Lawn mower racing
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Lawnmower racing is a form of motorsport in which competitors race modified lawnmowers, usually of the ride-on or self-propelled variety. Original mower engines are retained, but blades are removed for safety. The sport attracts all ages, and is usually entered into in a spirit of fun rather than extreme competitiveness, though many do take it quite seriously.
The sport was actually "invented" in 1973 in The Cricketers Arms pub in Wisborough Green (not far from the town of Horsham) in West Sussex, England, UK, by a group of young men bemoaning the prohibitive costs of getting involved in any kind of motorsport. They formed the British Lawn Mower Racing Association, and shortly afterwards, a northern equivalent in the form of the North West Lawn Mower Racing Association was formed.
The sport was taken to the United States by the makers of a petrol stabiliser called Sta-bil, who had visited the UK and witnessed a race meeting. It has since grown to have multiple national organizations, including the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association and the American Racing Mower Association.
Lawnmower racing should not be confused with go-karting, wherein lawn mower engines have often been used, especially amongst the amateur participants in go-karting. Lawn mower racing is based firmly around the use of both engines and chassis from regular model mowers. Also, where go-kart is exclusively raced on paved surface, lawn mower racing can be raced off-road.
A small, rural town in Indiana has held an annual lawnmower race since 1963. Located in Twelve Mile, Indiana, the Twelve Mile 500 has drawn spectators from all over the Midwest.[citation needed]
Lawnmower Racing Mania 2007, a new video game based on the sport, was slated to be released in November 2006. It was developed for the PC and Xbox by video game developer eV Interactive. This game is officially licensed by the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association.
The pastime of lawnmower racing was featured in the American TV sitcoms Home Improvement and King of the Hill and the movie The Prince and Me.
[edit] North Carolina Lawnmower Racing
Since the summer of 2005, the North Wilkesboro Rotary Club has played host to lawnmower racing at its Wilkes County Agricultural Fairground facility. Sanctioned by the Allegheny Mower Racing Association, oval track racing on the dirt reminds many of the beginnings of stock car racing at the North Wilkesboro Speedway and the birth of NASCAR.
Crowds have grown from a few hundred to gatherings of thousands on several Saturday nights from June through September. The Wilkes County fairground site is said by many participants to be the premier facility within the AMRA circuit.
Proceeds from the club's lawnmower racing events are distributed throughout the year to the many activities supported by the North Wilkesboro Rotary Club. The club contributes to most local United Way agencies, provides annual scholarships to local high school students, holds a Christmas Party for the county's foster children, while also supporting worldwide relief efforts of Rotary International.
[edit] Australian Lawn Mower Racing
Australia's first mower race was dreamt up in a small country pub at Harrietville in Northern Victoria in 1987. Five blokes spontaniously challenged each other to a race around the local hills of the area. They chugged up the steep slopes belching smoke from thier unmodified Briggs and Strattons, rounded a nominated gum tree, then flew down in "Angel Gear" (neutral). For the record a rogue called "Roger" won on his rover. "Half the town's 100 people and 150 dogs were there" says the Mudman Brian Ross.
A.R.O.L.M.R.A INC. (Australian Ride-On Lawn Mower Racing Association), has become the biggest lawn mower racing club in Australia. AROLMRA has over 100 members and a large following in Victoria, Australia. It holds between 8 and 10 races a year. The majority of races are held to raise money for the local Country Fire Authority, which is a volunteer fire service.
There are also lawn mower racing clubs in the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and Nowra. The first ever national race between all the clubs was held in Dubbo NSW on the 16th of May 2009.
You can see thier official website at www.arolmra.tk Or see the world famous Mowtec Racing Team website at www.mowerracing.piczo.com
