Actually, the title should read ‘what happens when you register for 24 Hours of LeMon’s’ but it’s not as catchy.
As many of you car/racing nuts are probably aware, this weekend will be the 3rd 24 Hours of LeMon’s event for NZ and we (our team) will be there (Hampton Downs) with bells on – well plumbing pipe but that’s another story.
As with the good ol’ US of A, 24 Hours of LeMons is rapidly becoming a New Zealand institution. It’s a place for people to take the serious nature of Motorsport and add a big slice of fun. In essence, you grab a sub $1000 car (aka Lemon), make it safe, theme it and race it around a track for 24 hours (currently spread over two days). It’s the thrill of Motorsport, without the hefty price tag.
Anyway, having just spent last weekend crawling over our lemon, I am happy to share a couple of tips:
First of all, don’t be too precious – if like me, you have a love of all things automotive and grow attached to cars very quickly, you will find it hard to drill holes in perfectly straight body panels or paint said paintwork with a can of ‘nearly the same colour’ paint. Try to bear in mind, that in reality, your (one step away from the scrap yard) Lemon is lucky to have you.
Secondly – the more outrageous (and ridiculous) your theme, the better your chance of actually winning a trophy. This is a race and it is (a form of) Motorsport, but I’ve seen thimbles bigger than the checkered flag cup! So theme people, theme.
C – Attention to detail. Make sure you get the basics of your car right. It’s going to (hopefully) spend a long time going round and round a track – make sure you double and triple check what makes your car go and stop.
Forth – Bribery. Despite what you may think when you see them, the management team and judges are human (barely; but they are) and as such can be bribed. All (ahem) proceeds go to a good cause – so take cash, lots of it.
Fifth – a helping hand is better than a whinge or a whine – Helpers get rewarded, whingers get shunned like rabid dogs – enough said
And last but not least – buy duct tape, lots of it. It is the essential, cure all for the weekend.
There is plenty more to tell – but we need a competitive edge (believe me).
So what happens when life gives you Lemons – You Duct tape the hell out of it!
See you on the track this weekend – fingers crossed.