Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[24 Hours of LeMons announces 2009 Season Champions]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/05/24-hours-of-lemons-announces-2009-season-champions/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/05/24-hours-of-lemons-announces-2009-season-champions/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/05/24-hours-of-lemons-announces-2009-season-champions/#commentsFiled under: , ,

24 Hours of LeMons
Another day in LeMons paradise - click above to view hi-res image gallery

In case you missed it, the 2009 LeMons season ground to a halt a few weeks back at Thunderhill after the third running of the Arse-Freeze-A-Palooza (full disclosure -- I work as a Judge for the 24 Hours of LeMons). Filthy 2009 proved to be a pretty hectic season for LeMons, what with ten $500 car races at various mud pits locales around this great country of ours. However, '09 will pale in comparison to the frenzied, property-devaluing idiocy that the 21-race 2010 season is sure to bring. We'd like to apologize to our understanding women-folk and potential home buyers in general in advance.

Still, the 2009 season was filled with all the wonderful elements that make LeMons the fastest growing motorsport in the world: namely, fires, terrible driving, whiny drivers, cheating mechanics and totally excellent BBQ. Oh, and lots of cars blowing the hell apart. You'll learn all about this year's champs after the jump, but we'd just like to point out that the 2009 Deconstructor Championship belongs to Ford. If you don't know, the Deconstructor goes to the manufacturer that builds the cars that blow up the most often.

Why Ford? Mostly for the numerous SHOs that lunched their engines and transmissions all over various LeMons paddocks, coast to coast. To quote LeMons' second banana, Nick Pon, after he strolled through a typical three SHO/three dead cars pit in Louisiana, "Looks like someone tossed a Taurus grenade in here." Just seems to be the Taurus's week for winning awards. OK -- now make the jump.


Gallery: 2009 24 Hours of LeMons Champs plus Thunderhill

Continue reading 24 Hours of LeMons announces 2009 Season Champions

24 Hours of LeMons announces 2009 Season Champions originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Dec 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 Hours of LeMons24HoursOfLemonsArse-Freeze-A-PaloozaBMWBMW E30BmwE30Coppa di BondoCoppaDiBondoE30FordFord SHOFordShoLeMonsSHOSat, 05 Dec 2009 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[24 Hours of LeMons announces 23-race 2010 schedule]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/16/24-hours-of-lemons-announces-2010-schedule/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/16/24-hours-of-lemons-announces-2010-schedule/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/16/24-hours-of-lemons-announces-2010-schedule/#commentsFiled under: ,

Snoopy Red Baron van at the Lamest Day - click above image for hi-res gallery

Full disclosure: I work for the 24 Hours of LeMons. Once a month (though twice as often next year) I don a black robe, white wig and a rubber mallet spray-painted brown to look like a gavel. It's all part of the traveling big top nonsense that is $500 car racing. I mention this because I have a huge small financial interest in seeing LeMons succeed. And man oh man is it ever succeeding. For instance, what's the fastest growing motorsport in the world? If you answered anything other than LeMons, you're wrong!

In case you live in a barn, LeMons ran one race in 2006, four races in 2007, six races in 2008, will complete ten races in 2009 and has scheduled a bewildering 23 races all over this fine land of ours for 2010. Meaning that if 2010 goes off as planned (what could go wrong?) more LeMons races will be run next year than in the four previous years combined. Dang. Founder and Chief Perp Jay Lamm was too busy racing his Alf$a Romeo to comment, so instead we grabbed a quote from whomever Jay's right hand man and second in command, some guy Nick Pon:
Since most of us didn't have a life already, filling up every waking moment of 2010 with LeMons races wasn't a huge sacrifice [crying]
I hear that, Nick! Interestingly (to some), LeMons will be expanding into some new markets next year, including Phoenix, Dallas, Washington DC, Denver, Omaha, Chicago and Miami. So if the idea of pointlessly running around in circles while sweating yourself to death for the better part of a weekend for the one out of 150 chance to win four hundred pounds of nickels appeals to your inner masochist, come on out and race. Lord knows my depleted 401k could use your money we'd love to have you!


