[LePew]

24 Hours of LeMons is finally coming to the East Coast August 23-34 2008 (not the "coast" exactly, but Stafford Springs, CT will do). You may have read about this event in Car & Driver, Grassroots Motorsports or lesser publications. The basic idea: a team of 4-6 drivers with a $500 car try to last 24 hours.

The 24 Hours of LeMons

Competition license not necessary. Any interest among this crowd in campaigning a counterfeit mini or other suitable vehicle?

[blalor]

Yes. Of course I have no money for such a thing. Then again, I've rarely let that stop me before...

[Cape Cod MINI]

Ahh, been wondering when this would show up here. I was happy to see it coming to Stafford too and have already sown the seeds of interest w/ some friends and family to try and field a team in 2009. One of my brothers in law drives the small track races (Seekonk, Thompson, etc.) Tools, mechanical knowledge, network, trailer, tow vehicle, crazy idiots ,...already in place and if I can get them to bite we are more than half way there

[Actual Size]

Maybe you can find one of these...

http://tinyurl.com/3ybzrf

[LePew]

Brian, if you can float a $100 driver entry fee and $50 license fee (if needed) plus maybe a little scratch for gas and oil you might be a player. Car purchase funds would be covered elsewhere (heck the team might even find a sponsor). I'd would like to find a racing platform that allows for transfer of the required saftey equipment (racing seat(s) harness(es), roll cage) over to my MINI at the end to the extent possible. So most of that would be covered as well.

Any team starting out with me as a member is lacking driving skills, brain power, organization adeptness, and mechanical ability. Most of all, driving skills !

Hey Steve, maybe running with a 2008 seat-of-the-pants effort like this could be great practice for your more serious effort in 2009?

Rick, those are some truly amazing "barn finds"...can you scheme a way to get one of them across the pond as cheaply as possible? Did the Arctic MINI crew leave St. John yet -- that would be half-way home...

[Theo]

This sounds very cool...count me interested...I'm only 40 minutes from the venue!

I'll be watching for more info as it develops.

Theo

[rfinprc]

--> Sincere expression of serious interest

[blalor]

Quote: Originally Posted by LePew (original)

Brian, if you can float a $100 driver entry fee and $50 license fee (if needed) plus maybe a little scratch for gas and oil you might be a player.

So in other words, a quarter of what my dogs cost me at the vet yesterday? Ok, I'm definitely in. I'm reasonably adept at breaking perfectly good mechanical bits, too, if the need arises. Where do I sign?

[jwardell]

I'd consider spectating, as I have a place to stay almost within walking distance of that track...

Just be careful driving around there, after dark the majority of traffic on the streets are intoxicated!

[Cape Cod MINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by jwardell (original)

I'd consider spectating, as I have a place to stay almost within walking distance of that track...

Just be careful driving around there, after dark the majority of traffic on the streets are intoxicated!

Don't worry about that. They are all driving on the track that weekend.

[LePew]

Hey this is shaping up nicely - we might already have 3 or 4 interested participants. And of those, at least 1 or 2 who actually know how to drive! And -- wow -- our first fan (oooh with accomodations nearby). Any more takers?

So, what to think of the required vehicle? Have you seen accounts of prior events? Bigger might be a better strategy than going smaller. I'm wondering if a Civic or even a old E21 or E30 3 series is too small to survive the expected "close encounter" or two. Something in a Volvo 240 / 5 Series size range perhaps? I did see a Lincoln town car on ebay yesterday... On the other hand, beat up Jettas and Subies seem to be a dime a dozen.

[blalor]

How crazy do we want to get? The Jalopnik guys (Murilee Martin and Jonny Lieberman) are dropping a 320 cu. in. Ford small block into a Volvo 240. Something about a Subie or Jetta is appealing to me. A Town Car would get major bonus points for creature comforts, but would probably cost a fortune to put gas through. If we got an E30, I might have to fight you for the title.

I'll start trolling Craigslist; maybe we'll see something good. Remember that the *net* cost has to be $500. If we find something with salable parts, we can recoup some money there.

[faster,Tobias!]

Good luck, guys. The 24 Hours of LeMons is on my 'Must Do Before I Die' list, but to get to the California events from up here in western Canada takes a bit of logistical/ financial wizardry. The events sound like mad fun!

[NHRef]

Definitely interested!

As for experience, I watched Grand Prix with James Garner in the original Super Panavision format.

Before I commit, though, who will be the team's Eva Marie Saint?

[GadgetGav]

I might be interested... I'm not sure one driver's ed day would make me suitable for a driving stint and having seen the Top Gear guys try a 24 hour event, I'm not sure I want to drive a track at night, but I'd be willing to help out with building the Le Mon or being pit crew at the event.
I haven't read reports of past events, but I skimmed the headlines on Jalopnik - does that count?

[GadgetGav]

Wait a minute...
Lights: Headlights, taillights, and sidemarkers removed

That's going to make the 9pm to 5am shift interesting..!

Oh, wait
Tentative Schedule: Two endurance sessions separated by nighttime break--hours TBA

So 24 hours is just a marketing title then..?

[blalor]

Well, the entire weekend encompasses at least 24 hours...

[jwardell]

I'm sure the evening hours are filled with the drinking part of the endurance competition.

[LePew]

Time to get cracking on this some more, I've been seriously amiss. Time to start nailing down more specifics. Looks like we have the following:

1. Team members

Here's who (or what) we have so far:
LePew
NHRef
blalor
GadgetGav
Theo
CCM?

Wow, what a bunch of hacks! Now, if we could only find at least one REAL driver to do the other 88% of the driving ... any further takers, PLEASE?

I'd like to get the team registered before the end of March. And - names -- let's have some suggestion for a team name.


2. Pit crew:
JWardwell?
My brother?
CCM and friends?

Josh, you willing to don some overalls and hop the wall into pit lane? And hey CCM, were you seriously offering some help here? I spoke to my brother last week. While he's into a new profession (carpentry) the past few years, he was a certified ASE mechanic for many years and can probably be cajoled into pit crew duty.

3. Car

I've been doing a little shopping on Criagslist, the "parts cars" in the WantAd, etc. I'm partial to old Bimmers and It really does appear quite possible to find a old 3 or 5 for less than $500. Any further suggestions here? Did any of you see this month's Roundel yet? Check out the article about a LeMons team effort last year.

[Theo]

David,

I agree with the 3 or 5-series preference. I had a 89 528i (newer body style) that was built like a tank! I would, however, suggest a 535 for the peppier engine. Of course, that may put us over the $500 limit.

Hey, perhaps Pete E's new shop would sponsor us?

Name...Hmmmmm...

We've got the people -- we've got the shirts -- dare I say.... The OGMC? (we can "grandfather" Brian and Gav in, can't we?)

Theo