Eric Rood
Hanover Park
Everything Bagel for the @24hoursoflemons. Opinions my own, etc.
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Articles by Eric Rood
How to barter your way to low-buck racing glory
Story by Eric Rood Competitors in the 24 Hours of Lemons are no strangers to taking wild swings at solving–and, more frequently, causing–problems in endurance racing. Sometimes we think we’ve seen it all, from a 1940 airplane radial engine in a Toyota MR2 to a top five-finishing Gremlin running all AMC parts. And then we discover that Lemons competitors–like Georgia’s Clay … This content is available for GRM+ members and Grassroots Motorsports magazine subscribers only.
Merkur: A German car now making (literal) smoke in America
[GRM+ members read this article first. Subscribe and gain access to more exclusive content for only $3/month.] Story by Eric Rood At times it feels like car companies predicted the existence of the 24 Hours of Lemons and built accordingly. No, we don’t mean the solid, low-effort contenders like BMW or Mazda.
The Chrysler Cordoba: Like a '60s muscle car, but not
My grandfather had a 76, Brown with Tan interior and vinyl top. Was no match for my aunt's Cuda in a straight line but it was way more comfy.. He was a Mopar Man, retired from Ma Mopar after 30 years. The Cordoba was his retirement car. RICH CORINTHIAN LEATHER!!!!1111 I noted in the video that he refers to it as a "Small Chrysler ". That made me chuckle!!! In reply to dean1484 : Our peculiar habit of stuffing our corpulent bodies into tiny shoeboxes on wheels had yet to manifest itself.
Tonight only: Mini-Van Halen
In reply to David S. Wallens : Dave's voice has definitely taken a hit. But that's normal for a rock and roll frontman at an advanced age. I mean, Dave was never a particularly good singer (and I say this as a lifelong VH aficionado) but the years have not been kind. He pretty much doesn't even try to "sing" anymore. He just says words in a tone and rhythm vaguely reminiscent of the original recording. Still puts on a great show, regardless.
Not a BMW, but a Buick | Low-Buck Tech
Story by Eric Rood Despite some outward appearances, the Semi-Sentient Centenarians’ Lemons car is not an E36-chassis BMW. We know, it’s tough to pry apart the classic Bavarian livery from the car, but this is actually a 1996 Buick Century–a 1996 Buick Century that regularly beats up on BMW teams.
The Stuff of Super Sports
home news The Legendary Chevy Impala SS 409 V-8: NASCAR Power for the Street The biggest, burliest motor you got? Drop it in both passenger cars, drag racers, and stock cars! Before American cars had officially "gone muscle" with the Pontiac GTO, the 1961 Chevy Impala Super Sport captured the formula nicely: upgrade a regular passenger car with the biggest engine the company could make producing as much power as it could muster.
The Stuff of Super Sports
home news NASCAR Muscle for the Street: The Legendary Chevy Impala SS and Its 409 V-8 The biggest, burliest motor you got? Drop it in both passenger cars, drag racers, and stock cars! Before American cars had officially "gone muscle" with the Pontiac GTO, the 1961 Chevy Impala Super Sport captured the formula nicely: upgrade a regular passenger car with the biggest engine the company could make producing as much power as it could muster.
The Ford Edsel Was a Failure but its 410 V-8 Was Interesting
Theres no denying Ford bungled the brand rollout, but the early, ugly Edsels had a gem of a V-8. If you look at any "Worst Cars Ever LOL" lists around the internet (or even in books), you will inevitably find a photo of the Edsel's schnoz featured prominently. Many remember Ford's failed marque solely as a failure for sundry reasons, but few remember the details of the Edsel lineup itself.
Ford's Edsel Was a Loser, but Its 410 V-8 Engine Was Awesome
© Motor Trend Staff 410 Edsel Lede ad If you look at any "Worst Cars Ever LOL" lists around the internet (or even in books), you will inevitably find a photo of the Edsel's schnoz featured prominently. Many remember Ford's failed marque solely as a failure for sundry reasons, but few remember the details of the Edsel lineup itself. That includes the 410 cubic-inch Edsel-475 V-8 in the top-range Corsair and Citation models, which is worth a few words.
Cheap Classic Cars Under $5,000
We read all over the internet, "kids these days don't want cars," but we're pretty sure it's not a lack of desire, but simply a lack of cash that keeps the classic car market in a mostly retirement age bracket. It only takes a few minutes of watching televised classic car auctions for anyone to think that a classic car is far beyond financial reach.
