FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Linda Merkel -- Executive Director Bruce Kaufman, President
America On Wheels U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association
(610) 432-4200 -- cell (610) 653-6464
director@americaonwheels.org (847) 729-7333 letsmow@aol.com
CHAMPION RACING LAWN MOWER TO BE DISPLAYED
AT AMERICA ON WHEELS
ALLENTOWN, PA (March 5, 2008) – One of America’s fastest racing lawn mowers will mow down visitors to the new America On Wheels, 5 N. Front St, Allentown, PA, a museum that offers a hands-on educational experience in one of the nation's most historic industrial cities.
The champion racing lawn mower built by Don Gienger of Bismarck, ND will be on display at America On Wheels, along with all modes of road transport from bicycles and motorcycles to family and race cars, Class 8 heavy-duty trucks, the Zora-1 Corvette and even the Segway (R) Personal Transporter.
Gienger is a member of the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association (USLMRA), owner of G-Team Racing (GTR) and founder of the North Dakota Lawn Mower Racing Association (NDLMRA).
“This is both a thrill and an honor,†said Gienger. “I’ve been building motors and engine components my entire adult life, and have fallen in love with lawn mower racing and the people who participate in it. Being a part of America On Wheels shows the world that lawn mower racing is a legitimate motor sport and belongs with the many other icons of American transposition and racing.â€
Don Gienger Lawn Mower Racing Career Highlights:
• 2008: CP Class Champion racing lawn mower on display at America On Wheels, Allentown, PA. A custom-built GTR Don Gienger 1978 Wards MTD mower with a Briggs & Stratton opposed twin cylinder L head, over 48 CID pushing about 35 hp at 6,000 rpm’s; using a Peerless 3 speed transmission. Features include: front and rear Brakes by BTS, bead lock front wheels by QRC, Turf Master Tires. Reaches race day speed of 35 to 45 mph, and top speed of 60 mph.
• 2001-2007: Featured on nationally televised lawn mower racing shows on ESPN2, Speed TV, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel TNN (now Spike TV).
• 2007: First USLMRA CP Class Champion.
• 2007: GTR becomes America’s only Lawn Mower Racing Speed Shop, offering the best in motors, parts, chassis Self Help DVDs and all the parts needed for a top finishing mower!!! GTR Now does it all. Motors and mower parts for IMOW, AP, SP, CP, BP and FX classes in the USLMRA.
• 2003-2006: Don Gienger (GTR) motors and parts consistently used by Top 15 finishers in STA-BIL National Lawn Mower Racing Series across all USLMRA modified race classes.
• 2003: GTR pioneers method to over bore the 12 hp motor (28 CID) to as large as 31 CID. That is taking a 465 CC motor all the way up to 508CC.
• 2003: GTR becomes leader in 12 hp Briggs & Stratton parts and other Briggs motors used for Lawn Mower Racing. At any given time across the country GTR motors could be found in the Top 5 mowers in the SP class racing a complete Don Gienger (GTR) built engine.
• 2000: Featured on Front Page of The New York Times.
• 2000: Began racing USLMRA Series.
• 1999: Founder: G-Team Racing.
• 1999: Founder North Dakota Lawn Mower Racing Association (NDLMRA).
The America On Wheels grand opening will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The event will feature a collection of American muscle cars, a 1918 Mack(R) model fire engine with a history of the fire service and an exhibit on fuel-cell technology courtesy of Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. The Lehigh Valley Timing Association will also offer their dedication to the late Luther "Dopey Duncan" Gehringer, a radio personality and a car enthusiast who formed the association in 1952.
The U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association is the nation’s oldest and largest national lawn mower racing sanctioning body, pioneering American lawn mower racing in 1992. The USLMRA hosts the STA-BIL National Lawn Mower Racing Series that crowns national champions in six classes and sanctions a network of 20 Local Chapters that host more than 100 races each year. Racers compete on riding lawn mowers with all cutting blades removed at speeds up to 60 mph. Racers compete for points, trophies and bragging rights. There are no cash prizes in USLMRA lawn mower racing, which keeps the sport inexpensive and fun.
The USLMRA is televised on the Outdoor Channel and Speed Channel and has been featured on ESPN2, the Discovery Channel and the TV sitcom, “Home Improvement,†as well as in the New York Times, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, the Wall Street Journal and The Paul Harvey Radio Network.
For more information, visit America On Wheels online at
www.americaonwheels.org or call (610) 432-4200.
