Jim wasn't called elitist. My attitude that E30's are boring and people should choose far more lemony cars instead of reliable race cars cars was called elitist. The spirit of Lemons is totally unlike that of any other domestic road racing series. Personally, I doubt the judges would ever give a single lap for overexpenditures on themes. You could spend a grand to put a dutch windmill on your roof, and they would love it. As long as you aren't making the car faster as a result, themes should be as cool and/or absurd as you can make them. The $500 rule is all about excluding the checkbook racers. I went $80 over on the Caddy and told them. It didn't matter. I went $100 over on the Lincoln a few races ago by accident (I assumed fuel pump was part of the fuel/safety system when I installed the cell, didn't actually read it, realized it later) and told them. Given that car's record of going fast and then blowing up, they didn't care.
Yeah, the rule is $500, and yeah, if you are forced (or accidentally) go over to be able to field a running car, you should always tell them, IMO. Phil's not gonna care if you went $300 over on your Reatta, he's just gonna grin and take pictures. I know, not everyone thinks like me. Many think the fun is in hiding go-fast parts, and bribing if they are caught. I refuse to bribe for lap reduction, because that would mean I cheated, and I refuse to cheat. However, I'm a bribing sumbitch when it comes to GOOJF cards! My team seems to need them on a regular basis, and the judges enjoy the bribes (like the bar stool kart I made them).
What's the point of this diatribe? You know if you have a strong theme. If you don't, create one. Don't worry too much about keeping receipts for theme work that can only slow you down. You've all seen a car/theme at a race and went "Oh man, that's AWESOME!" I'd like to see that on every race car. If you only have racing stripes and performance part decals, you're doing it wrong. That's the two cents of this elitist.
Captain: Speedycop & The Gang Of Outlaws -'94 Mark VIII (Least Horrible Yank Tank Stafford '09, NOLA '10) '61 Caddy (Org Choice-NL '09) '63 Tbird (EPIC Repair Failure-Gingerman '10, I Got Screwed-Summit Pt '10, I.O.E. WINNER Stafford '10!) '77 Lancia Scorpion (I.O.E. WINNER Joliet 2010!) '67 Galaxie 500 (Judges Choice-CMP '11)
Future Fleet: 1957 Ford Prefect 1942 Buick 1959 Bugeye Project GLCOAT