Gallery: The Lamest Day: 24 Hours of LeMons at Nelson Ledges


[Source: 24 Hours of LeMons | Photos by Nick Pon]

24 Hours of LeMons announces 23-race 2010 schedule originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 Hours of LeMons24HoursOfLemonsJay LammJayLammLeMonsNick PonNickPonFri, 16 Oct 2009 16:28:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: 24 Hours of LeMons: Toyota MR2 dicing with a Buick LeSabre at The Lamest Day]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/11/video-24-hours-of-lemons-toyota-mr2-dicing-with-a-buick-lesabr/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/11/video-24-hours-of-lemons-toyota-mr2-dicing-with-a-buick-lesabr/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/11/video-24-hours-of-lemons-toyota-mr2-dicing-with-a-buick-lesabr/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Toyota MR2 chasing down a Buick LeSabre at Nelson Ledges - click above image to watch the video

You might have heard of this 24 Hours of LeMons traveling sideshow by now. You know, a bunch of $500 cars dropping mufflers all over the place as they pointlessly race around a track. Cruel weirdos dressed up like judges forcing confused, sweaty drivers to write, "Even though I wrote I will not go four wheels off one hundred times on my car, I still went four wheels off." Or Worse. Oh, and if you win the race you get $1,500 in nickels.

Despite all that, the one thing you might not know about the 24 Hours of LeMons is that it's real racing. Some of it pretty good, too. The cars might look a little off, and the drivers might not know a racing line from a fishing line, but what takes place on track is about as real as wheel to wheel racing gets. Proof? Make the jump and watch the video of a Toyota MR2 straight up battling with a Buick LeSabre for over seven minutes on the famous Nelson Ledges race track during last weekend's The Lamest Day. Good stuff, if you're into that whole cheapo car racing thing. Tip of the budget Pyrotect to Dave for the vid!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: 24 Hours of LeMons: Toyota MR2 dicing with a Buick LeSabre at The Lamest Day

VIDEO: 24 Hours of LeMons: Toyota MR2 dicing with a Buick LeSabre at The Lamest Day originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 Hours of LeMons24HoursOfLemonsBuickBuick LeSabreBuickLesabreLeMonsMR2Nelson LedgesNelsonLedgesThe Lamest DayTheLamestDayToyotaToyota MR2ToyotaMr2Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:54:00 EST<![CDATA[24 Hours of LeMons: Pre-Buttonwillow So-Cal Junkyard Scabenger Hunt]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/06/24-hours-of-lemons-pre-buttonwillow-so-cal-junkyard-scabenger-h/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/06/24-hours-of-lemons-pre-buttonwillow-so-cal-junkyard-scabenger-h/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/06/24-hours-of-lemons-pre-buttonwillow-so-cal-junkyard-scabenger-h/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Inaugural 24 Hours of LeMons LA Scanbenger Hunt - click above for high-res gallery

Last December the 24 Hours of LeMons hosted the inaugural Junkyard Scavenger Hunt, a.k.a. The Day the Infamy Stood Still. On Sunday, August 2, about 20 participants from the upcoming Buttonwillow Histrionics (August 15-16) descended on a San Fernando Valley junkyard for Scabenger Hunt II: The Crappening. Why would seemingly sane people willingly show up at high noon to sweat themselves half to death in the filthy, 100+ degrees scorched asphalt nightmare of a Pick'n'Pull? For largely meaningless prizes, of course!

We came up with a list of items (heavy metal cassettes, unexpired prescription meds, X-mas tree air fresheners, etc.) one could reasonably encounter in a junkyard. Then we assigned each item a value. The team with the most points would win the pole position. That's right, the winners "earn" the chance to be the first car on the grid in a sixteen hour endurance race. Which is a bit like being the skinniest contestant on Dance Your Ass Off. Or something.

Sunday's winner was the legendary Team Porcubimmer, a "hella veteran" collection of track rats that managed to come in second place at the first LeMons scavenger hunt. This time, they concentrated on the low-value, but easy to find items and simply blew the competition away. The Porcubimmers were 300 points ahead of the other teams before we stopped counting. They even beat the team that wrenched the intake manifold off a V12 Jaguar XJ-S. Every team that participated got at least two Gerald R. Ford Memorial Pardon Certificates (that's LeMons speak for get out of jail free cards), as well as t-shirts and patches. Fun and heat stroke was had by all. Full inventory of items on the list after the jump, high-res images in the gallery below.