Low-Buck Tech: Merging a ´47 Plymouth With a V6 Camaro and a Ford
Story by Eric Rood For years, 24 Hours of Lemons organizers have crowed about their desire–nay, need–for a team who has swapped engines pointlessly between two cars. The aptly named Bad Decisions Racing pulled off such a ridiculous swap and set a high bar. Their two-car swap? A 1947 Plymouth De Luxe and a 1995 Chevy Camaro. The swap started when Bad Decisions debuted the ’47 Plymouth in 2016. The Plymouth sported the original flathead six-cylinder engine and three-on-the-tree manual transmission.
From the Nailhead to the 455, and More
home news Buick's Big, Bad V-8 Engines: The Nailhead, 430, 400, 455, and More Taking a look at Buick's larger V-8s, starting with the legendary Nailhead. When Buick replaced its overhead-valve inline-eight in 1953, the Nailhead became the company's first pushrod V-8. The engine took its name from the small valve covers mounted on top of the heads. Under the valve covers, the vertically mounted valves created an almost hemispherical combustion chamber.
Cheap and Cool Cars From the 1980s Worth Buying Today
home news Cheap and Cool ’80s Cars to Buy Now Cool, classic, and reasonably affordable. Let's take a look at some sweet 1980s cars that could even be purchased with the savings from a part-time job.Mind you, that sort of cash isn't going to get you into a pristine example of these rad rides but rather for a running, non-basketcase version. Think of it as a driveable project car.
The AMC Rambler Marlin: A Weird, Wonderful Concept Car Made Real
home news The AMC Rambler Marlin: A Weird, Wonderful Concept Car Made Real A bit of an odd duck, the AMC Rambler Marlin is worth remembering. The Rambler Marlin remains a rare sight in the world of classic cars, but the car's utterly unique appearance makes them a welcome visitor to any venue. Naturally, the time we heard the Marlin Auto Club was holding a "Gathering of Marlins" at the American Motors Owners Association (AMO) International Convention in Rockford, Illinois, we had to check it out.
Best Cheap Project Pickup Trucks to Build on a Budget
Lots of HOT ROD fans love pickup trucks. And why wouldn't they? Trucks obviously provide utilityfor getting work done, but they also provide a solid platform for building fun vehicles for everything from autocrossing to desert racing. With all of this in mind, we thought we'd put together another list of relatively cheap pickup trucks to turn into running and driving projects.
Rare and Unusual Fastback Pony Car Original
home news The Weird and Wonderful AMC Rambler Marlin Was a Concept Car Come to Life A bit of an odd duck in terms of both styling and market position, the AMC Rambler Marlin is worth remembering. The Rambler Marlin remains a rare sight in the world of classic cars, but the car's utterly unique appearance makes them a welcome visitor to any venue.
Best Cheap Project Pickup Trucks to Build on a Budget
Lots of our fans love pickup trucks. And why wouldn't they? Trucks obviously provide utility for getting work done, but they also provide a solid platform for building fun vehicles for everything from autocrossing to desert racing. With all of this in mind, we thought we'd put together another list of relatively cheap pickup trucks to turn into running and driving projects.
Cheap and Cool Cars From the 1980s Worth Buying Today Original
home news Cheap and Cool ’80s Cars to Buy Now Cool, classic, and reasonably affordable. Let's take a look at some sweet 1980s cars that could even be purchased with the savings from a part-time job. Mind you, that sort of cash isn't going to get you into a pristine example of these rad rides but rather for a running, non-basketcase version. Think of it as a driveable project car.
Automobile's 24 Hours of Le Mans Frequently Asked Questions
ATTENTION LE MANS FANS! MotorTrend is the EXCLUSIVE SPOT IN THE U.S. where viewers will be able to see all of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Don't worry, you don't need to be some sort of Le Mans super fan to enjoy this famed 24-hour endurance race. If you enjoy racing, strategy, cars, or are just looking for something to have something exciting and interesting on in the background while you go about your day(and night, then day again), then the 24 Hours of Le Mans has something to offer you.
24 Hours of Le Mans Endurance Race Frequently Asked Questions Original
Don't worry, you don't need to be some sort of Le Mans super fan to enjoy the 89th running of the famed 24-hour endurance race. If you enjoy racing, strategy, cars, or are just looking for something to have something exciting and interesting on in the background while you go about your day (and night, then day again), then the 24 Hours of Le Mans has something to offer you. That said, you may find yourself so caught up in the action that you need to know more about the race and its history.
