06/10/2026
Race Recap – 24 Hours of Lemons @ NJMP
The SLOWES Civic is headed home from another 24 Hours of Lemons weekend and somehow we're bringing back our best finish ever: 57th Overall and 26th in Class B.
Friday started with optimism as we unloaded the car for its first race since New Hampshire in October 2025. That optimism lasted right up until practice, when several of the same issues we thought we had fixed decided to make a surprise return appearance. Most notably, the engine reminded us that it still enjoys leaking oil. Thankfully, Rich, Drew, Nick, Justin, and our resident Mad Scientist arrived early and got to work. Later in the day, Gallo and Debari joined the effort and helped get the car through tech inspection.
The judges rewarded our efforts by deciding the car looked entirely too nice for a team whose best finish entering the weekend was 70th place. Their solution? Nine penalty laps before the race even started. We chose to take that as a compliment.
Saturday began nine laps down and immediately got even better. Rich managed to earn the team's first black flag before the green flag had officially flown by attempting a strategic interpretation of the starting procedure. Apparently, race control does not appreciate creativity before Turn 1. Lesson learned.
Not long after that, our dashboard iPad gave up, leaving us without a tachometer or gauges. Again. At this point, driving the car by feel is becoming less of a backup plan and more of a team tradition.
The rest of Saturday went smoothly until Nick reported a vibration that grew progressively worse during his final stint. The team spent more than an hour in the garage chasing the problem and turning wrenches long after the checkered flag ended the day's racing.
Sunday started with renewed hope and a replacement tablet for the dash. The new tablet worked great right up until it overheated and quit. Technology remains undefeated.
Despite that, the car ran well for most of the day. Then, just before the final stint, the vibration returned. With a strong finish within reach, the team decided that discretion was the better part of speed and carefully nursed the car to the finish. The SLOWES Civic crossed the line under its own power, which in endurance racing often feels just as satisfying as a trophy.
Most importantly, this was a true team effort. Huge thanks to Drew, Nick, Justin, Gallo, Debari, Johnny, Ein, our Mad Scientist and our team hydration specialist Catie, whose contributions helped keep both the car and the drivers functioning throughout the weekend. We were also missing key members like Mesa and Alonso, but the team came together and made the most of every challenge thrown our way.
After starting nine laps down, collecting a black flag before the race officially started, losing two dashboard tablets, fighting an oil leak, and battling a mystery vibration for most of the weekend, we're proud to say we brought the car home with our best finish ever.
Not bad for a team that was apparently too fast, too nice, and occasionally too creative.
Thank you to everyone who supports WAKA Motorsports. We'll get the car fixed, learn from the weekend, and be back at it again soon.
Driven to Build. Built to Compete.
