The 24 Hours of LeMons is a series of endurance races held on paved road race courses across the United States, Australia (since October 2015) and New Zealand (first event held September 2016). The series holds the Guinness World Record for the "Most participants in one race" (216 cars).
The title is a parody of the long running annual 24 Hours of Le Mans race, and lemon cars. Teams of 4 or more drivers compete for up to 24 hours in race-prepared cars that cost no more than US$500 for cars in the USA series, AUD$999 in Australia and NZD$999 in New Zealand; as with folkracing there is a price limit. These races set themselves apart from the typical road race by the unusual penalties and punishments meted out by judges, as well as a blatant disregard for traditional Motorsport politicking. The series is similar to the ChumpCar World Series (almost the same rulebook), but with a more carnival like atmosphere.
Event overview
The event is billed as a 24-hour endurance race. In actuality, the event covers a weekend, and participants endure "scrutiny" and a number of qualifiers along with the main endurance race of varying total hours, depending on the venue (including resource consent/s and Licences). The organizers state that they will attempt to run at least one true 24-hour race (continuous) every year.
Yeah, it's real racing. That said, between the thick scrum of crapcans in front of you and our aversion to long, flat-out straightaways, you're not going to set any speed records. It's kinda like a loud, hot, noisy version of driving to work. For a really, really long time. Without actually getting anywhere. And it's a lot harder to drink coffee through the helmet. Oh, and, you know, it's more dangerous.
History
The 24 Hours of LeMons, founded by author/editor Jay Lamm (self appointed "Chief Perp"), began in 2006 as a progression of an earlier San Francisco, California event, the Double 500, which was a 500-kilometer road rally for US$500 vehicles. After several yearly Double 500s, the organizers deemed the event too easy, so the 24 Hours of LeMons endurance race was born.
The earliest LeMons races were held at Altamont Motorsports Park and other tracks in California. The series expanded in 2008 to include events in the eastern United States, with races held in Connecticut, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas in addition to the races in California and Nevada.
In May 2008, a LeMons race held at Altamont Motorsports Park was struck by tragedy when the driver of one of the cars died during the race. Court Summerfield, 47, suffered a heart attack or stroke during the race and crashed into a wall. Investigations revealed that there were no malfunctions with the car and that the driver was already dead upon impact.
In October 2015, the first Australian event was held at Wakefield Raceway in NSW with more than 30 cars entered and headed up by Sean Herbert (the "Supreme Commander"). The series has grown to sustain 4 - 5 events per year across Australia. Fundraising is a key component of the 24 Hours of LeMons.
New Zealand hosted its inaugural Lemons event in September 2016 at Hampton Downs Raceway in Waikato. Race Director Dr. Jacob Simonsen (the "Chief LeMon squeezer") has established 24 Hours of LeMons as a Nationwide series with 3 - 4 events per year and the inclusion of a unique 24 hour "day/night" race, including races at Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park in Taupo, Hampton Downs and Pukekohe Raceway.
Preparation and rules
To enter the event, participants must find a car where purchasing and prepping the car will not exceed US$500, AUD$999 and NZD$999 respectively.
The relatively low value of entrant's cars alludes to the name of the race as such a vehicle might be considered a "lemon". The event organizers set complete set of safety rules that typically are on par with other road racing sanctioning bodies, including the Sports Car Club of America, National Auto Sport Association, AASA and Motorsport New Zealand. Additions to the rules (both serious and humorous plus rules to discourage cheating) include:
- Dollar limit to prep car. This includes the purchase price of the car, any modifications made to it, and other assorted expenses (such as labor and sponsorships) are figured into the cost. Approved safety equipment (see below) plus brakes, wheels, and tires are not included in the vehicle purchase figure.
- Items sold off a car can be deducted from the total spent, so it is possible to buy a more expensive car and sell off parts, or sell parts and buy better equipment. (i.e. selling off parts from a BMW or other similar luxury car to circumvent/comply with the purchase 'cap' rule.)
