Index of Effluency
Encyclopedia
Index of Effluency is the top prize awarded in the 24 Hours of LeMons
automotive racing series. General criteria to win this award is a car that is too unreliable to be driven effectively on the streets yet manages to complete a decent amount of laps on the race track. IOE can be awarded to a vehicle that was deemed unreliable from the factory (ie. Volkswagen
Karmann Ghia) or a more reliable car with a unwise engine transplant (ie. Ford Thunderbird
with a BMW diesel engine
).
Along with the fame comes the fortune of $1501, generally paid in the form of a standard, bank issued check written by race organizer John "Jay" Lamm but occasionally paid, as is the winner on laps, in nickels
. When local banks do not have enough coins in stock to pay the winner on laps, checks are drawn, but usually on a media that makes a winner's bank deposit an embarrassing experience (ie. a toilet seat). However, IOE winners are frequently spared this layer of ridicule.
The amount of the IOE prize has changed over time. In 2008 and 2009, the prize was $500. In 2010, in order to raise the significance of the Index of Effluency over that of winning the race outright (completing the most number of laps), the IOE prize was raised to its current value $1501.
24 Hours of LeMons
The 24 Hours of LeMons is a series of endurance races held on paved road race courses across the United States. The title is a parody of the historic 24 Hours of Le Mans series. Teams compete in race-prepared cars that cost no more than $500 for up to 24 hours...
automotive racing series. General criteria to win this award is a car that is too unreliable to be driven effectively on the streets yet manages to complete a decent amount of laps on the race track. IOE can be awarded to a vehicle that was deemed unreliable from the factory (ie. Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
Karmann Ghia) or a more reliable car with a unwise engine transplant (ie. Ford Thunderbird
Ford Thunderbird (fourth generation)
For 1964 the Thunderbird was restyled in favor of a more squared-off, "formal" look. The Thunderbird's sporty image had by that time become only an image. The standard 390-cubic-inch V8 engine needed nearly 11 seconds to push the heavy T-bird to 60 mph , although with enough room a top speed...
with a BMW diesel engine
BMW M21
The BMW M21 was a 2.4 L diesel straight-6 engine.It was introduced in 1983 with the BMW M20 design as its basis. It was available with a turbocharger....
).
Prize
Index of Effluency title comes with a trophy. Prior to 2010, the trophy varied in design and was often made from recycled automotive parts. Beginning in 2010, the IOE trophy was made from heavy gauge metal and is of a racer running from an inverted car. The base of the trophy is a steel silhouette of a lemon, the series' logo. Laminated to the base is a printed label of the race name and year.Along with the fame comes the fortune of $1501, generally paid in the form of a standard, bank issued check written by race organizer John "Jay" Lamm but occasionally paid, as is the winner on laps, in nickels
Nickel (United States coin)
The nickel is a five-cent coin, representing a unit of currency equaling five hundredths of one United States dollar. A later-produced Canadian nickel five-cent coin was also called by the same name....
. When local banks do not have enough coins in stock to pay the winner on laps, checks are drawn, but usually on a media that makes a winner's bank deposit an embarrassing experience (ie. a toilet seat). However, IOE winners are frequently spared this layer of ridicule.
The amount of the IOE prize has changed over time. In 2008 and 2009, the prize was $500. In 2010, in order to raise the significance of the Index of Effluency over that of winning the race outright (completing the most number of laps), the IOE prize was raised to its current value $1501.
Previous Winners
- Detroit 2007: One Night Stand Endurance Team, Chevrolet Cavalier Wagon
- Altamont 2007: Ecurie Ecrappe, Alfa Romeo Spider
- Arse-Freeze-Apaloosa 2007: Size Matters, Plymouth Fury.
- Altamont 2008: Autobahn Society Racing, BMW 2002
- LeMons South 2008: Tunachuckers, 1966 Volvo 122.
- LeMons New England 2008: Chard Beef Racing, Buick Regal.
- LeMons Detroit(ish) 2008: The 98ers, Oldsmobile 98.
- Yee-Haw It's LeMons Texas! 2008: Never Give Up, BMW 1600-2.
- Arse-Freeze-Apaloosa 2008: Team B210 Racing, Datsun B210
- Gator-O-Rama 2009: Opular Dependence, 1972 Opel GT (with GM V6), MSR Houston.