Gallery: 24 Hours of LeMons LA Junkyard Scabenger Hunt

scab1280high00scab1280high90scab1280high10scab1280high20scab1280high30


Continue reading 24 Hours of LeMons: Pre-Buttonwillow So-Cal Junkyard Scabenger Hunt

24 Hours of LeMons: Pre-Buttonwillow So-Cal Junkyard Scabenger Hunt originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 Hours of LeMons24 Hours of LeMons Scabenger Hunt24 Hours of LeMons Scavenger Hunt24HoursOfLemons24HoursOfLemonsScabengerHunt24HoursOfLemonsScavengerHuntButtonwillo HistrionicsButtonwilloHistrionicsButtonwillowGerald R. Ford Memorial Pardon CertificatesGeraldR.FordMemorialPardonCertificatesJunkyardLeMonsLeMons Scabenger HuntLeMons Scavenger HuntLemonsScabengerHuntLemonsScavengerHuntScabenger HuntScabengerHuntScavenger HuntScavengerHuntThu, 06 Aug 2009 18:28:00 EST<![CDATA[24 Hours of LeMons Essay Contest: Win a 1958 Wartburg 311 [w/VIDEO]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/05/24-hours-of-lemons-win-a-1958-wartburg-311-essay-contest-w-vid/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/05/24-hours-of-lemons-win-a-1958-wartburg-311-essay-contest-w-vid/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/05/24-hours-of-lemons-win-a-1958-wartburg-311-essay-contest-w-vid/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

1958 Wartburg 311 and friend - Click above to watch the video

Don't lie: you've long pined for understated chic that only a late-1950s East German three-cylinder sedan of your very own can provide, but the price has been holding you back. Even in non-running condition, a real, actual Wartburg could set you back between $300-$400. That's some serious scratch these days. Feeling your pain, the fine folks at the 24 Hours of LeMons have got a deal for you.

In what's probably the first ever, and without question the last ever, Win-a-Wartburg contest, all you have to do is write an essay explaining why you deserve such a dignified and exotic crappy-communist pile of rust precision Teutonic machine and the Wartburg is all yours. So what if parts are harder to find than a bride who actually deserves a white dress -- check out all the perks!
  • The winner of the contest gets the lovely blue 1958 Wurtburg 311 pictured above for FREE. No strings, it's yours.
  • The winner picks up his or her very own Wartburg at the Lamest Day this October at Nelson Ledges Road Course in Ohio.
  • If said winner then decides to enter said Wartburg in a LeMons race, their team will be automatically approved, their entry fee will be waived and no matter how hard they decide to cheat, no BS laps will be assessed.
  • Think of how jealous your neighbors will be when this fine piece of European craftsmanship gets trailered onto your lawn parks itself in your driveway.
  • The ability to non-ironically rock a "My Other Car is a Wartburg" bumper sticker on your minivan is priceless. Or is that ironically?
There's one catch -- the winner of the Win-a-Wartburg contest is responsible for hauling the 311 away from Nelson Ledges. Presently, the car isn't running -- but it's probably just out of gas! Oh, and the car's title is, er, missing. Yeah, missing. Essay entries are due by September 1, 2009. Contestants can enter here: The Official Win-a-Wartburg Contest. Educational video demonstrating the Wartburg's full potential after the jump.


Gallery: 24 Hours of LeMons: Free 1958 Wartburg 311

Continue reading 24 Hours of LeMons Essay Contest: Win a 1958 Wartburg 311 [w/VIDEO]

24 Hours of LeMons Essay Contest: Win a 1958 Wartburg 311 [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 Hours of LeMons24HoursOfLemonsEast GermanyEastGermanyLeMonsThe Lamest DayTheLamestDayWartburgWartburg 311Wartburg311Win-a-WartburgWed, 05 Aug 2009 10:58:00 EST<![CDATA[FOLLOWUP: Chrysler, Fiat reportedly agree to honor lemon law claims ]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/05/followup-chrysler-fiat-reportedly-agree-to-honor-lemon-law-cla/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/05/followup-chrysler-fiat-reportedly-agree-to-honor-lemon-law-cla/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/05/followup-chrysler-fiat-reportedly-agree-to-honor-lemon-law-cla/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



On a recent episode of The Chrysler Files, customers who purchased Chrysler vehicles that were later officially certified as lemons were being reimbursed by the company with checks... that bounced. The snafu stemmed from the fact that while said claims were made before Chrysler's bankruptcy, after the automaker's Chapter 11 filing, the judge had to clear the funds to be paid from Chrysler's account. Since the judge hadn't cleared the funds, the checks were worth precisely zero dollars.

Those owners will be happy to know that the judge has finally approved Fiat and Chyrsler honoring "all warranty and lemon law obligations" for cars purchased up to five years before April 30. With the ruling, those affected will also be eligible for additional costs and attorney's fees. Of course, that news still doesn't detail when you stranded motorists can expect a check to arrive -- or when they can cash the ones they already have -- but help is on the way.

