch minivault

$69.95

Here’s a clever way to securely stash small items such as a spare key inside your vehicle’s trailer hitch receiver. Installs in seconds with no special tools required. Locking drawer has 10,000 possible key combinations for security. From AJ Prindle; see www.ajprindle.com/or call (800) 780-9356.

Back-A-Line back support

$49.95

The perfect gift for the rider on your list who enjoys long rides — but not the sore back that often comes with them.

The Back-A-Line belt not only supports the back but helps maintain proper posture to prevent fatigue and stiffness. Comes in six sizes to fit waistlines from 26” to 48”; available from Cyclegadgets; see www.cyclegadgets.com/ or call (877) 742-3438.

WIN THIS CAR

We could only afford the $35, 1:18 die-cast model of the 2006 Bumblebee Chevrolet Camaro concept hard top, available at www.jadatoys.com. It can be yours if you log on to www.militarytimes.com/gearhead and send us a picture of you and your current ride. Then tell us, in 300 words or less, what your car says about you. We’ll pick the winner at random from all entries. We’ll even throw in the blonde.