For the first time this past weekend, I experienced the 24 Hours of LeMons held at the Nelson Ledges Road Track in Garrettsville and let me tell you, it was an event to remember! If you are not familiar with the 24 Hours of LeMons event, the brief description of it is a 24 hour race of cobbled together cars that have a total value of $500 or less (not including the cost of safety equipment such as a roll cage and safety harness). You can get all the details by visiting their website at www.24hoursoflemons.com. Some people may call it a “mockery of racing” but most just call it a good time.

Over 130 race cars entered the event—the most in LeMons history. Race teams showed up from all over the eastern United States and Canada with their race cars held together by JB-weld, bondo and even duck tape. Each team and car had their own story and personality—everything from a 1987 Russian-built Lada Signet to a 1961 pink Cadillac and a Chevy “Vanamino.” Battling Ohio’s wet, windy and cold weather, about 120 race cars entered the track at Noon on Saturday as the green flag dropped (those who didn’t start the race were ones who did not pass inspection—it may not seem like it, but the race does actually have standards!)

1987 Lada Signet

When the checkered flag dropped at Noon on Sunday, about half of the cars remained on the track— those who did not make the checkered flag faced everything from blown tires to blown engines. A 1996 Nissan 200SX driven by a team racing for the benefit of breast cancer awareness technically won the LeMons race. However, many say that the real winner is the car that earns the “Index of Effluency award”—which went to the 1987 Lada Signet driven by the Total Loss Race Team from Traverse City, Michigan. Both teams received a trophy and $1,000 prize— awarded completely in nickels.

Did any of you have the chance to witness the excitement of the 24 Hours of Lemon’s Lamest Day race? What was your favorite race team/car or story from the race? There were so many of them out there I am sure I missed many of the “interesting” ones!

The Lamest Day Winner 1996 Nissan 200SX

Chevy "Vanamino"

Team Ded Bull

If you were even remotely interested in anything automotive, the Glennmoor Gathering of Significant Automobiles was the place to be this past weekend. Collectors and enthusiasts from around the country converged upon the manicured grounds of Glenmoor Country Club in Jackson Township to celebrate their passion and revel in history.

Perfect weather made for the largest crowds ever. Organizers are estimating that nearly 25% more spectators attended the concours on Sunday than last year. Unlike other major automotive events that I have attended this year, a large part of the crowd was made up of families. Features such as Chef Brendan Meeker's cooking demonstrations, the scale model display and kids' "build and take" corner and the Summit Racing sponsored Glenmoor Garage were filled with active participants both young and old, male and female all day long.

Despite all of this activity, the focus on displaying the world's greatest cars was not lost. The collection of 1934 Ford hotrods curated by legendary author and automotive expert Ken Gross was absolutely stunning in its depth and history. The "French Front" class of elegant turn-of-the-century was a once in a lifetime sight. Three of the world's most important original, unrestored cars; the 1911 Olds Limited, Edsel Ford's Brunn Bodied 1922 Hispano Suiza and an historic 1964 Porsche 904 were all together in one place for the very first time. For enthusiasts of modern engineering, the World Class Performance Cars provided a great sampling of Lamborghinis and Ferraris while Jeff's Motor Cars special display included Spykers, Vectors and Alfa Romeo 8C and the ultimate exotic, a Bugatti Veyron.

I could go on, but I think you get the picture; it was an event not to be missed. Next year's Gathering is slated for September 17-19. Features already announce are Cleveland built automobiles and beautiful Bizzarinis. What other cars would you like to see featured?

Those guys at the Glenmoor Gathering have done it again!  I just learned from someone who works on the show committee that they will have an unbelievable group of 1934 Ford vintage hot rods. These are the ones built in the early ‘50’s, in the early days of the hobby.  These are the cars that were pictured in Hot Rod magazine and the other great mags of the day.  They will have the 1934 Ford Pierson Brothers coupe, the 1934 Ford So-Cal Speed Shop coupe, the 1934 Ford Mooneyham & Sharp coupe (now owned by “Big Daddy” Don Garlits), the 1934 Ford “Golden Nugget”, the 1934 Ford Arnett/Granatelli coupe and four or five more!  What a group of cars!  These cars are the real deal—the ones I saw in the magazines in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s.  I called the Glenmoor Gathering office to check this out and it’s true! Those car will be there on Sunday, Sept. 20!

Since 1962, the Daytona 24 Hour endurance race has marked the traditional beginning of the sports car racing season. American road racing enthusiasts would make the pilgrimage to Florida by the thousands and the rest of the world would be glued to their televisions for this race with participants from around the planet.

With the current state of the worldwide economy, expectations were fairly low for this year's race. The entry list was shy fifteen teams from last year's event, including perennial champion Audi which announced earlier in the year their withdrawal from the American prototype road racing scene. Sponsorship and ticket sales were also lagging. Daytona 2009 was going to be more of a blip than a blast off.

Well, the racing fans that didn't buy the pre-race pessimism were rewarded with an amazing spectacle. Whether you were at the track or just caught any of the sixteen hours of coverage between Fox and Speed, you got this feeling that something special was going on. The racing was clean and close and there was an aura about the whole event. And, like any special story, there was a fairytale ending…or two.

David Donohue, racing a Daytona Prototype Porsche for the Brumos team won by the closest margin in Daytona history; a scant .167 seconds. Imagine racing for 24 hours straight, completing over 750 laps on Daytona's road course and beating your opponent by less than two tenths of a second! Additionally, he accomplished this feat almost forty years to the week from the time his dad, racing legend Mark Donohue, won his first Daytona 24. It also marked a return to dominance for Porsche by winning the DP and GT classes. It was also a very special victory for the Brumos team whose driving force and co-founder of Grand Am racing, Bob Snodgrass, passed away just a year and a half before.