Mike, same car - Ford Festiva.

Jed - I basically lucked into it. It's not that hard to get involved, especially if you have garage space and technical competency to get a beater running well enough to be driven 10/10 for two days. The big issue, at least with the CA races, is having a good theme. We get grandfathered in, but if you've never run LeMons it's a bit tougher to get in, especially if you want to run any of the douchebag* cars (E30, Miata, Sentra SE-R, etc).

The other thing about LeMons is that the small time guys are getting squeezed out of it. At Reno, 2/3 of the rigs were either high end RVs + stackers (a few rented, most not) or professional race setups. People are bringing $300k toterhomes; and it's quite obvious they're spending $5k+ on their cars.

* I only refer to them as that because every douchebag that hears "LeMons" starts off with "I'm thinking about running an <E30/Miata/SE-R> that I just happen to have acquired for free..."

 

I should have gotten in when invited to a team for the first one at Altamont a few years back. Team fizzled. Damn.

I can see that with the three cars you mention. I would however love to drive a Miata at one. I'm toying, as I do on and off again, of buying a spec M. Damn that would be sweet.

 

There is one that's forming in Ohio actually...I'd like to see if it actually goes somewhere..... I'd love to get back to a track someday soon....

 

Room was never the issue the one time I ran it - it was actually having said facilities there.

 

if the focus is really more for the weekend enthusiast as opposed to an event that's going to show up on sunday afternoon, then this would definitely be an issue..... I guess it all comes down to what their market is....

maybe the track event weekends bring in more revenue?

 

Could be Mocky... the big events have a small needy crowd for about 3 days before the big day and then a huge crowd for that one day. Gate receipts go to the promoter. I could see that a rented track each of Th, Fr, Sa, and Su for track events would be way more profitable.

 

I honestly think it's more fun trying to find obscure whacky cars to race. I.E. we're tossing about the idea of converting our second Festiva into a rear wheel drive car.

As long as you have "cousins" who will pay 500% of market value for your used interior, it's not hard to get an E30 or Miata running for $500. We've heard from a few people who submitted E30 and Miata entries with decent themes that they were rejected almost instantly. The organizers are just sick of them. They're not in the spirit of LeMons, really - they're a few body panels and an upgraded suspension away from being a legit track car.


I've been shopping for a Miata with a hard top to turn into a track car (I haven't achieved baller status yet, so no Elise/Exige for me ) but they're either grossly overpriced or sell in 15 minutes off Craigslist. A spec Miata sounds good but I don't know if I can trim enough from my expenses to pay $10-20k/year to race a car.

 

witcha BB IMO the best part of the race was seein all the SILLY participants & of course you & LM I think they MAKE the event nOt shure I'd wanna sit n watch a bunch of reg beaters runnin round the track just my 2 cents... the Beeemer w/the Pricks on the OUTSIDE was in my list of faves along w/ yeah the Rooster, the female team and the piratemobile allthough you said they cheated $$$wise. The team w/the seats atop the roof also rocked

 

LOL!

Yeah I'm sure it would be doable to turn just about anything into a Lemons car. I like your idea of turning your Festiva into RWD.

Why does it have to be that if you buy a Spec you'd have to spend big $$ to race it. My track buddy Fred always makes this jump too. Why couldn't you just track it? Costs would be roughly the same as tracking a normal Miata. This is what I'm thinking of, though if you ever wanted to get your SCCA license and race, you're there. (Okay THEN the costs start)