- If the event organizers feel the car has exceeded its financial limit, they assign what is called a BSF (Bullshit Factor), where every $10 the car exceeds over the purchase price is docked one lap (BS penalties may vary in each territory).
- Car must have four wheels and have been legal for highway use at its time of manufacture.
- Event organizers have full rights to buy the car for the "purchase price limit" at the end of the race.
Required safety equipment includes:
- A six point roll cage (USA and Australia), minimum half-cage with side intrusion (for New Zealand)
- Full-face Snell SA2010 helmet or better
- Fire extinguisher
- Five or six point racing harness
- SFI 3.2A/1 Nomex-style fire suit, fire resistant/retardant gloves, shoes and with fire retardant underwear
- SFI 38.1-rated or FIA 8858-rated head and neck support.
- Drivers seat must reach the middle of the helmet or higher. SFI or FIA approved seat recommended
- New Zealand rules differ slightly but are based on a combination of Motorsport NZ "Schedule A" and AASA regulations
Race
In the USA, most events are 14.5 hours long, with sessions on Saturday and Sunday running from six to ten hours long. There is usually one full 24 hour endurance race each year. In Australia and New Zealand, events average 20 hours over the 2 â€" 3 days.
Each race begins with all cars being released onto the track under a full course yellow flag for lap-timing transponder checks. No passing is permitted under yellow, so all cars operational before the start (over 150 have been known to start) will circulate around the track in single file for up to 20 minutes until the officials are satisfied that the timing and scoring system is working properly. The race officially begins with the green flag being waved at a randomly chosen car.
Standard racing flags are used by corner workers stationed around the track to communicate with drivers. The black flag is used liberally throughout the race to mandate an immediate pit stop for concerns with the driving or with the car. Driving infractions range from any contact with another vehicle or fixed barrier and overly aggressive driving to spinning or driving two wheels off of the track. Car problems that typically result in black flags are, most frequently, obvious safety problems such as any fluid leak, parts hanging off the car, or inoperative lights. Drivers must report to the penalty box immediately after being shown a black flag.
Races that are split into two days will have a checkered flag at the end of the first day, signifying the end of the racing session. The race is restarted on the next day, normally with the top ten cars being permitted to line up in order with the first-place car getting the green flag.
Penalties
LeMons officials have an inventive penalty and punishment system where penalties for some infractions are meted out by a device called The Wheel of Misfortune. Various devices may be put onto the car in order to affect car performance; one device used is metal silhouettes of various farm animals welded to the roof by the "Arc Angel" to reduce aerodynamic efficiency. Also, any car that flips in the process of the race is slapped with the "Why Am I Upside-Down?" penalty: not only is that team disqualified for the current race, but the driver who flipped the car is barred from all other races for the rest of the season. Likewise, Drivers and Teams might also be forced to undertake physical acts in order to satisfy punishment conditions, such as the Marcel Marceau Memorial "Mime Your Crime" penalty, where a driver must put on white face paint and a beret and mime what they did wrong. In addition, penalties are often tailored to address current events or figures where the race is run. Examples of this include the "Max Mosley S&M Penalty", the "Sheriff Joe Arpaio Penalty" in Arizona (where drivers must don pink underwear, sit in a hot tent and eat stale bologna sandwiches, all punishments the Maricopa County Sheriff has given at his prisons), and the "Mark Sanford 'Cry For Me, Argentina' Memorial Penalty" at a race in South Carolina, in which a driver must write a lengthy love letter to his Argentine mistress on his car, Ã la the former governor of that state. All penalties are designed to waste the time of a lousy driver, while less aggressive and better drivers continue to race.
Awards
There are four main awards with one given midway through the race. Note that all prize money is awarded entirely in nickels.
The midway award was aptly named People's Curse. One car was voted People's Curse, for being driven by the biggest jerks of the day as judged by the attending crowd. The offending car was crushed or otherwise destroyed typically by heavy equipment, but when none could be found, an angry mob with wire cutters and wrenches had been used. If there were not enough votes to destroy a car, it may have instead received nasty but non-fatal damage, or it may have been sent to the Penalty Box with a black flag. For 2013 the Curse was removed from the series.
