Behind the Farm Shop Building sits the old beat-up shell of a Buick LeSabre, with a green 80 painted on its side and the remnants of long empty beer cans scattered among the shabby interior. This car, a veteran to the racing world, will potentially compete in the 24 Hours of Lemons race Aug. 6 and 7 at the Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, Calif., for the newly formed Cal Poly Industrial Technology Racing Division.
The 24 Hours of Lemons race allows teams to fix up and build their own race cars, then race them for 24 hours straight until the cars break down.
Cristian Rheinisch, an industrial technology sophomore and president of the team, said the racetrack will be filled with more than 150 cars for the “endurance road course” style race.
The Thunderhill Raceway track is three miles long with 15 turns, according to the raceway website.
Zach Levine, a general engineering sophomore, said the Thunderhill track is ‘crowded with 30 cars, so 150 would make for a close race.'”
With the lack of space and amount of competition in mind, the team took a first look at the retired race car, which Rheinisch acquired through connections from his experience with Kal Off Road Racing, a racing company located in Atascadero.
Rheinisch said after traveling and becoming immersed in the racing culture, he wanted to start a team.
“When I got back from Germany, I kind of wanted to do some racing,” Rheinisch said. “I used to stand at a bus stop and stare at all the experimental Mercedes and Porsches every morning when I went to school, (thinking) I really want to do something with this stuff, especially industrial technology. So, I figured I’d do this because this series is pretty much the cheapest way to get on a road course.”
With a part of the engine duct taped into place, and an interior nearly bare other than the remnants of a seat and rusting metal, the team has a lot of work ahead of them.
Russell Gruener, an industrial technology senior, said he joined the team to work with power tools, rather than a love of cars.
Gruener said was only one requirement for those wishing to join the “fabrication” crew.
“Anyone who wants to work on this (should) be updated on their tetanus boosters,” Gruener said.
Paired with Rheinisch’s racing background, as well as the knowledge of the other team members, such as agricultural systems management sophomore Cassie Durler who said she has worked with cars most of her life — the team is destined for success as they discussed making the car lighter to match the smaller European cars that would be racing, as well as what kind of engine to put into the car.
Rheinisch said their car may be intimidating to the smaller competition.
“This thing is going to be a beast,” Rheinisch said, against the roar of the engine. “Most of the teams at Lemon are racing little BMWs or (Mazda) Miatas. This thing is 300 pounds loaded.”
With the group just getting started, Rheinisch said the team has garnered support from the industrial technology and agriculture departments (which allowed the car to be stored behind the building), but hoped students of all majors would join to help with the process.
“We have an accountant on this team, so it’s for everybody,” Rheinisch said. “Racing is one of those things you don’t want to do without a really good cook on the team (because) it just gets miserable. A good friend of mine’s mom is an art professor, and I kind of want some of her students to help paint the car because I can rebuild an engine, but I don’t really make things look pretty.”
Rheinisch said the team has not garnered much student support yet, but he hopes as the team gains more exposure among the Cal Poly community and makes more improvements on the car, they will also gain sponsorship or donations from companies willing to help get the car to the track. He also said for those interested in working on the car, the team will work on it throughout the summer to prepare for the race.