Son Looking to Buy Car to Lemon Race, Got Any To Sell?

[M.D. Holloway]

https://www.24hoursoflemons.com/prices-rules

Check out the site.

So my Son's latest wild hair is that he (and his buddy) want to get a 'car' and run it in a 24 Lemons. The value of the car can't exceed $500 but it does need certain safety considerations:

A car that reaches the starting line for a grand total investment of $500, including purchase and preparation. The only things not included in that figure are approved safety equipment, brakes, and wheels/tires.

He's looking for a 2 door, rear wheel drive anything. he found a $800 Miata that runs but is rough but the seller hasn't returned his calls. I'm thinking maybe one of you guys has a $500 POS that turns barely.

These 2 are so motivated that they would actually drive with the truck and trailer and pick it up as long as your in the lower 48. I told him he should go to Mexico but knowing them they might wind up in a Mexican jail!

So - any one got rolling yard art they want to part with?

[unclebilly]

Mike - I have lots of experience with this. Does he want to have fun or be competitive? The choice of car matters.

Some cars will never be competitive and it costs about the same amount of money to build up a Hundai pony as a BMW e36...

[M.D. Holloway]

Knowing him...competitive.

[porsche4life]

The car is the cheap part. He will need at least 3, more like 4 complete sets of pretty aggressive tires. Safety gear isn't in that $500 budget so figure another 1500-2k for a cage, harness, seat, etc.


It's a cheap car series, but the danger is very very real, and they won't let safety stuff slide. Everyone needs a a fire suit and helmet too.

[porsche4life]

Also how old is he, no drivers under 18 without waivers I believe, and hey really want you to have some on track experience so you don't kill someone else.

[unclebilly]

It costs about $3500-$4000 to build a $500 chump / lemons car.

[unclebilly]

I have done this 3 times...

911, ZX2 (very competitive), 914 with Nissan V6.

Here is the chump 911.

[onewhippedpuppy]

That ChumpCar 911 is awesome!

Mike, this sounds like something I would have LOVED to do in high school. Are they mechanically inclined? If not this might be a very expensive proposition. I can't remember and can't tell from your location, are you guys in Houston or Dallas? Either way, there should be an abundance of cheap Craigslist cars that they can choose from.

[KNS]

I love that chump 911!!

[SiberianDVM]

We put over $10K into our ChumpCar 1989 Supra. Too heavy to be a winner, we typically finish in top 25%.

Car selection is VERY important. Start with E36 or Miata or Acura Integra to have any kind of a chance of winning, and even then it will take years to fully develop the car.

But it's fun.

[dad911]

So how do you get a running car for $500? Sell it to yourself?

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

That ChumpCar 911 is awesome!

Mike, this sounds like something I would have LOVED to do in high school. Are they mechanically inclined? If not this might be a very expensive proposition. I can't remember and can't tell from your location, are you guys in Houston or Dallas? Either way, there should be an abundance of cheap Craigslist cars that they can choose from.

Ya, he can wrench, weld, and talk. We are a sub of Dallas.

[unclebilly]

Miatas can get on the podium and I have seen them win. Start with a used spec Miata car, make it fit the rules. The ZX2 podium'd quite a bit (including a first in class at Laguna Seca) but the series has evolved and it no longer competes with e36 cars. The hot ticket now is the Nissan 240sx with a swapped in Toyota 4.7 v8.

The 914 is excellent but need probably one more race to develop it befor it gets on the podium.

Also, run a car that you can get parts for at a local Napa. The issue with the Porsches is that you need to bring along lots of spares because parts are no commonly available close to the track on a Sunday... The ZX2 was good in this regard.

[unclebilly]

I don't want to hijack this thread...

Here are a couple photos...




Daytona with the ZX2...






Watkins Glen with the 914...




We ran the 911 at Calgary and Spokane. The ZX2 has been at Calgary, Edmonton, Spokane, Daytona, Laguna Seca twice, Infineon, The Ridge, etc. I didn't run at Calgary or Infineon but did everywhere else.

The 914 has been to Watkins Glen and Brainerd and I started at both races.

I have lots more pictures... Maybe a separate thread.

[M.D. Holloway]

Unclebilly, Awesome - no hijack at all. Post all of them!!!! Show some of the guts as well...

[gwood]

How on earth can a 911 be worth $500? Couldn't you part it out for many times that?

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by gwood

How on earth can a 911 be worth $500? Couldn't you part it out for many times that?

Well in case you didn't notice, it was burnt out. It was not able to be registered again. The engine was a core 2.7...

[speeder]

Looks like a '69, guessing a T coupe? Amiright?

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

Well in case you didn't notice, it was burnt out. It was not able to be registered again. The engine was a core 2.7...

I guess he bought before the price of patina skyrocketed.

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by speeder

Looks like a '69, guessing a T coupe? Amiright?

73 T per my signiture... Part 2 of the article is in the current issue of Classic Porsche.