Preparation and Rules
To enter the event, participants must find a car where purchasing and prepping the car will not exceed US$500.
The US$500 requirement alludes to the name of the race as such a vehicle might be considered a "lemon". The event organizers set complete set of safety rules that typically are on par with other road racing sanctioning bodies, including the Sports Car Club of America and National Auto Sport Association. Additions to the rules (both serious and humorous plus rules to discourage cheating) include:
- US$500 limit to prep car. This includes the purchase price of the car, any modifications made to it, and other assorted expenses (such as labor and sponsorships) are figured into the cost. Approved safety equipment (see below) plus brakes, wheels, and tires are not included in the US$500 figure.
- Items sold off a car can be deducted from the total spent, so it is possible to buy a more expensive car and sell off parts, or sell parts and buy better equipment. (i.e. selling off parts from a BMW or other similar luxury car to circumvent/comply with the $500 rule.)
- If the event organizers feel the car has exceeded its $500 limit, they assign what is called a BSF (Bullshit Factor), where every $10 the car exceeds over the $500 is docked one lap.
- Car must have four wheels and have been legal for highway use at its time of manufacture.
- Event organizers have full rights to buy the car for $500 at the end of the race.
- The "People's Curse": one car may be selected by blind ballot of all teams to be destroyed part way through the race.
Required safety equipment includes:
- A six point roll cage
- Full-face Snell SA2005 helmet or better
- Fire extinguisher
- Five or six point racing harness
- SFI 3.2A/1 suit with fire retardant underwear or better
- Drivers seat must reach the middle of the helmet or higher. SFI or FIA approved seat recommended.
Read more about this topic: 24 Hours Of Le Mons
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