[Source: Automotive News, sub req'd]

FOLLOWUP: Chrysler, Fiat reportedly agree to honor lemon law claims originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankruptcychryslerchrysler bankruptcyChryslerBankruptcyfiatfinancialslegallemonlemon lawLemonLawlemonswarrantyFri, 05 Jun 2009 17:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Top Ten LeMons Contenders... in 2029]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/29/top-ten-lemons-contenders-in-2029/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/29/top-ten-lemons-contenders-in-2029/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/29/top-ten-lemons-contenders-in-2029/#commentsFiled under:



The drive from Autoblog's South Bay outpost to Reno-Fernley raceway gave Justice Lieberman and I some time to wax poetic on the 24 Hours of LeMons. Peppered between discussions about the race, the field of competitors and the finer points of officiating the world's fastest growing motorsport (we're pretty sure), I asked the question: what cars are going to dominate LeMons 20 years from now? Some were obvious, so were absurd and others were dismissed out of hand.

So when we got back, I listed off the most credible contenders that came up during our discussion. In order to be qualified for the list, the vehicle had to meet certain criteria. First, it has to be on sale today and available in sufficient numbers. That means niche vehicles are generally out. Secondly, it can't be one of the front-runners currently dominating LeMons, so the BMW 3 Series, Mazda MX-5 and Civic aren't included on the list, although they'll undoubtedly have a presence during the 2029 LeMons season. Third, they had to have some amount of aftermarket support, so replacements and performance parts could be had in the junkyards of tomorrow. What'd we come up with? Click below to start the list.


Continue reading Top Ten LeMons Contenders... in 2029

Top Ten LeMons Contenders... in 2029 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 May 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 hors of lemons24HorsOfLemonslemonslemons 2029Lemons2029top tenTopTenFri, 29 May 2009 12:58:00 EST<![CDATA[2009 LeMons Reno: Goin' for Broken, Day Two]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/24/2009-lemons-reno-goin-for-broken-day-two/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/24/2009-lemons-reno-goin-for-broken-day-two/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/24/2009-lemons-reno-goin-for-broken-day-two/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above for an action-filled gallery of the 24 Hours of LeMons: Reno

Monaco. Indy. Reno. Sure, the first two have fancy TV coverage and all kinds of history working in their favor this weekend, but Reno has LeMons, hilarious cars, and Damon on the ground covering the events as they happen via Twitter. He's posting photos and video with his updates, which you can (and should) follow at http://www.twitter.com/autobloglemons.

Special thanks go out to Autoblog reader Dat Nguyen, who headed to Reno specifically because we saw that we were there. Dat caught up with Damon and then cemented his status in the Autoblog Reader Hall of Fame by taking some great photos for us, a sampling of which you can look at in the gallery below. He's got even more posted up at his Flickr account, which you should absolutely check out as well. So, big ups to Dat, and to Damon for tweeting away feverishly to keep us appraised of the ongoing wheeled mayhem. Watch for more updates from Damon today after he gets up and addresses some issues we're sure he'll be dealing with before the festivities in Reno get back underway.

If you missed Damon's Day 1 summary, check it out here.


Gallery: 2009 LeMons Reno: Goin' for Broken, Day Two



Photos copyright (C)2009 Dat Nguyen, used with permission.

2009 LeMons Reno: Goin' for Broken, Day Two originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 May 2009 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 hours of lemons24HoursOfLemonsautobloglemonsfeaturedgoin for brokenGoinForBrokenlemonslemons renoLemonsRenotwitterSun, 24 May 2009 11:02:00 EST<![CDATA[2009 LeMons Reno: Goin' for Broken, Day One]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/22/2009-lemons-reno-goin-for-broken-day-one/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/22/2009-lemons-reno-goin-for-broken-day-one/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/22/2009-lemons-reno-goin-for-broken-day-one/#commentsFiled under:


Click above for a massive high-res image gallery from 2009 LeMons Reno

We've finally wrapped up our "inspection" and "judging" of the LeMons Reno "racers," and as suspected, there's a motley assortment of cars, contenders and bribes. The adjudication duties have been two parts entertaining and one part grueling, covered with a nice helping of faux outrage, bad attitudes and judicial entitlement.

