lww

The "Mach 5 Racing" team put up a great effort in their white 1982 280ZX NA 5-speed and had moved up to 26th place. Unfortunately, they were put out of the action about an hour before the race concluded on Sunday by an incident with a larger vehicle. A bent front shock tower and some suspension damage could not be repaired in time to get back on track.

At some point, results will be posted on the official website: http://www.24hoursoflemons.com later and I'll get pics up as soon as the team returns.

Congratulations on a great attempt guys!

Many pics courtesy of Auxilary's gallery page of the event posted on http://HybridZ.org

Fast240Z

that's not HeatRaveR's (sp?) Mach 5, is it?

Heat Rave R

Yup, that was my old NA Mach5 280ZX. We got taken out by the huge yellow American car with the 8-ball on the sides. The left front wheel/suspension got so pushed in, that the wheel/tire was rubbing against the shock! We got knocked out halfway through the 2nd day, but still managed 43rd place in the end (man, racing in a field of 83 cars is just crazy!). Our consolation is that even though the car that took us out continued to race till the end, we STILL beat them; they got 60th place.

The Z didn't let us down and the drivers who hadn't driven RWD before on our team really liked it. Being that it used to be my showcar I'd put a lot of work into, it is heartbreaking to see it get hurt. But at least I sent her out in a blaze of glory. ^^

I'm planning on entering in the October Lemons event, and I've already got a car and theme/gimmick in mind. It won't be a Z again though. Despite how great the Z was, I don't think I could bear putting another Z through that (never mind finding one for that cheap).

snwbrderphat540

that car got owned..... so sad id be pissed

NismoPick

Dood! Now I get why Heat Rave has an "M" on his hood. Man that looks like it was a fun race (minus the 280zx damage)!!!

Fast240Z

Man, I can't believe you let your Z go through that! I was just showing my girlfriend a few cool 280zx's here on Zdriver, and your Z was one of the ones I had shown.

Any reason for turning it into a track car?

lww

He had already upgraded to a turbo 280ZX, this NA was the "Hand me down"!

Heat Rave R

Yeah, I had two 280ZX's. The Turbo is on the left, and my first 280ZX (NA) is on the right.

thxone

Stupid yellow Oldsmobuick!!! Where do you get a set of rims like that? The black Enki like rims?

Heat Rave R

I thought it was a Cadillac, but it was actually a Mercury. As far as the wheels, they were sacrificed to the cause by one of my drivers, Rico of ZCarGarage.

Fast240Z

Ah! Now I see. I was freaking out, but now it makes sense.

RodMoyes

Dude,

You got pwnd by a Pinto?!?!?!



That had to hurt...




Rod.

PooFlinginMonke

If it was a SCCA GT pinto, the rest of the field is lucky not to have been lapped.

Bleach

well nice job racing. Looks like he was taking a shortcut. No pwning going on there!

Race a Z31. Those things are stout and cheap. Just hope the timing belt lasts...

snwbrderphat540

just dont race an S30.... lol. id be heart broken. good luck next time though, thats a hell of a long race

Heat Rave R

I'm not sure who was driving in that pic, or what exactly happened. I do remember that my most inexperienced driver passed both the #41 and 42 Pintos on the outside, in the one of the big turns, so I was proud of him for that.

lww

So, what car are you gonna use next? What's the new gimmick? Inquiring minds wanna know...

jmmorriso

How the hell did I not know about this?

lww

Asleep at the wheel?

tekanitrus

hell looked like fun to me, what are you going to do with the old girl?

Heat Rave R

Hehe, it's kind of a "secret", though I think the tentative team name gives it away: "3 Cylinders of Fury". I'm now doing it for the sheer joy and ridiculousness of being there. So any potential drivers will need to have no ideals of winning or sense of shame to be seen driving what I've got in mind. ^_~ I'd say if you just wanna drive fast and beat other cars, this isn't the team or race for ya. :P

As far as the old car, it was left behind at the track, to be disposed of. Ironically, the car that took us out was parked right next us in the abandoned cars lot.

PooFlinginMonke

I'll guess it isn't a justy and that it's available with a turbo.

If that's the right guess, I would stay with the gti version's 1.3 liter.

lww

I'm thinkin' Geo Metro.

SpeciallySpiked

Ditto. There's a guy in Utah that RallyCrosses one and kicks alot of people's asses... I bet it'd be fun!

Heat Rave R

Haha, yup, you guys got it! I figure if you wanna go rocketing around a track in a powerful sports car, then take your regular car out on a regular track. Hehe, half the point of Lemons is to race around in something you wouldn't otherwise be caught dead driving. Besides, a small car would have an easier time maneuvering on a small, crowded track.