Author Topic: Any mower racing in California?  (Read 136348 times)

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Offline mowdak1

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Re: Any mower racing in California?
« Reply #15 on: December 19, 2006, 05:54:29 pm »
Now we got 3 of you... but there are more here!

Local paper is cool as well. On the website www.bluehost.com is <$8/month for everything! That'll get you webhosting, domain name, and your own message board, for $94 a year. If you go 2 years on that it drops to <$7/month. They have online design tools as well, so if you don't have the software to build the site, you can build it there. Since it is paid server, you don't have any adds to contend with, and you can pick your own Domain Name, not... www.geocities.your_name.yahoo.com/something/whatever

Get after the site first, then get after the advertising, get your mower built in the meantime so those interested have something to look at. You may want to see what kind of interest is there first, others might prefer road course racing to drags. You may want to go a different direction, or even multiple directions.


Offline mowinmachine

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Re: Any mower racing in California?
« Reply #16 on: December 19, 2006, 06:14:59 pm »
The good thing is that I make web sites for a living, so that part will be easy. I can definantly do the marketing and stuff. I guess I also worry about insurance and stuff. I don't have a lot of dough to pay off someone who gets hurt out there. might have to get a lawyer or someone to make a disclaimer or something.
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California mower racing

Offline sr71mopar

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Re: Any mower racing in California?
« Reply #17 on: December 19, 2006, 09:01:17 pm »
Hey mowinmachine, now's our chance to start a club or something. I still have 2 more craftmans for parts. Frames and all. Even got a decent OVXL125 for you to get started with. My Kohler is mine. There is a guy in Petaluma with a mower junkyard, and a junk pile in Sebastopol with a ton of stuff. They even have a couple Cub Cadets in the pile.
Peerless 700's are kinda hard to find around here. I still run a Foote transaxle.
The best part is, I have a ready to go track to get started. We just opened it up so its about a tenth/mile.
Right now we use it for karts, but I like my mower better.(mowbetter?)
I agree about the waiver thing. Just like bracket racing. Dont sign it=dont race. I think a few basic safety rules will really cut down on the problems anyway. How does NBLMRA sound? NCLMRA is already taken by N. Carolina.
How about RELMRA. Redwood Empire Lawn Mower Racing Associaton.


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Offline mowdak1

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Re: Any mower racing in California?
« Reply #18 on: December 19, 2006, 09:12:39 pm »
The good thing is that I make web sites for a living, so that part will be easy. I can definantly do the marketing and stuff. I guess I also worry about insurance and stuff. I don't have a lot of dough to pay off someone who gets hurt out there. might have to get a lawyer or someone to make a disclaimer or something.

That's why you need to look at sanctioning through an existing organizational body. The USLMRA, ARMA, NDRLMA, and others all provide insurance to their local chapters. Coverage up to $2,000,000 in fact and the cost to you (the local club) is very reasonable. And, as the sport grows, it is becoming more and more affordable as well, because mower racers do preach a lot of safety and we really don't have a great many claims turned in.


Offline mowinmachine

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Re: Any mower racing in California?
« Reply #19 on: December 20, 2006, 11:08:24 am »
Hey Mopar,
Well I'm still looking around at some riding mowers. There's a few on craigslist for 100-300 bucks. Some of them are pretty nice machines. Anyhow, someone got back to me and said that there are no official racing chapters in Cali, so if there is to be one, then we would have to start it. Again- not sure how many people would be into it, but I suppose at least building something to start with would be worth while. I'm going to have to do some research and paperwork to see how practical this might be. Basically, I just want to build a racing mower but have no place to actually drive it since I live in a neighborhood with postage stamp sized yards. We'll see... can't really do anything until after the holidays anyway.
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California mower racing

Offline sr71mopar

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Re: Any mower racing in California?
« Reply #20 on: December 20, 2006, 12:53:19 pm »
I wont be doing much until after the holidays myself. 
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Offline sr71mopar

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Re: Any mower racing in California?
« Reply #21 on: December 20, 2006, 11:38:33 pm »


This is our track. Tri-oval, banked corners. We are working on widening it to the outside by about 10' all the way around.



