Lemons turn out to be the most absurd racing cars 🍋 🚘

Lemon cars great for racing vrrm vrrm.

Lemons are fascinating-- but basically useless-- motor vehicles notorious for their mechanical issues. These problems can vary between minor annoyances to life-threatening defects, making them difficult to drive if they function at all. Unlike what many will first think, lemons are not necessarily those rusty, old vehicles; instead, it is a term for vehicles built improperly or with unfixable flaws that deem them unreliable or unsafe. These cars are destined for trouble no matter their surface appeal or initial performance, as their issues often emerge quickly, typically within a few months of purchase. Whether it’s an engine problem, a malfunctioning transmission, or an electrical issue, these defects become irritating, turning the once-prized possession into a headache.

The difficulties of a lemon, however, are not at a complete loss. In the United States, the government stepped in with the introduction of Lemon Laws in 1975. The law helps define what constitutes a lemon and allow buyers to take action for their problematic purchases. In Iowa, for instance, there are requirements in order to qualify a car as a lemon. To meet these requirements, the vehicle must experience the same issue multiple times, it must have the potential to cause harm, and it must spend an expensive amount of time out of service. To be exact, the car has been out of service for more than 20 consecutive or non-consecutive days. If these conditions are met, the buyer can contact the manufacturer to address the problem. The manufacturers are given the opportunity to fix the problem.  If the lemon cannot be fixed or fixed in an expected amount of time, the law mandates that the manufacturer must buy back the vehicle, ensuring the consumer is not stuck with a dangerous or defective car.

Dealerships are not responsible for the vehicle’s flaws, contrary to common belief. The responsibility of the car's defects are entirely between the automaker and purchaser. This causes confusion because buyers may be unaware that dealers are only intermediaries in the sale of the vehicle and not responsible for fixing the vehicle’s problems. Once the vehicle is sold, any ongoing issues fall to the manufacturer to resolve.

Luckily, the likelihood of purchasing a lemon is low. Manufacturers are subject to the quality and safety requirements of their vehicles to ensure they are fit for sale and serve their intended purpose. That makes the majority of cars on the market and driving on the roads reliable and safe. It appears that lemons are as uncommon as only 34,397 were reported in the time of selling 7.6 million vehicles between 2018 and 2021-- a figure that accounts for less than 0.5% of all cars sold. Brands like Toyota, Honda, Mercedes, BMW, and Buick have an excellent track record when it comes to minimizing defects, with the likelihood of finding a single lemon as low as 1.25 million vehicles for Buick and as high as 11.6 million for Toyota. The odds of a car bought from these manufacturers being a lemon are low. 

While it is uncommon to purchase a lemon from any of these major brands, lemons can exist in ways unrelated to the manufacturer. Some car owners chose to modify their vehicles, adding new parts and adjustments that void the warranty. These modifications increase the risk of mechanical issues, whether it's due to improper installation, low-quality parts, or simply overextending the capabilities of the vehicle. These changes, although seemingly cool, often become impractical lemons. Once the vehicle is customized this way, unfortunately, the responsibility of fixing any errors lies with the purchaser, as the warranty and lemon laws cannot support this situation.

Despite their flaws and occasional breakdowns, the seemingly useless vehicle is not at a complete loss-- especially when given a second chance to the world of motorsports. The 24 Hours of LeMons, a clever pun on Le Mans, is a racing series specifically dedicated to testing the limits to the lemon car. Rather than having pristine, factory-built machines, this race embraces the junkyard aesthetic, with every car modified to the point of no turning back with their typically older, problematic vehicle. This race, a shocker to some, isn’t merely speed, it's entirely endurance. Teams compete their strange, modified hunks of medal on a course for 24 continuous hours, all while keeping the car from falling apart. 

24 Hours of LeMons is clearly set apart from other forms of racing through its humor, creativity, and ironically, safety. Although oftentimes the cars involved are far from the latest models, plenty of regulations ensure that participants are protected. Every car must first meet the safety standards, such as having a roll cage, racing seat, seat belts, and a fire suspension system.  Additionally, all drivers must wear fire-resistant suits, helmets, head and neck restraints, gloves, and other protective gear similar to other professional racing series. These safety measures balance the inherent risks of racing lemons, allowing the absurdity of racing them without compromising participant’s wellbeing.

One of the most amusing aspects of the 24 Hours of LeMons is the wide range of customization that participants use to differentiate their vehicles and stand out. Unlike other races that have teams opting for the sleek, aerodynamic machines, LeMons cars will look outlandish and bizarre, following themes or motifs that would never be permitted in professional racing. A team might paint their car to resemble a giant slice of pizza, or one that’s been transformed into a version of Nyan Cat, a well-loved internet meme, rainbow streaming from its rear. The most impressive modifications go beyond aesthetics, as the cars must still be functional enough to endure the 24-hour challenge, even if they resemble a mechanic’s worst nightmare. 

However, a key factor of the race is ensuring the absurdity of the lemons are safe and eligible to compete. While the event tests the end of creativity, the administration must approve each car before it takes the track. This means that although participants have great freedom in how they design and modify their cars, there are still strict regulations to follow that prevent unsafe practices from being rewarded. After all, as amusing as the race with upside-down cars may be, nobody wants to have their lemon turned into a death trap.

One of my favourite LeMons vehicles was a charming white and red fish from 2010. Styled like a true lemon, it looked like it would be quick to fall apart but somehow kept going against all odds. A Mazda mx-6 found its way on the track, after the team had put together some fantastic work, is especially amazing with the consideration that this vehicle gets redesigned often. They gave it a beautiful tail from the back and sharp teeth in the front, perfecting its overall look with scales painted on the side. It was absurd yet perfectly fitting for the spirit of the event a car that was more about the experience and fun of the race than about winning or even functioning perfectly.

Ultimately, the 24 Hours of LeMons embodies the spirit of turning adversity into opportunity. What starts as a broken, defected car can become a symbol of innovation, teamwork, and appreciation of the wildest creations. Although these vehicles may have started out as practically useless vehicles, they get repurposed into something that means so much more: a testament to human creativity and the thrill of motorsports. So, when you come across a so--call “lemon,” don’t simply dismiss it. It could, after all, be a quirky, adventurous ride away from becoming a race car legend.     

Author's Note

Writing is hard.