Horizons Online Edition

Issue date: 10/1/08 Section: Diversions

Media Credit: Arizona Lawn Mower Racing Association A driver rounds a corner on the dirt track during a lawn mower race.

Britain's Jim Gavin wanted to find a way to race vehicles on less of a budget than traditional car racing took. In 1973, Gavin and several friends set down the basic rules. Now all they needed was a class of vehicles to race. Looking out the window of the pub, they saw a groundskeeper on a Lawn Mower, and the British Lawn Mower Racing Association was born.

For 29 years the sport stayed in the United Kingdom, but on Apr. 1, 1992, the Gold Eagle Company brought lawn mower racing to the United States, thinking that it would be a good way to promote their product.

The sport caught on, and the United States Lawn Mower Racing Association (USLMRA) is still thriving today. The national 2009 USLMRA season starts in October with a race in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

From the outside, the USLMRA is a lot like other racing organizations. The organization sets down rules, organizes races, and develops a point system with which to rank drivers. But unlike other racing venues, the initial costs involved with creating a USLMRA race team are relatively low, because many people already own a riding mower of sorts. That opens the doors of competitive racing to many people who would not otherwise have the means to participate.

There are many different classes that are based on the performance of the racer's mower. That helps keep the playing field as level as possible and allows people to race anything from a stock mower to a highly modified and finely tuned racing machine.

In all classes the mower must have the blades removed and a tethered kill switch installed for safety. The rider must also wear safety gear as specified by the USLMRA, including a helmet, gloves, over-the-ankle boots, and, for the faster classes, a neck brace.

The unmodified mowers in the stock class race at speeds of six to eight mph, but the prepared class (minor modifications to enhance performance allowed) attain speeds of 35 to 40 mph on the track and have been clocked at a top speed of 85 mph.

The factory experimental (F/X) class is for people who have the urge to heavily modify their mowers. As the 2008 official rule book says, "F/X machines are mowers that no longer function as lawn mowers, but maintain the appearance that they do." F/X machines are the fastest machines in the USLMRA, racing at speeds reaching 60 mph.

While most of the national races take place in the eastern half of the country, there are many local chapters spread throughout the nation. The Arizona chapter, appropriately enough, is the Arizona Lawn Mower Racing Association (AZLMRA).

The AZLMRA's most recent race was at the Yavapai County Fair Grounds for the Yavapai County Fair as the halftime show for the demolition derby. There are also some upcoming races scheduled for November. The details are outlined on the AZLMRA website at [http://www.arizonalmra.com].

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