This is my beast. I have enough parts to build at least one more just like it. Right now its set up for plow tractor mode. (Couldnt do the track without it) I have a 3 1/2" pulley on the front and a 8 1/2" in the rear. Its a foote transaxle, but I went through it (50/50 moly grease and gear oil). Foote 4360 and Peerless 930's share alot of parts. Its pretty tight and I keep the input speed down.
I've got nearly all the slop out of the steering, and I run 8"s all the way around.
I ran a 6" pulley on the front for a few days and decided to put the small one back on till I lowered the mower a few inches.
Dont let the 12.5 HP stickers fool you. I transplanted a CV15 with a few well chosen mods. Strong engine.
I think after the holidays, I'm gonna buy a brand new 700. Am I correct in thinking that I want a 700-039?
Ignore the dates in the pics. I took them today.

 


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Offline birdman_express

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Re: Any mower racing in California?
« Reply #22 on: December 20, 2006, 11:47:32 pm »
Nice looking track.










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Offline chini

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Re: Any mower racing in California?
« Reply #23 on: December 21, 2006, 12:21:13 am »
 Well I finally got on the computer,very interesating subject for discussion. I have just completed my ruff draft of rules, and will have a complete set in a week or so. At that time I will meet with Potter Valley Rodeo Committee about scheduling race dates.I also am trying to get at least one date(hopefuly more) in Willits. If you would like more info, contact me and I will be glad to share anything I can. Thanks KEVIN
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Offline chini

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Re: Any mower racing in California?
« Reply #24 on: December 21, 2006, 12:29:46 am »
 Hey SR71MOPAR, I run the same mower.Mine is lowered 2" Same foote transmission. Mine sports a 14hp briggs.My gearing is 6" on the engine to 3.5" on transmission. I have Redline Shockproof oil in the transmission, makes a whirrin noise, but keeps haulin grass!
    I would like to know where your track is? When do you race? Please let me know. See Ya KEVIN
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Offline sr71mopar

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Re: Any mower racing in California?
« Reply #25 on: December 21, 2006, 12:34:20 pm »
The track is off E.Todd rd. on the south end of Santa Rosa. Its not as big as it looks, but we're working on it.

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Offline mowinmachine

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Re: Any mower racing in California?
« Reply #26 on: December 21, 2006, 03:05:00 pm »
Nice looking track! indeed, that would be fun to race on. I am still tracking down a mower. I emailed 3 guys who had machines in Craigslist for under 100 bucks. NONE of them called me back! So I think I am going to wait until after X-mas to try again. There seems to be tons of mowers for sale in Sacramento, so I might get one there. I might also make a post on there to see if anyone has some junkers that they wouldn't mind selling me for lawn mower racing. Seems like those ols Sears/MTD machines are ideal huh? What do you guys think about an old Ariens rear engine unit? I've seen a few of them around on some racing sites and they seem to fly. Not as common though.
  About how far is Santa Rosa from Alameda? ( Bay area).
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Offline sr71mopar

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Re: Any mower racing in California?
« Reply #27 on: December 21, 2006, 03:25:20 pm »
It's only about 45 minutes away if you dont get stuck in traffic.

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Offline mowinmachine

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Re: Any mower racing in California?
« Reply #28 on: December 21, 2006, 04:59:23 pm »
45 minutes aint too bad. I could definantly do that. Tell you what, I had some ideas and considerations that would need to be made.


A: If we went through with making a CA club, would we make a chapter?
B: Would it be easier to have a real loose collaboration? No president- just people that show up?

C: Would we have a signed waiver so that people wouldn't sue over getting injured? A non-liability clause?

D: I suppose we'd adhere to USLMRA rules to keep it simple.
E: when would there be races- every month?

Lastly, how to get the word out. I can definantly do the web site and stuff. Getting in contact woth newspapers would be the next thing.
Nip it in the grass!
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California mower racing

Offline mowdak1

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Re: Any mower racing in California?
« Reply #29 on: December 21, 2006, 05:08:36 pm »
Don't want to bust your bubble, but waivers are not worth the paper they are written on, when you have a greedy lawyer picking them apart. They are a necessity so you have some indication that the individual was not forced onto a lawn mower resutling in his being injured regardless, but if it comes down to liabilities, there are only about 10,000 things they can find you at fault for if you have no coverage.

Sign on with someone, and get the insurance coverage guys! If you want to go USLMRA I can speak with Bruce Kaufman and see what kind of hoops you need to jump through. 

---

On getting the word out... Get a mower or two built, and shoot for a human interest story on the local news. If you go USLMRA, the Association will assist with press releases.


 

anything