• dsycks
  • dsycks
  • Lemons Staff Stalker
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  • From: Logan Ohio
  • Registered: 2011-02-04
  • Posts: 1,798

Topic: How fluid are the rules?

I am still stupid crazy new at this and as such have boundless and unfounded enthusiasm which I am sure I will be punished for in short order.

My thoughts are this... there seems to be rather few things that stop people from being very creative. As a matter off fact it seems to be encouraged and rewarded which I find to be a big bonus. In reading the forums however I see at times mention of rules that I do not recall seeing in the officialist of official rules here on the site.

I saw mention of a team that cut up a car which lost fenders and such getting some extra attention from the judges while there is only new mention of destruction of built in crumple zones. What about old cars that had no crumple zones? Are fenders and cosmetic body parts considered crumple zones or only engineered structures that are designed specifically to absorb impact?

What about this car? http://omgdrift.com/?p=3380

I am FULLY in love with this car and applaud the builders for their use of crap that has been fashioned into high hoon-art! This is about as close as it seems one could get to making a Lemons Locost... at what point does ones ability to think outside the box and craftiness push the limits too far?

I would hate to invest lots and lots of hours and love and passion into something only to have it claimed or cursed. Then again... thats sort of the point isn't it. Keep it simple or else...

Thoughts?

Daniel Sycks
  • Serj
  • Serj
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  • From: Cincinnati, OH
  • Registered: 2009-05-02
  • Posts: 1,601

Re: How fluid are the rules?

i think other than specific limits on types of fuel (no propane, no nitromethanol) and the whole "cut down car" thing is basically the car needs fenders, doors, an OEM hood(i have yet to hear we must keep the hood the exact same as the one that came with the car, but it's to keep yahoos from using a piece of tacked-on sheetmetal that could come flying off like a giant gilloutine) and the original body structure intact as reasonably possible (prior damage usually OK, cutting off the 4ft of useless trunk behind a crown vic, no f'ing way)

All this is in the interest of safety. we've seen cars bump and get catapulted into a barrel roll because the guy that was used as a ramp had no fenders, we've seen cars with cut down impact zones inflict massive damage to another car keeping the structure, and the fuel thing is they don't want to have to get specially trained fire/tech personnel to make sure your hoopdie meets minimum safety reqs. 

Ludacris engine swaps where an engine was never meant to be? or 1200lbs of plywood framework (so long as it's bolted on securely) are all A-OK.

  • RobL
  • RobL
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  • From: Philly area
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 2,721

Re: How fluid are the rules?

The rules are (and probably will forever be) moving toward the safety of the competitors.  If you reduce the safety of the stock car, expect there to be some scrutiny at tech. 

Rules are here: http://www.24hoursoflemons.com/pricesandrules.aspx

--Rob Leone Schumacher Taxi Service
We won the IOE at Southern Discomfort.
We got screwed at The Real Hoopties of New Jersey  and we took cars down with us.
We got the curse at Capitol Offense but they wouldn't let us destroy the car.

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  • Registered: 2009-05-01
  • Posts: 526

Re: How fluid are the rules?

Think of Mad Max...and don't do it!
If you have a car that starts out as lets say a Ford Probe but ends up 3 feet shorter, you have just compromised the crumple zone. If said same car happens to be 3' longer you have just modified the car beyond it's crumple zone, this is a case of what is considered a safe car or one that will plow through the car in front of it or implode on contact.
Older cars don't have any special privileges either. The car in question from what I have read is using a real Ford frame, bumpers do end at the front and rear of the frame. the wheels are covered with fenders and engine has a hood. It meets the requirements for Lemons.
I have seen many builds in the past that pass tech that no longer pass today's standards.
That is where the Fluid rules come in, they change towards making things more safe for everyone.
If you have questions about a build it is best to confirm your options with Jay and the team before you bring it to the track.

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/
  • From: 5,280 ft.
  • Registered: 2009-05-01
  • Posts: 1,298

Re: How fluid are the rules?

keep in mind that this is just the "forums" section of the Lemons site.  it is essentially a place for us to BS, and is by no means authoritative, official, or complete re: Lemons info.

mike - Schumacher Taxi Service
12+-time loser
"Winner" - We Got Screwed, NJMP '11

Buzz Killington's Website

  • From: Land Of Subarus, Colorado
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 9,416

Re: How fluid are the rules?

Always clear your ideas of this nature with Jay at Lemons HQ before you do all the work. If you can convince him that you have the skills to do (some stupid project) safely, he'll probably OK your idea.

The guys who built the Model T GT are grizzled hot-rod-building veterans and master fabricators who consulted with (Lemons race manager/tech-inspector head honcho) John "Evil Genius" Pagel every step of their build, and they talked about what they were up to with Jay all through the process. You can build something like it and race it in Lemons, but you need to keep Jay in the loop and get his stamp-o-approval for every deviation from factory structure.

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