Hooniverse Asks- SPECIAL EDITION: What’s an Awesome Auto-Related Groomsman Gift?
Today we were alerted to a Hoon in distress. The Hoon signal lit up the sky – unsurprisingly looking like a giant pair of truck nuts – and we immediately responded. Lifetime Hooniverse BFF and multi-LeMons participant, LTD Scott hit us up with a conundrum he is facing. It seems that Scott is getting married in a month and his fiancée has acquiesced to allow a bit of an automotive theme to the reception – slot car track, oil can cheese whiz dispensers and the like – which of course makes her a keeper.
Her wedding day is something that most every girl begins planning while still in the womb, but for guys it’s more about how do I look her father in the eye considering he knows what I’m going to do to his daughter in about 4 hours. I’m kidding of course, but there are still some aspects of the event for which a groom is singularly responsible, and I can tell you from experience that staying sober is one of the hardest. In Scott’s case, the challenge with which he is being faced is finding a killer Groomsman’s gift that is imbued with the following: sincerity, gratitude, and surprise. Oh, and it needs to be auto-related.
You see, Scott’s Groomsmen aren’t just a pack of dudes pulled from the Home Depot parking lot like at my wedding, they are his Porcubimmer/Prickstine team mates from over the years. As you can imagine, that’s a discriminating bunch. Scott has looked into options like LeMons-themed slot cars, autographed pictures of Murilee Martin, and maybe eloping. None of those however has seemed a winning idea for his around fifty bills gift for those who will be keeping him vertical on that oh-so memorable day.
That’s where you come in, oh great teaming Hoon masses. What we need from you today, in this very special episode of Different Strokes Hooniverse Asks, is to help a Hoon and give Scott some ideas of what would be the PERFECT car-related groomsman’s gift. And remember, the dude’s only got a month, so be quick about it.
Image source: [porcubimmer]
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Chrome valve-stem caps with the groom and bride's initials engraved.
Well, those little chrome flasks seem popular with normal people. To keep with the consumable liquids theme, but adjust it for fans of…er… seasoned vehicles, how about a case of Valvoline each? Personalize it by giving each groomsman his preferred weight.
Alternatively, a nice tow strap in the wedding color(s) is always classy.
And it can be used as a cummerbund!
If you want to give something non-ironic (meaning actually classy, useful and nice to have), give them each a Formotion Superleggera dashboard thermometer. Nice, heavy chrome case, looks great, no stupid button batteries like digital thermometers, and something actually nice to have on the dash—not many cars bother to indicate interior temp.
I think they run $40 each. My wife gave me one as a gift, and it really classes up the Town Cow.
<img src="http://www.formotionproducts.com/images/SL-11000-web.jpg" width="340">
Definitely classy, but not sure how much use it would be in a Honda S2K or E46 BMW.
http://maxdiecast.com/pro1421956.html
The only thing worthwhile I can offer is my congratulations.
Sterling silver key ring.
<img src="http://cf.mp-cdn.net/78/c6/563805ca6a7bd4c388f54cb533bc.jpg"width="500"/>
Personally engraved Snap-On (or Craftsman if you are a cheapskate) Ratchets.
Maybe custom engraved shift knobs.
I got my groomsmen (and bridesmen, I only got to pick 3 of the 6, the other three were my wife's brother and cousins) Spyderco knives and had them monogrammed.
I like the ratchet idea. I'd lean towards the Evolv 90° ratchets, which have saved me in many tight places on an Accord and an Econoline. They're a little sensitive about changing directions, and I use a standard ratchet for high-torque bolts, but mine has been invaluable over the years.
In the same vein, my life has been greatly improved by a set of GearWrenches. Normally I don't go in for new-fangled tools but these things are ideal for hard to reach connecters like motor mounts, the underside of exhaust manifolds and mounting points for master clutch cylinders.
Thanks for posting this here. I'm horrible at gift giving in general, and I'd really like to pick something with some flare that represents me and our team somehow, so this is a good way to brainstorm.
BTW, fiancé with one e is a man. Fiancée with two e's is a woman. I'm all for equal opportunity, but I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea
So, what did you finally decide to give your groomsmen?
[Posted 2/1/2012]
Amazing timing… ended up buying top of the line 3/8" Craftsman ratchets (84 tooth gear!) which I am getting engraved.
I am driving to Sears to pick them up (shipped to store to save on shipping) the moment I finish this post.
Just got em. Really nice, love the smooth action. The handle has a nice long flat surface, should be perfect for engraving.