The counterpoint to the People's Curse, Organizers Choice (originally People's Choice) is awarded to the team that best represents the friendly spirit of the race. A trophy and $500 prize is given.
The car that completes the most laps net of pre-race "BS" penalties is awarded the Win on Laps, and the team receives a trophy. Through 2011, the winner on laps also received a $1500 cash prize, typically in the form of nickels.
The grand prize (and considered by some to be the "true" winner) is the Index of Effluency award, presented to a car considered unlikely to finish the race at all, let alone finish with a respectable number of laps completed. The team that wins the Index of Effluency is given a larger trophy and a cash prize. The prize was $1501 through 2011, and was reduced to $501 beginning in 2012; in each case, the prize is $1 more than the team could win by winning the race or their class. Prizes, trophies and awards vary depending on the territory.
In the USA, prior to a race, every entry is assigned into a class, A, B, C, or X. The car in each class that completes the most laps net of pre-race "BS" penalties (with the exception of the winner on laps, which was previously recognized) is awarded the class win, and the team receives a trophy. Beginning in 2012, the winners of classes A, B, and C each also receive a $500 cash prize, typically in nickels.
Several other trophies are given, typically: Most Heroic Fix, I Got Screwed, Grassroots Motorsports Magazine's Most from the Least, Least (or Most) Horrible Yank Tank, and trophies to the fastest cars of the three classes.
Occasionally, Judges' Choice or Dangerous Homemade Technology awards are given.
At the end of each season, the organizers also recognize a group of Legends of LeMons for especially noteworthy themes, fabrication work, or other contributions to the series. Forty-one teams earned such recognition in 2009, the first year teams were so honored. In 2010, the number of teams earning "Legend" status increased to 58, but this time, four were singled out for the exceptional honor of a Unununium Medal, the next twenty were awarded a Ununquadium Medal, while the remaining 34 received a Ununhexium Medal. In 2011, the list of awards was pared down from previous seasons, as nine racers and teams were awarded a Gluon Medal for their feats.
Schedule
2009 LeMons Events
- HOUSTON GATOR-O-RAMA (2009) Date: February 28-March 1, 2009 Track: MSR Houston, Angleton TX
- LeMONS SOUTH SPRING (2009) Date: April 4â€"5, 2009 Track: Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw SC
- GOIN' FOR BROKEN (2009) Date: May 23â€"24, 2009 Track: Reno-Fernley Raceway, Fernley NV
- LAISSEZ LES CRAPHEAPS ROULEZ NEW ORLEANS (2009) Date: June 6â€"7, 2009 Track: No Problem Raceway, Belle Rose LA
- LeMONS NEW ENGLAND (2009) Date: July 11â€"12, 2009 Track: Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs CT
- THE BUTTONWILLOW HISTRIONICS (2009) Date: August 15â€"16, 2009 Track: Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow CA
- LeMONS SOUTH FALL (2009) Date: September 12â€"13, 2009 Track: Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw SC
- THE LAMEST DAY (2009) Date: October 3â€"4, 2009 (full 24-hour endurance race) Track: Nelson Ledges Road Course, Nelson Ledges OH
- YEE-HAW IT'S LeMONS TEXAS (2009) Date: October 24â€"25, 2009 Track: MSR Houston, Angleton TX
- LeMONS ARSE-FREEZE-APALOOZA (2009) Date: November 21â€"22, 2009 Track: Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows CA
2010 LeMons Events
- Auction-Weekend Gavel-Trap GP (2010) Date: January 23â€"24, 2010 Track: Firebird International Raceway, Chandler AZ
- Southern Discomfort (2010) Date: February 6â€"7, 2010 Track: Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw SC