Watch 24 Hours of LeMons LIVE from Sonoma Raceway this weekend
The 24 Hours of LeMons’ season opener last weekend saw an incredibly stock Jaguar XJ6 take home the year’s first Index of Effluency prize and LemonAid Racing’s BMW-powered Geo Metro win overall, making them only the second car to win all three classes and IOE. This weekend finds LeMons back at its de facto home track Sonoma Raceway in California’s wine country with 150 cars entered for Sears Pointless. If you’re at the track, there’s plenty to keep you, the casual observer, occupied.
426 On 4/26: The Olympia Beer 1972 Dodge Charger That Raced (And Still Races) At Le Mans
With a resounding bellow, the Oly Express startles the French racing faithful at Le Mans. The hulking 1972 Dodge Charger dwarfs the alien-shaped Mirages and Porsches parked nearby and if the muscle car’s shape doesn’t completely cast a shadow over the pint-sized sports cars, the idling Chrysler 426 Wedge drowns out their small-bore buzz just the same. The year is 1976 and NASCAR has come to Le Mans.
The Background of the 'Dinner With Racers' 24 Hours of LeMons Stories
Every once in a while, the 24 Hours of LeMons organizers get asked if any big race car drivers ever race in the series and the answer is a resounding “Yes.” MotorTrend and Roadkill hotshoe Randy Pobst has driven in several LeMons races, as have a number of pro racers like Tommy Kendall, Leh Keen, and even five-time 24 Hours of Le mans (the “real race” in France) winner Emmanuele Pirro.
BangShift.com Mannequin
Pro racing drivers do considerably more than just show up on race weekends to flog their race cars for a couple days and then head home. In between race meetings, drivers must find time for testing, physical training, and the occasional publicity event with demonstrations and ride-alongs with sponsors, VIPs, and occasionally a spouse. For the Holden Racing Team in Australia, that means putting their ace driver James Courtney around the racetrack with guests of the team’s assorted sponsors.
BangShift.com CV-880
The first generation jetliners get much fond reverence for being such a quantum leap from even the most high-tech turboprop-liners and with good reason. The ability to haul 100 people across country in five hours was a tremendous achievement in the early 1960s.
Here's what happened to first- and last-place teams at the 24 Hours of Lemons' Rust Belt
First Place - Apocalyptic Racing, Toyota Celica Lemons seldom pays much heed to overall winners, but the Rust Belt GP’s first-place finishers completed a long journey. Apocalyptic Racing ran the “Toylet,” a 1978 Toyota Celica powered by a 12-year-old rental car engine. The win came as something of a surprise -- winning seldom seemed in the cards, especially based on the team’s auspicious start.
5 Lemons cars to adore at the Rust Belt GP this weekend
A Dodge Viper V10 powers this Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, aka the Trolls Royce. Yes, that is absurd. Yes, it probably pushes the boundaries of the $500 car, especially since its builder so well executed it. However, its very concept so exemplifies the idea of “Build a Bad Idea and Race It” that the budget scarcely matters. It debuted at the same race last year, completing approximately eight laps (about 17 miles) before the Viper V10’s connecting rods made a successful escape.
24 Hours of LeMons in Connecticut: The Winners and More
We’re back from the 24 Hours of LeMons’ second-ever visit to Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in Connecticut, and the first GP du Lac Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg. We’ll get to that name in just a second, but as has been at the last two LeMons races at Autobahn Country Club and Thunderhill Raceway Park, this race featured pretty extreme heat and a bit of exciting weather to boot that abbreviated the racing.
Doris: Meet Eric's Ugly Oldsmobile Station Wagon
Hi there. I’m Eric Rood. Maybe you’ve seen me at Roadkill Zip-Tie Drags, judging 24 Hours of Lemons races, or helping to run Lemons Rallies. Maybe you’ve seen my name on stories here on the site. Just kidding, nobody ever reads those. [Ed note: I read them, Eric! -E] Anyway, Roadkill has paid me to contribute to the site here for more than a year, so I figured I’m (over)due for an introduction.
