The 21st race in 24 Hours Of LeMons history took place in Northern California last weekend, and we saw a BMW E30 take the overall win for the second time in a row, bringing BMW's LeMons win total to four.
Amazingly, we saw European cars take seven of the first ten positions, with four BMWs, an Alfa Romeo, a Porsche, and a Volkswagen dominating the race. Mazda and Toyota have five LeMons wins apiece, so we have to think that they're sweating in the boardrooms of Tokyo and Hiroshima right about now. Look for factory-sponsored $500 cars in the near future!
The third annual Arse Freeze-A-Palooza was more like an Arse Cool-A-Palooza this time, due to the schedule putting the race in November instead of December. We had more cars on the track than we'd ever seen at any LeMons event, and the LeMons Supreme Court punished more miscreants than ever before (570 total black flags). We saw our first-ever Toyota Cressida, Renault Alliance, and Northstar-engined Cadillac. The LeMons tradition of Nissan Zs failing miserably continued, with seven 280ZXs and 300ZXs on the track and only one finishing in the top 100… at 99th place. The 2009 LeMons season is now officially over. See you in Phoenix next January!
Thanks to Daniel Zanelli, Kyle Ryan, and Larisa Wolf for photographic help; thanks also to the Faster Farms Non-Rotisserie Chickens for allowing me to bolt the PillarCam to their Belvedere.
Not enough LeMons action for you? Check out the top lemons of past races: Altamont '07 • Arse Freeze '07 • Altamont '08 • Ohio '08 • New England '08 • South '08 • Texas '08 • Arse Freeze '08 • Texas Spring '09 • South Spring '09 • Reno '09 • New Orleans '09 • New England '09 • Buttonwillow '09 • South Fall '09 • Ohio '09 • Texas Fall '09
1. Pandamonium Racing, BMW 325i
Overall Winner
Best Lap: 2:19;185
2. Eyesore Racing, Ghettocharged Mazda Miata
Winner, Organizer's Choice Award
Winner, Class Good
Best Lap: 2:16.282
3. Bavarian Beer Wagon, BMW 325e
Best Lap: 2:21.786
4. Team California Mille, Alfa Romeo Alfetta
Winner, Highest Placing 70s Contender Award
Best Lap: 2:26.955
5. Formula BMW, BMW 325e
Best Lap: 2:21.671
6. Cajun Coonasses dba Speed Racer, Honda Prelude
Best Lap: 2:29.481
7. Team Hurling Moss, BMW 2002
Winner, Class Bad
Best Lap: 2:27.843
8. Old Fast Auto Race Team, Porsche 924S
Best Lap: 2:21.181
9. Lil Smokey And The Bandit, Toyota MR2
Best Lap: 2:19.227
10. $14 The Hard Way, Volkswagen Golf
Best Lap: 2:23.799
11. Bunny With A Pancake On Its Head, Volkswagen Rabbit
Best Lap: 2:28.931
12. Geo Metro-Gnome 2.0, Geo Metro
Best Lap: 2:18.195
13. The Faustest Team, BMW 325
Best Lap: 2:23.160
14. Los Cerdos Voladores, Plymouth Neon
Winner, Least Horrible Yank Tank Award
Best Lap: 2:23.146
15. 1Up Mother Cluckers - Well-Connected Nissan Freaks
Winner, Judges' Choice Award
Best Lap: 2:22.986
