24 Hours of Lemons: Difference between revisions
| Line 61: | Line 61: | ||
==Race Entry== |
==Race Entry== |
||
As many as 200 teams will often apply to enter a given race. However, most races only have about 100 grid slots. The organizers decide which teams are accepted based on a subjective judgment as to whether the car and team theme is interesting. This has resulted in a proliferation of fairly complex themes at many of the more popular races. Themes have included locomotives on top of the car, cars with added downforce provided by spans of real aircraft wing or other oversized wings, cars based on classic commercial vehicles, animals, and many others. Aside from themes, teams might be accepted based on how rare, old, or interesting their car is. Teams have entered [[Chevrolet Corvair|Corvairs]], classic [[ |
As many as 200 teams will often apply to enter a given race. However, most races only have about 100 grid slots. The organizers decide which teams are accepted based on a subjective judgment as to whether the car and team theme is interesting, and whether the team appears in their application to be fun<ref>http://www.24hoursoflemons.com/faqs/</ref>. This has resulted in a proliferation of fairly complex themes at many of the more popular races<ref>http://jalopnik.com/5340526/the-top-95-lemons-of-the-buttonwillow-histrionics-24-hours-of-lemons/gallery/</ref>. Themes have included locomotives on top of the car, cars with added downforce provided by spans of real aircraft wing<ref>http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/12/2009/09/500x_LSF09-Top-044-500px.jpg</ref> or other oversized wings, cars based on classic commercial vehicles<ref>http://jalopnik.com/5089174/the-faster-farms-chickens-suit-up-for-arse-freeze+a+palooza-lemons-glory</ref>, animals<ref>http://jalopnik.com/5289616/it-had-to-happen-someday-24-hours-of-lemons-124-scale-model</ref>, and many others. Aside from themes, teams might be accepted based on how rare, old, or interesting their car is. Teams have entered [[Chevrolet Corvair|Corvairs]]<ref>http://jalopnik.com/5313022/and-the-real-lemons-winner-is-udmans-team-trailing-throttle-oversteer-corvair</ref>, classic [[Austin Mini|minis]]<ref>http://jalopnik.com/5338703/and-the-real-buttonwillow-histrionics-winner-is-the-mr-bean-austin-mini</ref>, and cars from [[Automobile industry in Italy|historically unreliable marquees]]<ref>http://jalopnik.com/5121314/italian-stallions-fiat-x19-totally-reliable-at-lemons-other-than-the-blown-head-gasket</ref>. |
||
==Qualifiers== |
==Qualifiers== |
||
Revision as of 10:52, 25 September 2009
| File:24LeMons.jpg | |
| Category | Endurance racing |
|---|---|
| Country |  United States |
| Inaugural season | 2006 |
| Drivers | Amateur Racers |
| Official website | www.24hoursoflemons.com |
The 24 Hours of LeMons is a whimsical series of endurance races held on paved road race courses across the United States. The title is a parody of the historic 24 Hours of Le Mans series. Teams compete in race prepared cars (lemons) that cost no more than $500 for up to 24 hours. These races set themselves apart from the typical road race by the requirement for each race car to be decorated with a unique theme, and the unusual penalties and punishments meted out by judges wearing full robes and wigs.
Event overview
Events are billed as 24 hour endurance races, however, some races may be as little as 14 hours. The ideal, if track restrictions do not prohibit it, is for the race to be run from start to finish in a 24 hour period. If a track cannot permit racing after a certain time, the race will be split into two days of racing, usually 6-8 hours on each day.
LeMons racing, no matter how silly it might seem, is "real racing". As stated by the event organizers[1]:
Yeah, it's real racing. That said, between the thick scrum of crapcans in front of you and our aversion to long, flat-out straightaways, you're not going to set any speed records. It's kinda like a loud, hot, noisy version of driving to work. For a really, really long time. Without actually getting anywhere. And it's a lot harder to drink coffee through the helmet. Oh, and, you know, it's more dangerous.
LeMons race cars are expected to be purchased and made roadworthy for no more than $500. This does not include safety equipment! Items such as the roll cage, racing seat, harnesses, wheels, tires, braking system, most of the exhaust and fuel systems are considered "safety equipment" and not included in the $500 budget. Materials used in the car's theme are also traditionally not included in the budget. LeMons race cars are subjected to a thorough safety inspection by qualified technical inspectors prior to each race, as well as a painstaking "BS inspection" by the judges to determine the level of "cheatiness" of the car. Every car that passes safety inspection is permitted to race. Cars deemed to be cheating are assessed lap penalties at the rate of one lap for ever $10 over-budget.
