Rocky mower races revved up for national competition | Rockhampton Morning Bulletin
http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/get-your-mower-runnin-national-competition/3025310/ REVVED UP: Caleb Kennedy will race in A-grade at the 2016 All Australian Ride-On Mower Racing Championships next weekend at Yaamba. INSET: Mark Shipton, the Australian champion in the outlaw class, will be here to defend his title. Contributed
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THE Kennedy quartet from Rockhampton will be aiming to mow down the opposition in A-grade at the 2016 All Australian Ride-On Mower Racing Championships on May 21 and 22.
Leading the charge will be 16-year-old Caleb, who finished second in B-grade at last year's nationals and is hoping to go one better in the higher grade this time around.
The event is being staged for the second consecutive year by the Central Queensland Mower Racing Club at its race track at Yaamba (opposite the Royal Oak Hotel).
Caleb will be joined in the A-grade field by his dad and club president John, John's brother Warren and his son Jye. Warren's wife Wendy will also be in action, racing in D-grade.
John said there would be some fast and furious competition at the nationals, especially in the outlaw class where riders get their mowers revving at speeds of up to 90kmh.
Reigning national champion Mark Shipton from the Sunshine Coast will be out to retain his title against a class field from across Queensland and interstate.
"The outlaw class is the ultimate class," John said. "They ride fully modified mowers that can do anywhere up to 90kmh. They're pretty wild to watch.
"The class down is big block, which is basically 35hp mowers, and underneath that is A-grade down to D-grade, which is your standard 32hp ride-on racing mower."
John said mower racing was growing in popularity because it was relatively economical and it was being embraced by families across the country.
