Aftermarket action
Forever Rat Fink
Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, who was known for his crazy customized cars and his Rat Fink caricatures, died in 2001 at age 69. His family members keep his memory and creations alive through their website that’s packed with Roth merchandise and memorabilia, including a number of plastic scale-model kits representing actual cars built by Roth, dating back to the 1960s. Included in the collection are the Beatnik Bandit and Beatnik Bandit II, Tweedy Pie 2, Surfite beach car and others. There’s even a kit of Rat Fink, himself. Each one is priced at $25. If models aren’t for you, there’s an assortment of T-shirts, decals, posters, metal signs and other collectibles. View them all at www.ratfink.com.
Load up your pickup
Toting your motorized toys is no problem if you have a 4Loader. The unit replaces your short- or long-bed truck’s tailgate and is ideal for hauling motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles since it extends the load floor by close to 4 feet. The 4Loader attaches to your truck’s 2-inch receiver and comes with built-in folding 8-foot-long ramps that are rated for up to 3,000 pounds, allowing you to drive your ATV right into the bed. And towing a boat or travel trailer (up to 2,000 pounds) with the 4Loader attached is also no problem since there’s an additional receiver built into the unit. The $7,000 price includes all necessary hardware and lights plus a special dolly for installing the 4Loader and storing it in your garage or shop. Complete details are found at www.4loader.com.
Drag racing to scale
Not every action game involves plugging into a console. For example, the Legends Quarter Mile Drag Race Track Set (product code: SRS308) requires a 31.5-foot-long straightaway (your driveway or similar flat surface will work) and of course a handy wall plug to operate the two electric slot cars that come with the set. As the name implies, the “legends” in this case include a pair of 1:64 scale vintage cars patterned after real 1970s drag-racing machines driven by Don Garlits and Shirley Muldowney. Also included are controllers for each lane, mechanical start/finish gates, guardrails and even a bonus 12-footlong return lane. The Legends set can be purchased for $120 from www. allenallenmotorspeedwayracing.com.
Don’t forget your caps
Cure the problem of lost or missing tire-valve caps once and for all with a set of No Loss Tire
Caps. The product, which was originally designed for NATO military vehicles, will help maintain tire pressure even if the valve core fails. And because they’re made of brass (instead of aluminum) they won’t warp, corrode or seize up due to road salt or moisture. Most importantly, the retaining strap on each No Loss Tire Cap prevents it from getting lost or forgotten in a jacket or pants pocket (the manufacturer claims the strap is strong enough to withstand 80-mph speeds when not screwed onto the stem). Order a set of five for $12 from www.extremeoutback.com.