'08 LEMONS RACE COVERAGE

2008 - 24 HOURS OF LEMONS AT THUNDERHILL RACEWAY 

DECEMBER 27-28, 2009 WILLOWS, CA

It wasn’t even an option for me. I just had to make the “24 Hours of Lemons” at Thunderhill Raceway Park this last weekend. So, I drove on Christmas Day (Thursday) leaving OC at 7PM. I couldn’t stay awake so I decided to sleep at a Rest Area overnight knowing that the raceway wasn't open until the morning. I finally arrived at the Thunderhill Raceway in the City of Willows at about 9AM and had a chance to walk around the facility. I took the trip of over 1000+ miles round trip with one goal in mind - to engage all my senses and understand what it takes to compete in an endurance race. I was on a mission and employed the discerning eye of a Race Director/Manager tasked with learning how to manage team logistics.

The race was broken up into two separate races on Saturday and Sunday. I had planned to stay for the entire race not knowing the truncated format. The organizers, with their wisdom, decided not to have the race continue through the night because when night descends the dangers of speed are increased by multiples. The Lemons Series make motorsports affordable and conceivably inexperienced drivers of unknown quality can walk on and be a part of any race team. Get a lineup of experienced and inexperienced drivers and throw in the dangers of night driving and a heap of jalopy-nous rolling metal and you could have the entire recipe for disaster.

I had to be at work at my beloved pizza parlor on Sunday and had to leave after the first part of the race was concluded. I brought my Nikon Coolpix 5600 with the intention of taking a ton of pictures. Eventually, I was able to muster enough courage to use the video feature and took a number of clips accompanied by some amateurish commentating. (I discovered an unconscious tendency to say the words terrific and wonderful repetitiously.) After watching the end product and getting a sense for the pre and post production that goes behind news reporting, I could say with grudging respect that Brian William’s job is safe and secure. Nevertheless, if you can look past the quality of my first attempt at video reporting, I think you might find that special intangible that I found in the “Lemons” - that inexplicable something that inspired me to try to get a team together and join the ranks of other junk heap driving loonies.

TRACK CLIPS
FRIDAY MORNING TESTING 
FRIDAY AFTERNOON TESTING 

RACER INTERVIEWS
VOLVO SKELETON CREW  
BMW #101 
JORDACHE CAR 
MASKED RACER 

OTHER CLIPS
CHICKEN TEAM 
MISSILE CAR 

PHOTO ALBUM
'08 24 HRS OF LEMONS (THUNDERHILL)  

SEASON'S GREETINGS

I wanted to pass on a note of appreciation to all our readers and team members for their support in the last year. Next year will bring some very exciting things into the fold. We've already committed to at least two "24 Hours of Lemons" races for 2009 - the Buttonwillow and Thunderhill race, which are both in California. That gives us an opportunity to start the ground work on developing equipment that support hydrogen fuel, from which all efforts will eventually lead to an assault on Le Mans.

After the holidays, we'll schedule a team meeting. This will give me a chance to take pictures and post it on to the blog. Watch for it early next year. In the meantime, I wish everyone a safe and a happy holiday season. Never lift early and always hit your braking points.

Pedal to the metal,
Robert Lacambra

LISTEN HERE, DETROIT BOYS

The Big Three Car Manufacturers are obviously out of touch with their consumers. After watching a prolonged and painful slide of their stock prices coupled with poor financial results that pre-date this recession, they should know by now that Americans don’t necessarily buy American. Americans buy what they perceive to be the best at a given budget. Holding on to the old flag waving appeal of "Buy American" that has kept them from utter failure for much of their history no longer works the way that it has. It has been many years now since Wal-Mart has abandoned the old tagline of “Made in America” after discovering that manufacturing in other countries meet or exceed the quality expectations of the American consumer. The one and only way to turn the tide is to produce the very best using the same benchmarks that their competitors use – price, quality, cost of maintenance, cost of operation and aesthetic appeal.
 
To advance the argument of Detroit’s detractors, we’ve now learned that there is nothing wrong with the American autoworker. Some of the best manufacturing in the world is now being done in the USA, albeit under foreign brands such as Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The business of going to Capitol Hill and asking for bailout money will not save their company. What management should do is get the union bosses in a room, lock the door and tell them nobody is leaving until a fair agreement is reached. The life of their respective companies are at stake and together with that are the livelihood of all the employees – management and labor. If an agreement is not reached, it wouldn’t be inappropriate at all if the Big Three were to close down and re-emerge as a new entity, this time unimpeded by all the badly negotiated agreements that have conceded the company to their competition. The word we are looking for is “compromise”. The companies need to be more profitable.
 
