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theeastbaykid
04/12/09

In reply to The Top 94 Lemons Of The 24 Hours Of LeMons South Spring 2009
I'd like to send an honorable mention to the Audi 100 that finished in 12th. We really wanted to give them an award for SOMETHING...because, well, it's an Audi frickin' 100. We're currently working on revising our class system to one that's less confusing and better publicized--at Reno, we'll likely try out a three-class system that is printed on all of the lap updates--and have awards for the top finishers in each class. That way, people in horrible cars will be able to spot who they're really racing against--and poor bastards driving Audi 100s will have an improved shot at the podium.
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Serajadeyn
04/12/09

@theeastbaykid: I liked the No Prayer of Finishing/Prayer of Finishing/Prayer of Winning classification. maybe do it by weight bracket? like welter-weight (miatas, mr2s, 323s, etc) middleweight (e30s, rustangs, 944s, any family sedan under 3500lbs) then the fat-ass class (crown vics, caprices, mercedes, basically anything from the 70s)
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theeastbaykid
04/12/09

@Serajadeyn: My theory is this-- Class A (insert clever name here): Potential winners. Cars that, when they're in good shape, are fine machines. E30s, MR2s, 5.0 Mustangs, etc. Class B: Normal-ass cars that are reasonably modern/good, but aren't generally roadraced--usually for good reason. Saturns, Crown Vics, Volvo 240s live here. Class C: Death traps, cars older than I am, Eastern European cars or close approximations of such (like Alfa Alfettas), ridiculous crap like Oldsmobile 98s that have no business within 100 yards of a racetrack.
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Bret
04/13/09

@theeastbaykid: Where would a Peugeot 505 fit in this classing structure? (which I think is great, by the way.)

I spent all day today swimming in French electrics trying to determine why we have no boost from a perfectly good turbo, and why the ECU thinks there is knocking at idle when a Faberge egg could be balanced on the valve cover. This damn Pug is so full of unrealized potential right now it's killing me.
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theeastbaykid
04/13/09

@Bret: C'mon, man, it's FRENCH. You could show up with a 206 rally car and we'd probably still put 'er in Class C.
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Scott Provost
04/11/09

In reply to The Top 94 Lemons Of The 24 Hours Of LeMons South Spring 2009
Perhaps you southerners get off too easily. Up here in the great white north (and I'm not talking about YOU Wisconsin)... we have the dreaded rust problem, not to mention over-inflated prices of cars that are best doomed to the track (or at least a generous car-b-q). For instance, I can list off at least a dozen craigslist ads of early e36's that are virtually unsavable for road-worthiness, yet the sellers want upwards of $5000 for these steaming piles.

Thus, for Canadian participants I can only suggest the following: Mexico.

Studies have shown that the more Lemons imported from Mexico to the United States, the roads get safer. How can't this be a win-win?! In this connected age, we can forsee an endless supply of low-budget barnstormers (Aircooled Beetle anyone?) thanks to our sombraro-wearing, job-occupying neighbours.
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Murilee Martin
04/11/09

@Scott Provost: You say that, yet one of our readers had to go up to Canada to obtain what is likely to be the best 24 Hours Of LeMons car in history.
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MushyHeirloom
04/11/09

@Murilee Martin: So which race is it gonna run in, anyway?
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Murilee Martin
04/11/09

@F*ckingPlushroom: Nelson Ledges, aka The Lamest Day.
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MushyHeirloom
04/11/09

In reply to The Top 94 Lemons Of The 24 Hours Of LeMons South Spring 2009
The Dorifto Dogs' car is just a Porcubimmer sans pricks, I see.
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MushyHeirloom
04/11/09

In reply to The Top 94 Lemons Of The 24 Hours Of LeMons South Spring 2009
I was trying to decide which one would make the best daily driver. I couldn't.