Coincidentally, I was wondering about the wedding vs. Lemons budgets just yesterday. A wedding is often considered one of the most important milestones in your life, perhaps only behind the birth of a child. Between the food, clothes, entertainment, and venue, even a modest wedding can hit five figures, and of course you can go full Kardashian if you have the means. On the other hand, a Lemons team starts with a $500 crapcan, but by the time you add safety gear, entry fees, gas, lodging, transponders, etc., it really adds up. I wonder how many teams would find their One True Love is really their beater once they bothered to compare racing vs. wedding budgets.
It's funny, I just made the connection between the wedding and LeMons to my fiancee yesterday. Hearing the final dollar amount of the wedding made my head spin – it had increased quite a bit since we first started discussing things, thanks to most of RSVPs coming back as "yes" (stupid friend actually liking us!). But also thankfully, my soon to be in-laws are helping out quite a bit, so the strain to our personal wallets is about the same as originally planned.
Anyway, after I finally calmed down, I realized that this is very similar to LeMons. Entry fee there, gas for the truck there, tires, tools, etc. All seem relatively reasonable individually, until I add things up in the end and realize we've spent $3000+ (and that's on the low end, but split 5 ways) to race a crap can around in circles for 15 hours in the middle of nowhere.
But in the end, it's totally worth it, and I'm sure I'll say the same thing about the wedding. Besides, the honeymoon in Hawaii is the prize at the bottom of the wedding cereal box that I'm looking forward to getting to!
Anyway, since the groomsmen all have Porcubimmer connections, why not adopt porcupines in their honor? $50 here, and you get one of these
<img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g3IvWv6IIX4/TC0SiwOz-AI/AAAAAAAAB_k/zOHHeKA4x00/s1600/porcupine.jpg" width=500>
http://cheyennemountainzooblog.blogspot.com/2010/…
For a limited time, you can get your very own cuddly stuffed porcupine! Adopt one of our porcupines in Rocky Mountain Wild for $50, and you will not only get a stuffed animal, but you will also receive a full color photograph, personalized adoption certificate, fact sheet about North American porcupines, and an invitation to Parent Day in August!
How about gold vintage-look Craftsman sockets for $20 a set?
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00934177…
<img src="http://s.shld.net/is/image/Sears/00934177000-1">
I like this idea. Craftsman actually has a gold plated ratchet/socket set which looks really nice, but is a bit outside my budget.
http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10155_12602_0094…
The socket set comes in a similar walnut case.
I think he meant this: http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10155_12602_0093…
Nah, it's only $20 when purchased through Sears instead of Craftsman directly.
Well the answer is obvious then. $20 ratchet set in nice walnut case and $30 in 458 burning supplies.
*scratches head* I don't understand… you just linked to the same gold socket set as Tanshanomi did, not a ratchet set. My Google search reveals the only place for a gold ratchet set is Craftsman directly, and they are pricey.
I wish I was drunk. That would be a good excuse. Too bad I'm not. I missed his link. It was hidden behind the confusing being a link thing, I think. So, I was recommending, that socket set that he linked to, and I linked to and the Ferrari 458 burning supplies I recommended one post below.
I'll go sit in the corner until I've woken up.
Happens to the best of us
I would handle the gifts as I handle everything in life. Inappropriately timed jokes that aren't that funny.
http://www.focalprice.com/HJD55W/Stylish_Ferrari_…
http://www.amazon.com/Wheels-Stars-Ferrari-Italia…
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-203000700…
And sign/date them afterwards with this:
http://www.sharpie.com/enNZ/Products/Pages/Produc…
Then they'll have their very own burned out hull of a Ferrari to remember your wedding!
(I couldn't up the price more than that, sadly.)
Whoops, that meant to be for the post above.
Somebody over at that other website had a bitchin' Mercedes Benz dashboard clock that he'd pulled at the junkyard, then turned into a desk clock by mounting it and adding a 12V power supply.
This might take a bit of time and work to do more than, say, one, but each one you build would be absolutely unique and awesome. You could put a little plaque on it with what car it came out of, the mileage of the car, the date it was pulled, messages to each recipient ("To Bob, in recognition of his fun but sporadic friendship,this Jaguar clock), etc.
This'n's from a really old Bug.
<img src="http://www.oldbug.com/jr026.JPG" width="400/">
The punchline is supposed to be "the pricks are on the outside", though "the clocks are on the outside" is a near-miss.
But the "ticks" are on the inside.
I would commission a unique hanging air freshener in the shape of the happy couple, or at least the cake toppers. That way, you' always be riding with your friends.
Our cake topper is pretty damn awesome, and we'll be keeping it and displaying it at home, but I don't want to give away too much.