16. Lipstick On A Pig, Nissan Sentra SE-R
Best Lap: 2:24.079
17. Italian Stallions aka "The Fiat," Fiat X1/9
Best Lap: 2:25.618
18. Autobahn Society Racing, BMW 2002
Best Lap: 2:30.655
19. Zoom-Zoom...BOOM, Mazda 323
Best Lap: 2:29.873
20. Ecurie Ecrappe Autodenta, 1971 Alfa Romeo Spider
Best Lap: 2:21.236
21. Heisenberg Racing, BMW 318
Best Lap: 2:21.422
22. Barbarian Motorworks, BMW 325eS
Best Lap: 2:21.164
23. Rockerz In Dockerz, Ford Mustang
Best Lap: 2:34.323
24. The Cheese Eating Surrender Monkeys, Peugeot 505 Turbo
Winner, Grassroots Motorsports Most From The Least Award
Best Lap: 2:27.088
25. Socialist Dogsledders, Honda Civic
Best Lap: 2:24.155
26. Bernal Dads Racing, Volvo 245
Best Lap: 2:31.161
27. Scuderia Flat Pack, Volvo DL
BS Penalty laps: 4
Best Lap: 2:17.234
28. The Sharks, BMW 325e
Best Lap: 2:18.246
29. Frozen Assets, Plymouth Neon
Best Lap: 2:20.990
30. Absolute Lemon Motorsports, BMW 325
Best Lap: 2:20.033
31. Falknor Auto Racing Team (FART), BMW 535i
Best Lap: 2:24.714
32. An Inconvenient Car, Ford Taurus SHO
Best Lap: 2:22.319
33. Planet Hell Racing, Porsche 944
Best Lap: 2:30.168
34. Clueless Party Vikings Vintage Racers, Ford Mustang
Best Lap: 2:23.009
35. Uber Vogel Hans-Am, Mercedes-Benz 190E
Best Lap: 2:26.873
36. Free Range Racing, Toyota MR2
37. Team Cant Am, Volvo 242 Turbo
Best Lap: 2:27.579
38. Reversed Darwinism II: Brute Force And Ignorance, Ford Crown Victoria
Best Lap: 2:24.817
39. PIT CREW REVENGE, Honda Civic
Best Lap: 2:27.761
40. Filthy Faux Ford GT40, Ford Escort ZX2
BS Penalty laps: 10
Best Lap: 2:25.862
41. Sierra Auto Recycling, Ford Crown Victoria
Best Lap: 2:28.674
42. Stars & Stripes Racing, Mazda RX-7
Best Lap: 2:23.415
43. Carpocalypse NOW!, Eagle Talon TSi
Best Lap: 2:24.613
44. Guud Humor Racing, Ford Ranger
Winner, Class Ugly
Best Lap: 2:25.495
45. Dust n Debris, Dodge Shadow
Best Lap: 2:31.937
46. Beaver Domination, Honda Civic
Best Lap: 2:22.313
47. POS Delivery, BMW 325i
Best Lap: 2:26.497
48. Red Rocket Racing, Toyota Celica GT
BS Penalty laps: 1
Best Lap: 2:33.262
49. The Cannonball Bandits, Toyota Corolla FX16
Best Lap: 2:34.066
50. Carpet Pissers, Honda CRX
Best Lap: 2:25.011
51. Festiva Royale, Ford Festiva
Best Lap: 2:35.383
52. LowerGearEpisode2, BMW 325
Best Lap: 2:20.892
53. Death Race 2000: Frankenstein's REVENGE, Mazda MX-6
BS Penalty laps: 50
Best Lap: 2:28.969
54. Squadra Volante, Alfa Romeo Alfetta
Best Lap: 2:32.232
55. Caffeine Unlimited, BMW E30
Best Lap: 2:24.698
56. Team Barbie, Mazda RX-7
BS Penalty laps: 2
Best Lap: 2:34.177
57. Deepest Valley Racing, Chevrolet Caprice
Best Lap: 2:32.734
58. San Jose Scalawags, Mazda Miata
Best Lap: 2:27.099
59. Badagascar, Acura Integra
Best Lap: 2:23.847
60. Save The Whale, Ford Crown Victoria
BS Penalty laps: 50
Best Lap: 2:15.069
61. Team California Mille #2, Alfa Romeo Alfetta