We can see a thunderstorm brewing a few miles away and we've taken shelter (and alcohol) in one of the team's RVs before heading back to the hotel for a desperately needed shower and a full night's rest. But before we enjoy some barbeque and promptly pass out, we ran through the pits to snap some shots of the assorted vehicles that make up this year's race at Reno-Fernley. Check 'em out in the gallery below and if you haven't done so yet, subscribe (or just read) our Twitter feed live from the paddock. Look for more LeMons madness tomorrow.


Gallery: 2009 LeMons Reno - Friday

2009 LeMons Reno: Goin' for Broken, Day One originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 May 2009 22:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20092009 lemons reno2009LemonsReno24 hours of lemons24 hours of lemons reno24HoursOfLemons24HoursOfLemonsRenolemonsrenoFri, 22 May 2009 22:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Event Alert: Damon is Twittering from the 24 Hours of LeMons at Reno]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/22/event-alert-damon-is-at-lemons-reno-and-on-twitter-now/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/22/event-alert-damon-is-at-lemons-reno-and-on-twitter-now/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/22/event-alert-damon-is-at-lemons-reno-and-on-twitter-now/#commentsFiled under: ,



Couldn't make it to LeMons at Reno this weekend? No worries. Damon's there, posting updates and photos on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/autobloglemons. He's there with the dynamic duo of Jonny Lieberman and Murilee Martin. So far, Damon tells us that Jonny's managed not to do anything that would get himself arrested, but he reportedly did insult an interview crew from Good Morning America. The teams are working hard to bribe the judges, and we must admit that we're fond of the CRXterossa. The fun's just beginning, so follow autobloglemons on Twitter to get Damon's take on the debauchery that's certain to ensue.

And while you're at it, dont forget to follow Autoblog on Twitter, too: http://www.twitter.com/therealautoblog.

Event Alert: Damon is Twittering from the 24 Hours of LeMons at Reno originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 May 2009 18:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakinglemonstwitterFri, 22 May 2009 18:53:00 EST<![CDATA[24 Hours of LeMons 2008: Part V - We finish in 9th place!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/31/24-hours-of-lemons-2008-part-v-we-finish-in-9th-place/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/31/24-hours-of-lemons-2008-part-v-we-finish-in-9th-place/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/31/24-hours-of-lemons-2008-part-v-we-finish-in-9th-place/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above for high-res image gallery of Team Tinkerbell Rosso at LeMons

The "24 Hours of LeMons" is an event comprised of low-budget $500 race cars, i.e. lemons. The so-called "crap-car enduro" has enticed various members of the Autoblog team over the years into covering, and more recently participating, in the event. When asked to join Team Tinkerbell Rosso for an upcoming race, we knew it was time to take up the cause again and now find ourselves booked for the "Thunderhill Arse-Freeze-Apalooza." The event, scheduled during the last few days of December, promises dreadfully cold weather but plenty of offbeat racing fun. Our six-part weekly series takes you behind the scenes with our new race partners, the Tinkerbell Rosso racing team and their 1996 Crown Victoria "Police Interceptor."

Our earlier posts (Part I - The donor vehicle, Part II - The teardown, Part III - The build and Part IV - Panic in the final stretch) introduced you to our car and tracked the build progress as we readied for the race. Last weekend, we raced our beloved Crown Victoria to a top-10 finish! Read all of the madness after the jump.


Gallery: LeMons 2008: Team Tinkerbell Rosso


Gallery: 2008 24 Hours of Lemons at Thunderhill


Photos Copyright (C)2008 Michael Harley / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading 24 Hours of LeMons 2008: Part V - We finish in 9th place!

24 Hours of LeMons 2008: Part V - We finish in 9th place! originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 hours of lemons24HoursOfLemonsautoblog 24 hours of lemonsAutoblog24HoursOfLemonsfeaturedLeMonsThunderhillTinkerbell RossoTinkerbellRossoWed, 31 Dec 2008 11:58:00 EST<![CDATA[2008 25 Hours of LeMons at Thunderhill: In the pits and on the track]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/28/autoblog-at-the-2008-25-hours-of-lemons-at-thunderhill/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/28/autoblog-at-the-2008-25-hours-of-lemons-at-thunderhill/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/28/autoblog-at-the-2008-25-hours-of-lemons-at-thunderhill/#commentsFiled under:


Click above for a massive high-res gallery from the 2008 24 Hours of LeMons at Thunderhill

Imagine this: text-message updates on your favorite LeMons teams that includes their last lap time and overall position. Or real-time telemetry data streaming online. How about pictures and analysis, straight from the track and beamed down through the tubes right into your home? Fantasy? Hardly. When you get hundreds of die-hard DIY types together for a weekend of wheel-to-wheel racing, anything's possible. Unless, of course, the one necessary component - a stable internet connection - is missing from the equation. And so concludes our overall coverage of the 2008 24 Hours of LeMons at Thunderhill. After battling wonky wifi and sketchy EVDO connections, we bailed on the race late last night so we could give you a brief snippet of the action outside of Willows.

