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24 hours of lemons
So What's The Deal With This People's Curse Business?
After the thrice-Cursed Black Widow Miata team fled the People's Curse at the 24 Hours Of LeMons New Orleans, LeMons fans have been going through an Agonizing Reappraisal of the whole crush-a-car-at-each-race idea.
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24 hours of lemons
24 Hours Of LeMons History Lesson: The Winner's Circle, 13 Races In
Whether your team is considering a run at the overall win or the Index Of Effluency at the 24 Hours Of LeMons, it helps to know which cars have had success in the past.
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24 hours of lemons
Frogmasters And Türbö Schnitzels: The Team Shirts Of The 24 Hours Of LeMons
Someday, when the 24 Hours Of LeMons is bigger than NASCAR, the custom T-shirts created by LeMons teams in the early days of the series will be valuable collector's items. Let's check out a sampling! More » -
24 hours of lemons
How To Win The 24 Hours Of LeMons: Three Top Racers Share Their Secrets!
First of all, I must make it perfectly clear that all serious 24 Hours Of LeMons aficionados consider the Index Of Effluency trophy, which goes to the team that accomplished the most with the crappiest car, to be the real winner of the race. However, winning that prize requires a combination of guts and madness that no amount of advice could ever give you, so we're just going to give you the inside scoop on grabbing the checkered flag for your team at the race by finishing the most laps. This is the real 200-proof stuff here, folks, straight from Rob Krider of Krider Racing, Jeremy Gunter of Team SCHWING, and David Swig of Motoring J Style. Between the three of them, they've got two wins and at least four Top Five finishes, so pay attention!
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down on the junkyard
24 Hours Of LeMons Veteran Awaits Crusher In Long Beach Junkyard
Is it better for a car to go out in a blaze of glory on the racetrack than to die an ignominious death of a thousand minor failures? We can all ponder that question as we study the corpse of the Team Come From Behind Probe, which didn't finish in the top 50 at Altamont but hung in there for most of the race despite some broken parts. Yurikaze found the Probe- roll cage still intact- at the Ecology yard in Long Beach, and was kind enough to share his photos with us. Make the jump to read Yurikaze's description, plus see the entire gallery (and a bonus gallery of the Come From Behind Probe during happier times). Yes, that's the Vanilla Pride Little Tree air freshener I handed out at the race! More »
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Comment by flyboy333: @acarr260: Actually it was a 0% junk added car, though the actual junk content was probably about 80%, more like 180%... more » | Other threads
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24 hours of lemons altamont
The 24 Hours of LeMons Altamont 2008 Uber Gallery
We got a look at the Top 50 Lemons of the 24 Hours of LeMons race at Altamont on May 10th/11th, but what about the other 40 cars? Some finished just a few laps shy of the Top 50, while others seemed to bring out the yellow flags and tow trucks each time they sputtered onto the track. That's why we're doing the Official Jalopnik Über Gallery, which has a separate gallery for every single car that came to race. More » -
24 hours of lemons altamont
Huge Wing, Eyeballs Propel Make:Way Escort To 33rd-Place LeMons Finish!
