Author Topic: 20 Years of Sod Slinging: A Message From USLMRA President Bruce Kaufman  (Read 4667 times)

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Offline mrmowitall

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From the Cutting Edge Blog at www.letsmow.com
http://www.letsmow.com/2012/05/20-years-of-sod-slinging-a-message-from-uslmra-president-bruce-kaufman/

20 Years of Sod Slinging: A Message From USLMRA President Bruce Kaufman

This “Message From The President” is from the 20th Anniversary Cutting Edge Yearbook, available soon at www.LetsMow.com!

I’ve recently been sorting through the vast USLMRA Archives, taking a journey down Memory Lane via newspaper clips, magazines, tapes, posters, flyers and assorted brick-a-brack. Fortunately, I’ve saved everything regarding USLMRA history over the past 20 years, and a photo sampling is included in the 2012 Cutting Edge Yearbook, soon to be posted at www.letsmow.com

So, what memories come to mind? Here are a few:

    The first racing mower I ever saw, at the 1992 Twelve Mile 500.
    The entire first STA-BIL Nationals in 1992 – I remember everything about that weekend.
    The Dixie Chopper Jet Mower on Home Improvement, 1993.
    Mow Camp at the Benton Harbor Airport, 1995.
    Meeting Paul Harvey at Ken Smolecki’s garage, 1994.
    Point Mallard Park, Decatur, Alabama, 1995-1999.
    Mavis and Dink Strunk and Quincy and Tim Hamilton.
    Mendota, Illinois, 1998-2008.
    The British Invasion to Lisle, Illinois, 2000.
    Middletown, Ohio Balloon Festival, with the mower racers and Civil War Reanactors, 1996.
    Bristol Motor Speedway, running on the big track, 2002.
    The 2007 Edenton, NC IMOW race in between Wally Bender and Sid Whiteside. Amazing!
    Sid Whiteside’s Rain Dance, Avon Park, FL 2007.
    The photo finish between Tim Matheny and Jim Miller, 1995 STA-BIL Nationals, Rockford, IL.
    Janet Witt and her courage, along with her “plunging neckline” dress.
    Art Neavill dressed as a Flower Girl.
    Bob Stormer…just Bob Stormer!
    Racing Ray wearing his TNN t-shirt, 1995.
    Hanging with the original USLMRA lawn mower racers: Loco Larry Henning, Flyin’ Dave Brown, Kevin Abernathy, Bill Kroeschel, Greg Baum, Dave Mallas, Kurt Schwengel and Jim Poden.
    Gerry Hoos and the Shelby Mustang Mower Crew, 1993-1995.
    Art Evans, the founder of Dixie Chopper, holding court with the racers.
    Steve Moss!
    Cut Bank Montana: Guy Black, Tom Johnson, Craig Rude, Bob Stormer, 1994-1998.
    Jack Spangler, Mansfield, Ohio, 2002-2006.
    Dave and Yolie Hertel’s reserved spot by the pine tree at STA-BIL Nationals, 2002-2006.
    Art Elsner, Pot Stirrer.
    Kissing the cow at Genoa City, WI races, 2003-2004.
    The Ast family: Tom, Trudy, Kerri, Kyle and Curtis.
    Joe Gillians starting the first USLMRA Local Chapter – Florida Lawnracing Association.
    Ken Jones, who has stood by me through thick and thin since 1998, and he still does.
    My old and new friends in Texas: Cheryl Powell, John and Kathy Nelson, Tim and Patty Robison, Mike and Christina Denbow…Frank Pryor, Charles Powell, Mike Cupps, Garrett Gray, Sammie and Marion Neel.
    Mike and Mary Lou Boris, and their awesome parties at their house – with blues band!
    Dubba G, tabletop dancing, Mansfield, Ohio, 2002.
    George Herrin giving a spare motor to Mike “Gonzo” Leonard at 2003 STA-BIL Nationals.
    Racing in the middle of New York’s Rockefeller Plaza, 2006, with Dave Smith.
    The 2007 New York International Auto Show – DIRTY TURTLES RULE!
    The loooooong Rule-Making Weekends at Bill Simpson’s house, 3rd weekend in November, 1998-2002.
    Doug and Merriane Rogerson and the Drag Racing program.
    Watching Chuck Miller race…for 20 years!
    Filming “How a Combustion Engine Works” with Bobby Cleveland, Mark Boyce and Chuck Miller for Turf Rockets on Discovery Channel, 2002.
    The 1999 trip to England for the 12-Hour Race. Fish and chips at 2:00am; racing, sausage and eggs…racing…racing…cocktails…daylight…Ken Smolecki waving Checkered Flag…sleep!
    Bob “Tiny” Frennesson, from Katy, Texas, and the thousands of miles he travelled each summer to race his mower – “Tiny.”
    Race in Presque Isle, Maine, 1997, meeting Michael Bonville and Tim Ryan.
    The 1999 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway
    Silly String at STA-BIL Nationals Awards Ceremony!

MOW ON!
Bruce Kaufman
Mr. Mow It All
Founder & Past President
U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association
Founded April 1, 1992

LetsMow.com
facebook.com/USLMRA

Offline George Herrin

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Mike loaned me his MOTOR he had some handling issues and I blew up in practice, and actually loaned out 50% of his mower taking it apart as racers broke needing something. RIP MIKE. I miss him, he was a class act.
George Herrin #6
Indian Power.. You gotta Go big to beat em or Go HOME
8 time ARMA National Champion
4 time USLMRA National Champion
Retired from BP
www.herrinmowersports.yolasite.com
www.allamericanmowerchampionships.yolasite.com
My other racer is a 1/5th scale Dirt Late Model!!!!

Offline Racer 201

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I think this is the race my mower broke right before the heat race and George loaned me his mower which had Mikes Engine on it.  Without that I would have never qualified ;)
Michael

Offline George Herrin

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Yup that is the year LOTS of stuff got loaned out. Was one of the best years I have seen when it came to sportsmanship in all the years I been doing this.
George Herrin #6
Indian Power.. You gotta Go big to beat em or Go HOME
8 time ARMA National Champion
4 time USLMRA National Champion
Retired from BP
www.herrinmowersports.yolasite.com
www.allamericanmowerchampionships.yolasite.com
My other racer is a 1/5th scale Dirt Late Model!!!!

Offline mrmowitall

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Mike loaned me his MOTOR he had some handling issues and I blew up in practice, and actually loaned out 50% of his mower taking it apart as racers broke needing something. RIP MIKE. I miss him, he was a class act.
I think this is the race my mower broke right before the heat race and George loaned me his mower which had Mikes Engine on it.  Without that I would have never qualified ;)
Yup that is the year LOTS of stuff got loaned out. Was one of the best years I have seen when it came to sportsmanship in all the years I been doing this.

Awesome!  I could have wrote ALOT more....still might!
Bruce Kaufman
Mr. Mow It All
Founder & Past President
U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association
Founded April 1, 1992

LetsMow.com
facebook.com/USLMRA

Offline BIG AL 202

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Awesome!  I could have wrote ALOT more....still might!
PLEASE DO! I remember some of those, and would love to hear more! It is our heritage, love this sport! [and yes you can call it a sport!]
ALWAYS VOTE FOR ED!   FONGS BROTHER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER!

 

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