Wait, that engine didn't get any penalties?! Pro-tip, all E30s had a metal intake manifold. The big plastic manifold should have been a clue that something was not kosher.
@LTDScott: The team had completely obsessive documentation for that engine, which they bought from some dude on Craigslist for a ridiculously cheap price. Plus they got Judge Ed, one of the original LeMons judges, and he's a little nicer than me and Judge Jonny.
So the Faster Farms Fury claims another score--they should paint these on (what's left of) a fender.
Again, surprising lack of profanity. I admire such Stoicism.
@LTDScott: Even better! That's one of my personal faves, having had a 66 Fury of my own to love. But, alas, I know they don't have enough flat metal left to write on!
The amount of analysis regarding the 16 seconds of video is hilarious.
Remember: it's LeMons. There are no rules on the track, aside from knowing that if you make contact, you'll penalized. No one has the right of way, no one "has the line".
No one should've done anything, as no one can count on other drivers seeing you or knowing what to do if they do.
At last! A driver who cusses --when I see these videos, I'm always surprised that the drivers may grunt or squeak but none of them seem to cuss a blue streak, which is what I would do. And do, in fact, do when I'm driving alone.
I call it "Car Tourette's"-- you hear the damnedest foul words coming out of your mouth very loudly--sometimes I even surprise myself. So, nothing to apologize for, Dude. I thought you were rather restrained, under the circumstances.
@MushyHeirloom: Yeah, I should have qualified that--I try not to do it around people I don't know that well. Once, after a business meeting, I volunteered to drive our esteemed guests to the airport, a short but congested distance. I kept calm as idiot after idiot swerved in front of us, slammed on their brakes and did other typical bad moves. I was so absorbed in not having a wreck I kind of forgot about my passengers and finally yelled at the dawdling, swervy car in front of us, "PICK A LANE, GRANDMA!" Turned out ok, they thought it was funny and wondered why I hadn't ranted before.
That picture is hilarious. The Bee looks like a cartoon car, grinning at us in spite of his smooshed up face.
And is that Ian Anderson in the red shoes? Shouldn't he be back in Scotland with his salmon farm and his Tull royalties?
Whoever he is, he's not too old to rock--and roll.
@Novaload: Nay nay, it was funny and cool! I'm enjoying a beatnik phase as I grow out my hair (for cancer kids) and I'm thick as a brick! Note I'm not smiling in the photo as I bite my tongue and "sit" on my hands. I was mere seconds away from verbally abusing an idiot...
If there was someone behind the Honda guys, there wasn't much else they could have done - four wheels off, a bumper through their trunklid, or PITting the at-fault driver... well, I don't blame him.
(If there wasn't anyone on his arse, he should've let off, of course, but it's likely that he couldn't and was hoping the 'B pilot woke up.)
I think its one of those things where the Honda driver never thought the B driver would come over that far and make contact. Yeah, I guess the Honda driver could have slammed on the brakes but the B driver has a responsibility to the other cars around him.
Since there was no one under the B, there was no reason to swing way out to make the left hander. The Honda driver has as much right to the track and a racing line as anyone else.
@Uncle Bo: He absolutely thought the guy was coming over that far... look at 0:05 through 0:11 & you'll see how the Honda's line changes from having plenty of track off to the right, to nearly having one set of wheels in the dirt. THEN, that's when he comes back to the left.... back, and to the left... back, and to the left.
Not saying that he knew he was going to take out the Bee, but why - at that particular point - would one make the decision to swerve left without backing off the throttle a hair, when it's really, really obvious that contact would be made?
But then again, there's a lot of factors & disctractions involved that we can't see or experience through the eyes of the camera, so it's likely this is just one of those unfortunate incidents than can occur in any race.
The Honda went as far right as he could, until his right tires were in the dirt. That is what caused the left-right movement.
We have the luxury of watching the video over and over, analyzing every second, and criticizing the actions of both drivers..... drivers who did not have the same luxuries as we do. That's why race drivers need to follow certain rules of decorum; they do not have the time to endlessly analyze every moment of competition.
Yes, there are many factors and distractions present, but it was one major mistake that caused this incident. Fortunately, no one paid a big price for that mistake. Hopefully it was "lesson learned" for all involved.
@skitter: After our loose cannon wadded the Bee up into a ball, I was invited to ride a stint with Free Range Racing the next day (Cool guys). A driver wearing the same color suit in the same car (just observations) nearly took me out at the same corner in the same way. Strangely I was expecting it, went WAY out of my way to avoid him, and let him pass. He promptly pit maneuvered the next car in front of me (a Honda) on the next corner, and they BOTH spun off into the dirt.
Now, I must admit, it seemed a bit predictable, and I lost my manners for a moment and yelled a few choice french words in the Killer Bee's Honor as I avoided the carnage.
