24 hours of lemons race car, who's don'e one?
 

Ok, so from looking throug the pictures and results I've seen quite a few 1st and 2nd gens have done it in the past. Has anyone from here done it? Would they like to give advice to someone who's planning on entering the MSRH one in houston in october? I was thinking N/A ported 6 port motor...

*please* don't do it with an RX-7... while you might have a better chance of winning (not likely, a 500-dollar RX-7 will probably survive about an hour of racing before something blows up), we don't need any RX-7s senselessly killed (not from racing, but because they might decide to destroy your car).

Although apparently you can spend all you want on wheels, tires, brakes, and safety equipment (although you have to have an SA helmet and a fire suit).

The roll cage you're required to put into the car will be the biggest investment, unless you spend a bunch on extra sets of wheels (I don't know if you can change tires or not).

I personally suggest you get a CHEAP beat-up Honda Civic from the late 70s or 80s, or a CRX , although good luck finding one that won't need at least a $500 worth of investment just to get it in running condition.

Ideally I think you'd want a running car that someone will let you take away from free, for which they sell decent (racing) brake pads for.

Slap a set of semi-competition street tires (ie, Falken Azenis, since the minimum treadwear is 190). Make a side-exit exhaust (mufflers don't count towards the $500).

Take out the side windows and rear glass (required).

Take out the tail lights, side markers, and turn signals (allowed). Tape up the holes for water proofing.

Add the biggest driving lights you can afford (you're allowed to have four lights)

Add some plywood aero parts to it... (splitter and rear spoiler)

I would imagine that the budget would be like:

Car: $500
Seat: $150 (ask for sponsorship from a brand like F1Spec... they sold me a seat for half what they're asking for on their site)
Brackets: $110 (wedge engineering. service is crap though.)
Safety gear (2 sets, if you share): $1000
Roll cage: $500+
Fire extinguisher + bracket: $20-40
Car fee: $500
Driver fees: 150 X 4+ (assuming you don't have competition licenses)
Two sets of tires: 700 (24 hours on one set?...)
Wheels from junkyard (one extra set): $50
Gasoline: ???????
Fluids: $50 (racing brake fluid)
Brake pads: $300 (two sets plus one spare front set)
Brake rotors: $200 (~$30 bucks each)
Hotel cost: $?!?!?!

...I kind of want to do it...lol

I'm probably not going to be in the country in October though :p

If you are really going to do this, let me know. I would love to participate.

i've done it. i used a 1st gen rx7 last time and we are using an e30 this time.

https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y2...s/IMG_9862.jpg
https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y2...s/IMG_9825.jpg

Very nice, and I just love the Mazda livery!

-b

Well honestly we are heavily leaning towards useing this second gen that we have sitting here. Its a Tii that I bought to raid the drivetrain and has NO title... Its going to the junkyard shortly anyway.

And to the guy that used a 1st gen: How did it hold up? I was wondering what the likely things are to breaks as far as drivetain, suspension, ect? Where should we direct our money/time beefing it up?

And about the cauge, a local shop is donating it for free :-)

i've done two lemons races, one at altamont in october and one at thunderhill in december lasy year. they are a total blast and i would recommend doing whatever it takes to get to the race. you won't regret it. i am on the carpet pissers team (that's a big lebowski reference) and our december car is featured nicely in first place (we finished in like 50th) on the jalopnik mega gallery that was recently posted (http://jalopnik.com/349276/finally-t...s-uber-gallery)

the first race was a bit of a demolition derby - see car pic below, the second race they were much more strict with the rules and there was hardly any contact. the little crx fared much better without caprices and hearses slamming into it in every turn. thunderhill was also a much larger track which provided for substantially better spacing.

all that being said, this is real racing and there are serious risks involved in. so, although the cars are crap and there is a lot of spirit, know that it is an inherently dangerous activity to put untrained, unlicensed drivers on a race track and have them go full throttle.

total blast though -

wow theres one in SC at carolina motorsports park. Im gonna buy my dads fiat X1/9 and go out there i think. how do you fill the gas tank on the dumb thing?

Autoblog used an FC in the last lemons.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/19/w...flying-sparks/

This looks awesome! I want to get involved!

it held up like a champ, the engine actually felt better as the race went on. it would have easily lasted the whole race if one of our drivers didnt put it into the wall with about 90min left to go.

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ghlight=LEMONS
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ghlight=LEMONS
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ghlight=LEMONS

Akira is in here already so you can ask him but PM some of the peeps in these pther threads.