24 Hours Of LeMons/Final Gear Racing fall 2009

[Nabster]

So what you're saying is people are spending $10000+ to win a race revolving around $500 cars. Oh look at me, I spent $10000 to beat their $500 car. Obviously some people aren't in the proper frame of mind here.

[thedguy]

Originally Posted by Nabster

So what you're saying is people are spending $10000+ to win a race revolving around $500 cars. Oh look at me, I spent $10000 to beat their $500 car. Obviously some people aren't in the proper frame of mind here.

You talking to me or PB? Cause I was just noting that it doesn't apply to just SBC/SBF's. Plenty of motors can be made stroker motors without anyone realizing it.

[Serj]

Originally Posted by thedguy

You talking to me or PB? Cause I was just noting that it doesn't apply to just SBC/SBF's. Plenty of motors can be made stroker motors without anyone realizing it.

actually, the Judges themselves (especially Murilee) aren't looking at the engine much. they're looking at the SUSPENSION. they do the bounce test, look for fat sway bars, new shocks, and suspiciously clean parts down there. they spend all of 5 seconds looking at the motor, unless it's one that wasn't originally on the car. with the vic, it's a P71 so it came stock with the really heavy springs, thicker rollbars, tranny cooler, and dual exhaust. and they're a dime a dozen. I am frankly surprised there isnt hordes of them at these events. so far I've seen maybe 5 from the 1990s, and 2, maybe 3 from the 80s. our Pals the Pleasant Valley Racers got a LOT of scrutiny over their cut springs in the front, and was actually threatened with a load-compression test. it was kinda funny in some ways, but it shows you. if you got creative with a motor swap, they may give you more kudos for using enough duct tape to hold it in there versus slapping you for showing up with a Supercharged plant from a dead riviera in a fiero.

[Serj]

Originally Posted by Nabster

So what you're saying is people are spending $10000+ to win a race revolving around $500 cars. Oh look at me, I spent $10000 to beat their $500 car. Obviously some people aren't in the proper frame of mind here.

by and large this is not the case. there have been only a hand full of cars that have been docked over 100 laps ($1000+). the recent buttonwillows hijinks may have been REAL 'lemons" in that they were just outside warranty and plagued with something like electrical problems. This event offsets those entries using the BS factor because, face it, a modern engine with issues could easily be turned into a complete ringer that's plenty reliable with the right guy, and having modern, stiff suspension bits with fresh shocks and body rigidity that is better than a Porsche 911 from 10-15years ago means that a modern car with it's "lemon" issues fixed could easily sell for $10k or win a race. will it REALLY be that fast? that answer is usually "no"

[Punisher Bass]

Speaking of suspension, I have some news on the Buick's. We all know Buick's have soft setups be default, but some came with better gear direct from the factory.

In the early 90's Buick debuted what they called "Dynaride". It was little more than marketing hype, it was the basic soft configuration, but they advertised it like it was some special high tech option. I've ridden in several Buick's in the past that were equipped with Dynaride, and it was indeed very floaty. But there was a better option.

They also introduced their Gran Touring suspension as an option on several of their cars. What the GT package gave you was stiffer struts, stiffer rear air shocks and some tweaking to the system, stiffer springs, and thicker sway bars. While the ride was still a bit on the soft side, it all added up to make for a much better driving experience. Not many Buick's came equipped like this since few people even knew about the option.

But we managed to luck out here once again. During a recent conversation with Serj, he told me he saw a little "GT Suspension" badge on the dash and figured that meant it was tuned to be soft. After telling him this was a good thing, I have the GT setup on my PAU, he was very happy to hear the good news. So we're already a little bit ahead of the game.

[EyeMWing]

Originally Posted by nouseferaname90

Donor car may have been something like this

I can't tell what the hell is going on with the back end from that angle, but it's probably still fit for racing if the suspension isn't shattered (and it looks like it took the majority of the damage to the shiny side anyway). Hell, in some ways it's almost ideal - you don't have to risk blowing your face off to remove the airbags. Grab a front-end loader, drag the windshield section back to something resembling factory, replace the blown tires, and either bend the rest of the cockpit back out, or bite the bullet and just sawzall off a ton of weight. Blammo, you're now racing a Mustang convertible! The only tough part is getting a windshield to fit again.