Cute Bike-powered Subaru 360 Probably Wants to Kill You
Seldom does one find a car both cute and incredibly terrifying, but if ever one were to find such a vehicle, the 24 Hours of LeMons’ paddock would be the place to find it. Naturally, we did indeed find exactly that in the LeMons paddock in Charnal House Racing’s ferociously tiny Honda CBR954RR-powered Subaru 360. A 150-horsepower microcar that revs to 12,000 RPM? Why yes, you would like to learn more.
PRI Show: Steve Morris Engine's Quad-Turbo V16 Heads Back to the Dyno
At the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show, there is something interesting around every corner. After some time on the show floor, even the most incredible race cars and components can look humdrum. However, some things—Steve Morris Engine’s 4,500-horsepower, quad-turbo V16 engine—will stop even the most jaded attendees dead in their tracks.
24 Hours of Lemons 2019 Schedule: Races, Rallies, Concours, and Down Under
After 13 years, nobody has yet gotten wise to those idiots from the 24 Hours of Lemons and their inane $500 endurance-racing series. Indeed, Lemons has slipped another annual schedule out to the public. It serves less as a yearly planner for racers (who naturally are terrible at planning) and more of a notice to locals to steer clear of the weirdo parade rolling into town.
Pucker up, Lemons fans, here’s the 2019 schedule of events
For 13 years, the 24 Hours of Lemons has put thousands of people through the wringer of endurance racing with $500 cars. In spite of the inevitable heartbreak, smashed fingers, and newfound ability to cuss, racers keep turning up to leave rust-and-dust trails across the country, so it’s no surprise Lemons will return for an unexpected 14th season in 2019. The newly-released 2019 calendar serves as the closest thing to “ability to plan” as most racers can muster.
Concours d'Lemons Michigan 2018 Winners
The Concours d'Lemons at the 2018 Concours of America was a rousing success, if your definition of success means there were no serious injuries. Better still, the groundskeeping staff at the host site, The Inn at St. John's in Plymouth, Michigan, didn't kick anyone out. The jokes, of course, are part of the spirit of Lemons. Everyone who brought a car out to display did so out of passion for their car. And some of those people went home with relatively-cheap awards and prize bags.
BangShift.com Camaros
VIDEO: Vintage racing perfection is two Unsers caning classic Camaros around the Indy road course Apex Video, BangShift APEX Look, I don’t know if we really need to say much more than the title suggests. At a Sportscar Vintage Racing Association meeting at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as while back, Johnny Unser and Al Unser, Jr., strapped into a pair of vintage Camaros during the Vintage Trans-Am race.
Every 24 Hours of Lemons question is answered
Twelve years into its existence, and the 24 Hours of Lemons is still around. The racing series has developed a rabid following due to a high quotient of fun and low barriers to entry. Even with the largest base of active racers in the world, many people still see photos of the 24 Hours of Lemons or hear about it and have no idea what’s going on in any of it.
Lemons Rally Retreat From Moscow 2018: Day 1 - Roadkill
The fourth Lemons Rally—the roadgoing complement to the crapcan 24 Hours of Lemons racing series—has begun. This Retreat From Moscow Rally started in Moscow, Pennsylvania, and undertook its first day through Pennyslvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia to the end point in Virginia Beach.
Best 24 Hours of Lemons Cars of 2017
The twelfth 24 Hours of Lemons season is in the books, with 21 races in 14 states. We endured 111° heat in California, heavy snow in Georgia, dust storms in Arizona, torrential rain in New Jersey, and electricity-maddened fire ants in South Carolina.
Soviet-Built Moskvich 412: Eastern Bloc Roadkill? - Roadkill
I know it’ll probably bug Freiburger if I say it, but I can’t imagine better Roadkill car designers than Eastern Bloc countries. The automobiles churned out by our Cold War enemies withstood the tests of time for those few who could own them. The varying stories and legends remind us a great deal of the Paykan, Iran’s official and unofficial national car for decades.
1968 Corvette L88 Tops Desirability at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale - CorvetteForum
One of just 216 original L88 Corvettes heads to the auction block in January at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale. This ’68 L88 comes highly decorated and should bring a healthy six-figure total to its owner when it rolls across the stage at the January 13-21 auction. Chevrolet offered the L88 version of the 427 engine from 1967 to 1969. At the time, Chevy marketed the small-batch package as making 430 horsepower, but the reality was far crazier.