The LeMon's season-ender has all the ingredients for another epic crap-can battle royale, including the utterly fantastic ghetto-charged Miata, a Griswold-inspired Pinto, a fiberglass-bodied 240, a flipped Yugo, a superbike-powered Metro, a rod-knocking Escort (that puked all of its oil onto a half-mile stretch of the track) and our Altamont-running RX-7 that returned from the dead. Everything you'd want in a LeMons race was present and accounted for, and in these tumultuous times, it was a breath of fresh (well, diff-oil scented) air to see true gearheads doing what they love in an environment that's part LeMans and part Burning Man. If you ever need a brief respite to reinvigorate your faith in the bond between man and machine, LeMons is where it's at. And the 2009 season is already scheduled. If you can't compete, at least attend. You won't be disappointed, even if "the tubes" could use a thorough snaking.

Check back tonight for a list of the top-ten finishers and keep an eye out later this week for a first-hand account of the Tinkerbell Rosso team's campaign. In the meantime, enjoy our gallery of Saturday coverage below.

UPDATE: And the winner is... the Metro Gnome CBR900RR-powered Metro!

Gallery: 2008 24 Hours of Lemons at Thunderhill

2008 25 Hours of LeMons at Thunderhill: In the pits and on the track originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Dec 2008 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20082008 25 hours of lemons thunderhill200825HoursOfLemonsThunderhill24 hours of lemons24HoursOfLemonslemonsthunderhillSun, 28 Dec 2008 16:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Active Aerodynamics: Coolest LeMons technology EVAR?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/27/active-aerodynamics-coolest-lemons-technology-evar/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/27/active-aerodynamics-coolest-lemons-technology-evar/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/27/active-aerodynamics-coolest-lemons-technology-evar/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above to watch the video

Our official coverage of the 24 Hours of LeMons Arse-Freeze-Apalooza at Thunderhill has started, but we couldn't wait to show you what could be the absolute coolest bit of low-cost technology that will be showcased at the event: the hillbilly wing. This stunning bit of kit will be vying for the coveted "Most Dangerous Banned F1 Technology" trophy, and we think they're a shoe-in. Actuated by a bowling ball, the hillbilly wing is made from an abandoned ironing board, some electrical conduit and a bit of rope. Genius. Now, how long will it last?

The Faster Farms Chickens' 1966-7 Plymouth Belvedere was made to resemble the car used in the Foster Imposters skits, and they have done a pretty good job emulating their target. When Foster Farms found out about the car, they issued a press release detailing the effort -- something that warms our cockles in our ridiculously litigious society. See the PR and the video after the break.

[Source: Jalopnik]

Continue reading Active Aerodynamics: Coolest LeMons technology EVAR?

Active Aerodynamics: Coolest LeMons technology EVAR? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 hours of lemons24HoursOfLemonsBelvedereBowlingfaster farmsFasterFarmsfoster farmsfoster impostersFosterFarmsFosterImposterslemonslemons thunderhillLemonsThunderhillPlymouthSat, 27 Dec 2008 15:01:00 EST<![CDATA[2008 25 Hours of LeMons at Thunderhill: Auld Lang Syne penalty]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/27/2008-25-hours-of-lemons-at-thunderhill-auld-lang-syne-penalty/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/27/2008-25-hours-of-lemons-at-thunderhill-auld-lang-syne-penalty/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/27/2008-25-hours-of-lemons-at-thunderhill-auld-lang-syne-penalty/#commentsFiled under:

With less than 30 minutes of racing complete, the first penalty was dolled out to the #43 BMW 325i after a bit of off-track farming. A spin of the Wheel of Misfortune delivered the Auld Lang Syne penalty, which involves a pair of adult diapers, a sash and commitment to be a better competitor in the New Year. Black flags are flying all around, so expect more tails from the pits to follow throughout the day.

2008 25 Hours of LeMons at Thunderhill: Auld Lang Syne penalty originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Dec 2008 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Over 100 racers have taken to the track for the 2008 24 Hours of LeMons at Thunderhill, and the field of competitors is as disturbing as it is vast, with every marque, drivetrain and criminally indecent act of automobiledom represented in spades.

