Type D to be

So here is the new car.  

Since a Miata is one of the most raced cars in the world our automatic "you guys must suck 300zx, good luck finishing" tech inspections are going to get a LOT harder.  To that end we must do a good bit of extra work to make the car into something the judges will approve of.  We have started with a really ratty car, but the vision is to turn this...

Into something more like this.  Amazing what some spray foam, fiberglass and paint can do to a car.

Both Teams are In

If you have not seen here is Jay's message below.

Doug

Hi, Douglas Van Lare:

Good news--I think. Clunker Refuge Racing II has officially been ACCEPTED for The Skankaway Anti-Toe-Fungal 500, Sponsored by Cruskin-Skankaway Inc., the Official Fungicidal Toe Creme of LeMons at Infineon Raceway, Sonoma CA, October 22 - October 23. Here's what you need to do now:

A: Read this email completely.

B: Fill out the rest of your team info. Your current team status is Complete: Log on here and start finishing your details.

Got all that? Good--'cause there's more:

1) DOWNLOAD THE SAFETY-INSPECTION CHECKLIST

Download the Safety-Inspection Checklist now, fill it out as you build your car, and bring the completed Checklist with you to the track! Remember, not every rule is reflected on the Checklist: You still need to study the full LeMons Rulebook.

2) READ THESE MORE-OR-LESS USEFUL NOTICES

EVENT SCHEDULE

Friday, 21 October 2011

7:30am: Gates open

Noon-5pm: Mandatory Friday Tech Inspection. Every car and at least one driver per team must be present for Tech Inspection on Friday. No Saturday Tech will be offered!

TBA: Pre-race track testing

Saturday, 22 October 2011

7:30am: Gates open

9:30am: Mandatory drivers' meeting

10:30am-6pm: Race session I

Sunday, 23 October 2011

8:15am: Mandatory drivers' meeting

9am-5pm: Race session II

Noon: People's Curse

5pm: Checkered flag

5:30pm: Awards

8:00pm: Gates close

MOTELS, CAMPING, DIRECTIONS, ETC: Check out the race page and keep coming back often--when we learn something new, we'll update it here.

PARTICIPANT-DISCOUNT SAFETY GEAR: Thanks to event-sponsor Pyrotect, everything an individual needs to pass driver tech (full-face SA2005 helmet plus SFI-rated driving suit, undies, gloves, and shoes) can be bought in one box at a LeMons-only discount: $475 for the bundle. All the gear has been pre-approved--just put it on and go.

Pyrotect also offers discounted LeMons rates on neck braces (at least one is required per team--this isn't part of the bundle); SFI five-point belts; and stand-alone SA2005 helmets. Remember, to get the subsidized LeMons rates, you've got to order online via the LeMons-rate ordering page.

RACE #s: Now that your team has been accepted, a pulldown menu of car #s is visible on the Edit Car Info page of your online registration. If the number you want isn't shown, somebody else already has it. Pick another one. Numbers should be displayed on both sides of the car plus the hood or roof.

COMP LICENSES: Every driver needs a LeMons competition membership. Memberships cost $50 and are good for one year from date of purchase. We are no longer recognizing other series' comp licenses, due to unbelievably excessive whining. Blame the BMW CCA and PCA Club member in the pit space next door. No, seriously, kick his butt. He just cost you 50 bucks.

ROSTER CHANGES: For now, it's still okay to make updates and changes to your online registration. If the changes affect your entry fees, the total will update itself automatically. About a week before the race we'll lock down the database, after which no more additions or changes are possible. We'll give you a few days' warning before that happens, but once it's gone, it's gone.

RULES: THE LeMONS RULEBOOK HAS BEEN UPDATED! Read the complete Rulebook athttp://www.24hoursoflemons.com/pricesandrules.aspx/ now and re-check it often, refreshing your browser each time. Pay special attention to the strikeout copies linked at the top of the page: It's your responsibility to know the latest version of all posted rules going into the race.

DROPOUTS: When you enter a race, you're buying the right to compete--not a guarantee from us that you'll get your own act together. If you drop out, can't finish your car, blow up, go broke, catch swine flu, step on your own wiener, or otherwise fail to avail yourself of your grid spot, you forfeit your entry fees. That's why they're called "entry" fees, not "I got to drive the whole race" fees.