Did I miss the People's Choice?
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theeastbaykid
04/12/09

@Baron Plushroom von Falconpunchen: Turbo Schnitzel.
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A strolling player
04/11/09

In reply to The Top 94 Lemons Of The 24 Hours Of LeMons South Spring 2009
Call me crazy, but I absolutely love the DOS Boot VW Golf, mostly because the car looks like a computer that might run DOS.
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Brian Johns
04/11/09

In reply to The Top 94 Lemons Of The 24 Hours Of LeMons South Spring 2009
I ran the POS Global civic and finished in 20th. I couldn't believe how close all these cars were...with the obvious exception of a few. My best fights were with a few of the Caprices and have the video to prove it. I think the themes could use some work but the racing was tight and for the most part clean. Our only major incident was with the Mrs. Robinson Alfa. Can't wait for Sept...
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MushyHeirloom
04/12/09

@Brian Johns: Heart-click for your team's awesome theme.
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Mobius
04/11/09

In reply to The Top 94 Lemons Of The 24 Hours Of LeMons South Spring 2009
Who wants to start this series in the UK? 24 Hours of LeMos at Silverstone, with a special invite to Top Gear!

Gosh, these races are like the most fun you can have in a weekend.

/added to my to-do-before-I-die list.
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.357
04/11/09

In reply to The Top 94 Lemons Of The 24 Hours Of LeMons South Spring 2009
I used to have a Jetta. Bought it used in 99. It was a manual, but the guy who sold it to me had ruined the transmission. I remember having to come home from school and working on the transmission. (Didn't have the cash for a new one)
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racertex
04/11/09

In reply to The Top 94 Lemons Of The 24 Hours Of LeMons South Spring 2009
The fastest laps time are pretty close, lots around 1:05.

I doesn't matter how fast your car is, it just needs to stay out turning laps.

Reliability and penalty driving will get you a long way in LeMons.
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mechimike
04/11/09

@racertex: Exactly. We weren't too slow, when we were out there, but changing roughly 2.3 of the components on your car within 2 days time pretty much guarantees you won't be racking up top-10 level laps.

What it does do is put you top in the running for Most Heroic Fix, at least. ;-)
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mechimike
04/11/09

@mechimike: 2.3 = 2/3. Soerry, lazy middle finger.

Oh yeah, and staying out of the BS radar and not getting black flags, those are good things, too.
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Murilee Martin
04/11/09

@mechimike: I believe an Amazon is capable of winning the race. Really.
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Serajadeyn
04/11/09

@mechimike: yeah mike. being fast doesn't hurt though. I would say you want a car that's a contender, and isn't very likely to die in 10 laps. simply racing clean and keeping your pit stops to under 5 minutes will put you in the top 30. serious.

BTW, what car were you running?
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mechimike
04/11/09

@Murilee Martin: @Murilee Martin: We'd like to believe that, too. Maybe with our new B20? Come on, September!
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mechimike
04/11/09

@Serajadeyn: Car #55, the Volvo Amazon. What car were you?
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Murilee Martin
04/11/09

@Serajadeyn: Top 30? If you get no penalties and don't break down, you've got a shot at the top 10, no matter how slow the car may be. Most teams get at least two penalties, each of which costs 10-40 minutes.
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Serious Mopar Jones- Incurable
04/11/09

In reply to The Top 94 Lemons Of The 24 Hours Of LeMons South Spring 2009
BTW, I recently found this website:

[www.carsforagrand.com]

-thought it might provide useful leads for those hunting for LeMons-worthy rides..
I may be a glutton for punishment, but I find this rather intriquing:

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Murilee Martin
04/11/09

@Slantsick = FAIL: So far the only AMC product we've seen at LeMons is a '74 Hornet. A Gremlin, Pacer, or even an Eagle... fine LeMons machinery!
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Novaload
04/11/09

In reply to The Top 94 Lemons Of The 24 Hours Of LeMons South Spring 2009
Great race--video feed! And the teams stepped up the themes this time and didn't do too badly on the BS penalties (though the bribes and moonshine might have helped!).

I was hoping the pickup would win something, being the "one of these things is not like the others, one of these things doesn't belong" odd shot to finish.

Can't argue with the LTD getting the Effluent win, though! What a magnificent tank!
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Serious Mopar Jones- Incurable
04/11/09

@Novaload Misses Murilee: I don't understand why pickups are so rare in LeMons. Even most fullsize pickups should meet the weight-limit; S10s, Rangers, Dakotas etc. definitely do, and it's not that difficult to find a running truck for 500 bucks or so.
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mechimike
04/11/09

@Slantsick = FAIL: Something about that whole 80/20 weight distribution I think makes them relatively unpopular. That and a typically high CG. Even the LTD is better in each regard.

