This is of the few times that we may stray away from the main subject of "racing", but thought it'd be a neat question to ask of all of you at this time of year, and that is:

What was your favorite Christmas gift (a gift that you remember being very special at the time?)

Maybe a childhood toy... a pet...   Maybe something more recent like a trip/vacation.., a car(?)  (No... I never got one either.... )

Maybe you have a few favorite gifts? 

Let us know about them, and hopefully you'll cause a few of us to remember some of the gifts we too received over the years too.

Petty Driving Experience at Charlotte. Around 2001 from my now Wife. Got to help dry the track in our 2000 Corolla, for like 45 minutes straight. That was cool, too. 

Can't say for sure it was my favorite, but the fact that I still have it 50 years later counts for something.

Sears mini-bike! Purple, with a purple metal flake vinyl seat. A couple of years later, an orange, 4 speed Honda 70.

Lionel train set 55 years ago--still running but I need smoke pellets--giving it to my oldest grandson.  Merry Christmas all of you!

Coal.  Seriously, we were always threatened to get coal if we weren't good. I got it!  Learned my lesson real quick to be good around Christmas, the rest of the year was questionable! After fessing up to my bad,  I got a slot car set with the Johnny Lightning car and  pretty much turned me on to racing.  I should have stayed with the coal !

Merry Christmas everyone and know the students at Matheny will be enjoying Christmas  as well. 

I remember one year I got Stingray "type" (not actual Schwinn) 20" bicycles, with the high handlbars and the banana seat....  No speeds, and only a coaster brake, but that is exactly what I wanted.  I think the bike I had before that one actually had solid tires, so I was movin' on up if you know what I mean.  It was probably 1967.  Eventually I replaced the "stock" seat with a red metal flake one, and put a real tall sissy bar on the back with a matching red metal flake diamond pad.  (Probably can't call them sissy bars anymore. )

Right around that time I also got "Creepy Crawlers" with the famous "Thing-Maker."  I would make spiders, snakes and other bugs and remember selling a few of the creepy crawlers to kids at school...  I do remember that the school didn't like that and made me stop, squelching my early proprietorship aspirations!

For those who don't know what a "Thing-Maker" is, or had one and want to remember, here's a link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z8LbLdLcso

Christmas 2015. My wife, my kids, their spouses gifted me with a trip out to Indy for a couple of days of practice and first day of qualifying. Joining me were my son, son-in-law, and my son's father-in-law. Silver badges giving us access to the garage areas. Stayed in a first class hotel in downtown Indianapolis. Enjoyed time in the museum which featured an exhibit honoring 50 years of Penske Racing at the speedway. Roger Penske happened to be there, got him to autograph my Penske Racing exhibit program. Sat in various areas of the grandstands. A very special experience! 

Merry Christmas to all!

This is fun, actually:-)

OK...so while it didn't turn out to be my absolute favorite Xmas gift, my sisters, who still live in Reading, got me a 'ticket' to the Kenny Wallace thing. I got to drive a big block mod around East Bay Raceway. So that was at the same time very cool and...very embarressing. I hadn't driven a racecar for about 50 years and it was totally different. And having only ten laps, I really didn't get accustomed to the car. I wish I had more like 50 laps:-)

I'm going to cheat a bit and mention a second gift which IS my absolute vavorite. My wife got it for me 3 years ago, as of today. An Oculus Quest II VR headset. (Now called Meta Quest). I almost returned it but she suggested I give it a try. I've always been a gamer...mostly racing (of course).

Well..I don't play racing games with it. I use it to work out. And...I'm addicted. I use it an average of 5 times a week for at least an hour at a time and play what's called a rhythm based game. So I punch orbs flying at me to the beat of songs. And it's the music that keeps me going. AT 72, I need something to kick me in the butt;-) This did it...

But I'd rather race...for real.

When I was young, back in the mid 50's any Tonka or Buddy L truck.

Early 1970's a New England Whaler WHA [not NHL] Jim Dorey #10 Jersey.

1990's a replica Royal Air Force sheepskin jacket like the Spitfire pilots wore in WWII.

My favorite Christmas gift was my 1968 Orange Krate bike. Loved that bike. Never thought I'd get one because it was way out of my parent's price range (around $90-$100, I think). Sold that bike for around $35, I think, sometime after I got my driver's license. These days the asking price for one is up to $3,000. My first HO race track was a fun gift, too (in 1970). Got lots of hours of fun from both.

My 1968 Orange Krate a day or so after Christmas. Couldn't wait to ride it even though there was snow on the ground.

Opening my HO race track on Christmas Day 1970 (from Dad's old home movies)

35$for the bike in 1970, I sold my 55 Chevy two door for 25 dollars that year @#$%&

Might have been 1974-'76 on the sale on that bike for $35. You sound like my dad--he sold his '57 Chevy to my uncle in the late 60's for somewhere around $75, I think. Ugh!

This christmas : a Highway Auto Body ashtray i found on Ebay ! Always thinking of my Uncle Lou !