AskPatty Holiday Gift Garage, Part Three:  Wondering what to get the young race fan, driver, or gear-head in your life this holiday season? Our friends at Bridgestone/Firestone have sent us a list of unique gift ideas that will not only put a smile on their faces but with a few of them may even save their lives. We've added to their suggestions with a few more items we've been gathering during the season!

How about some additional drivers education?  "Driver's Edge" is a half-day hands-on driver training program that teaches teens to "know yourself, know your limits." Teens learn defensive driving techniques and a respect for traffic safety from professional race car drivers. The best part? It's free! The program is co-sponsored by corporations such as Bridgestone and Red Bull, who, according to AutoWeek are "intelligent corporate do-gooders who, for more than one reason, value not killing off future customers." For more information, dates and locations, visit www.driversedge.org.

Remember spinning donuts in the wintry parking lot years ago and worrying if you were going to get caught? The Bridgestone Winter Driving School is perhaps the most fun you can have in the snow (other than on skis or a snowmobile) and it could even save your life! The school can teach you or someone you love the skills needed to safely drive in snow, sleet and ice. Automotive journalist Robert Kocher said, "the most I ever learned about vehicle dynamics and handling I learned at the Bridgestone Winter Driving School." Located in beautiful and snowy Steamboat Springs, Colorado, the school offers an education for drivers of all ages. For more information visit www.winterdrive.com.

Ever dream of sitting in a race car and putting the pedal to the metal? You can make that dream come true for someone you care about. The Bridgestone Racing Academy offers fans of open wheel racing the thrill of a lifetime. Single sessions and three-day courses are available. Help your young driver capture the checkered flag at www.race2000.com.

We found a couple cute little items at gadget4all that will help improve any cargal's drive time inside the car. This cute little ladybug air freshener contains perfume concentrate, and is meant to be clipped on the car's air vent. It will spread up its wings just like it's flying whenever there's strong wind from the air vent. Or for simple commuting entertainment, how about this little solar butterfly, with wings that flap up and down under light? No batteries are required for either product.

Are you the parent of a new driver? Then consider this 56-page "Coach a Rookie"  guide, packed with vital information and tips to help you coach your new driver. You owe it to your Rookie Driver to give them the best Road Survival Training you can, so place yourself and your Rookie firmly in the driving seat with this easy to use "CaR Guide." Available in four different editions, so regardless of whether you live in the US, UK, Asia, Australia or Continental Europe, they've got an edition to help you.

If you want to personalize the outside of your cargal's car, CarDecor.com is the ultimate source for frivolous and functional car decor, and offers all kinds of girly car bling (such as this license plate frame featuring 256 genuine Swarovski crystals,  rounded edges, mirror-like triple chroming and heavy-duty construction) and items especially for the teen driver  (such as diva antenna ball toppers, keychains, steering wheel covers, and flashy license plate frames). They've also got an entire assortment of holiday-themed items,  including "seasons greetings" car magnets, and Santa-style antenna ball toppers. Order from this site by December 18 to guarantee Christmas delivery.

For more than 30 years, Firestone has been educating consumers on the importance of vehicle and tire maintenance through its free Car Care Academies. Many tire dealers also offer such workshops. Each academy delivers important messages on safety and car care information such as knowing the important vehicle fluids, checking the oil level and tire pressure, as well as maintaining other important vehicle systems. Visit www.firestonecompleteautocare.com/about/carcareacademy.jsp to enroll your teen in one of these educational seminars!

Want to encourage your teenager to pursue her mechanical interests with an automotive career? Then consider this full-color 14-month wall calendar by Sarah Lyon  featuring women mechanics and their stories of how they entered into this non-traditional labor field of mechanics. This unique and dynamic calendar includes automobile, motorcycle, hot rod, hybrid, marine, jet aircraft, bicycle, and race-car mechanics. The project challenges stereotypes of the typical tool-girl, pin-up calendar by showing real women mechanics working in their shop environments.

No matter how young or old the recipient, consider giving the gift of speed. The Auto Club Speedway Holiday Gift Package is the perfect gift for the NASCAR fan in your life or that special someone with the need for speed. The Auto Club Speedway Holiday Gift Package includes a reserved ticket to the Auto Club 500 on Sunday, February 22, 2009; a pre-race pit pass; a parking pass; and a certificate for hot laps that will allow the recipient to take a ride in a pace car, on the track, exceeding speeds of over 100 mph! The cost for the Holiday Gift Package ranges between $75 and $125 depending on where you sit for the race. Receive $10 off any of the above Holiday Gift Package options if you bring a new and unwrapped toy to the Auto Club Speedway ticket office at the time of purchase! For more information or to purchase the Auto Club Speedway Holiday Gift Package, visit www.autoclubspeedway.com or call us toll free at (800) 944-RACE (7223).

Want to indulge your car lover with a fun car-themed mural but don't want to invest in an interior designer? The magic wall wraps at pimp-wall.com  will enhance the ambience of any room. wherever you decide to place it. Their wall murals are made of moderately thick high-grade vinyl that resists tears, rips, and fading. To apply the custom wraps, just peel and place with no tape, no tacks, and no clutter. They can also be repositioned with no loss of adhesion and without damage to your walls. Pimp-Wall offers six automotive-themed decals, and a giant assortment of other designs from fish and furs to textures and landscapes in a variety of sizes.

And don't overlook your own favorite website! AskPatty now offers Certified Female Friendly apparel and merchandise through the CafePress custom product site! If you're a fan of AskPatty.com, CLICK HERE  to order AskPatty clothing and other fun items, including buttons, clocks, shirts, hats, tote bags, and coffee mugs.  Order today to receive them in time for your holiday gift-giving festivities!

(In case you missed our last two guides, here is a link to last-week's edition   and the week before)

Be sure to check back for one last batch of automotive-related holiday gift ideas next week! We've got plenty more gift ideas for all your favorite car fanatics where these came from! Regardless of the holidays you honor this time of year, AskPatty wishes the warmest blessings of the season to you and your family.

Jody DeVere
President and CEO
http://www.askpatty.com
http://www.carblabber.com