I been noticing more and more "NON-AFFLIATED" or as some call "OUTLAW" racers chiming in on this forum as well as others I frequently visit. I just wanted to share my experience (on my local level) with a few "NON AFFILIATED" races I attended as a spectator last fall. One thing I noticed was the lack of safety improvements. Some mower were still using the stock transaxle "BRAKE", many still had the factory "GEAR" type steering and spindles that only had the "E" clips retaining their wheels. Many of these mowers were actually getting some "DECENT" speed and it actually made me quite nervious thinking that an injury was right around the corner from happening. I don't care if you are racing with USLMRA, ARMA or the Chinese Lawn mower racers...Please be carefull and invest in your safety.
I also noticed the lack of "EVEN" racing. While there were plenty of mowers in the field...the "MODIFIED" class consisted of everyting from an "IMOW" type mower to an ""FX" style...and everything in between...all in ONE CLASS!!
With the newly formed USLMRA AC program, I know it will help the sport grow in an ORGANIZED and SAFE fashion. Prior to the program, you needed to be involved in a local chapter follwing USLMRA rules 100%...now you can take the NON-AFFLIATED racers into your AC and ease them into organized racing!! The more WE get ORGANIZED the more the sport gets taken seriously. this in turn will bring the opportunity of larger corporate sponsors seeing ORGANIZED racing and wanting to become involved in advertising, hosting and whom knows what it could bring down the road!!
We are all involved in one of the fastest growing motorsports out there right now! From being based on a "MACHINE" that most everyone is familier with or has at least seen and then the cost to race makes this a very appealing form of racing.
I wish I got "MORE INVOLVED" years ago when I first was made aware of the sport...but I guess I'll do my best to "CATCH UP" now!!!
Anyway...I recently replied to a topic on the USLMRA YAHOO GROUP FORUM and it went into a brief "UNDERSTANDING" of the USLMRA AC program and thought I'd share that information here.
Thanks!!
Subj:[USLMRA] Re: OUTLAW RACES
Date:2/15/2008 11:49:58 AM Central Standard Time
From:mowmanracer@yahoo.com
Reply-to:USLMRA@yahoogroups.com
To:USLMRA@yahoogroups.com
Sent from the Internet
As Bruce directed...Check out the information on the Affliated Club
program now being offered by USLMRA. I just recently became an AC
with USLMRA and am very excited on how this will allow the "NON-
AFFLIATED" racer to easily adapt to USLMRA safety rules and
guidlines and be able to be a part of a USLMRA AC without actually
being a USLMRA member. To me..This program is a awesome way to
introduce ANYONE into LAWN MOWER RACING without committing 100% to
USLMRA rules.
I look at it this way...You can form your own Lawn Mower
Racing "CLUB". Now you can PROMOTE (I'm BIG on PROMTING this Sport)
your club within your community. Now when RACER "A" inquires about
the sport and just wants to "TRY" the sport, they can now put
together a Racing Mower that really only needs to comply 100% with
USLMRA safety rules/guidlines. From there it is pretty much "OPEN"
to what can be done with the mower. I do however....suggest that any
new racer try their best to comply 100% with USLMRA rules. This will
allow for more competitive racing between mowers (classes)and makes
for a very easy transistion into a USLMRA LEGAL Racing Mower when
the racer decides to follow the USLMRA points series.
Having AC's across the nation will really EXPLODE this sport by
introducing "ORGANIZED" LMR to those whom may not be following any
certain criteria for their mowers. Non Affliated mower racing groups
can now use AC's as a stepping stone to become more involved in the
sport "SLOWLY" instead of just "JUMPING IN" blind.
I really only have a few GOALS for my AC at this time. One is to get
the general public more aware of our sport. From attending car shows
with my mower, having my mower on display at local stores for the
day, to plastering the area with flyers on the sport....once the
public see's what our sport is about, how economical it is as
compared to most other forms of motorsport...well...you get the
point. I just want to opens peoples eyes to their possibility to
join the fastest growing motorsport!!
Another goal I have(and am starting to already gain on it) is to
have a home track that my club (as well as other LC's in the area) can
practice/ learn and race instead of traveling to events and learning
during race time. I also feel that by having a LOCAL HOME track,
more racers will be drawn into the sport. I don't mind
traveling..but MANY racers (or to be racers that I've spoken to)
really like the idea of a HOME track. I think all the years people
have digested KART RACING and how they tend to STAY at a home track
to practice and compete, it has left an impression on racing at a
local level.
Tom Fox
www.MOWRAUDERS.com