The green flag dropped about two minutes ago and we're already at a loss to describe the vast expanse of potential carnage ahead. We're in the process of picking out our favorites, and after meeting up with the esteemed Mr. Lieberman, we learned that a new cheater class (four cars that amassed between 700 and 2,100 penalty laps each) has been established to separate the lightly-veiled racers from the usual assortment of crap can conveyances.

Naturally, as we're typing the green flag has gone back to yellow after an off-track excursion at turn five. Let the attrition begin...

2008 24 Hours of LeMons Thunderhill: Let the madness commence originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Dec 2008 13:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Our bags are packed, our women are sufficiently sated (thanks Zales!) and we're enjoying our last few hours of warmth before we head north for the 24 Hours of LeMons Arse-Freeze-Apalooza at Thunderhill. The fiendish Mr. Lieberman and the matronly Ms. Martin descended on Willows earlier today to exact their special blend of justice on the LeMons contenders, and judging by reports from the ground, the season-ender at T-Hill has all the makings of another epic crap-can battle.

Around 70 entrants arrived at the track for tech inspection, including a CBR900-powered Geo Metro and (God help them) a Yugo. According to Murilee, the hellacious weather rocking the Pacific Northwest caused several teams to drop out. One of the crews that decided to brave the storm and head south - the Cheese Eating Surrender Monkeys and their Peugeot 505 Turbo - ran into a patch of black ice, causing the destruction of both their tow vehicle and trailer. Thankfully, no one was injured and a few of the Monkeys made it down to provide moral support for the masses trying to stave off hypothermia.

The race begins tomorrow at 10 AM PST, runs until sundown and then starts back up on Sunday (damn noise restrictions) at 9 AM PST and then concludes in the evening. We'll be providing periodic updates throughout and following our man Michael and his Tinkerbell Rosso 1996 Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. We're 13 hours away from motoring madness, so as always, watch this space.

24 Hours of LeMons Arse-Freeze-Apalooza at Thunderhill: Coverage begins tomorrow originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Dec 2008 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 hours of lemons24 hours of lemons thunderhill24HoursOfLemons24HoursOfLemonsThunderhilllemonslemons thunderhillLemonsThunderhillthunderhillSat, 27 Dec 2008 00:02:00 EST<![CDATA[24 Hours of LeMons 2008: Part IV - Panic in the final stretch]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/22/24-hours-of-lemons-2008-part-iv-panic-in-the-final-stretch/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/22/24-hours-of-lemons-2008-part-iv-panic-in-the-final-stretch/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/22/24-hours-of-lemons-2008-part-iv-panic-in-the-final-stretch/#commentsFiled under: ,

Click above for a high-res gallery of the "Tinkerbell Rosso" Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor


The "24 Hours of LeMons" is an event comprised of low-budget $500 race cars, i.e. lemons. The so-called "crap-car enduro" has enticed various members of the Autoblog team over the years into covering, and more recently participating, in the event. When asked to join Team Tinkerbell Rosso for an upcoming race, we knew it was time to take up the cause again and now find ourselves booked for the "Thunderhill Arse-Freeze-Apalooza." The event, scheduled during the last few days of December, promises dreadfully cold weather but plenty of offbeat racing fun. Our six-part weekly series takes you behind the scenes with our new race partners, the Tinkerbell Rosso racing team and their 1996 Crown Victoria "Police Interceptor."

Our earlier blogs (Part I - The donor vehicle, Part II - The teardown, and Part III - The build) introduced you to the car and tracked our build progress. Now the team is hard at work preparing the former taxi/police interceptor for the race in less than one week! The madness begins after the jump.

Gallery: LeMons 2008: Team Tinkerbell Rosso


Photos Copyright (C)2008 Michael Harley / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading 24 Hours of LeMons 2008: Part IV - Panic in the final stretch

24 Hours of LeMons 2008: Part IV - Panic in the final stretch originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Childrens Hospital Orange CountyChildrensHospitalOrangeCountyfeaturedLeMonsRaceThunderhilltinkerbellTinkerbell RossotinkerbellracingTinkerbellRossoMon, 22 Dec 2008 14:59:00 EST<![CDATA[24 Hours of LeMons 2008: Part II - The teardown]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/08/24-hours-of-lemons-2008-part-ii-the-teardown/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/08/24-hours-of-lemons-2008-part-ii-the-teardown/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/08/24-hours-of-lemons-2008-part-ii-the-teardown/#commentsFiled under:


