The 2022 tour for Minivan Halen starts at CMP this weekend
Photography by Eric Rood
Story by Eric Rood
Forget your Dan Gurney IMSA GTP car. Forget the Talon. Forget, even, the proto-crossover AMC product. The Raleigh-based racers from the team “It’ll Be Fine…” present your new favorite Eagle: Mini-Van Halen.
Yes, this Eagle Summit Wagon has been converted to the ultimate Lemons tribute to Van Halen. Like so many oddball crapcans, a Summit Wagon doesn’t really need a theme, but Lemons organizers appreciate this kind of dedication.
In addition to the Frankenstein-guitar paint job and wing supports, the team added an “I Don’t Feel Tardy” clock to the driver’s gauges. At the Mini-Van Halen’s debut, the team also bribed the Lemons judges with a copy of Van Halen’s famous tour rider (no brown M&M’s). Not that anybody doubts the relative worthlessness of an Eagle Summit Wagon, but a little greasing of the judicial wheels helped get the car into the worst/best class, Class C.
Like its platform-mates the Mitsubishi Expo LRV and Plymouth Colt Wagon, the Mini-Van Halen was powered by Mitsubishi’s 2.4-liter 4G64 engine. And like all the best minivans, this one had a five-speed manual transmission to boot.
So, was Mini-Van Halen’s debut on par with that first 1978 Van Halen record? It was certainly a hot first outing for the team at NCM Motorsports Park, though it lacked an “Eruption.” Some cooling and electrical problems kept the Summit Wagon from shredding through the field. In spite of a 55th-place finish and not a ton of speed, it managed to take home Organizer’s Choice from that first race.
The 2022 tour for Minivan Halen starts at CMP this weekend
\m/
Their tribute is better than this IMSA Challenge Aston that was "asked politely to desist."
Hopefully the Lemons VanHaulin doesn't get the same treatment.
I wouldn't mind burnin' down the avenue in that.
RIP, Eddie. 
In reply to Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) :
So far no C&D letter from anyone associated with the band, although I doubt they know this car exists and probably care a little less since we're not making any money with the image.
For the next race it will be....more
In reply to Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) :
Ugh, I know.
We saw them on their final tour–first time I saw VH.
Was DLR's voice not as sharp as it once was? Who cares? Killer show and he’s still a terrific front man.
The wing mounts are creative genius.
Have we even mentioned the box flares?
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