24 Hours of LeMons

[Shaun @ Tru6]

People's Curse Award

[MRM]

Bush hates LeMons.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

http://jalopnik.com/cars/racing/the-top-44-lemons-of-24-hours-of-lemons-313355.php




RULES

1: GENERAL

* 1.1: Organizer Decisions: Organizer's decisions are final. If you don't like it, tough. Get your own race.
* 1.2: Unsafe Vehicles and/or Drivers: At organizer's sole discretion, any unsafe car or driver may be removed from the event at any time.
* 1.3: Refunds and Compensation for Loss: There are none. Forget it. It ain't gonna happen. You get zip. Squat. Nada. Can't get your act together? Tough nuts. T-boned on Lap One? Listen to the crickets. Abducted by space aliens? Boo-hoo, L. Ron. Jay ran you over in his RV? Then you shouldn't have been...wait a minute...okay, that actually might be our fault.
* 1.4: Claiming Race: At the end of the competition, organizer may elect to purchase any vehicle from its owner(s) for $500. In other words, don't spend a lot on a cheater—cause if you do, you ain't gonna own it much longer.
* 1.5: Winners and Prizes: The car which completes the most laps is the Winner on Distance. The Winner on Distance receives $1500. Recipient of the highest score in the Index of Effluency--as determined by a super-secret equation includin vehicle age, general hooptieness, reliability of country of origin, unlikelihood of success, and Organizers' whim--is the Winner on index. The Winner on Index receives $1000. Recipient of the People's Choice Award, as determined by blind ballot of all registered participants and Pit Pass holders, receives $500.
* 1.6: Your Car May Be Destroyed At Any Time: In addition to accidents and other unfortunate boo-boos, one car may be selected by blind ballot of all registered participants and Pit Pass holders for immediate removal and total destruction. It could be your car. It probably WILL BE your car. You'll have 30 minutes to yank out any safety items you want to rescue, and then it's toast. Them's the breaks. Don't bring it if you ain't OK with losing it.
* 1.7: Right of Publicity: You and your brilliant, pithy utterances may be photographed, recorded, or otherwise reproduced and re-used whenever and wherever the heck the organizers like (including but not limited to magazines, radio, biblical apocrypha, CinemaScope epics, and cave paintings). You won't get a penny unless somebody sees it and buys you a coffee. If you're not comfortable with that, wear a Mexican wrestler mask and/or stay home.

2: ELIGIBILITY

* 2.1: Vehicle Eligibility: Entry limited to mass-produced, four-wheeled vehicles legal for US highway use at the time of their manufacture. Vehicles must be acquired and prepared for a maximum of $500 as described in Section 4. Vehicles must meet all safety standards laid out in Section 3. The vehicle's original stated curb weight may not exceed 4200 pounds. Individual waivers may be granted; just don't ask about Peterbilts, zambonis, sidecars, or golf carts again. We already said no.
* 2.2: Driver Eligibility: All drivers must have a valid US or International driver's license and a valid competition license (club memberships, rally licenses, and instructional licenses are not accepted). The ONLY acceptable competition licenses are: AMP, SCCA, FIA, NASA, NASCAR, CSRG, ARCA, WestCar, SRL, Legends/600, USAC, CASA, BCRA, BBORR, NCMA, MMRA, Barber Comp, CRA, ICSCC, HMSA, HSR, and SVRA. If you don't have one of these, you'll need to buy a 2008 comp-license waiver; these cost $50, are good for the 2008 calendar year, and are sold in the pits on Saturday morning before the race.
o 2.2.1: Drivers Under 18: Drivers under 18 years of age must get a notarized letter of permission from their parents or legal guardians. You might also want to ask said parents or legal guardians why they'd ever allow you to do this; it probably means they've been poaching your college fund.
* 2.3: Tire Eligibility: DOT-approved street tires only, minimum treadwear rating 190; no exceptions. Pete Stout and Calvin Kim, this means you.
* 2.4: Whiner Eligibility. Whiners are not eligible to compete. If you believe that you might be a whiner, please check with a domestic partner, guardian, or health-care professional before getting the rest of your team kicked the hell out of the race.

