The 24 Hours of Lemons kicks off its 2018 season of vehicular jankery at Sonoma Raceway this weekend, March 24-25. As 150 heaps struggle around Sonoma's famed road course, the paddock will feature the first-ever HooptieCon (www.HooptieCon.com), a Great Engine-Heat BBQ Cookoff and more delightful antics.

 The Sears Pointless at HooptieCon, Slightly Classed up by Yokohama, marks the series' first of two annual stops in Sonoma for an endurance race unlike any other. Spectators may wonder what exactly they are watching when not-so-classics and rustomods attempt to complete one of the world's most unique endurance races. The 24 Hours of Lemons is restricted to cars that were purchased, fixed up, and track-prepped for a total of $500 or less.

  While the 24 Hours of Lemons occupies the twists and turns of Sonoma Raceway, the paddock will become home to a collection of weird, wonderful, and outrightly tubular automobiles in a brace of off-kilter car shows. These include Radwood ('80s and '90s cars with period-correct dress), Billetproof (traditional hot rods sans billet and modernity), Concours d'Lemons (celebrating the oddball, mundane, and truly awful of the automotive world), the Gambler 500 (off-road navigation challenges and stupidity), Arcane Auto Society ("What kind of car is that?" ad infinitum), and Lemons Rally (on-road navigation challenges and stupidity).

HooptieCon will also feature The Great Engine-Heat BBQ Cookoff (all cooking heat provided only by engines) and Crapcannes Film Festival (a presentation of HooptieCon-caliber short films).

  While all this foolishness is primarily done in the name of fun, it's also done in the name of charity, as a portion of proceeds benefit Sonoma County non-profit organizations through Speedway Children's Charities, the charitable arm of Sonoma Raceway.

   The weekend will feature racing from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Sunday.  For links to the schedule, the various show groups' information and one-day $20 spectator tickets go to www.hooptiecon.com. Kids under 16 are admitted free all weekend.