If that could not be done, an amalgamated company may be the next best option. This is nothing new. In 1932, while in the throes of the Depression, four companies in Germany joined forces to be called Auto Union, which eventually morphed into the present day Audi. It is true that national interest considerations demand that America retain a manufacturing capacity in the event of a war. Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, BMW and Mercedes Benz that all employ American workers can meet this capacity. In the event of an outbreak of hostilities against Japan, South Korea or Germany all these factories will certainly be confiscated anyway. That is why the argument that we need the Big Three so we have the capacity is devoid of reason. If the enemy is a country other than the three nations just mentioned, the services of any of these manufacturers could be employed at a fair price. Based on the quality of the finished products rolling out of those factories, we are probably assured that the military will get superior products to protect our liberties with.
 
It may not be obvious but being recipients of taxpayer money will have dire consequences. There are pitfalls and unforeseen landmines when you have governments participate in the day-to-day decisions of a company. Politicians have different motives and are engaged by a different set of questions that may detract from a company’s mission such as, “What do I need to do to get re-elected?” That question over-rides other relevant and complicated questions faced by company executives like ‘What markets should we be pursuing?” – the very questions that in turn create and keep jobs and make a company competitive. If the career politicians knew how to do that, they would be in the private sector.
 
Two legitimate solutions to this quandary are, either merge or close the company and start over. They can liquidate assets to fund retirements and pay back investors. That would probably be better than losing everything, which is certainly a possibility. These difficulties are the result of bad choices they made in the past that have come back to haunt them. In the meantime, they should consider adding cars with engines that burn both hydrogen and gasoline to their product line. It will be painful in the beginning but they will have first to market advantages that may just keep them competitive. Just as an example, ask anyone to name a hybrid car. More likely than not, the answer will be the Toyota Prius. That place in the consumer’s mind came into being because they are perceived to be the first. The lack of a competitor in that segment makes them the only player and by default the best. That is the power of the “First to Market” concept. Everyone else that follows is viewed as imitators until other differentiators come into play such as quality and price. If they execute on that, not only will they see their cars exported to and/or built in other countries but we’ll also see barrels of Hydrogen with “Made in the USA” stickers on it shipped around the globe.
 
It’s time for the Detroit Boys to get with the program.

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

All the other technologies being offered right now as alternative sources of energy are just a bridge until we arrive upon a “Hydrogen Economy”. Despite what many oil industry critics may believe, the people who will bring us there are the men and women of the oil industry. They have a significant advantage over many emerging technologies in terms of deployable assets that if replicated will take considerable time and cost. They also have a proven and effective distribution channel (Gasoline Stations) for their products and services that could be modified to accommodate Hydrogen.

One of these Oilmen worth watching is T. Boone Pickens. I have been keeping track of his new project “The Pickens Plan” and will look for every opportunity to assist him on his mission to wean America from its dependence on foreign oil.

Read Pickens' recent message 

LEMONS AT BUTTONWILLOW

Great news! The organizers of the “24 Hours of Lemons” just announced new dates and venues that now include a race at the Buttonwillow Raceway Park on the 15th and 16th of August 2009. So far, this event is geographically the closest race on the calendar – about 3 hours away from Aliso Viejo CA. That means our schedule just got moved up by 6 months. Buttonwillow Raceway Park is a favorite of many motorsports enthusiasts in Southern California. It is the newest in the region and offers a complete racing facility. We certainly look forward to it.

Just to update our readers, I have started speaking with potential sponsors and team members. It is very likely now that a 2-car team will be fielded, of which one will be driven exclusively by a group of handicapped drivers. Because of the limited mobility of a wheelchair bound driver, there are special safety considerations that we are trying to mitigate. This may include, among other things, advocacy for the inclusion of safety procedures specific to handicapped racers. We will keep you apprised of developments on this front as we go forward.

Buttonwillow Raceway Park 

'09 24 Hours of Lemons Schedule 

HYDROLAC PROJECT CAR

Here are some pictures of the HYDROLAC PROJECT CAR that shows the car in its current condition before the planned modifications. The car was originally built in 1998 using a 1987 Mazda RX-7 Turbo II chassis and has been sitting in a garage for years. The next phase of its life is to become a street legal “Time-Attack Car” with 500+ WHP powered by Hydrogen Fuel. So, in a manner of speaking, it will be a daily driver and a weekend warrior that is smog legal.

