The 24 Hours of LeMans is the most prestigious motor race in the world. Every year, dozens of the most advanced hypercars and GT racers take to the French track for a grueling 24-hour race of reliability, speed, and willpower. It is the subject of Ford vs Ferrari, and the stuff of legends. This is not that. 

According to J.D. Power, a lemon is "a vehicle with severe defects caused by the manufacturing process or the previous owner," with "so many problems that keeping them road-worthy becomes unsustainable." So what happens when you throw a car like that into a race like the one described above? The "24 Hours of LeMons" strives to answer that question.

The 24 Hours of LeMons is a series of races held across the United States where just about anyone with a bit of extra cash and some mechanical skill can submit an entry. The rules are simple: The car has to cost $500 or less, and you better be ready to have some fun. 

The result is a mix of chaos and hilarity only low-budget car enthusiasts can produce. In honor of a new year of lemon racing, here are 24 awesome pics from the 24 Hours of LeMons.