[nostatic]

umm, you do know a guy died at this year's event, right?

[9dreizig]

Originally Posted by nostatic

umm, you do know a guy died at this year's event, right?

How'd that happen Todd ? It's sort of like racing Yugos with roll cages isn't it ?

[nostatic]

The guy had a heart attack at the wheel and slammed into the wall. Evidently he was dead (or close to it) before impact.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Didn't hear that. Too bad - it's a great event.

What kind of car was that before the power shovel got it?

[Stanley]

It was a Mazda 626. Here's another video showing the aftermath.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by nostatic

umm, you do know a guy died at this year's event, right?

Yes, it's on the home page of their web site. If you are a fatalist, it's a great way to go.

"A tragedy occurred at the 24 Hours of LeMons last Saturday at Altamont Motorsports Park. Court Summerfield, a driver, died.

A California Highway Patrol investigation was undertaken at the track. The CHP informed us that there was no mechanical failure or unsafe track conditions and that no other cars were involved. The CHP also informed us that, based on physical evidence and witness statements, it appears that the driver was not conscious prior to impact. We are awaiting the final reports.

Our deepest sympathies go out to Court's wife and family. We have established a memorial fund in his honor, with Court's wife receiving all proceeds. The 24 Hours of LeMons has contributed $5000, and Altamont Motorsports Park has committed $5000. Other participants have made contributions of varying amounts.

Click the button below if you wish to contribute."

[David]

They're having the 24 hours of LeMons in Houston in October. We've missed the sign up date, but if they're not full we could still enter. Hummmm? Should we do it?

[rouxroux]

Altamont? Hey the only thing better would be having the Stones playing live in the infield during the event.

[porsche4life]

I would drive to houston to help drive. lol
would have to buy a license waiver and get my parents to sign off though.

[avendlerdp]

I'm doing the Thunderhill event in Dec.. Did it last year too. Best automotive event available in the US I figure.

I would like to do it in a P-car in '09. A bit tough to get one going for $500 even with creative math. Using a Geo Metro with a motorcycle engine in it this year. 1400lbs 120 hp. it's pretty fast!

Here's a photo of this years car at our last test day. I'll keep you all in pix and stuff after the event.

[avendlerdp]

http://jalopnik.com/5119427/and-the-arse-freeze+a+palooza-lemons-winner-is-the-metro-gnome-motorcycle+engined-geo

[trekkor]

Looks like you fellas won the race.

Nice.

We're thinking about getting a car together for this year.


KT

[avendlerdp]

I hope you do. It's a great race for a number of reasons one of which is the huge amount of seat time. 16 hours of racing!

Check the schedule on the LeMons website. Several events this year in striking distance.

[David]

Congrats!!!

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by nostatic

The guy had a heart attack at the wheel and slammed into the wall. Evidently he was dead (or close to it) before impact.

To be fair, he could have expired while slappin' cratch, given the bum ticker

Bad heart is what got Carrol Shelby out of the driver's seat

[jhynesrockmtn]

Our team had a great time out on the track. We had three cars, all first gen RX-7s. We had some simlar problems with drivers chickening out...a couple of our drivers were apparently used to a little more posh racing experience, so they bailed on saturday night. So by Sunday, we had seven drivers for twelve slots. None of us were complaining though, since there were so many yellow flags it meant about half an hour of racing for every two hours spent on track. My car finished 21st, and our other car finished 24th (I think). My friennd Jordan decided to get personal with the tire wall, so one of our cars didn't finish the last couple hours...

Description from a fellow vintage FV driver who went down for the event from Seattle. We had another guy who drives with us occasionally but lives in CA do it in a Miata. Not something you want to do in a car you care about at all. Lot's of contact. Sounds like fun but a lot of seat time is spent under yellow, at least this year.