Click to view pictures 

TEAM PIZZAZ RACING

There is nothing that gets a racecar driver in shape like being in a car and turning laps on a racecourse. In preparation for the 24 Hours of Lemons Series, I took a stint with a local team to sharpen the reflexes. Here are the first pictures of TEAM PIZZAZ RACING. They are helping me prepare for next year's Lemons at the Thunderhill Raceway. As a disclaimer, it should be pointed out that the team condemns breaking traffic laws and does not engage in unlawful behavior while in the conduct of our business.

Click to view pictures  

Team Website 

LEMONS VET WINS AT INFINEON

A Nissan SE-R that placed 5th in last year's 24 Hours of Lemons (Thunderhill Raceway) won 4 times at Infineon Raceway in the NASA Performance F Class. Apparently, the car that initially cost $500 for the Lemons Series was brought to specifications for the NASA Series. No disclosures were made on how much money was spent but what is now clear is the quality of talent that exists in the Lemons Series. The equipment is just one part of an endurance race. Everything has to come together - driver, machine and team for 24 Hours. This validates the decision to campaign in this series because it has one very unique component - you start with a small spending purse. That means you are competing against teams that are creative, resourceful and have the know-how to circumvent very restrictive rules. How else can you explain having organizers with titles like "Chief Perpetrator", "Also Capable" and "Money Ho"? 

Good Times ...

Read the article 

SOUNDS OF RACING

It isn’t racing if the sound of the cars can’t make the hair in the back of your head stand up. I found three clips that demonstrate the phenomenal sounds of the rotary engine.

The first clip features the 1991 Le Mans Winner, the #55 Four-Rotor Mazda 787B. That was one of the all-time great victories when you consider that just about every manufacturer was campaigning that year. To date, Mazda is the only Japanese manufacturer that has ever won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The second clip will give you an idea on the exhaust note of the RX-8. You’ll hear it mid-way into the film, at 1 Min. 30 Sec., when you get an in-car camera view. The third clip will give you an impressive onboard view of a Touring Car being pushed to the limit.

Mazda 787B at the Miyoshi Proving Grounds 

Mazda RX-8 at Homestead Int'l Raceway 

Mazda RX-8 on the ragged edge 

HYDROGEN MAZDA RX-8

This is the reason why I want to start testing the Rotary Engine. Here’s a clip of the Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen Car being driven around by demonstrators. The Rotary Engine (Wankel Engine) that is the power plant of the RX-8 has certain characteristics that make it well suited for Hydrogen Fuel. Normal gasoline Piston Engines (Reciprocating Engines) can have over a hundred moving parts that rely on the lubricating properties of the gasoline fuel (before and after combustion) to operate optimally. Hydrogen, because of its cleaner combustion properties, does not offer the same lubricating effects. Fortunately, though, the rotary engine only has 3 moving parts and does not depend on the same lubricating approach as a piston engine to perform. It uses oil mainly to preserve the apex seals, which serves as a separator between the stages of operation - intake, compression, ignition and exhaust. 

Clip of the Mazda Hydrogen RX-8 

Explanation of the Rotary Engine 

Explanation of the Piston Engine 

THE POWER OF HYDROGEN

Here's a glimpse of the awesome power of Hydrogen. It is used by the Space Shuttle as part of a sophisticated fuel system to launch itself into space. The system is comprised of Solid Fuel, Liquid Hydrogen Fuel and Liquid Oxygen Oxidizer contained in external tanks that the Space Shuttle jettisons in stages upon reaching a specific velocity, distance or when it is depleted.

Space Shuttle Lift-off Video   
Space Shuttle Wikipedia Article 

THE EDUCATION BEGINS

A partial schedule of next year’s “24 Hours of Lemons ” has been posted by the organizers. Our target race, the one to be held at the Thunderhill Raceway in Willows CA, is slated for the 21st and 22nd of November 2009. We are waiting for the full schedule to be announced hoping that more races will be held at venues closer to Orange County. That will give us a chance to do a shake-down race before Thunderhill.