LeMons race drivers require no qualifications or prior experience. If a driver does not possess a valid racing license from one of 19 accepted sanctioning bodies, an official 24 Hours of LeMons Racing License good for one season of racing can be purchased for $50. It is not uncommon for a driver with no prior track experience to be found being passed by a dozen cars in the first turn of his or her first lap on a race track! A class for first-time racers to cover the basics of track etiquette, safety and rudimentary driving techniques is always offered.
In spite of the awful vehicles in competition, their unusual themes, and the inexperience of many of the drivers, LeMons races are amazingly civilized affairs. This is accomplished by a very strict "no contact" policy on the race track. If any vehicle makes contact with any other vehicle, no matter how minor, or who is at fault, all involved vehicles are flagged off of the track for penalty action. Penalties are also accrued for other offenses, such as overly-aggressive driving, spinning on track, driving 4-wheels off of the track, or even indiscretions while not on the race track (such as speeding in the paddock area, or gross neglect of other safety rules). Penalties are a huge part of what makes LeMons what it is. (see Penalties below)
History
The 24 Hours of LeMons arose from an earlier San Francisco, California event, the Double 500.[2] After several successful events the organizers deemed the event too easy, so the endurance race was born. Originally held at the Altamont Motorsports Park in 2006, the 2009 season consists of 10 races across the United States.
Rules and regulations
To enter the event, participants must find a car where purchasing and prepping the car must not exceed $500.[3][4] This requirement alludes to the name of the race as such vehicles might be considered "lemons". The event organizers set out numerous rules that typically are on par with other road racing sanctioning bodies, including the Sports Car Club of America and National Auto Sport Association. Additions to the rules (both serious and humorous plus rules to discourage cheating) include:
- $500 limit to prep car. This includes the purchase price of the car, any modifications made to it, and other assorted expenses (such as labor and sponsorships) are figured into the cost. Approved safety equipment (see below) plus brakes, wheels, and tires are not included in the $500 figure.
- Items sold off of a car can be deducted from the total spent, so it is possible to buy a more expensive car and sell off parts, or sell parts and buy better equipment. (i.e. Selling off parts from a BMW or other similar Luxury Car to circumvent/comply with the $500 rule.)
- If the event organizers feel the car has exceeded its $500 limit, they assign whats called a BSF (Bullshit Factor), where every $10 the car exceeds over the $500 is docked one lap.
- Car must have four wheels and been legal for highway use at its time of manufacture.
- Event organizers have full rights to buy the car for $500 at the end of the race.
- Event organizers have full rights to outright destroy the car at anytime however they see fit.
Required safety equipment includes:
- A six point roll cage
- Snell SA2000 helmet or better
- Fire extinguisher
- Five point racing seat belt
- SFI 3.2A/1 suit with fire retardant underwear or better
- Drivers seat must reach the middle of the helmet or higher. SFI or FIA approved seat recommended.
- All glass must be taped or removed
- No antifreeze (water only)
Race Entry
As many as 200 teams will often apply to enter a given race. However, most races only have about 100 grid slots. The organizers decide which teams are accepted based on a subjective judgment as to whether the car and team theme is interesting, and whether the team appears in their application to be fun[5]. This has resulted in a proliferation of fairly complex themes at many of the more popular races[6]. Themes have included locomotives on top of the car, cars with added downforce provided by spans of real aircraft wing[7] or other oversized wings, cars based on classic commercial vehicles[8], animals[9], and many others. Aside from themes, teams might be accepted based on how rare, old, or interesting their car is. Teams have entered Corvairs[10], classic minis[11], and cars from historically unreliable marquees[12].
Qualifiers
Qualifiers are a series of challenges that either prove that your car is roadworthy or not. Among some of the humorously named challenges include, but are not limited to:[1][13]. As of the 2008 season, these qualifiers are no longer performed in favor of more track time.
- Old-Lady Mannequin Slalom.
- Baby-carriage Braking Test - deployment of baby buggies into the path of the moving vehicles to test braking.
- Brick On the Gas Pedal Challenge.
- Personal-Injury-Lawyer Anti-Slalom
- Marxist-Valet Parking Challenge
- Wide Open Throttle Rodthrowapalooza
- Widdling Rottweiler Slalom
- Stoney Bike-Messenger Shooting Gallery
Race
The actual race is usually not an actual 24-hour endurance race, rather a 2 day affair encompassing 13 or so hours of track time split between two endurance sessions.[13][4] Races are adjusted accordingly to track layout.
Penalties
LeMons officials have an inventive penalty and punishment system[14] where infractions are meted out by a device called The Wheel of Misfortune.[4] Various devices are put onto the car, sometimes affecting car performance or annoying drivers. One device is called the Grille of Damocles, a metal plate with spikes that is welded in place right in front of a car's radiator. If the driver does any front-end contact, the plate is pushed into the radiator and dumps the contents, disabling the car.
