24 Hours of LeMons debuting in Australia

Ever stared in wonder at the incredible sports prototypes hauling down the Mulsanne during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and wondered: "How cool would that be with a bunch of mates?"

Well, trade the sports prototype for a $1000 'lemon' and the Mulsanne for the potentially muddy paddock area at Wakefield Park, and the 24 Hours of LeMons crew have just the solution for you... and the best bit is that it's for charity.

The inaugural Australian event, to be held at Wakefield Park, New South Wales with the racing split over October 27-28, appears to be the tip of the iceberg.

"We have seven scheduled events for 2016," explains 'Supreme Commander', Sean Herbert, his title giving away the Lemons vibe.

"They will be spread across Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia, with an additional two running in New Zealand."

It is hoped that the program gains further traction, and Herbert's team is planning on expansion to 14 events for 2017. "There'll be several day/night events with up to 700 drivers and crew on average, per event."

As well as the fun and frivolity surrounding the events, the opportunity to raise charity money is a core component of the LeMons series. The charity partner for Wakefield Park is the Prostate Foundation of Australia.

The premise behind these events is simple. Grab five of your mates and buy yourselves a 'lemon', the purchase and modification price of which cannot exceed $1000. And therein lies the challenge; trying to make a car that's ready-made for the dumpster last for hours of track thrashing, and the inevitable stories of triumph and adversity surrounding that challenge, give the event its unique drawcard.

While there's no doubt the focus is on fun and giving for charity, there has been no compromise to safety. This is evidenced by the mandatory safety requirements, all of which fall outside the defined $1000 budget. Basically, make the thing as safe as you can afford.

Mandatory for all drivers is an approved helmet, neck support device (such as HANS), and fire retardant clothing and undergarments. Vehicles are required to have a CAMS or AASA specification roll cage with a minimum six points and a one-piece, purpose-built racing seat is essential.

Beyond the on-track activities Herbert has also outlined a community around the LeMons scene. "We're calling it the LeMons Garage. It's a social community that will have everyone connected speaking about their businesses, cars, food, music... you name it.

"There'll be non-racing social get-togethers, outdoor movie nights and we're even looking for locations to open a LeMons Garage dinner restaurant," explains Herbert.

Stay tuned on motoring.com.au for Australian LeMons event coverage in the coming weeks.