- South Spring 2009: Heavy Metal, Ford LTD
- Goin' For Broken 2009: Redneck Racing, 1991 Cadillac Eldorado.
- Laissez Les Crapheaps Roulez 2009: LeMons of Club GP, 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix SE
- New England 2009: Team UDMan-Trailing Throttle Oversteer, 1963 Chevrolet Corvair.
- Buttonwillow Histrionics 2009: San Diego Minis (a.k.a. Team Bean), 1962 Austin Mini
- South Fall 2009: Rusty Bolt Racing, BMW 530i.
- The Lamest Day 2009: Total Loss Racing, 1987 AvtoVaz Lada Signet
- Yee-Haw It's LeMons Texas 2009: Black Knight Racing (It's Just a Flesh Wound), Triumph TR7
- Arse-Freeze-Apalooza 2009: Purple LeMons Racing, VW Beetle.
- Auction-Weekend Gavel-Tap GP 2010: Team Flyin' Four-Door Fortress, Oldsmobile Regency 98 Brougham.
- Southern Discomfort 2010: Track Pillagerz, Buick LeSabreTooth.
- Gator-O-Rama 2010: LRE (LeMons Racing Experiment), Datsun 240Z.
- Sears Pointless 2010: Air Prance Oui-We-Can, 1971 Citroen D Super
- American Irony 2010: Chicken and Waffles, Volkswagen Quantum Syncro wagon.
- Cain't Get Bayou 2010: Mostly Harmless Racing, VW Karmann Ghia.
- Goin' For Broken 2010: Dust N Debris, Dodge Shadow.
- South Spring 2010: Schumacher Taxi Service: Craptation Regurgitation, Chevy Citation.
- North Dallas Hooptie 2010: Crewe Le Pew Redeaux, Renault Le Car.
- Capitol Offense 2010: Misfit Toys Racing, Wartburg 311.
- The B.F.E. GP 2010: Rocket Surgery Racing, Renault 4CV.
- LeMons New England 2010: Police Brutality, Ford Thunderbird TD.
- The Arse-Sweat-Apalooza 2010: King Henry V8th, Cadillac Sedan De Ville
- Mutually Assured Destruction of Omaha 2010: Airborne Ranger Race Team, Chevrolet Beretta.
- Yee-Haw It's LeMons Texas! 2010: Seven Come Eleven, Volkswagen Fastback.
- LeMons South Fall 2010,: Dog Ciao Racing, Alfa Romeo Spider.
- Detroit Bull Oil GP 2010: Scuderia Arugginito, Alfa Romeo Berlina.
- The Rod Blagojevich Never-Say-Die 500 2010: SpeedyCop, Toyota MR2Toyota MR2The Toyota MR2 is a two-seat, mid-engined, rear wheel drive sports car produced by Central Motors, a part of Toyota, from 1984 until July 2007 when production stopped in Japan...
/Lancia Scorpion - Laissez Les Crapheaps Roulez 2010: Property Devaluation Racing, Ford Fairmont wagonFord FairmontThe Ford Fairmont is a compact car produced by Ford Motor Company for the North American market. Introduced for the 1978 model year, the Fairmont was produced in several bodystyles until it was replaced by the Ford Tempo for the 1984 model year...
. - LeMons Arse-Freeze-Apalooza 2010: Italian Stallions-The Blue Meanie, Fiat 600DFiat 600The Fiat 600 is a city car produced by the Italian automaker Fiat from 1955 to 1969. Measuring only 3.22 m long, it was the first rear-engined Fiat and cost the equivalent of about € 6,700 or US$ 7300 in today's money . The total number produced from 1955 to 1969 at the Mirafiori...
. - The Painfully Bland Bowl of Thin Lukewarm Oatmeal That Can't Possibly Offend Anyone, No Matter How Much They Enjoy Being Offended, 24-Hour Season Ender 2010: Adopted by Jets 2, Saab 96Saab 96For the modern car, see Saab 9-6The Saab 96 is an automobile made by Saab. It was introduced in 1960 and was produced until January 1980, a run of 20 years. Like the 93 it replaced, the 96 was a development from the old Saab 92 chassis and, on account of its improvements and modernisation, it...
. - The Real Hoopties of New Jersey 2011: Gormless Racing, 1968/73 MGB GT
- American Irony 2011: Zero Budget Racing, 1982 Chevette Diesel.