hkerekes wrote:[snip]
There are teams in Lemons that are there to win and there are teams there for fun. Just because you may not be capable of winning then dont ruin the rest of the race for the teams who intend on winning. Both can exist at the same race. Maybe its the teams who are there for fun and dont care about penalties who ruin it for everyone else. Also if they award the winners then how can it only be for fun.
I agree, though really in a much broader sense that:
not only both can exist at the same race, but that all can.
But I leave the definition of "winning" to others, for others; specifically: the series organizers, and, each of the participants individually (Charlie Sheen would only get a vote here if he was actually a participant; yet, I digress...).
It seems to me that you define "winning" as 'placing first in class', or, 'first overall'; and I agree that it is your right to do so - for yourself.
My definition of "winning" for me at my first (and so far, only) race was:
1. Don't hit anything,
2. Don't lose control of the car,
3. Don't go off track,
4. Cooperate with the other drivers,
5. Point the faster cars by, and
6. Bring back the car so that someone else can drive it, preferably in exactly the same shape it was handed to me (discounting consumables).
I was only partly successful. I had a slight 'interaction' with someone who decided (in retrospect, after reviewing his video) that he was a bit too aggressive, and he sought me out and apologized (I thought I lost control by running up onto the curbing - like 3" - I didn't even realize there was contact, until someone pointed out the extra paint on the rr fender).
Based on our conversation afterward, I believe that driver was more focused on placement than avoiding contact.
But, y'know: no worries. Both vehicles were back on track in short order, and there was good conversation and beverages in the evening - it's all good, and that's racing, and I learned a lot - from him.
My definition of "winning" for my next race (unless I get a seat somewhere in the mean time) is:
1. Build a car that passes tech.
That's it.
So there's all kinds of definitions of "winning", and "fun", but we each get to define those concepts for ourselves.
But I'll point out yet again - the organizers have specified a Lemons "grand prize" as follows (copied from my earlier post) :
"////
From the FAQ:
"The I.O.E. (Index of Effluency) is the grand prize awarded at each 24 Hours of Lemons race. Using a proprietary calculation of how bad a Lemons entry is versus how high it finished, race organizers bestow the award on only the most worthy teams. Winners of the I.O.E. enjoy the highest honors (a low bar, we know) of any Lemons trophy."
And, specified in rule 1.5, the largest money haul with a trophy comes with the I.O.E., not winning overall on laps:
$601 + $1430 [free entry value] = $2031
I think pursuing the I.O.E. is "the spirit of Lemons". I'm not convinced raw speed is primary to winning the grand prize.
////"
I wish you the best in your pursuit of a win - however you define it.