- Gator-O-Rama (2010) Date: February 20â€"21, 2010 Tack: MSR Houston, Angleton TX
- Sears Pointless (2010) Date: March 6â€"7, 2010 Track: Infineon Raceway, Sonoma CA
- Concours d'LeMons Crapfest & Track Tour (2010) Date: March 7, 2010 track: Infineon Raceway, Sonoma CA
- American Irony (2010) Date: April 17â€"18, 2010 Track: Gingerman Raceway, South Haven MI
- Cain't Git Bayou (2010) Date: May 1â€"2, 2010 Track: The Circuit at Grand Bayou, Belle Rose LA
- Goin' For Broken 24-Hour (2010) Date: May 8â€"9, 2010 Tack: Reno-Fernley Raceway, Fernley NV (moved to Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows CA, after closure of Reno-Fernley Raceway)
- LeMons South Spring (2010) Date: May 29â€"30, 2010 Track: Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw SC
- North Dallas Hooptie (2010) Date: June 5â€"6, 2010 Tack: Eagle's Canyon Raceway, Decatur TX
- Capitol Offense (2010) Date: June 19â€"20, 2010 Tack: Summit Point Motorsports Park, Summit Point WV
- The B.F.E. GP (2010) Date: July 10â€"11, 2010 Track: High Plains Raceway, Deer Trail CO
- LeMons New England (2010) Date: July 24â€"25, 2010 Track: Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs CT
- LeMons Arse-Sweat-Apalooza (2010) Date: August 7â€"8, 2010 Tack: Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows CA
- Concours d'LeMons (2010) Date: August 14, 2010 Track: Toro Park, Monterey CA
- Mutually Assured Destruction of Omaha (2010) Date: August 28â€"29, 2010 Track: Mid-America Motorplex, Pacific Junction IA
- Yee-Haw, It's LeMons Texas (2010) Date: September 11â€"12, 2010 Tack: MSR Houston, Angleton TX
- LeMons South Fall (2010) Date: September 25â€"26, 2010 Track: Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw SC
- Detroit Bull Oil Grand Prix (2010) Date: October 9â€"10, 2010 Track: Gingerman Raceway, South Haven MI
- Rod Blagojevich Never-Say-Die 500 (2010) Date: October 23â€"24, 2010 Track: Autobahn Country Club, Joliet IL
- Laissez les Crapheaps Roulez (2010) Date: November 20â€"21, 2010 Track: The Circuit at Grand Bayou, Belle Rose LA
- LeMons Arse-Freeze-Apalooza (2010) Date: December 4â€"5, 2010 Track: Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow CA
- The Painfully Bland Bowl Of Thin Lukewarm Oatmeal That Can Not Possibly Offend Anyone, No Matter How Much They Enjoy Being Offended, 24-Hour Season Ender (2010) Date: December 30â€"31, 2010 Track: Palm Beach International Raceway, Jupiter FL (name changed from 24 Horas de Cuba del Norte after protests led by Cuban-American groups and Glenn Beck)
2011 LeMons Events
- Southern Discomfort Date: February 19â€"20; Track: Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw SC
- Gator-O-Rama Date: February 26â€"27; Track: MSR Houston, Angleton TX
- Sears Pointless Date: March 26â€"27; Track: Infineon Raceway, Sonoma CA
- The Real Hoopties of New Jersey Date: April 9â€"10; Track: New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville NJ
- Campaign to Prevent Gingervitis Date: April 16â€"17; Track: GingerMan Raceway, South Haven MI
- North Dallas Hooptie Date: April 23â€"24; Track: Eagles Canyon Raceway, Dallas TX
- Loudon Annoying Date: May 7â€"8; Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon NH
- Goin' For Broken Date: May 14â€"15; Track: Reno-Fernley Raceway, Fernley NV (scheduled as a true 24 hour race)
- LeMons South Spring Date: May 21â€"22; Track: Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw SC
- Garrapatas Peligrosas GP Date: June 4â€"5; Track: MSR Houston, Angleton TX
- Capitol Offense Date: June 18â€"19; Track: Summit Point Raceway, Summit Point WV
- Pacific NorthWorst Grand Prix Date: June 25â€"26; Track: Oregon Raceway Park, Grass Valley OR
- The B.F.E. GP Date: July 9â€"10; Track: High Plains Raceway, Deer Trail CO
