2010 Lemons Race

Ok, I'm new to DFW; both the forum & city itself. Some of you may have seen the Silver Convertible Mini at Autocross events; that's me. I may be selling her in the Spring and getting a Miata, but that's another thread altogether.

Due to the recent move, I was unable to help out with our team's (Eau Rude) car, so I was relegated to pit crew/radio chief during the race. Now I'm hooked, but the rest of the team (& car) are back in Ohio. Info on us @ http://lemonsrace.com/

Thus, I finally reach the point of this post... Who is interested in getting a car and doin' the lemons thing this June 5-6 in Dallas?

First welcome to Texas! Thanks for racing for Autism. I teach kids with severe autism everyday.

Check out the Team Miagra thread. You may find a few people to join you in this venture. I just don't have the time and am too slow on the track.

Welcome to the area and here on the forum. We have one team on here but there's been talk of starting a second team at the Wednesday nite get-togethers. C'mon out to one of them and meet some people. They usually post the info in the impromptu events section. Cool Lemons website. It looks like your team will miss you.

I'm in for sure, both finacially and time wise. Just let me know. I have summers off, one of the many perks working for a school district!

Good luck, y'all. It's a ton of work, but a ton of fun!!

Got a buddy with a 85 300zx f/s for 200 bucks. We just need to find a cheap car'b v8. He's on the look out he said. I got a place to store the car and also some equipment. Just gotta find someone thats good at fab work.

Or just pick up a running car for less then 500 and strip the hell out of it.

Lemons Candidate!

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/1439798150.html

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Originally Posted by BenRomans04

Got a buddy with a 85 300zx f/s for 200 bucks. We just need to find a cheap car'b v8. He's on the look out he said. I got a place to store the car and also some equipment. Just gotta find someone thats good at fab work.

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That has potential. Anything that can be sold from the car (seats, radio etc) can be used against the $500 cap. Thus, if we can find a V8 for $650 or less, the 300zx would be kick arse!

Is this Wed (11/11) at Keller's a good time to meet? The sooner we get a team & car assembled the better. :burnrubr:

Just Keep in mind the 300 will need to be an automatic for Ben.


;)

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

Just Keep in mind the 300 will need to be an automatic for Ben.


;)

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Now thats thinking with your dipstick!!! Hahaha

Anymore interest in this???

I just returned from the Fabtech exhibition in Chicago. I only mention that to impress upon everyone that I have fabrication contacts (read: help us make and/or fix stuff cheap). Just sayin'.::Banana::

Anyway, I hope to meet with whoever's even remotely interested at Kellers soon. I may be able to sneak away tonight. Otherwise, it'll need to be next week sometime. :thumleft:

How was the turnout this year at FabTech? Vegas last year was sad.

Is it going to be a big year for Salvagnini?

I might be interested in getting involved in a team, and even could offer a fairly well equipped shop for the build, but it wouldn't be for the 2010 Lemons season. I need to finish my own project cars before I take on a team project car.

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

How was the turnout this year at FabTech? Vegas last year was sad.

Is it going to be a big year for Salvagnini?

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Turnout was fair. Salvagnini had a GREAT show, as our new fiber laser caused quite a stir. We should have a good year, despite the lackluster economy.

Uh, how did you connect me to Salvagnini? Have we met? I'm struggling to reverse-engineering the "POS Racing" screen name.

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Originally Posted by TexasStig

Uh, how did you connect me to Salvagnini? Have we met? I'm struggling to reverse-engineering the "POS Racing" screen name.

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I think we have meet your name looked familiar but FabTech is what rattled my memory! Heck how many folks have ever heard of the FabTech show!

Then with a little help from Google I figured it all out!

I am Mick Harrison Jr. I own this place - www.harrisonindustrial.com

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

I think we have meet your name looked familiar but FabTech is what rattled my memory! Heck how many folks have ever heard of the FabTech show!

Then with a little help from Google I figured it all out!

I am Mick Harrison Jr. I own this place - www.harrisonindustrial.com

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Fix your site!

When running IE it pops up the JAVA warning about wanting to needing an older version of JAVA repeatedly. I had to close IE via Task Manager.

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Originally Posted by channelmaniac

Fix your site!

When running IE it pops up the JAVA warning about wanting to needing an older version of JAVA repeatedly. I had to close IE via Task Manager.

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Thanks for the info!

The site really does need a redo...... I'll talk to myself about it. ;)

I know a guy who can provide a Yugo if somebody else can put in/finance a cage for it. ::Banana::

I found a pinto wagon for $400............if I weren't moving, I'd build it! Speaking of cheap cars..... I still have two Miatas fo cheap.

The goal at a Lemons race is to complete the MOST laps! A modestly fast car with penalty free driving can accomplish this. A Yugo can sit there and watch.

Anything that looks modestly fast, or anything near looking fast will get a 200 lap penalty from the judges. Anything that actually is fast will get crushed.

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Originally Posted by Nails

The goal at a Lemons race is to complete the MOST laps! A modestly fast car with penalty free driving can accomplish this. A Yugo can sit there and watch.

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EXACTLY... We had a SE-R! While on track, we were usually passing people like crazy. However, numerous penalties (rookie team mistake) really killed us. For me, the winning formula looks like:

Fairly reliable + moderately quick + 3 * "don't drive like an idiot" = win.

Moderately quick meaning that it does need decent acceleration (ahem, no Yugo) as it's necessary to brake often to avoid people who don't know what they're doing.

The holidays are crazy busy, but is anyone interested in meeting next week to see if we can make this a reality?