Even though we vowed to crush Team Make:Way's Escort like a drained beercan beneath our hobnailed racing shoes (as the Lord Humungus would say about their car, what a puny plan!), the little slushbox-equipped Escort managed to evade the wrath of Odin and hang on for a respectable 33rd-place finish at the race. They had a scary moment when a front wheel parted company with the vehicle on the track, but for the most part they kept on knocking out lap after lap. Good work, Make:Way, and next time we hope to see some junkyard turbocharging on that thing! [MakeWayRacing.com] More »
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Comment by knyghtryda: @makeopalypse: Mintyboosts FTW!!! You'll have the only car partially powered by a huge pack of AA batteries :) more » | Other threads
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24 hours of lemons altamont
Broken Parts And Bleeding Knuckles At The 24 Hours Of Lemons
We've seen the cars that finished the race, but what about the ones that spent more time in the pits than on the track? Our pit space was sandwiched between a couple of never-say-die teams: the Snowspeeder Pilots Association, whose MR2's engine ate its rod bearings, and Team SSPP22, whose Volvo 780 Bertone broke its steering rack as an appetizer and damn near everything else for the main course. Then there was the Wedginator, which was pushed or dragged off the track more often than British Leyland workers went on strike, and the Car & Driver Fiero, which held the dubious title of Fewest Laps Completed, thanks to clutch-related maladies. Heroes, all of them! Let's take a look at some of the repairs we caught on film in the pits; thanks to Zack Spencer and Amy Judd for their photographs. More »
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Comment by superasiaone: HAHA parts car! That would be nice, maybe for Thunderhill they'll let us have 3 pit spaces for a 77... more » | Other threads
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24 hours of lemons altamont
Pimps, Pirates, and PMS: The Art Cars Of The 24 Hours of LeMons
We really want to love art cars, but the problem with a lot of them is that the artists involved just don't get cars. For every genuinely awesome Camera Van or Pedal Regal, you get a hundred beater 323s with plastic army men or dinosaurs epoxied all over the sheet metal. But take heart, fans of car-as-art, because the participants at the 24 Hours of LeMons race continue to raise the bar with the themes for their cars; check out the gallery below for a sampling of some of the art cars we saw at the race at Altamont last weekend. Thanks to photographers Zack Spencer and Amy Judd for contributing photographs. More » -
24 hours of lemons altamont
So, What About The Porcubimmer?
We followed the exploits of LTDScott and his Team Porcubimmer during the run-up to the 24 Hours of LeMons race at Altamont, and some of you are probably wondering how it went for the "Pricks Outside" guys when the real deal went down. Well, we have good news and bad news for you: the good news is that the car looked amazing (as did the coordinated team outfits), but the bad news is that a cascade of mechanical woes kept the Porcubimmer off the track for much of the weekend. Fuel system, clutch, you name it. When it was on the track, however, it was fast; for a glorious- if regrettably short- time on Saturday, the spiky 325e was in the #1 position. Take heart, Porcubimmer fans- we're pretty sure we haven't seen the last of this car's angry face! [Porcubimmer.com] More » -
24 hours of lemons altamont
The Top 50 Lemons Of The 24 Hours Of LeMons
We showed you the Top 44 Lemons at the Altamont race last October, followed by the Top 50 Lemons at Thunderhill in December, and now it's time to see the results from the Altamont race last weekend. Get any group of car freaks together, bring up the concept of the 24 Hours of LeMons, and you're sure to get endless debate about which cheap heaps should dominate. Well, here's where reality comes into play; this is how things actually played out on the track. We'll show the other 40 cars later on, when we put up the traditional LeMons Über-gallery, but for now it's time to examine the beaters, clunkers, and buckets that came out on top!
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down on the street bonus edition
1976 Audi Fox Wagon: Choice Of Discerning Pit Crew Members!
The cars driven by the team members and audience at the 24 Hours of LeMons race tended to be more interesting than what you'd see in your typical East Bay parking lot. I saw an AMC Hornet with a trunk-mounted computer, a small-block XJ6 with a wicked-looking hood scoop, and this very clean Fox wagon... which turned out to be owned by Shawn, a helluva good mechanic who showed up as a last-minute crew addition and proved incredibly useful in the Black Metal V8olvo pit action. That's Shawn fueling our car in the gallery below. I can't recall the last time I saw an Audi Fox in any condition, much less one this nice. More »
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Comment by 61fury: My Dad had one (the sedan), it was, as you internet people like to say, "craptastic". I didn't care as... more » | Other threads
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24 hours of lemons altamont
When You Go From 44th To 15th Place In Six Hours, You Get A Few Dings
When racing started at Altamont on Sunday, we knew we had some catching up to do; thanks to overestimation of fuel consumption, some pit slowness, and a penalty incurred by yours truly (more on that later), we started the day in 44th place out of 90 cars. We had the power, we had the skilled drivers, and we had a block of Swedish steel that could shrug off hits from the biggest opponents. And, speaking of the biggest opponents, a certain bullying orange Plymouth fared quite badly in a series of paint-trading incidents with our own WhatWouldJesseDo; see that orange paint on the tire in the image above? More »
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Comment by whatwouldjessedo: @Harms: Well, I hope I didn't do anything to piss anybody off out there. If I did, my defense is beginner's... more » | Other threads
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24 hours of lemons altamont
Don't Count Out Detroit: Chevy Finishes Second At LeMons!