Now, if someone were to chop the springs on a truck, say, about 2.5 feet and mount the engine in the back, then maybe you might have something.
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Serious Mopar Jones- Incurable
04/11/09

@mechimike: I see your point- but the top speed on these tracks is typically what, 50-60 MPH, right? Negotiating a nice smooth flat racetrack at that speed can't be much more challenging than my daily commute on Maine backroads in my 250K '92 F150 4x4.
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Murilee Martin
04/11/09

@Slantsick = FAIL: I've seen half-dozen or so pickups at LeMons races, and so far almost all of them (yes, even the Toyotas) have suffered from multiple breakdowns. I suspect that's because it's tough to buy a running small pickup for 500 bucks that isn't a total basket case. They aren't terribly slow.

The Crapsman Ford Ranger at Houston did pretty well.
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Serajadeyn
04/11/09

@Slantsick = FAIL: I TRIED to get an 82 Chevy 1-ton dually with a 6.2 diesel approved. Jay outright REFUSED the notion of having one entering the race. I think he said it was too big, even though edmunds reports a 92 version of the same truck weighs right around 4,000lbs (the limit) I could drop the steel out of the bed and both steel gas tanks, replacing with a fuel cel, and I bet i could get it in the mid 3,000s...with that much rubber on the back the track would be mine!
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mechimike
04/11/09

@Serajadeyn: I think the dually thing may have been an issue. That hulk would have been a rolling roadblock! Not to mention with that diesel up front the weight distribution would be more like 90/10.
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Serious Mopar Jones- Incurable
04/11/09

In reply to The Top 94 Lemons Of The 24 Hours Of LeMons South Spring 2009
I hereby award Team Fat Bottom Girls the "Best Door Art" trophy.
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DoctorNine
04/11/09

In reply to The Top 94 Lemons Of The 24 Hours Of LeMons South Spring 2009
Nice photos. I was especially intrigued by the fact that the Blind Rodent and Lab Rat teams were right next to one another. I guess it's true what they say about pheromones.
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engineerd
04/11/09

In reply to The Top 94 Lemons Of The 24 Hours Of LeMons South Spring 2009
One of these days, once Project House Hell is complete and that pesky restraining order Murilee pulled on me expires, I will be a LeMons!

The live feed was a lot of fun, for the 10 minutes I got to watch. I did get to see the flip. Hopefully those guys can make it to the rest of the LeMons races.
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Murilee Martin
04/11/09

@engineerd has Ben in his head: Project House Hell is never complete, so you might as well start building up that Thames Freighter LeMons racer now.
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engineerd
04/11/09

@Murilee Martin: True, but I have to at least get the upstairs finished before I get served with divorce papers.
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A strolling player
04/11/09

@engineerd has Ben in his head: I'm doing it next year. Hell or high water. I wish I could start now, there's a mean '68 Fury on craigslist for $500 that needs fuel lines and "safety items" (brakes and tires)... it's killing me that I don't have the money to spend or a place to put it just yet.
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Murilee Martin
04/11/09

@A strolling player, now in British Racing Green!: We still haven't seen a Dart/Valiant in LeMons yet. Get yourself an early-70s beater with front discs and a Slant Six and you've got a race car!
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mechimike
04/12/09

@Murilee Martin: I had a '64 Dart wth the /6 and pushbutton that I wanted to race...four wheel drums and all. Luckily the metal mites that completely wasted the rear leaf spring mounts kept that dream from becoming a reality...

And then every so often, I have visions of a Plymouth Volare and a gang of Rat Pack impersonators...
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Murilee Martin
04/12/09

@mechimike: I can't imagine a 4-wheel-drum car being much fun to drive in a LeMons race, given that they'll be totally faded into oblivion by the 4th lap and on fire by the 6th. No, wait, that would be lots of fun!
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Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet
04/11/09

In reply to The Top 94 Lemons Of The 24 Hours Of LeMons South Spring 2009
Thanks Murileee! That race looks like it was way too much fun. Congratulations to all the teams, even those pricks in the winning Beemer. I got so see some of the live video feed, and it looked like a lot of clean racing and good competition. I wish I could have been there...
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