Dreaming about mowing down the competition
By Robin Wayne
Do you dream about mowing down the competition
but can't afford a modified
racer? this may be the answer to your dreams
What do you call a form of motorsports that is accessible, fun and so cheap
that even the most budget conscience fan can afford it? Lawn Mower racing.
As weird and ridiculous as the concept sounds, this new sport has taken root
and is growing like crab grass. The races look like a cross between karting
and Motocross. Field size varies, depending on the size of the course, with
20 drivers being the maximum.
Lawn mower racing started as a promotional tool for Sta bil, a lawn mower gas
additive, in the summer of 1991 and has become a substitute for the average
Joe who normally could only dream about owning and racing a race car. Now,
wanna- be racers can take the family riding lawnmower to the track and
pretend they're their favorite driver.
The inspiration came from watching the British lawn mower races . (The
British created the sport some thirty years ago.) The atmosphere is zany and
bazaar in the garage area but highly competitive on the track So, when they
created the US Lawnmower Association on April 1st 1991, they instilled those
values into their organization. While safety is always paramount (helmets
and goggles are required), a sense of fun and comradery is also very much in
evidence.
Racers call their machines names like ‘The Turfinator' ‘Sodzilla' and ‘
Lawnborghini and they race in events called "the mowdown of the Mowlennium'
and such.
Some racers have only a few hundred dollars invested in their machines, some
as much as $2000. They all share a love of racing. The drivers race for
bragging rights instead of a money purse which helps the sports stay
assessable as a Amateur level entertainment.
The season runs 20 races long and visits a variety of venues such as Florida,
New York state, Montana and many other states in between. They even make
a stop in Canada.
There are six classes or types of mowers starting with the Stock class (where
the only modification is removing the blade), up to the Factory Experiential,
(
which has a 20 hp, 2 cylinder engine and can travel up to 60 mph.)
For mow information on this cutting edge grass roots sport visit
www.letsmow.com
President of Organization on a racing mower