We’ve recently added a “Countdown” feature to our blog. Currently, it is counting down to the Thunderhill Raceway event this December. Schedule permitting, I’d like to visit as a spectator and start my education of managing an endurance racing team. I’m particularly interested in learning what the competitors are doing - what equipment they are using and what tactics and strategies are being deployed in the quest for victory. 

Onwards and Upwards!

RACING PLATFORM

The search is currently underway for equipment that will be used for next year’s campaign to win one or more races in the "24 Hours of Lemons Series". Accordingly, I’ve settled on a plan. It was initially the intention to field one car for next year. But to be compatible with our longer term goals and to achieve economies, it is necessary that we start canvassing for two cars right from the outset. 

There was never even a doubt in my mind that the cars will be Mazdas. I have owned five Mazdas in the past and know by experience that they are solid platforms to start from. They are also relatively inexpensive. So, beginning immediately, a search for a Mazda Miata and a Mazda RX-7 will be initiated while keeping in mind the constraints of the Lemons regulations. As of this writing the cost of the entrant car cannot exceed $500 without the safety equipment(s).

It is our goal to discover and/or develop the platform for a “Hydrogen Package” appropriate for endurance racing. The differences between the Miata and the RX-7 are substantial. One is an open top with a piston engine and the other is hardtop with a rotary engine. The wide array of technological differences between the two platforms will provide a broad spectrum from which the team can test, compare and select the best systems relative to our goals. Eventually, one package will probably win out as most suited for Hydrogen under the stresses of endurance racing. But it is essential, as a matter of know-how, to understand both packages at a high technical level. For this purpose, the laboratory will be the racecourse. Appropriately, the lab is called "The Lemons".

HANDICAPPED RACER

I was at the Neighborhood Cup in Aliso Viejo this evening and had a chance meeting with Benedict, a disabled friend of mine who gets around in a wheelchair. He’s originally from Indianapolis and has a passion for motorsports. In our conversation, I mentioned my plans of racing in the "24 Hours Of Lemons" around December of next year, if not sooner. As a result, we are now in discussions and will be investigating the possibilities of fielding an extra car modified for a team of handicapped racers. There are technologies for disabled drivers currently available for street use that can be improved to meet the demands of racing. As a matter of fact, one of my favorite racers, Alex Zanardi, whose legs were both severed in a racing accident, races in a specially modified BMW 320si in the FIA ETCC in Europe. So, the idea is viable. I’ll keep you informed.

Alex Zanardi Article 

Alex Zanardi Official Site 

Hand Drive Opel 

THE ROAD TO LE MANS

Competing in the "24 Hours of Le Mans " is an expensive proposition. If by luck or talent you are able to raise the requisite resources, to be allowed entry in arguably the most incredible auto race on the planet, you must first qualify to run with the best endurance racers in the world. Many of these entrants are factory works teams with considerable financial resources and reputations to uphold. All will have the preparation and the mandate to carry out a fierce fight. Fortunately for dreamers like myself, money does not always decide the outcome. Otherwise, many factory teams would have won the race, for there were many valiant efforts by manufacturers in the long storied history of "The 24 Hours of Le Mans" that came to naught. You need solid equipment that can take the punishment and finish the race, a first class driver line-up, a team of great professionals working behind the scenes and a ton of extraordinary luck. In Le Mans, to win, first you must finish.

My goal of campaigning a “Privateer Team” (Non-factory Sponsored) in Le Mans using equipment powered by Hydrogen is a lifelong dream. To get there, I plan to take very small steps, first learning how to run a race team and understanding the logistics of such an event. The first two years will be the learning phase. To that end, I will try to assemble a team of amateurs who will first campaign in the “24 Hours of Lemons ”. Yes, that was not a misprint; you actually read “Lemons”, as in the citrus fruit. This event was chosen because of minimal requirements in terms of financial resources and “Brain Power” to participate effectively. Race regulations for “Lemons” require that the equipment used for the race cost no more than $500 complete. That's legalese for "You ain't racin' if your car ain't a lemon". Apart from that, you just really need a bunch of Yahoos who are short on brains, a little crazy and addicted to speed.

The first year will feature one car with 6 drivers cross-trained as pit mechanics. The second year will feature two cars driven by 3 drivers each and a corresponding pit crew, as is the format in most endurance races. The first race will be in the 2009 Season – around December, if not sooner. Between now and then, planning, organizing, raising funds, training and testing will be the focus of our efforts.

Keep coming back to our blogspot. We will upload new information and pictures whenever possible.