1 (edited by Hoonatic Racing 2010-09-13 04:29 AM)

Topic: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

If you have any pics or video of the Hoonatic Racing #21 In-Tow-Gra on the track at the end of Sunday, taking checkered please mail them to hoonaticracing at gmail.

Sorry, I was too busy working on the car to stop and photograph it.

I would like to give some special thanks to everyone that helped me achieve both awards:

Jim Berg of MSR was an invaluable knowledge source and a great axel clip, plus a motorcycle grip used to sleeve my radiator hoses.

John of MSR for helping me press the bearings, and a cutting torch when mine ran out of oxygen.

Steve Scanlan of Team Pulp Friction for a larger generator.

Bill Heckel for the plasma cutter, even though your generator & compressor were dead.

Team Blue Goose for dropping their axle on track, then offering up your car for parts. I stole several castle nuts, a break hose, and a wheel .

Scott, Phil, and Sajeev for putting up with me.

But most important, Jay.
Jay was VERY kind. He offered advice, was patient, and when Team Blue Goose gave him their car to be crushed, he gave it to me to fix mine. Jay was extremely gracious.

If I missed someone, sorry, it was a crazy weekend. Thank you.

Yee-Haw 2010 "Most Heroic Fix" & "I Got Screwed" -2 trophies for 1 lap, but I took checkered on my lap.
Gator-O-Rama 2012 "Organizers Choice" -2 laps 1 trophy, but i still finished ahead of an E30
Yee-Haw 2013 No trophy -26 laps, I think I see a pattern here
Gator-O-Rama 2014 "Waiting for the Last Minute Call from the Governor Award" -who's counting? John

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

Uh, need more details-- what's the back story here?

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

Jay did an excellent job of telling the story at the awards, but if you can't wait for the video:

I had a 96 Integra GSR that was totaled. Loading it on the trailer Friday, it wouldn't start, so we tried to pull start it. When we popped the clutch, the axel broke. Got it to the track at 6 and finished with the axel around 230AM. Went to tech after the driver's meeting. Tech found a few small safety issues. Fixed them, came back and tech noticed my fabbed rear subframe was fitted, but the bolt was loose and the bracket was not welded. Welded it and tightened the bolt, but Jay didn't like it. So...
Jay told me to weld a box for strength on the subframe, replace the bent wheel, replace the loose front hub and fix the loose steering. He said "Do all that, it will take you a couple of hours, bring it to me, I will test drive it and if I'm happy, tech can re inspect it. They may find a different problem you will have to fix. You may not get on track until Sunday. What do you want to do?" I told him I would have to discuss it with the team.
I told the team I thought we could do it, but it was there call. Two drivers said "I'm going home"; one said "I'll stay".

Mr. I'll Stay ment he would stay and get caught up on a novel he was reading.
By 5PM or so, one of the "I'm going home" guys called to see how I was making out. I told him we made some progress, and he said he was coming back.

Team Blue Goose dropped the axel out of their CRX and washed their hands of the car. They offered it to Jay as a Peoples Crush. Jay emailed me and said "use whatever parts you need to get your car fixed.

The plan was to use the CRX bearings, but Jim Berg showed me how it would be easier to "fix" the old hub with a belt sander.

Around midnight I finished Jay's list. After Sunday's drivers meeting, Jay took a joy ride. He came back and said "the breaks are locked up. Go fix it". He suggested putting the thinner, older roters back on. Did that, brought it back, Jay drove it again and same problem. He thought it was the front passenger calliper locking and that is why it was pulling to the right as well as locking up the breaks. That was 11-1130ish

O'Reilly's had a calliper, but the closest one was 30 miles away. I drove 60 miles round trip, put on the calliper, took it to Tech by 2, were Phil just leaned on it and could NOT push it. Breaks were still locked.

Took it back to the pit, and discovered that in it's front end accident, the driver's shock tower pressed on a steel break line at the master and crimped the tube.

I was gonna throw in the towel, because many teams were gone. I needed to borrow a flaring tool and a tubing bender. No one would have those, and there was only an hour left. I walked half way to Tech to tell Jay, when I had an idea.

I cut the tubing way back and put the flare nut on. I then used the rubber break hose from the TBG CRX that goes from body to calliper, ground off 1/4" from the banjo bolt to make it short enough to fit in the tight space between the master and shock, and connected the other end to my flare nut, that I flared with long-nose pliers. Topped off the fluid and brought it to Jay at 245. He asked "is it fixed?" I responded "maybe".

As he climbed in, he said "Go suit up."
I ran all the way back to the far end of the pit to grab my stuff. Got a ride from chief tech David in his golf cart. Suited up in the penalty box with about 5-6 guys helping me. They then strapped me in.

