johnnymk
06-18-2005, 08:23 AM
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2005/06/17/2002339908.jpg
OREGON, Ill. — That riding lawn mower may not look like much sitting in the back of the garage, crammed between bikes and shovels and rakes. But strip off the cutting blades and it can reach speeds of up to 90 mph. "People think it's just a lawn mower," said Greg Honchell, whose mower of choice is a 1958 Springfield. "But it's a true racing machine."
What started as a whim 13 years ago has grown so popular there are more than 100 races a year all over the United States. The U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association will have 14 points races this year, and local chapters run dozens more, including divisions for children 8-15.
The national championships are televised, and a video game is in the works. There's no prize money, but some drivers have sponsors.
And that's just in the United States. In England, where the sport began, they've been going for more than 30 years.
"When I say I race lawn mowers, they look at you like, 'You race lawn mowers? They only go 3 or 4 miles per hour,' " said Ken Jones, the association's race commissioner.
"When you start telling them about them, it's like, 'I've got to come watch that,' " Jones said.
And they can go fast. Really fast.
"I've run 91 on a lawn mower," said George Herrin, the association's driver of the year last year. "[Another race] I averaged 70 miles per hour. That put me running about 89 on the straight-aways."
All mowers have to be originally designed to cut residential lawns and sold first through a dealer.
"I cut grass with that mower before I raced it. Six acres," Herrin said. "It was a really good grass cutter. But I needed the chassis."
That's the kind of practicality that got this sport mowing in the first place.
In 1973, some racing fans were sitting in a British pub, complaining about the high cost of motor sports.
According to the British Lawn Mower Racing Association's Web site, somebody in the group said, "Everybody has a lawn mower. Let's race those."
In 1992, Gold Eagle of Chicago was looking for a new way to market one of its products, STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer, and heard about the English lawn-mower racers. Thinking it might be a fun promotion, it announced the formation of the USLMRA on April Fool's Day.
"It started off as a promotional gimmick," said Jones, the USLMRA's race commissioner, "and each year it's kept growing."
Racing fans trade tools, parts and tips, and help each other with their mowers. They swap grass and mowing puns, and come up with nicknames such as Sodzilla, Mr. Mowjangles and The Prograsstinator.
While some enthusiasts will spend $5,000 to $10,000 a year on their mowers, others get by with as little as $500. Getting it ready for the stock division can be as simple as removing the cutting blades and having an automatic turnoff switch.
The other requirement is safety gear: helmet; goggles or a face mask; long-sleeve shirt or jacket; long pants; gloves, and leather footwear that covers the ankle.
OREGON, Ill. — That riding lawn mower may not look like much sitting in the back of the garage, crammed between bikes and shovels and rakes. But strip off the cutting blades and it can reach speeds of up to 90 mph. "People think it's just a lawn mower," said Greg Honchell, whose mower of choice is a 1958 Springfield. "But it's a true racing machine."
What started as a whim 13 years ago has grown so popular there are more than 100 races a year all over the United States. The U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association will have 14 points races this year, and local chapters run dozens more, including divisions for children 8-15.
The national championships are televised, and a video game is in the works. There's no prize money, but some drivers have sponsors.
And that's just in the United States. In England, where the sport began, they've been going for more than 30 years.
"When I say I race lawn mowers, they look at you like, 'You race lawn mowers? They only go 3 or 4 miles per hour,' " said Ken Jones, the association's race commissioner.
"When you start telling them about them, it's like, 'I've got to come watch that,' " Jones said.
And they can go fast. Really fast.
"I've run 91 on a lawn mower," said George Herrin, the association's driver of the year last year. "[Another race] I averaged 70 miles per hour. That put me running about 89 on the straight-aways."
All mowers have to be originally designed to cut residential lawns and sold first through a dealer.
"I cut grass with that mower before I raced it. Six acres," Herrin said. "It was a really good grass cutter. But I needed the chassis."
That's the kind of practicality that got this sport mowing in the first place.
In 1973, some racing fans were sitting in a British pub, complaining about the high cost of motor sports.
According to the British Lawn Mower Racing Association's Web site, somebody in the group said, "Everybody has a lawn mower. Let's race those."
In 1992, Gold Eagle of Chicago was looking for a new way to market one of its products, STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer, and heard about the English lawn-mower racers. Thinking it might be a fun promotion, it announced the formation of the USLMRA on April Fool's Day.
"It started off as a promotional gimmick," said Jones, the USLMRA's race commissioner, "and each year it's kept growing."
Racing fans trade tools, parts and tips, and help each other with their mowers. They swap grass and mowing puns, and come up with nicknames such as Sodzilla, Mr. Mowjangles and The Prograsstinator.
While some enthusiasts will spend $5,000 to $10,000 a year on their mowers, others get by with as little as $500. Getting it ready for the stock division can be as simple as removing the cutting blades and having an automatic turnoff switch.
The other requirement is safety gear: helmet; goggles or a face mask; long-sleeve shirt or jacket; long pants; gloves, and leather footwear that covers the ankle.