History

• Lawn mower racing
  
  The first lawn mower race was held in Twelve Mile, Indiana, in 1963 by using original factory parts and engines. Every year thereafter on Independence Day there has been a lawn mower race, which draws larger crowds every year to this small town. In 1996, the race was split into two categories--one for original factory engines and one for modified engines--so that competitors did not have an unequal advantage over each other.
  
  The popularity of lawn mower racing is increasing each year. According to CBS News correspondent Cynthia Bowers, "Every Fourth of July the population of Twelve Mile, Indiana, swells from 200 to 2,500--all to see the fiercest and fastest on riding lawnmowers." In 2009, the winner of this race was inducted into the Hall of Fame for sports.
  
  

Features

• Lawn mower racing involves a riding lawn mower that has the blades removed for safety reasons. The engines may be stock from the factory for that category or they can be a retrofitted engine that has more speed available. The race is on a track, which is generally in a circle formation, and involves completing the number of laps first in order to take the winning trophy.
  
  

Rules

• Participants in lawn mower racing are at least 18 years old, though with parent's permission 16- and 17-year-olds may race. The contestants wear protective suits made for car and motorcycle racing along with a safety helmet for motorcycles or car races. Each driver has to sign a release form to enter the race. There are hay bales on the exterior of the track to keep accidents from reaching the spectators. Each racing team contains two pit crew members who perform tasks on pit stops as in car racing. There is a maximum number of racers per race for safety reasons, and each lawn mower must be able to achieve a minimum of 33 miles per hour.
  
  

Benefits

• Lawn mower racing is a great sport for racing enthusiasts. Car racing is associated with extreme costs of tires, cars, engines and repairs, whereas lawn mower racing is a much more affordable sport. It provides good clean fun in a family atmosphere for entertainment that is well affordable.
  
  

Considerations

• The popularity of lawn mower racing is increasing all over the continental United States; in light of this fact, the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association (USLMRA) has a website that is dedicated to racers and fans with schedules posted. Racing events run from April through September. Instructables.com gives explicit directions for making your own racing lawn mower. In 2007, Xbox released a game for the couch potato racers called Lawn Mower Racing Mania.