Jay instructed "the steering still sucks and the breaks are horrible, so don't go fast. Stay out of the racing line. I got on track with an escort from Dave clearing a path. By the time I got all the way around to the start line, the checkered was waving.

Yee-Haw 2010 "Most Heroic Fix" & "I Got Screwed" -2 trophies for 1 lap, but I took checkered on my lap.
Gator-O-Rama 2012 "Organizers Choice" -2 laps 1 trophy, but i still finished ahead of an E30
Yee-Haw 2013 No trophy -26 laps, I think I see a pattern here
Gator-O-Rama 2014 "Waiting for the Last Minute Call from the Governor Award" -who's counting? John

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

I got the Heroic Fix for sticking with it and getting it on the track without my team. (Jay has, though, banned it from all future LeMon's events)

I got the I Got Screwed for sticking with it without my team.

Yee-Haw 2010 "Most Heroic Fix" & "I Got Screwed" -2 trophies for 1 lap, but I took checkered on my lap.
Gator-O-Rama 2012 "Organizers Choice" -2 laps 1 trophy, but i still finished ahead of an E30
Yee-Haw 2013 No trophy -26 laps, I think I see a pattern here
Gator-O-Rama 2014 "Waiting for the Last Minute Call from the Governor Award" -who's counting? John

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

That's gotta be a record number of trophies per lap, plus a great story for the grandkids someday.

6 (edited by Spank 2010-09-12 07:19 PM)

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

Wow. Just Wow. While I know there's a lot of "suckage" in that story, I'm happy to hear you made it and were recognized for the tremendous efforts.

You, sir, are an inspiration.

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

Another great Lemons story, and well-deserved awards.

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

Judge Scott took this one
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs434.snc4/47730_432400586897_664061897_5801875_3182609_n.jpg

It has EVERYTHING in the photo: my car, my crowd wave, and the checkered flag.

Yee-Haw 2010 "Most Heroic Fix" & "I Got Screwed" -2 trophies for 1 lap, but I took checkered on my lap.
Gator-O-Rama 2012 "Organizers Choice" -2 laps 1 trophy, but i still finished ahead of an E30
Yee-Haw 2013 No trophy -26 laps, I think I see a pattern here
Gator-O-Rama 2014 "Waiting for the Last Minute Call from the Governor Award" -who's counting? John

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

Burn that thing on a funeral pyre. It deserves it.

Driver, Pit Monkey, Rod Buster and Engine Fire Starter
Team FinalGear

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

Congratulations! It sounds like you truly deserved both trophies. May your next race go much better!

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

EriktheAwful wrote:

Congratulations! It sounds like you truly deserved both trophies. May your next race go much better!

He did, we sat there shaking our heads from the time John called me and said that he was having trouble. He worked his ass off for that one lap.

Team Lost in the Dark
Winner " I got screwed" and "Jay's dream car"
2012 Gulf region champs

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

Baron wrote:
EriktheAwful wrote:

Congratulations! It sounds like you truly deserved both trophies. May your next race go much better!

He did, we sat there shaking our heads from the time John called me and said that he was having trouble. He worked his ass off for that one lap.

DJ, I don't know how I forgot to thank you guys. What would I have done without you, Jason, Chris, Bill, and Richard drinking my beer and telling me "your doing it wrong"?
J/k. Thanks for the tools and advice and pushstarts and everything else. And big thanks to Russ for towing my crap to the track.

Yee-Haw 2010 "Most Heroic Fix" & "I Got Screwed" -2 trophies for 1 lap, but I took checkered on my lap.
Gator-O-Rama 2012 "Organizers Choice" -2 laps 1 trophy, but i still finished ahead of an E30
Yee-Haw 2013 No trophy -26 laps, I think I see a pattern here
Gator-O-Rama 2014 "Waiting for the Last Minute Call from the Governor Award" -who's counting? John

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

John.....I say it again....you are a true Lemons racer.......I guess the Lemons events have grown into something more and more unique but you sort of did what your supposed to do.....find the crappiest car possible and make it last a couple of days......you just didn't get it done in time.....a helping hand from the crew would have been nice....instead of Diva drivers!

Well done.....theres no doubt in my mind that you could fix absolutely anything on a car....with enough oxy/accetaline, big hammers and strange facial hair combinations!

Thanks again for helping us in the past few weeks with our car.....you sort of inspired us to never give up and make something work......with all your troubles....our engine mounts and head gasket issues seems a walk in the park!

Good on you!

Is it because I is an E30 owner???

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

Great job on getting it going.  I was on the grandstand when they blew the whistle and let you on the track.  Very exciting for ya'll.  The "Whale" car that was on the back row with us did one major engine "fix" (Which included welding a cracked block back together and something about welding a valve open or shut, I don't remember), and an overnight engine swap and only got like 5 laps in, 2 blown engines.  I felt for those guys so bad.