Best Lap: 2:33.280
62. Redneck Racing Team (RRT), Cadillac Eldorado
Best Lap: 2:31.785
Image credit: Kyle Ryan
63. Team Petty Cash, Jeep Cherokee
Best Lap: 2:31.561
64. Size Does Matter, Plymouth Fury
Best Lap: 2:26.603
65. Purple Lemon Racing, Volkswagen Beetle
Winner, Index Of Effluency
Best Lap: 2:47.501
66. Mysteries Inc. Racing, Plymouth Voyager Turbo
Best Lap: 2:47.721
67. Fast Cat Jungle Racing, Toyota Cressida
Best Lap: 2:35.849
68. I Wanna Roc, Chevrolet Camaro
Best Lap: 2:30.398
69. Team Ken, Mazda RX-7
Best Lap: 2:31.182
70. TSP - Drivers In Training, Honda Civic
Best Lap: 2:25.481
71. Mazdarachis, Mazda RX-7
Best Lap: 2:12.311
72. Snobs On The Dole, Saab 9-3 Convertible
Best Lap: 2:27.135
73. Team King Crab, BMW 325i
BS Penalty laps: 1
Best Lap: 2:37.413
74. Members Only, Porsche 928 Shooting Brake
Best Lap: 2:19.718
75. NYPD ITB, Mazda 323
Best Lap: 2:31.954
76. LEMON DEMOLITION, Honda CRX
Best Lap: 2:22.682
77. Sin City SCAR Wars, Pontiac Fiero
Best Lap: 2:30:263
78. Chim Chim Racing, Volkswagen GTI
Best Lap: 2:28.689
79. Snowspeeder Pilots Association, Toyota MR2
Best Lap: 2:27.409
80. Gift With Purchase, BMW 325iS
Best Lap: 2:19.947
81. Hit & Run II, Mitsubishi Starion
Best Lap: 2:29.933
82. Magnum P.O.S., Honda CRX
83. Team Lightning McQueen, Pontiac Sunfire
Best Lap: 2:42.587
84. Yushin Maru Racing, Toyota Supra
Best Lap: 2:04.824
85. B-Team, BMW 325e
Best Lap: 2:30.216
86. Unknown Fluids, BMW 633CSi
Best Lap: 2:26.837
87. Fart-Rari Racing, Mazda Miata
Best Lap: 2:23.518
88. ONSET/TWTM2
Best Lap: 2:25.532
89. Runs Like A Raped Ape, Acura Integra
Best Lap: 2:20.101
90. The Big EASY, Porsche 914
Best Lap: 2:30.939
91. Fast Times @ Placer High, Mazda Miata
BS Penalty laps: 20
Best Lap: 2:21.702
92. A+ Trailer Trash, Mazda RX-7
Best Lap: 2:26.694
93. The Flakes, Volvo 244
Best Lap: 2:32.852
94. Starsky and the Bandit, Ford Capri
Best Lap: 2:27.427
95. Team Dai Hard, Daihatsu Charade
96. ZZ Uber Das Driver: Uncle Uber Is Back, Volkswagen GTI
97. Frak This Racing / Lime Tigers, Datsun 280Z
Best Lap: 2:14.862
98. Knights Of The Round Track, Toyota MR2
Best Lap: 2:32.676
99. 1320 Turners, Datsun 280ZX
Best Lap: 2:19.039
100. D, C&H Taxi Co, Honda Civic
Best Lap: 2:31.928
101. Tercelators' Totally Bitchen Camaro, Chevrolet Camaro
Best Lap: 2:36.017
102. The Channel 4 News Team, Nissan 240SX
BS Penalty laps: 16
Best Lap: 2:25.019
103. Diplomatic Immunity, 1995 Mercedes-Benz S600
Winner, Heroic Fix Award
Winner, I Got Screwed Award
Best Lap: 2:43.869
104. U.S. BureauCRAP, Nissan Maxima
BS Penalty laps: 10
Best Lap: 2:23.578
105. Junk Yard Kats, Datsun 280ZX
Best Lap: 2:25.387
106. Hit & Run, BMW 320i
Best Lap: 2:41.311
107. Punk Racing, Mazda RX-7
BS Penalty laps: 10
Best Lap: 2:19.362
108. A Lemon Entry, Ford Escort
Best Lap: 2:32.656
