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The Global GameOverviewHistoryHistory of Lawnmower Racing The sport of Lawnmower racing was "invented" in a UK pub called the Cricketers Arms in Sussex in 1973 by a bunch of guys who were moaning about the prohibitive costs of getting involved in any kind of motor sport. A number of options were discussed including motorised bar stools, but eventually someone hit on the fact that almost everyone had a lawnmower, and so the British Lawnmower Racing Association was formed. Shortly afterwards, a Northern equivalent, in the shape of the North West Lawnmower Racing Association was also formed, along similar lines, but with an extra class of race machine. The rules of both associations have been designed to keep the sport as cheap as possible, and engine choices and modifications are limited to make a level playing field for everyone.RulesCountry of Racing The rules for Lawnmower racing US and UK are rather different. Anyone considering racing should first look at USLMRA site for American wannabes (see Official Rules), or in the UK check out the the NWLMRA in the Midlands or North, or BLMRA in the south of the England. Each have current copies of their own rules and regulations available to download. Make sure you read and digest these. Then follow the next suggestions below: Visit a meeting. Get along to a couple of race meetings and check out the machines that are racing. Take pictures, make notes, pinch ideas and ask as many questions as you can think of! All the drivers will be more than happy to offer help and advice. Machine preparation. Don't spend anything or build anything until you have done the above! In some cases you may have to speak to a committee official before you start altering a machine you wish to make into a racer, as the original machine may have to be measured up. In the UK particularly, unlimited modifications and engine tuning are not allowed under the rules and regulations and machines that do not conform will NOT be allowed to race so don't waste a lot of money and risk being outlawed! It's much less fun racing on your own! There is information on some of the UK sites to help build machines (see Fastmower), but fans in the USA tend to use the Forums, rather than dedicated websites, so these are the places to look: The Yahoo Group site of USLMRA is probably the busiest. There are a few articles dealing with the build and set up of various parts of a mower on the Acme Mower Sports siteSecond hand machines. It will almost always be cheaper to buy a race prepared machine if you can, than to start from scratch, and also a lot less hassle. Second hand racers are usually sold for little more than the cost of the parts, with no payback for the hundreds of hours that go into building the things and ironing out the bugs, which can take several seasons of racing. If you can buy second hand and learn from it, you'll be in a much better position when you want to build your own racer. Improve
Improving performance Some off the cuff comments from Randy As far as a list of top things to improve speed without removing the governor.. Chassis...Dollar for dollar you will find more speed in your chassis than you will in your engine.... Lowering and widening to the extent of the rules gives a more stable platform to run on. The more stable you are the more likely you are to hold the go power you got... Steering components: linkages should all be tight and smooth with no slop... steering should be adjustable (within extent of rules) and set for proper angles and layin and minimal drag as you enter, traverse and exit, the corner...slipping sliding and "pushing" all decrease speed and raise lap times. Bearings on axles and spindles and wheels should all be tight and smooth, clean and properly lubed... Bushings and slopy bearings drag your speed down. Brakes... good reliable grippy brakes that you are confident can control your momentum will allow you to enter a turn at a greater speed, then just a "touch" of brake to set up for transition allows you to get on the gas again sooner... Tires and pressures with proper size and adaquate grip will allow you to drive harder and further into the corners with what you have for motor - carrying that speed thru the corner is the secret to being fast on the exit of the corner.... Final Comment: Much easier (and cheaper) to maintain speed and go fast, than it is to "produce" speed after scrubbing it all off jerking thru the turns... Variations
EuropeUnited KingdomOverview
RulesMachine Classes for British Lawnmower Racing Only 4 types of machines are raced. Group 1: small cylinder mowers that the "driver" runs behind. Group 2: two distinct types of machine in this class. The original Group 2's were the large cylinder mowers like Atco and Webb 24 machines, and these are still very popular with BLMRA members. According to the BLMRA rules, the mower must have been designed for "cutting domestic lawns" but I guess the southerners must have big lawns and pockets to match, a new Atco 24 machine will set you back around GBP2,400! At BLMRA events, the only Group 2's you will see will be roller driven machines, but in the NWLMRA, there is another type, the wheel driven Group 2. These are not allowed under BLMRA regulations, due to the commercial background of the machines. Typical machines to use as a base for a racing machine are the Hayter Condor, Ransomes Bobcat, and several of the Scag family. Basically, these are all heavy duty, but originally pedestrian controlled machines that you may have seen cutting in parks and along roadsides etc. These machines have got a lot faster in recent years and are now capable of around 50mph, though they do not corner as well as the Group 3 and 4 machines. Group 3: almost entirely based on the old Westwood Lawnbug a small rideon mower originally of around 8hp, with speeds up to 50mph. Group 4 is based on small bonneted garden tractors which would have originally used engines of 18hp or less. Play/WatchEventsLawnmower Racing Events in Britain Both British groups race at country shows and similar events from May to October, holding 1215 championship meetings each. There are also special events such as the annual BLMRA 12 hour endurance race and the end of season 6 hour race organised by the NWLMRA usually during October. Most of the race meetings will include points races, where the points are added up over the season to give overall winners for each class, Grand Prix races, where laps are counted over a given time, and a variety of other "fun" races, handicapped starts, relays, driver changes, baton races and so on.EnglandPlay/WatchOrganisational bodies
North AmericaUSAOverviewAboutOverview of Lawnmower Racing in the USA The USA have more classes than the UK, nearly all of which are based on tractor style mowers, and also sponsorship from a company called Stabil. Most of the States have their own chapter of the Association. In 2000, a group of racers from the British BLMRA went to America to race in their "Rider Cup" and won!Play/Watch
Organisational bodies
Lawnmower Organisational Bodies in the USA Not surprisingly, this very English sport has taken off in the USA with the formation of the USLMRA United States Lawnmower Racing Association It all began on April Fools day in 1992. Executives of Chicago-based Gold Eagle Co. makers of STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer, took lawn mower racing to the United States after visiting friends with the British Lawn Mower Association in England.They thought lawn mower racing would be an interesting product promotion for STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer. Since then, the STA-BIL Nationals has grown from one race to more than 20 STA-BIL Regional and STA-BIL Mowdown races across the country.Ask the ExpertUse this form to ask one of our experts about this sport. Submitting this form will take you to another screen where you can complete your request. |
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