MILMRA Article, 5.16.08, Muskegon Chronicle & Mlive.com
http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/05/cutting-edge_racing.htmlby Terry Judd | The Muskegon Chronicle
Friday May 16, 2008, 10:52 AM
Lawn mower races are gaining in popularity. Saturday's event near Twin Lake will feature about 60 racers, who will compete with their modified lawn mowers.
These guys take their lawn mowers seriously
Three years ago, Rex and Chad Norton were puzzled by 18-year-old Bryan Wood of Muskegon who kept coming into Norton Small Engine Repair on East Apple Avenue to purchase lawn mower engine parts.
When they finally asked why he would need so many parts, Wood replied, "For racing."
And that's all it took for them to get hooked into what literally is a grass-roots sport -- racing riding lawn mowers.
"When I found out he was planning to race lawn mowers, I decided to help him out by doing all of the engine work," recalled Chad Norton, owner of Norton Small Engine Repair. "Then we got into the sport as well."
If you go
What: Lawn mower races.
Where: Twisting Trails Snowmobile Club, 5875 E. Ruprecht, Twin Lake.
When: Gates open at 8 a.m., racing at 9 a.m.
Classes: 12, including beginners and advanced.
Other events: ATV obstacle challenge and speed runs; vintage motorcycle and snowmobile show and swap meet.
Notable: Mowers race at about 40 mph. Races are sanctioned by the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association.
Admission: $5 for adults, children 12-and-under free.
Web site:
http://www.twistingtrails.org.
The two Nortons and Wood race two modified Dynamark lawn mowers and a Craftsman lawn mower that sport bright colors, chrome step plate trim, custom front suspension and racey tires and wheels.
In addition, Wood has a custom-built mower with hydraulic disc brakes that competes in a highly modified class where speeds in excess of 40 mph can be reached.
This Saturday, the three will join about 60 other racers who will fire up their modified lawn mowers and compete in races at Twisting Trails Snowmobile Club in Twin Lake.
All of the races are LeMans style, meaning drivers must sprint to their machines after the announcer yells, "Ready. Set. Mow!"
Craig Pond, president of the Michigan Chapter of the lawn mower association, said Saturday's races will begin around noon and should last about four hours. The races are among 16 in Michigan this year. In addition, the racing association hosts about 15 national events.
Pond said the growth of the sport over the past five years has been phenomenal and attracts entire families who compete at all levels.
"These races really are for the whole family," he said. "It's really like a family reunion that you really want to go to. People take the races seriously, but it also is fun. I have been doing this for five years and the popularity has quadrupled."
Lawn mower racing has become a nationally recognized sport, with races on such cable television networks as ESPN and The Speed Channel.
One appeal of the sport is it can be relatively inexpensive. Beginners can start off with a used riding mower and make the necessary modifications for less than $1,000. The racing association has rule books that tightly restrict the types of modifications that can be made to the mower. Regardless of the division, mowers must ride at a minium on 5- and 8-inch wheels in the front and rear respectively.
Chronicle/Terry JuddBryan Wood's custom-made racing mower competes in the highly modified class where speeds can top 40 mph. Enlarge photo
The front suspension can be changed and the engine modified, but restricted to 3,650 rpms. Superchargers, turbochargers and nitrous oxide injection are not allowed. For safety reasons, mower blades are removed and each racing mower must be equipped with a tethered kill switch in case a driver is thrown from a mower.
Drivers must wear helmets, protective gloves, long pants, sleeves, chest protectors and neck supports.
The association has six adult race divisions: I-Mow for beginners; A/P, which restricts engines to eight horsepower; SP, for more than 8.5-horsepower, flat head engines; C/P for single, overhead valve engines up to 20 horsepower; B/P for twin overhead valve engines of up to 20 horsepower; and F/X (factory experimental), for up to 464cc engines. In addition, the race association has a J/P class for children 10-16 years old.
Pond said riding mowers in the upper level B/P division can reach speeds of 90 mph on straight-aways so courses are designed with curves to keep top speeds in the 40s. These racing mowers can cost as much as $10,000.
Chronicle/Terry Judd Bryon Wood, Chad Norton and Rex Norton, left to right, stand among the four racing lawn mowers that will compete at races being held this Saturday near Twin Lake. Enlarge photo
Wood, now 21, said he first got interested in lawn mower racing when he saw a race on television. Prior to that, the only racing he had done was with remote control cars. He entered his first race three years ago and acknowledged, "I didn't do so good." He returned to the field the next year and placed second in Michigan and 11th in the national races. Last year, he placed first in Michigan and third in the nationals.
One reason Wood does well is he typically is the first driver to reach his racing mower when the race starts.
"That's one case where my age helps," he said.
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