Other devices either affect the car's aerodynamics or some other way mechanically. Also, "aggressive/lousy driving" is covered under Section 6 of the rules, and is penalized likewise.[3] For example, there is a possibility that the driver could get a tarring and feathering.[15]
Awards
There are three main awards, two awarded midway through the race.[1][4]
The midway awards are aptly named People's Choice and People's Curse. One car is voted People's Choice, and is summoned into the pits and awarded a cash prize. Another is voted People's Curse, for being driven by the biggest jerks of the day as judged by the crowd. The offending car is crushed and destroyed by the judges.
Likewise, the car that manages to go through the most laps wins the race, which is awarded via a trophy and a 4-figure cash prize consisting of bags full of nickels. Another prize (and considered by some to be the "true" winner) is the Index of Effluency award, presented to a car considered unlikely to finish the race at all, let alone finish with a respectable number of laps completed. Previous winners of the IoE, as it is often called, include old Detroit "land yachts" such as the Oldsmobile 98 and Ford LTD, as well as historically unreliable European cars like the Opel GT.
There are also other minor awards, and for 2008, Winners on Distance, Index of Effluency, and People's Choice will be invited to participate in the 24 Hours of LeMons Season-Ending SuperChamp Shootout & Sad-Sack Soiree at Thunderhill on the weekend between Christmas and New Years.
Schedule
2009 LeMons Events
- HOUSTON GATOR-O-RAMA (2009) Date: February 28-March 1, 2009 Track: MSR Houston, Angleton TX
- LeMONS SOUTH SPRING (2009) Date: 4-5 April, 2009 Track: Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw SC
- GOIN' FOR BROKEN (2009) Date: 23-24 May, 2009 Track: Reno-Fernley Raceway, Fernley NV
- LAISSEZ LES CRAPHEAPS ROULEZ NEW ORLEANS (2009) Date: June 6-7, 2009 Track: No Problem Raceway, Belle Rose LA
- LeMONS NEW ENGLAND (2009) Date: July 11-12, 2009 Track: Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs CT
- THE BUTTONWILLOW HISTRIONICS (2009) Date: August 15-16, 2009 Track: Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow CA
- LeMONS SOUTH FALL (2009) Date: September 12-13, 2009 Track: Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw SC
- THE LAMEST DAY (2009) Date: October 3-4, 2009 (full 24-hour endurance race) Track: Nelson Ledges Road Course, Nelson Ledges OH
- YEE-HAW IT'S LeMONS TEXAS (2009) Date: October 24-25, 2009 Track: MSR Houston, Angleton TX
- LeMONS ARSE-FREEZE-APALOOZA (2009) Date: November 21-22, 2009 Track: Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows CA
References
- ^ a b c The 24 Hours of LeMons: FAQs (FREQUENTLY ASININE QUIPS) accessed September 24, 2009
- ^ 24 Hours of LeMons FAQ - AREN'T YOU THOSE DOUBLE 500 GUYS?
- ^ a b The 24 Hours of LeMons: Rules accessed March 30, 2007
- ^ a b c d TONY QUIROGA (February 2007). "Beaters Rule! The 24 Hours of LeMons". Car and Driver. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- ^ http://www.24hoursoflemons.com/faqs/
- ^ http://jalopnik.com/5340526/the-top-95-lemons-of-the-buttonwillow-histrionics-24-hours-of-lemons/gallery/
- ^ http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/12/2009/09/500x_LSF09-Top-044-500px.jpg
- ^ http://jalopnik.com/5089174/the-faster-farms-chickens-suit-up-for-arse-freeze+a+palooza-lemons-glory
- ^ http://jalopnik.com/5289616/it-had-to-happen-someday-24-hours-of-lemons-124-scale-model
- ^ http://jalopnik.com/5313022/and-the-real-lemons-winner-is-udmans-team-trailing-throttle-oversteer-corvair
- ^ http://jalopnik.com/5338703/and-the-real-buttonwillow-histrionics-winner-is-the-mr-bean-austin-mini
- ^ http://jalopnik.com/5121314/italian-stallions-fiat-x19-totally-reliable-at-lemons-other-than-the-blown-head-gasket
- ^ a b Calvin Kim (March 2007). "24 Hours of LeMons". Road and Track.
- ^ Rahul Nair (April 2009). "Lemons Penalties 101". Racing Geek. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
- ^ 24 Hours of LeMons FAQ - Oh, and Mr. Smart Guy? The specific bad-driving punishments outlined in Section 6 of the rulebook are in addition to, not instead of, said tarring and feathering.
