Jalopnik
After showing up to the bustling metropolis of Willows, California, we got some Camarones de Diablo at the Mexican joint next to the motel, then headed over to Thunderhill Raceway to see what manner of crazy person hardcore competitor would be wrenching on their sub-$500 race cars on a 40-degree night. In the rain. We're going to have to give our first Spirit of LeMons award to Team Dirty Drifters, whose Corolla's 3TC developed a rod knock during a practice run earlier. They'd already driven 500 miles down from Portland, then sent a team member another 170 miles to San Jose to buy another engine... which they'd probably start swapping back into the car at about 1:00 AM. Oh, and they also blew the differential.
We were happy to find that the Carpet Pissers will be racing, though the Pissers themselves were nowhere to be found; perhaps they were rolling a few frames. Give us ze money!
We saw this Mazda racing at Altamont in October (they came in 37th), and here it is again. Team members were too busy with a welding frenzy to chat with us.
Team Nerd Herd was hard at work prepping their MR2- looks like they failed the decibel test and had to add a muffler. Nerd Herd was playing it smart, with a parts car in reserve.
Speaking of parts cars, how about this '91 Nissan SE-R? Team Krider Racing brought a clean-looking 4-door Sentra, and they were just gearing up to pluck all the parts they might need to swap during the race tomorrow. Front Wheel Drive Hoonage Potential!
Comments
The Jalopnik team is where?
damn... for a sec i thought the MR2 was a something-amino...
Oh come on, the Sentra parts car is a full fledged race car?
@GreenVanMan: We're aiming for the Altamont race in May.
@Murilee Martin: i heart you, bonus points if you work in a rolling stones reference into your "hoopty".
@LTDScott: Here's the parts car.
40? 40's T-shirt weather.
@Murilee Martin: In that case their car looks way friggin done for a $500 car.
@LTDScott: I've seen SCCA pro-racing cars that didn't look this good.
Yeah, they brought 'Bob the Binder', a three-inch monolith with all the supporting documentation about how that isn't really a professionally prepped real race car.
The judges looked skeptical. If these yahoos don't get at least SOME penalty laps, I'm gonna be pissed. That thing is QUICK.
That said, the Mazda sedan thingy was an actual ex-Touring Car, and it handles great.
See you guys out there!
#84 Two Wheels Too Many (ONSET '87 Cavalier wagon)
All God's Chilluns know the most important tool on that roof is the ball peen hammer...
[www.ballpeenbindery.com]
It's gonna be sad to see that Nissan get destroyed. I'm interested to see how this race pans out.
@Xargs: This time we'll get some shots of the Cavalier!
Yeah there are questions about the Sentra over on SR20forum that lead many to believe something is not on the level...
Is it just me or does the mazda with the blue/green paint job remind anyone else here of the mystery machine?
@Xargs: Where's the bell on that Sentra? Because it's A RINGER.
See you at the Thunderhill
We drove lemons
And pray we never stand still
The smoke will make you cry
Their engines will whisper and moan
And when you're oil pan's dry
She blows her water hose from the groan
And I feel
The car slowly, slowly, slowly slipping under
And I feel
Like I'm holding onto nothing
We drove lemons
To color in the cold grey night
We had heaven
And the wheels held on so tight
Where can you legally get a running car with a roll cage and racing seat with harness for $500?
@FuzzyPlushroom: Remember, Murilee's from temperate Alameda-by-the-Bay, and Jonny's an Angeleno. In Los Angeles anything below 60°F gives us frostbite...
@Charles_Barrett: Perhaps I should have said "Alameda-IN-the-Bay"...
Luckily, both Murilee and Jonny are furry enough to keep warm on those cold Willows nights.
Isn't there a by-law somewhere saying the race organizers can buy any car entered into the race for 500 bucks?
I'll give you 600 for the sentra :)
@smokyburnout: me too, I thought mid-engined-amino and got all giddy inside.
@smokeydog001: The safety equipment (cage, seat, brakes, etc) is not included in the $500.
The Sentra looks way too nice to me. Does it have an SR20?
The green Mazda 626 was really quick at the last Altamont race, but was out of the race for quite a while.
Good luck to Xargs' team! I was very impressed with the little Cav.
@smokeydog001: As LTDScott said, safety equipment isn't counted. But even with that, it is tough - hence the "lemons." A lot of junky parts and a ton of labor. You do need a bargain hunter and a very capable free mechanic. Tools and team member's labor aren't counted.
Man I wish they'd do this on the East Coast somewhere down near SC. I'd totally do it.
@DCULBERSON
That's the way it is where I come from! Though it's an essential part of auto/truck owernship, not a hobby. It normally takes a team to get from the trailor park down to the sawmill to work day after day.
@smokeydog001: Safety equipment is free per the CGR.
Go Dirty Drifters! If you win, I'll give you guys my fender roller when I'm done with it. It cost half as much as your race car.
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