After a weekend of turning pumpkins into pie, New Hampshire Motor Speedway prepares to host another fruit-inspired event to close out the fall season. The 24 Hours of LeMons, a door-to-door, bumper-to-bumper endurance race that features cars that cost $500 or less, will return to the Granite State on Oct. 21-23.
With more than 10,000 participants spread across tracks coast to coast, no other event creates bigger, weirder, more hilariously crazy challenges than these weekend-long blowouts of intense and immensely fun competition between cars that are due for the scrapheap. Restricted to cars that were purchased, fixed-up, and track-prepped for no more than $500, the racing consists of tech inspection and track test on Friday, with endurance-race sessions on Saturday and Sunday.
A total of 122 teams from 13 different states have registered for the 24 Hours of LeMons, including at least one team from all six New England states. Teams will be coming in from as far away as Danville, Calif. The winning team will receive their reward in Sunoco Victory Lane, where the monetary prize will be dumped onto their car in nickels.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, Oct. 21
9:00 am - 5:00 pm: Testing
12:00 - 5:00 pm: Tech Inspection
Saturday, Oct. 22
9:00 am: Drivers' Meeting
10:00 am- 5:00 pm: Race Session I
Sunday, Oct. 23
9:00 am - 4:30 pm: Race Session II
4:30 pm: Checkered Flag
5:00 pm: Awards
Each LeMons event features a panel of officials that strictly enforce the $500 limit. Teams may buy their way out of some punishments and immediately return to the track by donating to the event's designated charity. In this case, the New Hampshire Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities. A donation of $100 buys off a first-offense punishment; $250 buys off a second-offense punishment. Donation prevent punishment, but any black flag penalties incurred during the race stay on the team's record.
Progression of black flag penalties include:
- 1st black flag - a stern chat with officials
- 2nd black flag - embarrassing, time-consuming penalty at officials' discretion
- 3rd black flag - same as above plus a mandatory one-hour penalty
- 4th black flag - same as above plus a mandatory three-hour penalty
- 5th black flag -ejection for rest of the race
The 24 Hours of LeMons is open to spectators. Weekend passes are $30, while kids under 12 will be admitted for free. Spectators can watch for $10 on Friday.
