Shite racing. 24 hours of Lemons, 'merica, October.

[motorpunk]

Dunno if this is of interest, but it's been on my bucket list for a very, very long time. 

24 hours of Lemons is an endurance race series in the US for sub $500 cars, a parody of the 24 hours of Le Mans in France. I read how someone once entered a car with a paintjob dedicated to Albanian dictator, Enver Hoxha, and that for overtaking under yellow flags they sometimes weld a large steel pig to your roof. This is exactly the kind of nonsense I love. I wrote a few features on the racing and it's been pretty well covered in the media online and in print over the years. I meant to go just before Covid but, well, y'know. 

I really can't afford it, I can't drive for toffee, and am sending $$$ over the internet to complete strangers. And I've just realised that my helmet is non-compliant, I need new overalls and boots and that the term 'budget motorsport' is an oxymoron. In October I'm flying to Boston (Mass, not Lincs), a place I've always wanted to see, and I am going to get very drunk. Then I'm driving to New Hampshire motorspeedway to participate in two 12 hour stints with a small team of fellow idiots who have suggested a 'Young Ones' theme for the car. I think I am also going to be asked to judge the event, and will ensure that there are some British-Leyland type shenanigans to keep things lively. Details of the car and stuff to follow once I know what I'm doing. 

Some random pics;

 

Wish me luck...

[sutty2006]

Chodspeed y’all. May the shite be with you. 
 

do you have a motor in the pipe line? 

[motorpunk]

12 minutes ago, sutty2006 said:

Chodspeed y’all. May the shite be with you. 
 

do you have a motor in the pipe line? 

Thank you kindly, Sir.

Car, yes. It's participating in another race in a few weeks and if it survives, then it's mine. Well, I get a share of it. It's mechanically excellent and well-suited to track use, caged etc, but cosmetically it is completely shagged out. Will reveal later as I don't want to jinx it. 

Previous cars I've admired at Lemons have included the RoLex - a Rover SD1 with a Lexus engine swap, and the ChoTus, a Lotus Elite with a Chevvy engine swap. 'My' car is a bit more sensible.

[Dan_ZTT]

Fantastic stuff. I've heard a bit about the Lemons thing before and thought it sounded interesting. Hope all goes to plan!

 

[Mally]

Never heard of it, but I know someone who will be interested in the total cost. He's over to watch the Daytona 500 in February.

Beats racing in the IOM and Holland.

Good luck.

[Jim Bell]

In an uncertain world, the only garuntee that's cast in iron is that you will NEVER regret doing this. Hats off to you. 

[Jim Bell]

2 hours ago, motorpunk said:

'My' car is a bit more sensible.

Jesus Christ in a leather vest, I do hope not. 

[Liggle]

Thats awesome, good luck!

[hairnet]

geo metro ftw

 

[hairnet]

bawston aint cheap

hope it goes good

 

[timolloyd]

Hopefully @motorpunkhas an O-series powered Cadillac, sort-of the reverse of the RoLex

[Schaefft]

24h of lemons probably is my favorite form of motorsports full stop. And while I haven't really been following any races I'm always hyped about the shit people come up with to go racing in, and over the years there has been a lot of mental stuff that made it past inspection. An aircraft powered mr2 or speedycops upsidedown Camaro (or almost anything from them really) for example.

[motorpunk]

@Schaefft- Jeff (speedycop) is a legend, I’d love to race with him at some point, we have swapped emails in the past. His Honda Accordian was magnificent. He got close to getting a TV deal some years ago, I can’t believe how quickly he works to finish madcap designs. 

[motorpunk]

Weird signing a form with next of kin details.. anyway, done! 

Here's a tiny, terrible picture of a tiny, terrible car. Our car. It's currently having a new gearbox fitted and some replacement ARBS. I'm actually looking forward to the weather there, it's going to be cold and the car has no heater. 

Anyone got any shite tips for the race, or for spending some time in Boston?

[motorpunk]

New pistons. 2 minute job, right? 

 

[motorpunk]

Jesus, hotels are expensive in Boston. Might just kip in the RV we have rented for the race weekend.

Race license [sic] procured, am going to rent racewear when I’m over there as it’s cheaper than buying new kit in the U.K. There’s a pre-race BBQ with cold beer and fresh lobster. I tend to puke after 45 mins of karting even on an empty stomach. I wonder if I can keep my guts together for a 2 hour stint… 

[chaseracer]

On 01/09/2022 at 21:43, motorpunk said:

Might just kip in the RV we have rented for the race weekend.

For the 2CV 24-hour last weekend, I slept on a camp bed in the back of the L3H2 Relay we hired to shift the race kit.  Surprisingly comfortable!

Bonne chance, Rich 😎

[motorpunk]

A week to go. Paperwork all done. Kit all rented and ready. Car supposedly working. 

I've been watching these little YT films where the organisers discuss suitable Lemons racecars (ie; hopeless crap that would be terrible on track) - 

 

[tom13]

This is going to be ace. Good luck. Car looks ace.

[hairnet]

bawston aint cheap cuzz

airbnbs were asking hotel prices

it was that much money i decided to fly into canada instead

 

[motorpunk]

3 hours ago, hairnet said:

bawston aint cheap cuzz

airbnbs were asking hotel prices

it was that much money i decided to fly into canada instead

Boston is the cheapest place to reach by plane from England, that was the starting point when deciding which race to join, and I've always wanted to see the city. I'm also in "fuck it" mode regarding the costs because I just NEED to do this. We have 1 night in Boston (4 of us in a $300 room), then 5-6 nights in an RV, packed in sardine-style. 

Can't wait

[JakeT]

I haven’t visited Boston in a few years, but it’s great. Legal Seafoods does a fantastic Clam Chowder.

 

Faneuil Hall is great. Visiting the bar from Cheers was a real highlight, too.

[motorpunk]

At Heathrow. Excited 

[High Jetter]

Chodspeed!

[Essex V6]

Last month I made my own racing debut in a similar 24 Hours de Lemons here in NZ. There were a total of 101 cars competing - it was every emotion from terrifying through to exhilarating! Our race car was an early E36 320i. For some reason it is not letting me upload any photos to my post

[motorpunk]

Am very, very drunk in Boston. This is some historically significant boat or summat. I’d like to steal it but have driving to do tomorrow.

[red5]

Good luck Rich, and with the racing. Any asks why you have a ship say it was # there when you got here'.  

[motorpunk]

I am never, ever drinking again. My organs and bank balance can’t take it.

Coffee is five bloody quid. Vehicles here are predictably massive and horrible. I’m hoping to spot some chod when we get out of Boston. Racewear I’ve rented is here, it pongs a bit, HANS device looks like some sex apparatus and is uncomfortable. It’s pissing with rain and our racecar has no roof and no heater. I’m chomping through painkillers and am never drinking again

Oh, and the hotel is some gay hotspot with communal showers and bunk beds with romantic lyrics above them. 

 

 

 

 

[w00dy]

This is already excellent. Looking forward to more updates.

[Dave_Q]

Enjoy, very jealous. 

US vehicles are pretty offensive overall, my sister lives there and I've seen some pictures of her car, I'm not sure on the brand but it has the size and styling of an Optare Solo