109. Nerd Herd, Toyota MR2
Best Lap: 2:25.362
110. THUNDER RACERS, Ford Mustang
Best Lap: 2:26.362
111. Team InternationOLVO (aka Damn Foreigners), Volvo 242 Turbo
Best Lap: 2:35.094
112. REDNECK RACERS, Acura Integra
Best Lap: 2:23.586
113. LOOSE NUTS CALIFORNIA, Mazda RX-7
Best Lap: 2:23.586
114. Huey Newis and the Lose, Ford Mustang
Best Lap: 2:26.513
115. Unsafe At Any Speed, Chevrolet Corvair
Best Lap: 2:54.645
116. HomeTown Buffet / WOO WOOO!, Isuzu I-Mark RS
Best Lap: 2:35.967
117. Rooster Juice Racing, Porsche 924
BS Penalty laps: 2
Best Lap: 2:35.773
118. Gimp Pimp, Cadillac STS
Best Lap: 2:29.979
119. E=MC HAMMERED, BMW 325e
Best Lap: 2:25.462
120. Audi In Wonderland, Audi 90
Best Lap: 2:28.695
121. Wienerschmoker II: Electric Boogaloo, BMW 325e
BS Penalty laps: 15
Best Lap: 2:27.387
122. Rice Rocket Racing (the Sequel) or RQubed, Nissan 280ZX
Best Lap: 2:23.140
123. XDOG'S, Honda CRX
Best Lap: 2:31.199
124. Rockin Rollers, Mazda RX-7
BS Penalty laps: 20
Best Lap: 2:32.502
125. Faster Farms II: Non Rotisserie Chickens, Plymouth Belvedere
Best Lap: 2:32.949
126. Wedginator III, Triumph TR7
Best Lap: 2:30.420
127. Automatica, BMW 325i Convertible
BS Penalty laps: 1
Best Lap: 2:26.283
128. Rubber Chicken Piccata Racing, Volvo 740GLE
BS Penalty lap: 4
Best Lap: 2:27.115
129. Blood Drive / Arcane Racing, BMW 530i
Best Lap: 2:24.252
130. Family Truckster, Ford Pinto
Best Lap: 2:29.685
131. F-ING Renault Fromage1 Racing Team, Renault Alliance
BS Penalty laps: 5
Best Lap: 2:42.831
132. The Black Flags, Toyota Supra
Best Lap: 2:27.738
133. Project FATE, Nissan 300ZX
Best Lap: 2:34.077
134. Leftover Parts Racing, Mazda RX-7
BS Penalty laps: 5
Best Lap: 2:32.608
135. 4 R's (aka 501k), Volkswagen Jetta
Best Lap: 2:30.428
136. Las Vegas Magic, Honda CRX
Best Lap: 2:25.497
137. Chicken Licken- Reburned, Nissan Stanza
Best Lap: 2:28.123
138. Killer Bees, MGB
Best Lap: 2:34.924
139. Pearl Harbor Racing, Datsun 200SX
Best Lap: 2:37.848
140. Angry Hamster Racing, Honda Z600
Winner, Dangerous Homemade Technology Award
Best Lap: 2:30.906
141. Magnum P.I.G., Toyota Celica
Best Lap: 2:30.847
142. Dudes of Hazard, Toyota Celica Alltrac Turbo
Best Lap: 2:31.097
143. Group of Foolz, BMW 533i
Best Lap: 2:41.045
144. Team Apathy, Saab 9000 Turbo
Best Lap: 2:33.079
145. Team Pyrite, Eagle Talon
Best Lap: 2:29.821
146. Clunkers Refuge Racing, Nissan 300ZX
Best Lap: 2:40.543
147. LITTLE WOODY, Honda CRX
Best Lap: 2:53.268
148. Blanco Basura Racing, Honda Prelude
Best Lap: 2:33;837
149. Hatfield's and McCoy's, Nissan 300ZX
Best Lap: 3:29.281
150. Kamikaze Ninjas With Lasers, Nissan Sentra SE-R
BS Penalty laps: 150
Best Lap: 2:26.620
151. Mark's Wife Won't Let Him Drive, Prosche 944
BS Penalty laps: 300
Best Lap: 2:19.175
152. Motoring J Style, Acura Integra
BS Penalty laps: 1,200
Best Lap: 2:22.508