| Conventional forms of motorsports such as | | | | expenses rising out of control, some 40-year-old |
| stockcars, sports-car racing, speedboats and even | | | | racetracks have been compelled to shut their |
| motocross have a tendency to be very costly. | | | | doors. |
| The initial investment can start at $20,000 for | | | | The initial race in 1973 was a big success, an |
| entry-level regional classes to more than $100,000 | | | | instant hit. Racing lawnmowers was entertaining, |
| for a touring series vehicle. Not even to point out | | | | fast, and furious. It's no marvel that the |
| that it will cost thousands if not millions of dollars | | | | participants desired more. As word of the event |
| for testing, equipment, and engineering. | | | | spread, so did the longing to get a piece of the |
| Aware of the ever-increasing expense of racing in | | | | action. And those who joined in the race |
| an attempt to create an economical option, in | | | | developed a taste for more battle. Racing can be |
| 1973 a group of locals from the town of | | | | very obsessive, your body's adrenaline can be |
| Wisborough Green, West Sussex, England came | | | | more potent than anything your doctor might |
| up with the plan of racing lawnmowers. The idea | | | | prescribe. |
| was straightforward: everybody in town owned a | | | | From that inaugural race, the sport has kept |
| lawnmower, and so the cost to race would not | | | | growing and evolving. What started as a small |
| be excessive. No call to search for sponsors, no | | | | get-together has become a worldwide trend. In |
| pricey engines, no travel expenditure. | | | | 1992, the sport crossed the ocean. The United |
| The essential tools to do the required | | | | States Lawn Mower Racing Association, USLMRA, |
| maintenance of racing lawnmowers were already | | | | launched lawnmower racing in the United States. |
| in the toolbox in the garage. The group put | | | | In the North America alone, racing lawnmowers |
| together an event that would take occur in a local | | | | has gained national recognition and is administered |
| farmer's field. Information traveled quickly as the | | | | by several sanctioning organizations. There are |
| desire for competition spread. More than 80 | | | | several local chapters as well as touring series. |
| participants showed up for the first event. I have | | | | You'll even find prime time sponsorship for some |
| seen local Saturday night short tracks with fewer | | | | of the nationally televised racing events. |
| contestants signed up on any given night. With | | | | |