I’ve described the 24 Hours of LeMons as a Halloween Party with cars, and Chump Car will soon take this description to its natural conclusion with a “race” at Portland International Raceway Oct 31 – Nov 1, 2009.
Background: LeMons has been around since 2006 and is immensely popular in the car guy community. My understanding has been that “LeMons” events have been in such high demand that there just hasn’t been room on the schedule for a Northwest race. And, it seems that maybe we’re not the only place being left off of the schedule.
So, Chump Car is born. The biggest difference I can see, at this point, is that it seems speeds are going to be higher in a Chump Car race (but not too high) – so, kind of like a Conference event. I think they get away with calling it a race because they will be using transponders, and if they wanted to use that information for scoring, they could…
potentially fast car with shark theme - will the judges fall for this old trick?
There is a difference between an “activity” and a “race”, and it is important to understand what those differences might be. If Lemons and Chump Car were really races, then the primary purpose would be to have a race – but, that’s not the primary purpose and everybody knows it.
There is no reason to believe that this isn’t simply going to be a Halloween party with cars. Before the race even starts cars will be credited or penalized laps based on important “racing criteria” like team theme and costumes, and the amount of school supplies donated to a particular charity. The information gathered by the transponders can be “corrected” at any time and for any reason – again, just like Conference.
The promoters are very up front about the fact that they may, again, at any time, for any reason, mess with your “race car” just because they would enjoy it.
transformation from "red meat" to harmless bird
So, the Miatacage.com race team is in possession of the 2007 Thunderhill LeMons winning car. The then recently acquired, totaled (complete, save the broken cam shaft) and purchased for $200, 1999 Mazda Protégé, was then known as Team Red Meat and Poontang – it was really cool when the track announcer said the team name on the loud speaker (once).
consensus is that we'd all still date her
For Chump Car, the team has gone with a Partridge Family theme – something about 6 dates in 24 hours with Laurie (who didn’t have a crush on Susan Dey in 1973..?). We’re all pretty excited about this.
The driving line-up for this grand adventure is made up of crew members of the nearly successful, go-til-ya-blow, 2008 25 Hours of Thunderhill Miatacage.com team. The Miatacage.com “over the wall-stars” are Brian Clemons, Ed Pavone, Dave Sutherland, Kevin Clark, Garth (Crusher) Levin and Jeff Jenks. They didn’t spill any fuel or make other mistakes at the 25 – lets see if they can keep the fenders on the Partridge Bus…
I’m not going to be of much use (unless there is a mid-event break for a walker race), so I’ll probably just hang out in the motor coach and watch the silliness (read: experiment with new cocktail recipes). I love seeing people drive on the race track (in anger) for the first time, and there is going to be a lot of that going on. I’ll be there just to see the looks on my friends faces both before and after their big racing debuts – I can’t wait.
