Filed under: Videos
VIDEO: What it's like to drive in the 24 Hours of Lemons
click above image to view video
Damon went straight from racing in this past weekend's 24 Hours of Lemons to Japan to cover the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, so we haven't been able to corner him for a recap on his experience. Thankfully Bryan McQueen from Team Santa Cruz ran the entire race with a pair of cameras in his car pointed out the front and back. His video on YouTube shows you exactly what driving on a tight course with dozens of other insane racers is like. There are no driving lines, no apexes to consider, and no strategy other than to keep going at all costs, even at the expense of taking out your competitors. It's the live action version of Carmaggedon and downright scary and thrilling to watch. Follow the jump to view the video.
UPDATE: Team Santa Cruz uploaded a new version of the video with no soundtrack, just the aural assault of beater cars slamming into each other. Check it out after the jump.
[Source: YouTube]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jon 2:36PM (10/24/2007)
Why do people think that all videos have to have a soundtrack? This is an enthusiast site, I'd rather listen to the car sounds.
Reply
Bryan McQueen 3:21PM (10/24/2007)
I posted a new version with no music, just the sweet sounds of pedal to metal, and metal to metal contact.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGZ8bQz3wJY
thanks for the post AutoBlog.
Team Santa Cruz Drivers:
Geoff Hayford
Lane Skelton
Connor Welles
Misha Varshavsky
Mark Christie
Bryan McQueen
Joe K. 2:49PM (10/24/2007)
Some of us don't mind music when we drive... plus who wants to hear a tired old Porsche bang into caprices? Looked like a lot of fun out there. I hope to make one one day, Would be difficult to justify towing a car to, plus can't guarantee the vehicle would make it home...
Reply
vectorbug 10:42PM (10/24/2007)
I want to hear it!
Drew Phillips 2:58PM (10/24/2007)
That looks ridiculously fun.
Reply
Rogue_G 3:22PM (10/24/2007)
Damn that seven can move. I also like how you included the screw ups at that one turn many times. You gotta slow down and accelerate out of it, not INTO it! That rear end kicked out every time, hope you learned your lesson(s).
Oh, and some of those cars are serious pieces of poo. That one basically bounced right off you and nearly tipped, I hope that driver muttered a prayer of thanks he was alive after that one.
Allan 3:06PM (10/24/2007)
So um... I don't know a WHOLE lot about this event and probably missed this... but is there a winner? And if so... how in the hell do they tell who it is???
Reply
jason 3:52PM (10/24/2007)
yeah, there is a winner, each car has a transponder that counts laps
http://jalopnik.com/cars/racing/the-top-44-lemons-of-24-hours-of-lemons-313355.php
Big John 3:45PM (10/24/2007)
As last time, clicking on the image to view the video does nothing but take me to the same page, not down to the video or anything. This is on Firefox, last time was on a Mac and this time was on WinXP.
Reply
FLR 3:51PM (10/24/2007)
That race looked like a lot of fun. It reminded me of old school go cart racing, you know, the kind that aren't fast enough for you to get hurt on. The best part is there wasn't anybody on the track telling you to quit bumping. LOL
Your RX-7 was way faster than the other cars. You had the inside line on every corner.
I agree with the guy above, hit the brakes more before that tight left hander that you kept oversteering into.
Reply
ConnorW 4:32PM (10/24/2007)
The car is actually a 944: http://jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2007/10/43-44.jpg
and yes thaw was the fin and sunroof flying off the back of the car
SAAj 4:43PM (10/24/2007)
That was beautiful.
What exactly was that flying out of the car?
Reply
ConnorW 4:47PM (10/24/2007)
see above
Rahul Nair 6:11PM (10/24/2007)
Team SFF1 also had two cameras during its Lemons drive. We are still sifting through the 50+GB of raw video now but I have put up a short clip of someone pushing us off track on Sunday.
http://vimeo.com/355585
Reply
rs505 6:48PM (10/25/2007)
Yeah that was me @ the :46 mark. I remember lookin out my window and thinkin I was goin over. It was a great time for sure.
505motorsports.com
myspace.com/505motorsports
Reply
Khanh 10:57PM (10/25/2007)
Dirty drivers lol. Looks really fun though.
Reply