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Originally Posted by TexasStig

EXACTLY... We had a SE-R! While on track, we were usually passing people like crazy. However, numerous penalties (rookie team mistake) really killed us. For me, the winning formula looks like:

Fairly reliable + moderately quick + 3 * "don't drive like an idiot" = win.

Moderately quick meaning that it does need decent acceleration (ahem, no Yugo) as it's necessary to brake often to avoid people who don't know what they're doing.

The holidays are crazy busy, but is anyone interested in meeting next week to see if we can make this a reality?

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Say at ECR next weekend during the toy tun?????

I'll be at toys for tots at ECR on Sunday in a gray NC. Look me up if you're there Texasstig.

I'm not a member... it wasn't clear on the site if the 'fun run' is open to the general public. In any case, I did email Maggie to see if I can run as a guest. I've only done one HPDE, so that may be another obstacle.

Now I have my hopes up; track days rock! It was a blast passing the Vette guys in the corners. The flip side was the aggravation as they all flew past me back on the straight.

If I receive the OK from ECR, I'll plan on being there Sunday. Stay tuned...

From going to one event and reading the Lemons board, it looks like you get extra points for bringing weird cars and using creative themes. One of the Judges keeps saying you will be a hero for bringing something like a Nash Metro or an old Hillman, even if you aren't the fastest car at the race. Building a car in your backyard while facing the elements using tools you bought from Harbor Freight is a good thing. Being affiliated with an actual race shop is suspect.

Bringing a Yugo or Pinto Station Wagon would be more in the spirit of the race. The guy who is bringing the Wartburg is the King. Just bringing something fast and reliable that can beat everybody else seems rather boring to me. You might as well do an SCCA enduro where they actually care who finishes first.

If anybody knows where I can find an old Hillman Husky that still runs, let me know. I have a dogsled I could strap to the top of it. :D

I wouldn't give a nickel to put a cage in a Yugo. Spirit or not I want a car that has better than a 50% chance of driving to the end of the second day.
Personally, I'm hoping to find an early eighties Dodge Omni with turbo or VW Sirrocco.

Wow, this sounds like fun. I would like to get in on this if it is possible. I should be back in Texas and done with all my rehab by the end of April. If all goes well I should be back at 100% by then. Well 100% for a broken down 41 year old. LOL

I have wrenching skills and I can think out side the box. I agree with nails though, the car needs to be something that can at least get to the starting line. I remember the Yugo's, they were a one way car. They went away from the house and got towed back for repairs.

Good luck with the build!
Keep in mind that entries for the Feb. race in Houston are due on 12/12. You've got a bit more time if you're shooting to make the Dallas event later this year.

Oh...once you have established a realistic time and money budget, go ahead and add 50% to both. That will put you in the ballpark. ;)

This is the guy I was talking about. Second one down. He lives in Tyler and borrows my trailer from time to time. He built a megasquirted turbo Yugo for the Grassroots Motorsports Challenge a few years ago that blew everybody away. He is offering a car and his pile of parts for LeMons if anybody is interested. All he needs is a cage.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/art...e-challengers/

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Originally Posted by miataspeedracer

Oh...once you have established a realistic time and money budget, go ahead and add 50% to both. That will put you in the ballpark. ;)

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Curiosity got me so what sort of ::2Dollar: range would one be looking at to play?

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

Curiosity got me so what sort of ::2Dollar: range would one be looking at to play?

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I thought the whole idea was a $500 cap.:facepalm:

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

Curiosity got me so what sort of ::2Dollar: range would one be looking at to play?

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Go LAC Go! Link

http://cache-09.gawkerassets.com/ass...09-Top-099.jpg

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Originally Posted by cone-cerned

I thought the whole idea was a $500 cap.:facepalm:

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$500 for the basic car. Then add the "safety" items needed that don't count against the cost like roll cage, seat, steering wheel, wheels, tires, brake pads, etc. Then add in the entry fees... $500 per car + $100 per driver + $75 for non-drivers. (Each team must have 4-6 drivers.)

. Then you need someone with a truck and trailer to get the car to the race. Then figure in gas/food/lodging for the whole team and car to get there and back. Gas for the race. All the drivers have driving suits, shoes, and helmets already? If not, better buy them. It ads up.

Without too many specifics, our total outlay for our first race was just a little under $1000 each for six of us. That included the car, upgraded performance and safety parts, race entry, licenses, fuel, hotel, food, other travel and miscellaneous costs, etc.
Your bill goes up if you need to buy a new track suit, shoes, helmet, etc. that meet FIA regs.

So...definitely not cheap. However, the costs drop considerably for any subsequent races. The Lemons thing really only makes sense if you plan for multiple races.

I'll be driving the dark silver Mini Cooper convertible this Sunday at Eagle's Canyon. Hope to meet some of y'all there!

Titus is correct; This 'budget' race can get expensive if you don't already have driving gear. But hey, the investment in gear NOW makes SCCA club racing cheaper in the future. Yea, I feel comfortable justifying it that way.

As far as the car/theme: The point of this IS to have fun with it. I have a couple of cool ideas, but don't want to just to post them. Some shots from the Ohio event:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31305147@N06/

Yes, that's us with the SE-R missing the front tire, yet having two drilled to the roof (penalties).


The pinto would be an excellent choice IMHO. Especially if we paint it orange & go as "Illinois Nazi's". That wasn't one of my ideas, but hey, it has potential if someone on the team looks like Henry Gibson.

I HATE Illinois Nazis. :D