How about a pair of Piloti shoes or a framed picture of Enzo Ferrari? They could wear the shoes to your wedding and hold the picture as you wait at the alter for your bride.
All I ever got as a groomsman was an engraved flask, engraved cigar holder, and engraved shot glasses. Any of the above ideas are better than something engraved.
My brother inlaw and his groomsmen all wore Pilotis during his wedding.
I think the solution was described in the problem – Truck Nuts.
Big (little) brass ones to be sure.
<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/313zBYGxlBL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" /img>
$11 with shipping at Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Brass-Balls-Keyring-Keychain-Novelty/dp/B001PV1UK2/ref=pd_bxgy_auto_img_c” target=”_blank”>http://www.amazon.com/Brass-Balls-Keyring-Keychain-Novelty/dp/B001PV1UK2/ref=pd_bxgy_auto_img_c
… Are those supposed to be Cthulhu's nuts?
<img src="http://www.oempromo.com/upload/Prod_216/Custom-Printed-Poly-Pro-Acrylic-Adhesive-Tape_85864820.jpg" width=500>
Perhaps you could talk Tanshanomi into designing some wedding graphics for you, then have it imprinted onto custom duct tape.
Be glad to.
That's actually a cool idea…. how did you find that?
Never mind, all the placed I've found to do this require way too large of an order.
If you are serious about it, you might consider contacting those places anyway. Explain what its for, tell them about your car at SEMA, etc. Perhaps you'll find a sympathetic ear willing to waive minimums or give you free/discounted product in exchange for promotional consideration of the novel use of their product. I know someone who got a couple of cases of free product because a manufacturer liked her idea for an unconventional use of it, and someone else who got a $125 artwork digitizing fee waived when a friendly shop owner said he would just wait until they had another order and combine artwork into one big file and have their outside vendor process both at the same time.
Bah! Trinkets! Get your guys something that they can use:
<img src="http://www.discountramps.com/atvImages/power-pak-gun-rack-3.jpg" width="400" border="2" style="border:2px solid black;" alt=" " />
I know, I'm all about functionality, but it's hard to give a personalized gift that is functional.
The good news is relatively cheap engraving is widely available for almost anything you bring in.
So.
I'm suggesting engraved old-school oil cans. The little Tin Man style ones that go "fwwokafwwoka" when you squeeze them: http://www.amazon.com/GOLDENROD-Spring-Bottom-Oil…
Classy and functional.
Maybe you can engrave some old hubcaps from the junkyard. Have them sandblasted, engraved and chromed again.
yeah, you can get anything engraved. i had a toaster engraved once to give as a wedding present. they loved it. it said something ridiculous, but i forget what.
And a couple of engraved Foster's oil cans…
With a little fettling and re-liverying:
<img src="http://www.rc-auta.eu/Fotografie/Zbozi/Original/46607bmw.jpg" width=400>
RC Tamiya 1:10 Porcubimmer?
If I had that kind of money, I wouldn't be racing in LeMons
And they would probably take as long to modify as Prickstine did.
Oh, yeah. Money. Crap.
I was a groomsman 1.5 weeks ago, I didn't know we were supposed to get gifts.
The most valuable piece of advice I can give you is to rehearse the ceremony. Even if you just get the party together and talk through it, it'll help. Everybody went into my friend's wedding blind and it didn't work out too well.
Gifts? Uh… porcupine hat.
<img src="http://manolomen.com/images/porcupine.jpg">
No, bad idea, don't do that.
<img src="http://image.popularhotrodding.com/f/magazine-stuff/cuff-linkscom-products-for-gear-heads/17165041/cufflinkscom-5-speed-manual-shifter-logo.jpg" /img>
I don't know if you want to go in this direction, but shifter cufflinks? I would get them for one of my groomsmen, but he's already got a set, so I'm thinking Rotary cufflinks for him instead.
Something licensed by that special someone?
<img src="http://www.carrollshelbymerchandise.com/images/winter_2009/5250-07.jpg" width="500">
Or perhaps some official Hooniverse gear, the store should be open soon, right?
But seriously, how about a custom shifter knob? Everyone rows their own right? This place says they can custom engrave any image on the top of this style shifter.
<img src="http://www.productinnovationsonline.com/images/21.jpg" with="500">
<img src="http://www.productinnovationsonline.com/images/inserts.jpg" width="500">
Reasonably priced just above your budget at $55.
They also have custom engraved metal ball knobs and such, but those probably cost a little more.
I'll offer up my mint condition Zima key chain fob, Brah.