24 hours of Lemons CMP this weekend USA

[bam2002]

Hello everyone

I wanted to let the group know we are heading up to South Carolina today to run our e30 in its 2nd 24 hours of Lemons. This is a 24 hour endurance race in a $500 car.

We have set up a facebook site with data on our team and the race. We will be updating it this weekend as time permits.

Here is our site http://www.facebook.com/pages/24-Hours- ... 4072729458

official site is www.24hoursoflemons.com

I think there will be 6 e30s running in the event this time. A e30 has never won the race, we would like to change that.

Also there will be updates and photos at www.jalopnik.com

Cheers.

[bam2002]

we passed tech.

However there are alot of e30s here. The Judges dont like e30s..

More here..

http://jalopnik.com/5197830/bmw-e30s-ge ... -schei+e30

[bam2002]

And E30 had WON the race..

Finally after having this event for 2 years at different tracks. an E30 has done it.

http://jalopnik.com/5199461/and-the-24- ... s-bmw-325e


We were in 5th place 8 hours into the race. then the car died.. We are back home in Florida now. Ill have to have some one look at the car because I replaced the following.
Air flow senseor, in tank fuel pump, fuel pump, crank sensor. Checked the timing marks and re teneioned the belt. Did a compression check 175 to 180 accross. Swapped out wires.
checked cap and rotor, Its getting spark and flooding the engine..
Fuel pressure 142.. Thecked resistance on Throttle body sensor it was OK. So we gave up...

I have no clue what the problem is.

B

[bam2002]

Here is a ton of photos..
http://www.ronman.org/pics/lemons


And some articles. I hope some one is finding this interesting..


Murilee Martin's Jalopnik coverage:

http://jalopnik.com/5204373/the-top-94- ... pring-2009
http://jalopnik.com/tag/24-hours-of-lemons/

Guest Judge Rahul's guide to penalities on Racing Geek:

http://www.rahulnair.net/blog/2009/04/0 ... lties-101/

Judge Jonny's SpeedSportLife coverage:

http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/04/0 ... g-wrap-up/
http://www.speedsportlife.com/tag/24-hours-of-lemons/

Final LeMons South Spring Results and Awards

http://www.24hoursoflemons.com/results/

[Morat]

That is an awesome effort!!
Congratulations on making it as far as you did. I'm really pleased those guys are sore about an E30 winning, they should be forced to take their stencil to a tattoo studio and bend over ;)

[Boyraceruk]

I don't understand this hatred of E30s. I mean, the budget is $500, if you can get a Lamborghini for that you'd run it, but since you can't the fastest thing at that budget is probably a 325. If everyone turns up in the same car it usually means it's fairly good. Yeah, you _could_ take a Renault Fuego Turbo but it's 24 hours. Or you _could_ buy a VW but it's a race.

Whoever made that stencil should try entering an AMC Pacer next year, I can't imagine there'd be another on the grid.

[Jon_Bmw]

It may just be me, but I would frigging love a go at something like that in the UK.

How much fuel did you use in gallons or preferably litres Bam?

[Chase007]

What a bunch of idiots

[bam2002]

Well the car is a 325 IS. last year it was a ETA car but we badly overheated it and had to swap out the engine. Now to keep under $500 we ended up using 4 different IS engine that had spun bearings to make one good engine. We also put in new rings and one of the drivers owns a shop so he rebuilt the head. Labor is free so doesnt count.

We were using about 10 to 12 gal every 2 hours. We would go out and run a tank of gas then come in and refuel and switch drivers. 2 hours out on a 1.3 mile track with 90 cars can get a little exciting. We were bumped 2 times in the back and the passenger rear quarter got hit- about a 6 inch dent.

Some videos to give you an idea of the volume of cars.





Even though the car is $500 . the car really costs about $2000. USD to race. By the time you put in the cage, make sure the brakes are good. Racing seat and padding. Plus the consumables. We went through 2 sets of 200 tread wear tires last year. This year we only went through 1 set because we didnt make it through the whole race.

I have a good U pull junkyard close by that usually has about 3 e30s in the yard. Between last years race and the one 2 weeks ago I was able to find a set of Bilstiens for the front and a oil cooler. I spent $45 on those parts.

As for the Judges. You have to remember the race is light hearted and suppose to be funny. Hence the strange penalties and the fact the judges take bribes when you are getting the car inspected. So you have to go into the event with a sense of Humor. The judges like unique cars, or cars that have no business being on a track. Yea this is fun in theory, but those of us that also race in other events want to have a car that has a chance of winning. I am sure if we all could find Miatas or Corvettes for $500 we would be running them.

I have a new team member that wants to get a 2nd car ready for the Sept event. I have a badly rusted 75 2002 that we hope to have ready.

We plan to do at least 2 of these a year maybe 3.