3) PAY UP BY SATURDAY, 08/27/2011

Speaking of entry fees, they're due now. All entry fees must be paid in full by 08/27/2011. Miss that deadline, and your spot may be given to the next team on the waitlist. Need to beg an extension? Please drop us an email before the due date.

Your total fees are shown on your registration Home page--assuming you filled out the driver, crew, camping, license, and transponder info correctly. If there's a big red INCOMPLETE at the top of your Home page, you've screwed something up, and that might affect your fee total. So...um...fix it.

To pay online by credit card, use the "Pay Now" button shown on your Team Home Page, athttps://registration.24hoursoflemons.com/members/races/registration/signup_id/2468.

To cough up by check or money order, make payable to "24 Hours of LeMons" and mail to "24 Hours of LeMons, 5675-C Horton Street, Emeryville CA 94608."

4) READY? JUST CLICK BELOW TO CONFIRM, AND 'YER IN

https://registration.24hoursoflemons.com/login/acknowledge/sid/2468/hash/52a2c9c3977b90f5b9af65ce07f0146a

Welcome aboard, hope we'll be seeing you there! Best &c--JL

Jay Lamm, Chief Perpetrator
24 HOURS OF LeMONS
5675 Horton Street, Suite C
Emeryville CA 94608
510.655.5980 x23 (Jay direct)
jay@24HoursofLeMons.com

Here it is, the first picture

Without a doubt, the car is in Lemon's shape to start with.  I give Rod bonus points for finding a car that was in drivable shape and more important, I understand there are some spare parts that he dropped off in the garage that still need to be bolted on.  They say it is best to pick up someone else's incomplete project when starting one of your own, and whatever is in the spare parts box, this car hasn't seen any love in a while.  

To make this car feel right at home with Ruby, it is the right amount of faded red (no wax here, so the rattle can paint will stick well), and has a nice dent at the right front wheel.  

More later after Muddy gets home tomorrow.

Guess the new ride

This just showed up in my inbox and Rod doesn't have everyone's email so I'm hoping this gets to the whole team. 

While Muddy is away, Rod deposited a new ride on his doorstep. Thing is, Muddy doesn't know what it is that he just bought.  Time to start guessing. I'll swing by on my way home Monday and see if I can add an equally mysterious photo to go with the text. 

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: Thrown Rod 
Date: August 13, 2011 2:37:25 PM PDT
Subject: It is Done...

Ruby has a new friend.

For themes, I'm thinking Bizzaro Bee (homage to the Killer Bees MGB), "The Graduate" ala Dustin Hoffman, or if we are lazy, "Mini Ruby"

Penske Move Over, A Two Car Team???

I hope everyone is enjoying the summer. It looks like Lugnut is having fun rubbing shoulders with several amateur teams. Nice Work

As for our car it looks like Rubby got through Reno’s 24-hour race well. The car is in better shape than we first thought and really only needs minor work. This got me to think (always a bad thing). If we start now we have plenty of time to get a second car up and running. Move over Penske.

So, the question is what kind of car would you like us to run next to Rubby? Something that goes fast…. Something that would be in the running for the Index of Effluency…. Something you always wanted when you were 12...

Please post your thoughts and Let me know what you think.

Muddy

Get out of Jail Free Card

History has shown that black flags are an inevitable fact of life for Clunker Refuge Racing. So the quest continues for an express checkout voucher for the Lemons doghouse. While I was bumming around the infield of the Grand Am race at Laguna Seca I ran into a guy named Will. Since the track was about to go live we only had time for a short yet deep conversation. "Dude, nice car, where did you get it?"

The points leaders of the GT class happen to be milling around on the starting grid. You thought the primary job of the driver was to pilot the race car? By the looks of these guys it is not to add extraneous balast to the car.

Does this shirt make me look phat?

Ruby seen on the National TV

The advertisement group of our team really likes the coverage we get at Fernley. Both times we ran there our car can has been seen on national TV. For the 2009 Goin' For Broken race, Good Morning American ran the following clip. (Ruby can be seen at the 1:58 mark. Wow, we rode high back then.)

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=7714415

This time in 2011, we see Ruby on the new The Car Show with Adam Carolla, and not once but twice. First at the 0:14 mark and again at the 4:57.

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/the-car-show-reno-lemons/123ddrtx?cpkey=a81e8ca2-4127-ee34-f352-1e7aa853f8e6%7C%7C%7C%7C

I really like the second one. The car is going through the corner flatter and passing a certain Miata.

Enjoy

Muddy

PS- Thank you Claus for the link.