The topic of ride-on mowers brings us to a sport that really illustrates the definition of ‘grass roots’. Lawn mower racing started in 1973 in West Sussex after a group of motorsport enthusiasts enjoyed a pint at The Cricketers Arms in Wisborough Green. Having been to the hostelry myself I can see why the idea of racing lawn mowers cropped up; the pub overlooks the village green, which hosts regular cricket matches through the summer.
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As the group watched the groundskeeper on his ride on mower, preparing the pitch for the next game, they all realised they had a lawn mower in their shed, and as often happens in pub settings, things got out of hand and the obvious next step was to race them!
The original mower race featured mainly push along mowers, but the sport grew and grew, faster than the grass on anyone’s lawn, and there are now four racing categories, from push-along cylinder mowers, to ride on mowers and lawn tractors. The founders of lawn mower racing set up the British Lawn Mower Racing Association, which oversees the sport and organises events across the country, although the spiritual home of the sport remains in West Sussex.
To get involved in the sport, the first thing to do is decide which category you would like to race in, then purchase a racing mower or modify one yourself. The ride on mower category is very popular, especially as with 12-hour endurance races you would not want to be pushing a self-propelled model around a field for that long. Any modifications made must stick to removing blades (all racing mowers must have the blades removed), projecting parts and gearing; no modifications can be made to the power of the engine.
Any ride on mower or lawn tractor that is to be used for racing must be checked by the homologation team prior to race entry, to ensure a level playing field for all machines. Each machine must have a log book, checked and stamped by the scrutineer at every race meeting.
Ride on mowers can achieve speeds of up to 50 mph in a race setting, far more than in your average garden. This is because even though the engine cannot be modified, there are certain modifications that can be made to the gearing of a ride on mower that will increase the speed of it. Many people get seriously into the building of their own ride on mowers specifically for racing, so there is plenty of involvement for the mechanically minded. Aerodynamic alterations to a ride on mower can also make all the difference, but remember that any modifications need to go through the homologation process and pass before the ride on mower can be raced.
Perhaps your old ride on mower has seen better days and you want to replace it, so what better to do with the old one than turn it into a race mower? There are many less worthwhile pastimes you could be indulging in, and at least going to the pub is an important part of the lawn mower racing world, after all, it’s where the whole thing started. The ride on mower racing season has started for this year, and generally runs through to October. If you want to get involved, either in racing, organising or simply spectating to begin with, check the events page on the BLMRA website for a race meet near you. The website has plenty of information and FAQs to get you started and the main members and social events are also detailed, meaning you could just pop into the Cricketers’ for a pint and a chat one Monday a month.