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What's It Like To Race A Motorcycle-Engined Geo Metro?

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mechimike
01/07/09

In reply to What's It Like To Race A Motorcycle-Engined Geo Metro?
Buddy of mine in Austin just picked up a '90 Metro for a couple hunnerd (that's 'hundred' for all you non-southern-speaking folks) bucks at the salvage auction. They're planning on hitting one of the Houston races this year. Good bunch of guys- I volunteered to come down and help should they need a wrench. Or another driver. ;-)

Oh yes, and they have a theme.
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TechnoDestructo
01/06/09

In reply to What's It Like To Race A Motorcycle-Engined Geo Metro?
Was that the one that was sold on Craigslist a few months ago?
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mechimike
01/07/09

@TechnoDestructo: I have heard some shady stories about the "actual" budget of the car being somewhat north of $500. But, its still a cool car, a fairly radical concept, and I doubt very much that car will make another race without some serious repairs!
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Novaload
01/06/09

In reply to What's It Like To Race A Motorcycle-Engined Geo Metro?
Jeebus, that was wonderful! That thing sounds like a chain saw-powered motorboat.
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DoctorNine
01/06/09

In reply to What's It Like To Race A Motorcycle-Engined Geo Metro?
I really want a detail piece on this superlative vehicle. There is almost nothing you cant conquer with light weight, massive acceleration, and tiny packaging, as long as you don't get squashed like a bug by a Fury or something. And that film was classic. I'm going to pop some popcorn and watch it 2 or 3 more times...
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DiExMachina
01/06/09

In reply to What's It Like To Race A Motorcycle-Engined Geo Metro?
I want to know who will enter in the Suzuki Swift with the hayabusa motor in it.
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Bentoboxx, My Tank is full of it
01/06/09

@DiExMachina: The person who can convince the judge they got a busa for under $500
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A Pimp Named DaveR
01/06/09

In reply to What's It Like To Race A Motorcycle-Engined Geo Metro?
See, this is why I read Jalopnik now -- I always thought that the Metro was ORIGINALLY powered by a motorcycle engine! Color me surprised.
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Mad_Science
01/06/09

@A Pimp Named DaveR: Nope. 3cylinder something-or-other.

Ironically, the 4cylinder bike engine was a cylinder-count upgrade!
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A Pimp Named DaveR
01/06/09

@Mad_Science: Actually, after renting one (for use on the LA freeways, no less), I assumed that it was powered by a lawnmower engine... but I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt.

Zero to sixty... in about an hour.
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SlowMo (actually, there's no E on my R)
01/06/09

In reply to What's It Like To Race A Motorcycle-Engined Geo Metro?
What's the word on the XJS sighted early in the footage? There was some lead-up to the race about it but nothing since.
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Murilee Martin
01/06/09

@SlowMo: That's actually a different XJS than the one you read about before the race (the six-carbed Lou Brero Special didn't make it this time). You'll see more of it when I finally finish the 100-car Uber Gallery.
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baunchface
01/06/09

In reply to What's It Like To Race A Motorcycle-Engined Geo Metro?
The Metro Gnome also got a 10 bonus-lap reverse-penalty during the BS judging, which didn't hurt...
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Jonny Lieberman
01/06/09

@baunchface: Because we were convinced that th chain would sever a foot!!!

Also -- check the rules: 1.1: Organizer Decisions: Organizer's decisions are final. If you don't like it, tough. Get your own race.
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Mr.choppers - Delenda Carthago Est
01/07/09

@Jonny Lieberman: As long as you don't ban the Porsche 917, we are all OK with all of your adjudications.
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Bentoboxx, My Tank is full of it
01/06/09

In reply to What's It Like To Race A Motorcycle-Engined Geo Metro?
So this is what our team will have to deal with in Buttonwillow this year? Oh crap-in-a-Hat!
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Braff
01/06/09

@Bento has a new picture of the Dacia Sandero: if you build it... it will win...
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Bentoboxx, My Tank is full of it
01/06/09

@Ω ß®ªғғ: I see....we are already putting the blame on me! We'll CSI about that!
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Murilee Martin
01/06/09

In reply to What's It Like To Race A Motorcycle-Engined Geo Metro?
It needs to be mentioned that this car was far from the fastest thing around the track; its best lap time of 1:36.298 was the 12th-quickest of the race. What the Metro Gnome guys did to win was avoid breakdowns, black flags, and contact with other cars. The car's tiny size was a real advantage when it came to staying out of trouble in crowded corners, and the great power-to-weight gave it batshit acceleration coming out of turns.

Keep in mind that the #5 car- which finished just 11 laps back- had a best lap time of 1:44:649, which made it one of the slowest cars at Thunderhill. Had the cars in front of it caught a single black flag and/or mechanical problem, the Bigfoot Hunter Escort would have won. Staying out of trouble is way more likely to get you a LeMons win than anything else.
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marc2068
01/06/09

@Murilee Martin: Damn that is what racing is about real cars on the track. You guys gotta set up race in the Baltimore/Washington area.
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Bentoboxx, My Tank is full of it
01/06/09

@Murilee Martin: The Bigfoot Hunter Escort did a great job! Especially cause.....hey, its an Escort
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Mad_Science
01/06/09

@Murilee Martin: I have almost no pictures of those guys until I checked the results towards the end of day 1. I figured they were way back in the "also rans".