- American Irony Date: July 16â€"17; Track: GingerMan Raceway, South Haven MI
- Boston Tow Party & Overhead-Cam Bake Date: July 23â€"24; Track: Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford CT
- LeMons Arse-Sweat-Apalooza Date: August 6â€"7; Track: Thunderhill Raceway, Willows CA
- Cain't Get Bayou Date: August 13â€"14; Track: Circuit Grand Bayou, Belle Rose LA (scheduled as a night race)
- LeMons Prairie Chicken Fricassee Date: August 27â€"28; Track: Mid-America Motorplex, Pacific Junction IA
- Where the Elite Meet to Cheat Date: September 24â€"25; Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord NC
- Yee-Haw It's LeMons Texas! Date: October 1â€"2; Track: MSR Houston, Angleton TX
- Showroom-Schlock Shootout Date: October 8â€"9; Track: Autobahn Country Club, Joliet IL
- The Skankaway Anti-Toe-Fungal 500, Sponsored by Cruskin-Skankaway Inc., The Official Fungicidal Toe Creme of LeMons Date: October 22â€"23, Track: Infineon Raceway, Sonoma CA
- LeMons Arse-Freeze-Apalooza Date: December 3â€"4; Track: Buttonwillow Raceway, Buttonwillow CA
- Heaps in the Heart of Texas Date: December 17â€"28; Track: Eagles Canyon Raceway, Decatur TX
2012 LeMons Events
- Yee-Haw, It's LeMons Texas Date: February 11â€"12; Track: Texas World Speedway, College Station TX [1]
- All Weathers/No Whiners GP Date: February 18â€"19; Track: Portland International Raceway, Portland OR [2]
- Southern Discomfort Date: March 3â€"4; Track: Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw SC [3]
- Sears Pointless Date: March 24â€"25; Track: Infineon Raceway, Sonoma CA [4]
- The Real Hoopties of New Jersey Date: April 14â€"15; Track: New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville NJ [5]
- Campaign to Prevent Gingervitis Date: April 21â€"22; Track: Gingerman Raceway, South Haven, MI [6]
- Loudon Annoying Date: May 5â€"6; Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon NH [7]
- North Dallas Hooptie Date: May 26â€"27; Track: Eagles Canyon Raceway, Decatur TX [8]
- The B.F.E. GP Date: June 2â€"3; Track: High Plains Raceway, Deer Trail CO [9]
- Showroom-Schlock Shootout Date: June 9â€"10; Track: Autobahn Country Club, Joliet IL [10]
- Capitol Offense Date: June 16â€"17; Track: Summit Point Motorsports Park, Summit Point WV [11]
- Arse-Sweat-Apalooza Date: June 30-July 1; Track: Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow CA [12]
- Pacific Northworst GP Date: July 21â€"22; Track: The Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton WA [13]
- LeMons Prairie Chicken Fricasee Date: August 11â€"12; Track: Mid-America Motorplex, Pacific Junction IA [14]
- The Chubba Cheddar Enduro Date: August 20â€"21; Track: Road America, Elkhart Lake WI [15]
- Vodden The Hell Are We Doing? Date: September 15â€"16; Track: Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows CA [16]
- LeMons South Fall Date: September 22â€"23; Track: Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw SC [17]
- Gator-O-Rama Date: September 29â€"30; Track: MSR Houston, Angleton TX [18]
- American Irony Date: October 13â€"14; Track: Autobahn Country Club, Joliet IL [19]
- Halloween Hooptiefest Date: October 27â€"28; Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon NH [20]
- Arse-Freeze-Apalooza Date: December 8â€"9; Track: Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, Desert Center CA [21]
Additionally, a summer race and season-ending race are planned, but the location and/or date have not been set.
References
External links
- 24 Hours of LeMons USA - official USA site
- LeMons Austalia
- LeMons New Zealand
- Audio on the 24 Hours of LeMons 24 Hours of LeMons Southern
- Murilee Martin's 24 Hours of LeMons photo galleries
- Judge Phil's ongoing LeMons coverage
- The 2010 Legends of LeMons Medal winners
- 24 Hours of LeMons coverage on Car and Driver