Last October, the highest-placed Detroit car at the 24 Hours of LeMons Altamont race was the Spirit of San Diego '81 Chevy Malibu, grabbing a not-too-shabby 20th place. This time around, minus the fins and plus some mean-looking black paint, a good ol' American V8/rear-drive machine has left all them furrin cars (save one) eating Detroit exhaust, as the Chevrolet drivers finished a mere three laps behind the #1 car. We're not sure what they changed (though the Malibu does appear to have wider, lower-profile rubber now), but it sure worked! By the way, I'm still working on the traditional Top 50 Cars and Über Gallery LeMons posts; you'll get 'em soon. More »
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Comment by OpenSOB: @ViergangFuchs: Had he known who he was talking to, he would have at least thrown you the shocker. ... more » | Other threads
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racing
Court Summerfield, 1961-2008
Those of us at the 24 Hours of LeMons race on Saturday afternoon were beyond heartbroken when Court Summerfield died at the wheel of the Team Cant Am Volvo 242 Turbo. Not only was Court's death a major loss for the LeMons racing community, it was also a tough blow for the city of Alameda; he lived on the island and worked at Ole's Waffle Shop, which is as much a part of the city's soul as are old cars parked on the street. I hung out with Court before the race on Saturday morning and I'm still unable to believe that this could happen to such a nice guy and great driver. The words of his wife made us feel a little better, however: "It was really just something that he was happy doing. I'm sure the way he went, he was happy." Check out the Cant Am Volvo in action during happier times, at Altamont and at Thunderhill Photo credit, above: Gianna Babb [San Francisco Chronicle] More »
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Comment by GeorgiaManatee: I have known Vickie, Court's wife, since I was a child. The day I met Court I felt like... more » | Other threads
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24 hours of lemons altamont
Yes, Those Were Vacuum-Operated Skulls On The Black Metal V8olvo's Roof
With all the excitement of the race, I totally forgot to post photos of what the Black Metal V8olvo actually looked like by the time we had it all painted and bedecaled. Thing is, we didn't have time to apply the decals until we actually got the car to the racetrack. First of all, some commenters have wondered about the skulls mounted on the front edge of the car's roof. Those aren't just decorative skulls that just sit there. Hell, no! These are anatomically correct med-student skull replicas, and they're equipped with crowns of plumber's tape, Fiat indicator lights for eyes, and Dodge minivan vacuum motors operating the jaws! With high manifold vacuum (i.e., idling, cruising, decelerating), the vacuum motor pulls the skull's jaw shut; low manifold vacuum (i.e., gas pedal mashed to the floor) allows springs to pull the jaw open. I'll write up the fascinating details of how to build such important racing accessories for yourself, but for now let's check out the nice "before getting beat to hell" photos of the car. More »
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Comment by Murilee Martin: @turbo zero: Wayne is a team member who didn't get in a lot of the photos I posted on the... more » | Other threads
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24 hours of lemons altamont
Meet The Latest 24 Hours of LeMons Champions: Krider Racing Death Proof!