... Maybe I'm just a bit TOO redneck for this?

On the comparative rarity of P71's: I think it's mostly a psychological thing. Every car guy knows the things are plentiful and dirt cheap, but they're also the ENEMY. They write them off as being big, fat and overweight on that account, or to some perceived unreliability relating to the million-billion miles its done.

And on the Buick: GT springs? LOL! GM: True masters of overstatement.

[Punisher Bass]

Originally Posted by EyeMWing

And on the Buick: GT springs? LOL! GM: True masters of overstatement.

See, no respect at all. I'm tempted to teach you and your crown vic a lesson or two at LeMons.

[EyeMWing]

Originally Posted by Punisher Bass

See, no respect at all. I'm tempted to teach you and your crown vic a lesson or two at LeMons.

That requires me to show up with a Crown Vic. Right now we're shopping in the Chevy/Ford big block era and finding all kinds of killer deals (geriatric war veterans selling their old war buddy's geriatric cars - we have a few offers as low as "Pay for the title transfer") on cars that we could still register and drive on the damned street.

... The only problem is that not a single one of them has an original manufacture curb weight under 4000lbs. 4470 is the lowest we've found so far. No wonder American cars sucked so horribly despite having engines the size of tanks - they weigh more than the goddamned moon.

At any rate, I'm sure I'll see you there next year - we're looking to be ready to go for an August or September race.

[Punisher Bass]

Sorry, got your name confused with Ezbok58a's.

[Posmo]

If you have some suspiciously new looking parts, just sand off the paint and dip them in battery acid. After a while they will have a nice coating of surface rust

[Punisher Bass]

I have a little treat for everyone, the first video of the car actually running. Serj goes over what's happened since the last update, but I'll cover it here just for the hell of it.

+ YouTube Video

The new radiator has been put in and filled, the ac compressor has been pulled, there's an epoxy coating on the crack in the windshield, and a cone filter has been outfitted to the intake for better air flow. It should be going in for the cage later this week.

[thedguy]

Please tell me you guys are going as (butt) pirates and this is your boat.

[Punisher Bass]

Originally Posted by thedguy

Please tell me you guys are going as (butt) pirates and this is your boat.

Nope. Pirates have already been done by many other teams, including the 42 Vic. We have something very different and much more entertaining in store for this race.

[Ezbok58a]

Ooo, is it Team Burrrik on Gangsta Rimz

[Nabster]

Originally Posted by Punisher Bass

Nope. Pirates have already been done by many other teams, including the 42 Vic. We have something very different and much more entertaining in store for this race.

Might it involve pants up to your nipples and coke bottle bottom glasses?

[Punisher Bass]

Originally Posted by Ezbok58a

Ooo, is it Team Burrrik on Gangsta Rimz

Nope.

Originally Posted by Nabster

Might it involve pants up to your nipples and coke bottle bottom glasses?

And nope.

[Ezbok58a]

Eh, I tried...

I'll find out in Ohio when I show up there.

[gaasc]

Originally Posted by Nabster

Might it involve pants up to your nipples and coke bottle bottom glasses?

how are they gonna get the hookers and blow dressed like that?

[Punisher Bass]

Originally Posted by gaasc

how are they gonna get the hookers and blow dressed like that?

Pfft. The coke is easy to get, and if you pay her enough money, a hooker will let you burn her. She doesn't care what you look like....

Don't ask me how I know this.

[Ezbok58a]

Originally Posted by Punisher Bass

Pfft. The coke is easy to get, and if you pay her enough money, a hooker will let you burn her. She doesn't care what you look like....

Don't ask me how I know this.

Crack whores will do anything for some rock...

You can fit 8-10 of their bodies in the trunk to lower the Burrik!