United States Lawn Mower Racing Association(USLMRA): Up and Coming or Down and Going?

Would you believe that lawn mower racing could be a sport? Since 1992, the United States Lawn Mower Racing Association (USLMRA) has grown from one to over forty Chapters and Clubs. They provide televised and National Points Championships Series, as well as racing entertainment for local festivals, events and businesses. Their motto: "We make a weekend chore into a competitive sport."(USLMRA, 2010).

How did this body called the USLMRA come to be? It started back on April Fool's Day in 1992, when a group of executives from the Gold Eagle Company were on a business trip. These businessmen observed the British Lawn Mower Association in England, and decided that lawn mower racing might be a great avenue to promote one of their newer products: Sta-Bil Fuel Stabilizer. Once back in the Unites States, the Sta-Bil National Race has grown to over twenty Sta-Bil Regional and Mowdown races across the nation.

The initial Sta-Bil National race was publicized in 1992 in the New York Times, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Washington Times, and Los Angeles Times. Over the next couple of years, newspaper and magazine coverage increased, the races were mentioned on the season finale of the" Home Improvement" television series and by 1995, there were National races scheduled in 12 major U.S. cities. In 2001, the Sta-Bil Nationals expanded into Canada, were televised on ESPN2 in 2005, and in 2008/2009, had several 30 minute series on the Outdoor Channel and Fox Sport Network("Motor Mania" & "On the Track").

Eligibility to participate in the races include being a member of the USLMRA, being 18 years-of-age(16 or 17 with parental consent), and signing a waiver releasing the USLMRA from any liability. Mower eligibility includes reel style or self-propelled rotary riding lawn mowers, mowers must be suitable for lawn cutting, and must be sold commercially to cut lawns. All cutting blades must be removed from the mowers, helmets are required, and all mowers are subject to inspection prior to each race. Safety is crucial as these racing mowers have been clocked at speed from 50 to 95 MPH.

While this sport continues to grow, I don't think that it will ever become what the NFL is to football, or what NASCAR is to car racing. I do think that there is a place for these type of events at local fairs or festivals, that are seeking inexpensive entertainment for their visitors. It is a also a fairly safe and inexpensive sport in which racing enthusiasts could participate. In our current economy. Most of us are struggling to just pay our bills, and that doesn't leave much left for recreation and entertainment.

I would love to hear comments from any of those who have attended a race, or are lawn mower racing fans.

Sources:

Let's Mow (2010). Andrew J. Stone. Retrieved from http://www.USLMRA.com