A Traverse City teen is headed to Joliet, Illinois to compete in the “24 Hours of Lemons” race this summer. Teams will battle it out for a grueling 24 hours, changing drivers at will for a grand prize of $50,000, paid out in one million nickels weighing thousands upon thousands of pounds, while the overall winner is determined entirely at the judge’s discretion.

The race is both a play on words and an ironic take on the renowned 24 Hours of Le Mans, the annual endurance race held in northwestern France. But this version is “specifically for the car enthusiasts who might not have enough money to buy a full blown ‘race car’,’' says ‘23 Traverse City West grad Elijah Klee.

A one-time spectator, Klee will be competing for the first time this August behind the wheel of a 1998 Cadillac Deville he found after scouring used car listings. He says the boxy red sedan is “a beauty,” noting that the conditions of the race stipulate that racers can’t spend more than $500 on their vehicle. 1998 Devilles currently resale for upwards of $3,000, but he says his car’s Traverse City seller was “excited” to accept the scant offer on the condition of being invited to the event, which Klee describes as a “backyard barbeque” where camaraderie rather than competitiveness dominates the scene.

Though he says his parents are his greatest supporters, they’re also “a bit worried” about his safety. But for Klee, cars aren’t just a casual hobby, and he won’t be entering the endurance race alone. He’s collaborating both on and off the track with four other teammates, Sridula Senthi, Louis Papera, Harrison Mitchell, and Alice Hudson. The five teens met during an international internship last year where Klee designed and tested prototype parts for Ferrari and Lamborghini. After returning home, the students continued their friendship via Zoom calls, where they began forming plans to enter the 24 Hours of Lemons.

Ahead of the race this summer, they’ll be flying in from as far as England to rejoin Klee in modifying and restoring the once-luxury-class Deville into a sturdy racecar that can handle at least 200 high speed laps over the course of an entire day. As part of their preparation, they’ve spent the last year mapping out racing strategies and studying the Autobahn Country Club course where the Joliet race is taking place. Klee’s also been trekking to the two-plus mile road course at GingerMan Raceway in South Haven, where, he says he’s been taking high-speed driving lessons to hone in on his traffic and track awareness.

Despite his automotive experience, there have been some hurdles restoring the 25-year-old vehicle, including oil leaks, overheating issues, and carbon buildup. For the self described “fix-it guy,” it's been a process of troubleshooting and trial-by-error that’s involved the removal of 400 pounds of excess weight. He also plans to install a cold air intake and upgraded fuel injectors. “I did not realize all of the expensive, heavy and complex machinery within the car,” he adds.

After factoring in the time they’ll spend getting the car ready, plus the cost of flights, hotel stays, meals, and event tickets, Klee and his teammates see the race as a passion project that will eat up any potential winnings. The recent grads also have to add the price of buying and implementing safety gear, something Klee says they haven’t had a ton of spare time to raise money for between wrapping up their high school careers and preparing for their first college semesters, “Our fundraising efforts have mostly come from family members and friends.” Now the team is hoping to raise $15,000 for a roll cage, helmets, race suits, wheels, brakes, tires, and a head and neck restraint called a HANS device, plus an extra $5,000 for “operational expenses.”

It’s an ambitious goal Klee says is less about a big win and more about having a fun experience with people he cares about, especially considering that two days after the event concludes, he’ll be saying goodbye to his family and newfound friends to move into a dorm at Virginia Tech. He won’t be saying goodbye to his interest in cars, though - he’ll be delving into the university’s automotive engineering program.