In the 24 Hours of LeMons race at Thunderhill last December, we watched a Nissan Sentra SE-R place fifth (if not for a wheel stud failure, they'd have done even better). We thought the Krider team members were pretty cool guys, so it was great to see them at Altamont; this time their ride was an Acura Integra with a grisly horror-movie theme. They drove consistently quick laps, didn't break down or get destroyed by a big Mopar, and their pit stops were very efficient... and now they've got a trophy to show for it. Congratulations, Krider Racing! Note: I forgot to mention that the team donated their prize money to a fund set up for the survivors of Court Summerfield. More »
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Comment by something_unique_and_descriptive: @anaxomander: Don't know if that's for real or not, if it's the team looking to "carry on" and they've got... more » | Other threads
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24 hours of lemons altamont
Krider Racing Wins 2008 24 Hours of LeMons Race At Altamont
The inaugural race of the 24 Hours of LeMons season just concluded and we're being told it looks like the winner's Krider Racing in their Integra. Murilee will have more shortly from Altamont but he predicts our very own Team Black Metal V8olvo will come in somewhere in the top 20. Give 'em all a round of applause for not only finishing after yesterday's tragedy, but for making all of us damn proud. Keep your eyes on our 24 Hours of LeMons Altamont tag for more coverage throughout the upcoming week. (Photo Credit: PK Kool via Flickr)
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By Ray WertComment by Murilee Martin: @Turboner: We need more tire and some helmet radios more than we need to shed car weight (driver weight, at... more » | Other threads
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24 hours of lemons altamont
Just received the following text message from Murilee: "[Team Black Metal V8olvo has] gone from 44th place to 19th so far today." Continue following the team's progress along with all our coverage here.
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By Ray WertComment by the good dr zero: @DoctorNine: I hope that they can upgrade to junkyard NACA ducts next time. more » | Other threads
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24 hours of lemons altamont
Looks like the MSM's finally gotten ahold of the crash story at Altamont. Our expectation is the rest of the bandwagon will show up momentarily. Look boys, carnage! [CBS5] -
24 hours of lemons altamont
Black Metal V8olvo Moving Up Through Ranks, But Taking A Beating
So we put in the Loverman followed by Viergangfuchs this morning and started knocking off some quick laps, passing like crazy and moving up to the 20s in the standings; Mr. Baruth has our best lap time, with 51 seconds. Now the Evil Genius is driving, and he's also fast as hell. However, the level of competition is getting ratcheted up, tempers are flaring a bit out there, and we're dishing out and receiving some damage in the heat of the action; the front suspension just needed some major toe adjustments after a bit of mutual metal grunching with our friend Xarg's Cavalier wagon. Sorry, guys! Meanwhile, the Porcubimmer, after leading for a while yesterday, has been de-quilled by various mechanical maladies; full report later.
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Comment by Novaload Misses Murilee: @DoctorNine: That would completely rock if they just played and sang and stopped with cutaways to the vogue face closeups.... more » | Other threads
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24 hours of lemons altamont
Life, Racing Go On
There was definitely a sense of gloom hanging over the pits this morning, but just about everyone here felt that we ought to go out and have fun doing what the late Mr. Summerfield loved doing: racing. The number of cars out on the track is quite a bit smaller than what we had yesterday, as mechanical failures take their toll (though Jay Lamm's rigorous "don't hit each other" policy is working well, with not many cars getting sidelined by enduro-style damage). Team Black Metal V8olvo is now in Full Hammer Down Mode, with our fast drivers out there and our car rising in the standings (at last check, we were #34). Our goal: to be the fastest Swedish car! I may not have time to post for a while, as I'm on pit duty and my driving turn is coming up shortly, but will do my best.
