24 Hours of LeMons
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| Category | Endurance racing |
|---|---|
| Country | United States, Australia, New Zealand |
| Inaugural season | 2006 |
| Drivers | Amateur Racers |
| Official website | www.24hoursoflemons.com |
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.
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.
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.
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