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Lawn Mower Racing

Many people wonder what to do with their old lawnmower after an artificial grass lawn has been installed. Why not put it to good use and start a lawn mower racing club in your area. This obscure yet fascinating form of racing is an English idea that began in 1973 at a pub called the Cricketers Arms in the village of Wisborough Green in Sussex. A group of men were grumbling about the huge costs of motor sports so an Irishman named Jim Gavin teamed up with a group of locals to create a cheap form of motor sport easily accessible to all.

After some deliberation this motley crew came to a conclusion that nearly everyone had a lawn mower so the sport and the “British Lawn Mower Racing Association” were born!

The first championship was held in a local farmers field where about eighty competitors turned out. This was a great beginning and several events are now held annually. Racing days range from six to twelve hours, which is a massive test of endurance for everyone involved. There are many cross-country events held over the season.

Motor Sport News describes lawnmower racing as the cheapest form of racing in England. This is mainly attributable to the absence of sponsorship agreements and minimal engine modifications thus maintaining low expenditures. These objectives have remained to the present day so grass lovers and speed merchants everywhere can easily get involved.

Lawn mower racing has attracted motor racing legends and celebrities such as Sir Stirling Moss, Derek Bell and Oliver Reed. This English invention has also been adopted in the United States with bigger and faster engines. Grass cutting is now a seriously fast business!