Click above for our high-res image gallery of our LeMons contender


Not to be confused with the "24 Hours of LeMans" (that zooty French endurance race), the "24 Hours of LeMons" is an event comprised of low-budget $500 race cars, i.e. lemons. The so-called "crap-car enduro" has enticed various members of the Autoblog team over the years into covering, and more recently participating, in the event. When asked to join Team Tinkerbell Rosso for an upcoming race, we knew it was our obligation to go. We now find ourselves booked for the "Thunderhill Arse-Freeze-Apalooza." The event scheduled during last few days of December promises dreadfully cold weather, but plenty of off-beat racing fun. Our six-part weekly series will take you behind the scenes with our new race partners, the "Tinkerbell Rosso" racing team and their 1996 Crown Victoria "Police Interceptor."

Last week, Part I - The donor vehicle introduced you to the car. Now, the team is hard at work turning the former taxi/police interceptor into a race car. The madness begins after the jump.


Gallery: LeMons 2008: Team Tinkerbell Rosso


Photos Copyright (C)2008 Michael Harley / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading 24 Hours of LeMons 2008: Part II - The teardown

24 Hours of LeMons 2008: Part II - The teardown originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 hours of lemons24HoursOfLemonsfeaturedLemonsTinkerbell RacingTinkerbell RossoTinkerbellRacingTinkerbellRossoMon, 08 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[24 Hours of LeMons 2008: Part I - The donor vehicle]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/01/24-hours-of-lemons-2008-part-i-the-donor-vehicle/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/01/24-hours-of-lemons-2008-part-i-the-donor-vehicle/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/01/24-hours-of-lemons-2008-part-i-the-donor-vehicle/#comments
Click above for high-res image gallery of our LeMons contender

Not to be confused with the "24 Hours of LeMans" (that zooty French endurance race), the "24 Hours of LeMons" is an event comprised of low-budget $500 race cars (yeah, "lemons"). The so-called "crap-car enduro" has enticed various members of the Autoblog team over the years into covering, and more recently participating, in the event. When asked to join a team for an upcoming race, we knew it was our obligation to go. We now find ourselves booked for the "Thunderhill Arse-Freeze-Apalooza." The event scheduled during last few days of December promises dreadfully cold weather, but plenty of off-beat racing fun. Our six-part weekly series will take you behind the scenes with our new race partners, the "Tinkerbell Rosso" racing team, and their 1996 Crown Victoria "Police Interceptor." The madness begins after the jump.

Gallery: LeMons 2008: Team Tinkerbell Rosso


Photos Copyright (C)2008 Michael Harley / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading 24 Hours of LeMons 2008: Part I - The donor vehicle

24 Hours of LeMons 2008: Part I - The donor vehicle originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 hours of lemons24HoursOfLemonsChildrens HospitalChildrensHospitalLeMonsLeMons RaceLemonsRaceteam Tinkerbell RossoTeamTinkerbellRossoThunderhillMon, 01 Dec 2008 13:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Crashed Enzo lives! Loverman gets to go for a ride]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/20/crashed-enzo-lives-loverman-gets-to-go-for-a-ride/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/20/crashed-enzo-lives-loverman-gets-to-go-for-a-ride/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/20/crashed-enzo-lives-loverman-gets-to-go-for-a-ride/#commentsFiled under: ,



Given the relative scarcity of cars like the Ferrari Enzo (349 production units built, an indeterminate number destroyed), you're unlikely to encounter one. On those rare occasions when such a thing does happen it seems even less likely that said owner will say, "Hey, wanna go for a ride?" Given the improbability of such events, it seems even more bizarre that our friend Jonny Lieberman found himself in such a situation this past weekend at the inaugural 24 Hours of LeMons in Houston, TX.

It turns out that Matt Groner is the owner of the Enzo best known for being cracked up by Eddie Griffin. We reported on the car being repaired and offered up for sale a couple of months ago and it's still available on eBay with a Buy It Now price of a mere $1.2 million. So what was Groner doing at LeMons? Why racing of course. According to Jonny, he rolled up to the track in the Enzo and hopped into a Neon to compete in the crap-can "race."

[Source: Auto Fiends]

Crashed Enzo lives! Loverman gets to go for a ride originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eddie griffinEddieGriffinferrariferrari enzoFerrariEnzolemonsmatt gronerMattGronerMon, 20 Oct 2008 17:02:00 EST