Blown head gaskets, transmission failures, and timing chain issues are all expensive to fix, often in the $2,000 to $4,000 range. Add in corrosion-prone undercarriages in northern states and you get a ...

The cars also suffer over the course of 24 hours. Drive gears break, wiring comes loose, and it’s not uncommon for cars to fly off track during the race—quite the opposite, in fact. “It’s really hard ...