46th Annual Twelve Mile 500 Lawnmower Race

[bever911]

here's some pictures from qualifying on Sunday.

http://picasaweb.google.com/wabashcolawnmowerrace/QualifyingForThe46thAnnualTwelveMile500LawnmowerRace

[Squidd]

You guys have been doing this for 46 years...???

[tractorracer12]

Can you post the time and date of the race. I would have liked to race in it but it looks like I missed qualifying.

[bever911]

Friday, July 4th-           
9:00 am park opens
10:30 pm racers can pick up shirts at Little League Building
12:30 pm deadline for additional race entries
1:30  pm Briggs Race
3:30  pm Modified Race

The 32 fastest mowers having properly qualified for the race will be eligible to run on race day.  33rd position will be filled race day for both feature events. 

You guys have been doing this for 46 years...???

Here's the history of the race: http://wabashcountylawnmowerrace.com/2008%20Lions%20Race%20History.pdf

[povertyhillfarm]

yea squidd, 46 yrs.  This is more of an endurance race 60 laps, 1/4 mile grand prix style track. not go fast and turn left. The machines are pretty crude by your standards, but we have 2 local races a year, and we have a BLAST.  come pay omage to the original lawnmower race , scott

[bever911]

Well, I've got a website started with Twelve Mile info.

There's still more work to be done, but at least some of the basic information is there:
http://www.TwelveMile500.com

[bever911]

Pictures from race day posted here: http://picasaweb.google.com/TwelveMile500

[George Herrin]

So you are only allowed to race at max speed of 15mph.

[Bishop Gideon]

So you are only allowed to race at max speed of 15mph.

You should be ok with that George... but I don't think I could run that slow.   

Ooooo I gonna be in trouble!  heh heh

[bever911]

One article on the race here: http://www.wabashplaindealer.com/articles/2008/07/07/sports/sports2.txt

[George Herrin]

Hey DAVE as I approach you from behind this weekend which side would you like me to lap you on!!!!

[bever911]

So you are only allowed to race at max speed of 15mph.

Yes and no.

Even with the speed limit of 15 mph, the Briggs class finished with an average speed of 19.91 mph (and they were even red flagged for awhile) and the Modified class finished with an average speed of 21.7 mph.

There are two officials with stop watches and at their discretion, they pick out guys who they think are going too fast.  If you are caught speeding, you get penalized.  Part of the strategy of winning the Twelve Mile 500 is to figure out when you can go fast and when you need to lay back.


BTW, This article was on the front page of the Indianapolis Star before the race http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080703/NEWS/807030411

[George Herrin]

Friday will be the 46th annual running of the race (exactly half the number of times the Indianapolis 500 has been staged). It predates the creation of the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association, formed in 1991, by almost two decades.

Thats impressive.

[mrmowitall]

Congratulations to our friends in Twelve Mile, Indiana, home of America's oldest lawn mower race!  I recall the summer of 1992 when the Troyer Brothers, Mark Lowe and the legendary Don Lambert welcomed me with open arms to show their July 4 race that year.

Then, Septmeber 5, 1992 the Troyer Brothers raced in the first STA-BIL Nationals.  Billy Champ, a racer from Twelve Mile in the FX Class was beating Chuck Miller with one lap to go when his gas tank fell off!  Tough luck for Billy.

Fast forward a few years and we saw the Troyer Brothers race USLMRA for a few years. 

FYI, the second oldest race in the USA is the annual Loggers Jubilee Race in Morton, Washington.  USLMRA had a chance to meet and run with the Morton group back in 1998, and had a lot of fun!

Mow on Twelve Mile!!!!!

[bever911]

Here's an article about our very own tractorracer12:

http://www.chronicle-tribune.com/articles/2008/07/08/sports/doc4872cf133a7b9411043793.txt