But as the camera guy said after the Bee flip, "That's racing."
It was shared fault, there are no hard feelings, and I plan on rebuilding the car. I will also place a photo of their car next to the rear view mirrors so we know who to steer clear of. :-)
@KillerBRacer: Glad to hear the MGBee will live to run another day. I see from reading the thread you weren't the driver.
You can change the name to MGBe-ware!
The footage from this posting, as well as the MGB that went flying off into the grass shows that the speeds have increased at this venue. It also looks like the "Racecar" (RX-7, E30, Miata, Honda) is dominating over the "LeMons" cars.
@UDMan: It also looks like the "Racecar" (RX-7, E30, Miata, Honda) is dominating over the "LeMons" cars.
I suspect that's a main reason that only half the prize money is based on laps completed. There's no way to keep a race from being about racing, but letting slower entrants have a chance at glory keeps the lemons coming.
@UDMan: Well, if you can get a "racecar" for under $500, then it is a LeMons Car.
There were tons of fast e30s, miatas and RX-7s, but you know what? No one even pays attention too them. They all blend together. It's the really crappy cars with good themes that people appreciate.
Most of the time the "serious" guys in the e30s end up getting all frustrated anyways, as they're (inexplicably) expecting competent driving and fair officiating...definitely not the case at LeMons.
11/23/09
11/23/09
11/23/09
11/23/09
11/23/09
11/23/09
Again, surprising lack of profanity. I admire such Stoicism.
11/23/09
11/23/09
11/23/09
Remember: it's LeMons. There are no rules on the track, aside from knowing that if you make contact, you'll penalized. No one has the right of way, no one "has the line".
No one should've done anything, as no one can count on other drivers seeing you or knowing what to do if they do.
11/23/09
11/22/09
I call it "Car Tourette's"-- you hear the damnedest foul words coming out of your mouth very loudly--sometimes I even surprise myself. So, nothing to apologize for, Dude. I thought you were rather restrained, under the circumstances.
11/23/09
11/23/09
11/22/09
And is that Ian Anderson in the red shoes? Shouldn't he be back in Scotland with his salmon farm and his Tull royalties?
Whoever he is, he's not too old to rock--and roll.
11/23/09
11/23/09
11/23/09
11/22/09
I'd like to see the TR7 going again in all its damaged glory, too.
11/22/09
(If there wasn't anyone on his arse, he should've let off, of course, but it's likely that he couldn't and was hoping the 'B pilot woke up.)
11/22/09
Since there was no one under the B, there was no reason to swing way out to make the left hander. The Honda driver has as much right to the track and a racing line as anyone else.
Rule #1 in racing - Hold Your Line.
Well, if it's not #1, it should be up there.
11/22/09
Not saying that he knew he was going to take out the Bee, but why - at that particular point - would one make the decision to swerve left without backing off the throttle a hair, when it's really, really obvious that contact would be made?
But then again, there's a lot of factors & disctractions involved that we can't see or experience through the eyes of the camera, so it's likely this is just one of those unfortunate incidents than can occur in any race.
Glad the guy in the Bee is OK.
11/22/09
The Honda went as far right as he could, until his right tires were in the dirt. That is what caused the left-right movement.
We have the luxury of watching the video over and over, analyzing every second, and criticizing the actions of both drivers..... drivers who did not have the same luxuries as we do. That's why race drivers need to follow certain rules of decorum; they do not have the time to endlessly analyze every moment of competition.
Yes, there are many factors and distractions present, but it was one major mistake that caused this incident. Fortunately, no one paid a big price for that mistake. Hopefully it was "lesson learned" for all involved.
11/22/09
And where did our intrepid cameraman learn to drive? NASCAR?
I'll acknowledge shared fault, but he should have backed down.
11/22/09
11/23/09
Now, I must admit, it seemed a bit predictable, and I lost my manners for a moment and yelled a few choice french words in the Killer Bee's Honor as I avoided the carnage.
But as the camera guy said after the Bee flip, "That's racing."
It was shared fault, there are no hard feelings, and I plan on rebuilding the car. I will also place a photo of their car next to the rear view mirrors so we know who to steer clear of. :-)
11/23/09
You can change the name to MGBe-ware!
11/22/09
11/22/09
I suspect that's a main reason that only half the prize money is based on laps completed. There's no way to keep a race from being about racing, but letting slower entrants have a chance at glory keeps the lemons coming.
11/23/09
There were tons of fast e30s, miatas and RX-7s, but you know what? No one even pays attention too them. They all blend together. It's the really crappy cars with good themes that people appreciate.
Most of the time the "serious" guys in the e30s end up getting all frustrated anyways, as they're (inexplicably) expecting competent driving and fair officiating...definitely not the case at LeMons.
11/09/09
11/10/09
11/09/09