-Eric
Team Dead Presidents
MR2 President Yee-Haw Lemons Texas 2010 (Yes, it WAS bouncing up and down the WHOLE time!)

15

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

Find some new teammates.  I'm aghast that they abandoned you.  We had a guy that disappeared when it was time to work, and he's no longer with the team.

Jer / Schumacher Taxi Service
2010 Spring CMP I.O.E. winner
2010 Sebring overall winner
1996 Miata, 1991 BMW E30, 1987 coROLLa (retired), 1984 Citation (retired), 1993 Miata (retired)

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

Awesome story.  Hope you can find a car to race that's more worthy.  You don't have to get one that's been hit so hard!

----------
Scott
Speed Racer Mach5 Mustang
Houston TX

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

Man, when you came by our pit on Saturday afternoon looking for Mulry,  I wished I had known you were in ### up to your eye balls, no team, and crap for a car. Awesome job and you deserve all of the credit. Good luck with your next car and if you ever need a driver I am in! (Next Year)

Team: V-Ram/Altamont Team: Knights of the Round Track/Reno/Buttonwillow/Thunderhill Team: Death Mobile/Sears 2010/Thunderhill/ChumpCar  Spokane/ MSR Houston/Buttonwillow/Sears. MRolla Project /Reno
http://stickfigureracing.blogspot.com/

18 (edited by Mulry 2010-09-13 11:04 AM)

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

Bender/StickFigureRacing wrote:

Good luck with your next car and if you ever need a driver I am in! (Next Year)

Traitor. smile

Good job John. Freaking incredible.

Pat Mulry, TARP Racing #67

Mandatory disclaimer: all opinions expressed are mine alone & not those of 24HOL, its mgmt, sponsors, etc.

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

John-  I am happy that you got on the track.  Had I realized how desperate your situation was I would probably have tried to help you get it together and will do the same if it happens again ( hopefully not quite so badly next time ).

You do have the true Lemons spirit!

El Capitan de los Bastardos De Lemons
1993 Linco Mark Ate
1957 Renault Dauphine
Driver with LemonSpeed's V6 Mustang

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

Nothing on the track, but I have a few of you passing tech and getting suited up!

You'll find four pics near the end of this set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whoapower/ … 949084946/

Dirty Some Beaches // Lemoncello Racing // Blue Oval Cult Racing

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

Thank you, everyone. My integra is DQ'd from all future events, but Jay gave me a replacement car...

The ideas have been running since post awards yesterday. I already have a build idea that is as nuts as the Duphine. Everyone tells me I'm an idiot, but it is something everyone talks about but no one will do. Why not do it? This is Lemons. We can do anything.

Yee-Haw 2010 "Most Heroic Fix" & "I Got Screwed" -2 trophies for 1 lap, but I took checkered on my lap.
Gator-O-Rama 2012 "Organizers Choice" -2 laps 1 trophy, but i still finished ahead of an E30
Yee-Haw 2013 No trophy -26 laps, I think I see a pattern here
Gator-O-Rama 2014 "Waiting for the Last Minute Call from the Governor Award" -who's counting? John

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

Hoonatic Racing wrote:

Thank you, everyone. My integra is DQ'd from all future events, but Jay gave me a replacement car...

The ideas have been running since post awards yesterday. I already have a build idea that is as nuts as the Duphine. Everyone tells me I'm an idiot, but it is something everyone talks about but no one will do. Why not do it? This is Lemons. We can do anything.

Maybe you can put your drivetrain in the front, work the bugs out of that for a race or two, and then try that other thing...

Team Lost in the Dark
Winner " I got screwed" and "Jay's dream car"
2012 Gulf region champs

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

Look at the bright side. Those nice tires I saw in the pictures can be used next race.

24 (edited by slartibartfast 2010-09-13 02:29 PM)

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

Hoonatic Racing wrote:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs434.snc4/47730_432400586897_664061897_5801875_3182609_n.jpg

That is chock full of WIN!

Pucker Factor Racing #85 '91 Nissan Sentra SE-R (no, not a ex-SE-R Cup car)

Re: Wanted: any & all pics and video of #21 on track for it's 1 lap

http://www.murileemartin.com/Hoonatic1-800px.jpg
I can't tell you how many times this poor bastid dragged his terrible-ass car into the Penalty Box for no-chance-of-success re-tech-inspection during the course of the weekend. Seemed like 10 visits, minimum. Then, with 10 minutes to go, he suited up!

http://www.murileemartin.com/Hoonatic2-800px.jpg
Here's the car coming in after its glorious single lap.