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Comment by one bourbon, one scotch, one beer: @TexanIdiot25: A few of the links come back as the 'author' has removed the item...but here's my take. I've not been a... more » | Other threads
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24 hours of lemons altamont
Details, Driver Name Emerge In Tragic Altamont LeMons Crash
While Murilee and the rest of Team V8olvo musters on with thoughts still on yesterday's tragedy at the 24 Hours of Lemons race at Altamont, we here at the Jalopnik Detroit bureau are lending a helping hand with coverage. We've just received news from the Gulf 39 team on the identity of their teammate behind the wheel of the Volvo 242 Turbo along with a little more detail on the preliminary on-scene investigation by the California Highway Patrol. We'd indicated to the team we only wanted to know the name after they'd had the opportunity to notify family, so although we're assuming that's been done already, we still wanted to make sure to include the name after the fold of this post to make certain it's been taken care of already. With that in mind — the short, but full, e-mail after the jump. More »
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By Ray WertComment by Tanshanomi drives the Cadillac of Lincolns: @dolo54: Not trolling. Just insulted. more » | Other threads
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24 hours of lemons altamont
Here's Why Yesterday's Fatal LeMons Crash Is So Hard To Believe
Something that really jumped out at everyone upon arrival in the Altamont pits yesterday morning was the incredible themes some- in fact, most- teams applied to their cars and costumes. Your typical art-car gathering -with its plastic army men glued to 80s GM G-bodies- would be put to shame by the decor on the race cars and drivers that we saw assembled at this race. Even previous LeMons events couldn't compare. How could anything bad happen at such a gathering? Sure, such a sentiment doesn't have very solid logic behind it- yes, racing can be dangerous- but when you see teams with themes as elaborate as the Eyesore Pimps (formerly known as Eyesore Racing), the tendency is to feel that the risk doesn't apply. All of us are going to show up at the track today and try to regain some of the sense of absurdity that we know and love about this event; will keep you posted. More »
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Comment by dr.chophoppers coz mr. wont cut it: I reckon a Gulf Livery theme for all participants of the next LeMons race (let there be more) would be... more » | Other threads
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24 hours of lemons altamont
Tragic Death Reported At Altamont 24 Hours of LeMons Race
We all saw the report from Murilee just under an hour ago, and now we're hearing from numerous sources that the 24 Hours of LeMons race has taken a tragic turn. Our sources tell us the driver of the Volvo 242 Turbo in Gulf Oil colors (pictured above before the race, and below from the Thunderhill LeMons race last year) has died. We're waiting on more as we hear it from team V8olvo as well as others at the Altamont 24 Hours of LeMons. If this news ends up being true, our prayers, thoughts and well-wishes go out to the family, friends and teammates. All we do know for sure is that racing has been halted for the day and will supposedly resume again tomorrow. Although if it is true, that may just be wishful thinking. Updated below the jump — and with new photos below thanks to Mark Pitts. More »
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By Ray WertComment by petersterncan: @Kelly: "Looking at the post-accident pics, and it doesn't look like a wreck, it was accidental, the hood appears to be in... more » | Other threads
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24 hours of lemons altamont
Suddenly, Racing Is Not Fun Any More
I was just about to post on some teams' heroic repair sessions and show some fender-to-fender racing action, but then the thing we all fear happened: the Volvo 242 Turbo in Gulf Oil colors hit the wall, hard, and the driver was injured. They've had to cut the roof off the car and now they're extricating the driver; we'll let you know more when we hear about it. For now, pray to whatever gods, cosmic forces, etc. you can think of that this brave-ass racer comes out of it OK.
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Comment by tomic: On Sunday morning I got walked out to the track to retrieve a tire lost in the infield on Saturday.... more » | Other threads
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24 hours of lemons altamont
The Race Is On!
And here comes pride up the backstretch! I'm the next driver up, so this will be brief: right now our friends on Team Porcubimmer are in first place! Black Metal V8olvo is in "preserve the car" mode, so we're running in the middle of the pack now. The car seems to be doing all right, although those of you who predicted that the Mercedes-Benz radiator would leak have been proven correct (not a serious leak, fortunately, and we have a spare).
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Comment by Novaload Misses Murilee: Jeez, I hate trying to read those blogs. You're right, @TexanIdiot25. They are saying someone was killed??! more » | Other threads
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By Ray WertComment by Maymar is (insert recent meme here): @aesthari: It actually costs about 5hp, but it makes your ride smoother than Barry White. more » | Other threads
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24 hours of lemons altamont
Last Second Thrash, Race About To Begin!
We've spent the morning applying stickers, discussing driver strategy, and being hectored by Mr. Lamm about all the horrific penalties that await overly aggro drivers (in honor of Mother's Day, one penalty involves being forced to eat an entire meatloaf while another team member plays the role of the mother, hovering and shouting that the victim is the Least Favorite Child). I'm pretty busy now, but stay tuned for more live action when I get a breather! [24 Hours of LeMons and 24 Hours of LeMons Altamont coverage]
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Comment by dr.chophoppers coz mr. wont cut it: Bah, you left some dots off: It's "Ragnarök". more » | Other threads
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