24 Hours Of Lemons: The Winners And More From Buttonwillow Raceway - Roadkill
We’re still shaking off the dust from the 24 Hours of Lemons at Buttonwillow Raceway in California. The Southern California event has become a staple of the Lemons calendar and this race brought a big field of more than 130 cars. Here is what happened at this year’s Button Terrible race. For the uninitiated, Buttonwillow Raceway sits just a short drive from Bakersfield, California, in the Central Valley.
2,300 terrible, awesome miles on Lemons Rally West 2017
Share Facebook Tweet Pinterest Email Lemons Rally is a mashup of events that combines the backbone of a traditional classic car rally with an over-the-road scavenger hunt, a grueling long-haul road trip and an occasional thrash wrench session thrown in for good measure. Ostensibly, the rally is intended to be driven in the worst hoopties imaginable.
24 Hours of Lemons: Index Of Effluency-Winning Volkswagen 411
Not every 24 Hours of Lemons’ Index of Effluency winner has a well-documented history like the Ran When Parked Volkswagen 411 (aka “Type 4”). Last weekend at “Button Terrible,” in central California, the old four-door VW crawled its way to Lemons’ top prize at Buttonwillow Raceway with a very tired Type 4 engine and a three-speed automatic with excruciating gear ratios. But that history? Well, let’s dig into it.
A Road-Racing Jeep?
On a drizzly January afternoon in Monterey, California, Team Petty Cash’s boxy ’89 Jeep Cherokee XJ crests the hill at the Corkscrew, the unmistakable turn at the top of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. If the driver wasn’t focused on positioning the Jeep to perfectly slingshot down the 10-story drop from top of the famed racetrack through the twisting curves, he could just catch a glimpse north of the storms in the next valley over.
Tally Ho: Two English Students Traverse the United States in a '78 Lincoln - Roadkill
10,000 miles, 35 days, one 4,000-pound Malaise Era coupe, and…two young Englishman. Yes, Roadkill reader Marcus Warner sent his story from earlier this summer and we can’t express how eager we are to share it. We’re not even going to edit it down; we’re just just going to let his own words tell the story. We’re not sure how intentional this was for Marcus, but he happened to pick out America’s last grand personal luxury coupe, the 1978 Lincoln Mark V, for this adventure.
Hagerty Offers Track Day Insurance - Roadkill
Track days and High Performance Driving Experiences (HPDE) are a great way to drive your sweet sports car on racetracks while improving your car control. Unfortunately, incidents sometime happen on racetracks, which can leave your sweet sports car needing some repairs. Few road insurance policies will cover that kind of damage, but Hagerty has partnered with RLI Track Day Insurance to offer easy-to-get, event-specific insurance in case you ding up your nice car.
24 Hours Of LeMons: The Winners And More From Texas Tippin' in Houston - Roadkill
We’re just back from Motorsports Ranch Houston and the 24 Hours of LeMons “Texas Tippin’” race there. With a May race near the Gulf of Mexico, we were prepared for unbearable heat and humidity, but weather turned out to be perfect for a race with 56 crapcan teams. That field was chock full of quality and weird results, so let’s dig right into the winners and more from LeMons at MSR Houston. We’ll start with a few honorable mentions from Texas Tippin’.
24 Hours of LeMons: ‘Real Hoopties of New Jersey’ at New Jersey Motorsports Park
Hey ho, it’s one of those 24 Hours of LeMons previews I write from time to time. This one’s for the upcoming race at New Jersey Motorsports Park called “The Real Hoopties of New Jersey.” This is the eighth LeMons race in New Jersey, a place renowned for its beauty and its total void of state regulation regarding racing. Let’s take a look at some of the things that are thinging at the thing. Thing verbs thing and other thing. Words go here, this is placeholder text that will run anyway.
Roadkill Talks With Chuck Rush, School Bus Racer From Documentary, Smash: Motorized Mayhem - Roadkill
It’s not every day someone drops me a line asking if I want to watch a feature-length documentary about figure-eight bus racing, but those are the kinds of messages I can’t answer quickly enough. Naturally, my first response was to drop important things I was working on so I could watch the advance copy of Smash: Motorized Mayhem.
Get Your Hot Rod Garage (And All Our Other Shows’) 2017 Release Dates Right Here - Hot Rod Network
Remember a couple weeks ago when we shared with you the 2017 MotorTrendOnDemand schedule for episodes of Roadkill, Roadkill Garage, Dirt Every Day, and Engine Masters? As many of our fans astutely pointed out, we forgot to include the Hot Rod Garage schedule along with that, since it falls under a different production team.
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