Lawn mower racing a huge hit at Fayette County Fair
Most people who purchase a new John Deere lawn mower will take pride in how well the tractor will help keep up their lawns. But the Fayette County Fair featured lawn mower owners who used their machines for an entirely different purpose – racing. Hazel Blaney said that she and her husband, John, decided they wanted to bring the new event of lawn mower racing to the fair when they saw some of the races during their travels to see monster truck races.
“When we first saw this, I said, ‘I want that,'” said Blaney, adding that not many people in this area have heard of the sport. “I hope Fayette County warms up to it.”
Blaney said that while they offered classes in lawn mower racing before the fair, they did not get any local participants in the races this year.
“I think that is only because not many people knew what it was to want to come and try it,” said Blaney.
She said that when they bring any new event to the fair, they usually try it for two years in a row, and they are hopeful that after visitors at the fair see the races, they will want to give it a shot next time.
This year, most of the racers came from Winchester, Va. Chris Lemley, one participant who was also the announcer for most of the evening, said that he and the other racers travel around the country to
race, even though all they get is “trophies and bragging rights.”
“This is one of those sports
that doesn’t have any money in it,” said Lemley, who used to spend most of his free time participating in tractor pulls. “I just fell in love with this sport.”
The mowers used for racing are not at all like the ones typically used for cutting grass, since they have been equipped with engines that allow them to go as fast as 60 mph, the blades have been removed, and most of the racers have painted the mowers in eye-catching colors.
“The greatest thing about this is that all the lawn mowers are very competitive,” said Lemley.
“Every one is different because each one has its own manufacturer.”
Lemley said a lot of work goes into the lawn mowers in order to make them capable of going at such high speeds, and generally the faster someone wants to go, the more money they have to spend.
“You could spend about $500 and still be very competitive,” said Lemley. “A lot of us get the flashy paint jobs but that’s our choice.”
Lemley joked that he had put more money into his lawn mower than his car.
“That’s a sign of a true redneck, when your lawn mower costs more than your car,” said Lemley.
He said the best thing about the sport to him is that is family oriented, since men, women and children all participate, and there has always been a spirit of camaraderie among the racers he travels with.
As part of the event, the younger children were able to compete in a pedal tractor race.
“It is very family oriented,” said Lemley. “We have many wives that travel with us and some of them race. Even all the kids can get involved.
Lemley said that while it is a race, it is also a show, and they do their best to entertain the crowd.
“If they like racing, we get them on their feet,” said Lemley.