So today I'm strolling down Sidney's main street and I spot my friend Chris who, when not adding performance upgrades to his 2007 Mustang, tends to the gardens that are a feature of our seaside town. Except that now he's hoisting himself on a mini cherry picker to attach Christmas decorations to the street lights. "Christmas?" I cried, "but it's only November!" Chris then reminded me that the town's annual Christmas parade is scheduled for November 29. And with that, your ultimate procrastinator (buys gifts at the last minute, spends more than they're worth to get them delivered by FedEx) admits its time to make his viewers aware of the variety of car gifts available on the Net. Starting with 1980's collectible literature from McLellan's. Seems like yesterday but these brochures and catalogs will only appreciate in value and right now they're very affordable. Check the special offers by clicking here and note the choice goes all the way from "cars & trucks" to "trains."

For this Canadian, a dedicated F1 fan since the 50s, the news that the Canadian Grand Prix is no longer on the calendar is sad, indeed. Montreal's mayor has announced that a sponsor could not be found, while the three levels of government were unable to pledge sufficient funds to satisfy F1 czar Bernie Ecclestone. Yet in a way, the cancellation is symbolic of what's happening in motorsport everywhere. Racing has become inordinately expensive for a variety of reasons and when a recession hits, sponsor support quickly disappears into a quagmire of shrinking ad budgets. Already there are hints that the Chinese Grand Prix might be canceled after 2009 due to lack of fan support. That doesn't mean Chinese race enthusiasts don't care for F1; they blame it on high ticket prices. Blame that on the high cost of Grand Prix racing. Back in America NASCAR has lost primary sponsor Eastman Kodak, while, facing possible bankruptcy, the GM/Ford/Chrysler triumvirate will certainly reduce their race budgets or possibly withdraw altogether, leaving Toyota as the only supplier of race cars. Or perhaps I should say "the only supplier of stick-on decals to simulate a grille and headlights." In the long run reducing the cost of racing can only be a good thing, especially for those of us who love the sport.

Long before there was a motel in every town folks who traveled by car had to make do with whatever comforts they could carry in the primitive automobiles of the day. Normally that meant sleeping on the ground with, at best, protection from a canvas cover attached to the side of the vehicle. A few innovators went a step further, turning the car into a mobile bedroom. Henry Ford's remarkably versatile Model T lent itself to such conversions, becoming the first wheeled "camper" since the covered wagon. The car above, which caught my attention at the Model T 100th Centennial in Richmond, Indiana this year, is a charming example. It got the occupants off the ground, provided basic shelter, and included storage space for bedding, pots and pans, and the various paraphenalia needed when camping away from normal conveniences. Just to prove how practical it may have been in its time, the owners actually slept in their Model T en route to the event.

[Photo: Philip Powell]

At the foot of the St. Lawrence River, where it flows into Lake Ontario, is the historic city of Kingston, Ontario. I know it well as an entry point from the US when shortcutting Montreal-Toronto drives via the Wolfe Island ferry. (Okay, Hwy 401 was shorter but boring; I preferred the picturesque route.) Kingston was also a fun destination during my time as a pilot flying out of Toronto Island Airport, now known as City Centre. In June 21-26, 2009, it will be the location for the annual Healey Conclave, celebrating the Austin Healey sports car.

The theme is "The Year of the Healey-Loyalist." Guests scheduled to appear are Stuart Turner, a rally champion and competition manager at the British Motor Corporation, and Ann Wisdom, who partnered with the late Pat Moss in one of the most successful rallying teams during the late 1950s. Among their laurels was the 1958 European Ladies Championship, won with a Healey 100/6.

The Austin Healey Club of Southern Ontario promises that the 2009 Healey Conclave will be a memorable event, including rallies, a Funkana, gymkhanas, and an Austin Healey car show. The city, at one time the capital of Canada, is a popular tourist destination, known for its 19th century limestone architecture and abundance of bistros and sidewalk cafes. Avril Lavigne got her start there and Dan Aykroyd lives nearby. My last visit was for the launch of the more humble Toyota Echo but I'd love to come back to Kingston when the streets are echoing to the sounds of Austin Healeys.

[Source: David LaChance of Hemmings]

We're still in the early days of November and already the January 2009 Scottsdale auction calendar is heating up as sellers submit their cars for bidding. Russo & Steele have carved out a special niche with their focus on European sports and American muscle and what could represent both better than a Shelby Cobra, especially one with a fabled history? The car seen here, CSX 2009, was prepped for the circuit in 1963 as a Ford factory team car, aimed at making its mark in the world of SCCA racing. It exceeded expectations, winning a number of events with noted drivers Augie Pabst, Peter Jopp, Tom Payne, Gene Fisher and Dick Stockton at the wheel. Let's hope that CSX 2009 ends up in the hands of a vintage racer, as both model number and calendar year magically coincide.

Too many times over the last dozen years I've looked at new cars and thought they were less attractive than the the previous year's model. It seems I'm not alone, for The Winding Road online magazine has come up with a list of ten cars that in their opinion looked better after their makeovers. Change for the sake of change often dominates the thinking of marketing chiefs when progressive updates to engineering and convenience features might be more useful to consumers. A typical example is the Honda Accord of 1997. It was near-ideal in size, style and performance but kept on getting larger and more powerful. Or how about the Volkswagen Beetle, which lasted through decades of minor changes without the need of a road-up makeover. Click through the Winding Road slide show and you'll notice how the auto industry follows its own trends, in this instance to wedge-type bodies, gunslit windows, and leering, slant-eyed headlamps. But was old really better than new?