Conversely, there was the #40 BMW that appeared wicked fast through my lense. Their place? 59th.

(Don't know what they picked up in penalties. Possibly a lot as their E30 bmw looked pretty straight/clean)
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wrappedinbacon
01/06/09

@Murilee Martin:
Not to disparage their win, but they did receive a 10 lap bonus that put them 9 laps up over cars 2&3 (#3 also received 10 bonus laps) to win the race.
They ran a helluva race; stayed clean, consistent and really embodied what LeMons is about, but yeah, the bonus laps helped them pull out the victory.
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Plecostomus [Tyrrell]
01/06/09

@marc2068: Do you mean, "Damn, that is what racing is about-- real cars on the track"?

/grammarnazi

I'm just guessing cos I have NO IDEA wtf you just said.
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brandegee
01/06/09

In reply to What's It Like To Race A Motorcycle-Engined Geo Metro?
Awesome, but I had a freak-out moment when I thought a car was driving backwards. Yeah, the Corvair.
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SexCpotatoes
01/06/09

@brandegee: I thought the corvair was going backwards as well for a second, then thought, wow, somebody should rig up a car to race backwards, with the driver facing properly of course, not in reverse.
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mzs
01/06/09

@brandegee: So did I, it looked like a mustang for an instant.
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Mad_Science
01/06/09

@SexCpotatoes: That thing spent a fair amount of time either backwards or stopped.

I'll give 'em credit for 2 things: finishing in a Corvair and not getting the People's Curse.
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Mr.choppers - Delenda Carthago Est
01/07/09

@mzs: My thought exactly. It helps that this is also the screenshot used before the beginning of the clip.
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Mad_Science
01/06/09

In reply to What's It Like To Race A Motorcycle-Engined Geo Metro?
For the record, here's what the diff looked like after the race:

The plunger-cum-seal was nowhere to be found. Apparently they didn't do too much spinning of one wheel at a time, because the spider gears somehow held together with no oil.
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Tanshanomi
01/06/09

@Mad_Science: Actually, there are a lot of motorcycle-based trikes running around with open differentials, and as long as you slap a handful of moly on there regularly, they'll hold together for a long time.
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MushyHeirloom
01/06/09

@Mad_Science: Sure, I'll plunge 'er cum seal.

Sorry, what? Oh.
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Mad_Science
01/06/09

@FuzzyPlushroom: I was wondering if someone would pick up on that turn of phrase.
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Turboner
01/06/09

@Mad_Science: That's a nice metal/oil slurry they've got going on there. Looks like a well planned service life to me. They should throw the drivetrain in the rear for the next race and figure out a shaft/gear drive.
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DoctorNine
01/06/09

@Turboner: I'm really surprised it lasted as well, but glad to see they put a metal shield in there in case it let go. By the way the wear looks, there was too much load for the size of the teeth, and the chain gradually wore the sprocket down. You can fix that problem by using multiple parallel chain/sprocket sets, like on timing chains. Probably could use a chain oiling system like on a chainsaw too. Still, absolutely awesome rig, all in all.
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top-dead-center
01/07/09

@DoctorNine: Sprocket (and chain) wear is a matter of much discussion among chain-driven motorcycle owners. The flashy anodized-aluminum ones wear fastest, but even the steel factory ones wear down under normal use...
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DoctorNine
01/07/09

@top-dead-center: Yeah, I won't use the aluminum ones on my road bikes, generally. When I rode trails more often, I would on those bikes though. The small difference in weight is more an issue the lighter your machine.
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Tanshanomi
01/06/09

In reply to What's It Like To Race A Motorcycle-Engined Geo Metro?
Every once in a while, Rocky does win the belt, Seabiscuit goes the distance, Cinderella does land Prince Charming, Tinkerbell does live, and you do punch a missile right down the Death Star's Bomb Slot.
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jbownsabmw- Koopas Beware
01/06/09

@Tanshanomi: I won't ever be able to look at a girl again without thinking "missile" and "bomb slot" ever again. They will think I am laughing at them, so I very sarcastically thank you in advance for ruining my life.
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Mr.choppers - Delenda Carthago Est
01/07/09

@jbownsabmw but still wants GM to survive: Actually, laughing at them seems to work well (until you're in a relationship, that is). It's similar to imagining your audience in their underwear - which is probably true for most Jalopniks at any given time.
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Graverobber
01/06/09

In reply to What's It Like To Race A Motorcycle-Engined Geo Metro?
The awesomeness of this video makes me yearn for more, and no longer lament the fact that the still-born Top Gear USA was going to be a steaming pile of hobo crap.

I did find the disembodied, and be-wigged head of Loveabeer, floating into frame unexpectedly, to be a bit disquieting, and may suffer from night terrors hence.

BTW: That last "pass" was hoonerific.

Good job guys.
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damnelantra™
01/06/09

In reply to What's It Like To Race A Motorcycle-Engined Geo Metro?
god bless america
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