Archive for September, 2009

By Michael Turner

The 17th annual STA-BIL National Championship in Delaware, Ohio, wrapped up the points season for many of the United States Lawn Mower Racing Association chapters.

Racers from all over the United States converged on the Delaware County Fairgrounds over the Labor Day weekend, and the tone was set early for competitive racing.

Pierce Benton wrapped up his Junior Prepared campaign with a dominating performance in the feature. Benton posted the fastest lap (18.66 mph) as well as the overall checkers on his 006 hotrod, posting a time of 6:30.74.1.

Dawn Filos finished second on her 43C machine, three-seconds off the pace. Mariah Peeler finished third on her 97, followed by Lauren Filos and John Michael Bell rounding out the top five.

In the IMOW division, Michael Paccione set the pace all evening as he cruised to the finals victory, beating a hard-charging Wally Bender by .221 seconds.

Chris Vanmaastricht finished third while Pat Sullivan, piloting Benton ride, finished fourth and Steve Winkler fifth to round out the top five.

The Sullivans had the machines to beat in the A/P class as Pete Sullivan posted the fast time on the final lap to edge Pat Sullivan for the feature win.

Joe Pearce finished third, John Iezzattie fourth and Matthew Tucker fifth in the feature.

In the S/P class, Jason Brown drove the fastest machine around the Delaware track, picking up the feature win on his 003 machine.

Kenneth Williams finished second, followed by Wally Bender, Joe Pearce and Jackie Andrews rounding out the top five.

In the C/P class, Pete Sullivan had the mower to beat, beating Rick Eichenberger by over one-half second in the feature.

Robert Ginn posted the fastest speed on the night, topping the chart at 25.557 mph, but mechanical failure found Ginn in the pits at the checkers.

Lee Grover finished third while Don Whitehead and Sam Rogers rounded out the top five finishers.
Jayson Mikula flexed his muscle early in the B/P finals, and went on to win the feature on his No.4 mower.

James Mikula finished second, followed by John Vinka and Jason Brown, who posted the fastest lap on the night at 24.516 miles an hour. Rodney Peeler rounded out the top five.

In the F/X class, Greg Honchell took home the biggest trophy after riding his No.52 around the track for a first-place finish. Matt Tucker finished second, followed by Dan Mongan, Christopher Macri and Robert Sparbal rounding out the top five.

This article originally ran on the K&N Filters Website.

The mantra was the same at the Lawn Mower Races in Delaware, Ohio. Most of the riders said they saw lawn mower racing on television for the first time, and had to try it. If the mantra was saw it and tried it, the product was K&N. Lawn mowers were everywhere, all shapes and sizes, some more powerful than others,but almost every lawn mower used a K&N air filter at the 17th Annual STA-BIL Challenge of Champions.

“It’s an American cultural phenomena,” said Bruce Kaufman, President of the United States Lawn Mower Racing Association. “No one races for money, but our riders go for the glory, a trophy and bragging rights.”

Mike Miller and Kevin Penne can brag, they’ve been around the sport since 1993 and are each Triple Crown Lawn Mower racers. Triple Crown champions have the most cumulative points, win the Challenge of Champions and the Nationals all in one season.

After 17 years of growth, lawn mower racers now have the option of selecting one of 43 local chapters along with participating in an 18 race series. “When I saw my first lawn mower race the machines were going about 26 mph at their fastest,” said Miller. “I knew I could more than double it and I did. K&N air filters give me excellent filtration and additional horsepower.”

Penne’s current $15,000 ride started off as stock and only had 13 horsepower. “I’ve modified every single piece of my lawn mower,” he said. “I have billet connecting rods which are akin to having an insurance policy inside the engine. I have also used K&N my entire career and now I get 37 horsepower. I’ve won seven national championships with K&N.”

Even though Miller and Penne are at the top of their game, there are a lot of classes in lawn more racing. Some people can get in the sport with as little as $50 for a used mower. The bottom line is you will run as fast as you are willing to spend. Riders reach speeds of 60 mph depending on track conditions, some have been clocked at 80 mph.

There is a regulation book and blades must be removed before any competition. Drivers have to wear a helmet and neck support and every mower must have a kill switch. “It’s kind of like kart Racing, kind of like snow mobile racing or quads,” said Miller. “But really lawn mower racing is its own little sport and there is nothing else that drives like it.”

Lauren Filos of Bel Air, Maryland has been racing lawn mowers since she was 8-years-old along with her sister Dawn Filos. The girls are 11 and 14 and their father takes them to as many races as he can. The family also travels with K&N products on their lawn mowers.

K&N sponsored Ken and Katie Jones, a father and daughter race team set up a K&N table at every lawn mower race with K&N filters and information. Katie is 14 years old and in the Junior Prepared Class. Ken races in the AP portion of the IMOW class. “Nothing else protects our engines like K&N,” he said. “K&N gives us more air and more horsepower.”

Allen Minaker of Turtle Lake, Wisconsin is known as LawnMonkey on the Lawn Mower circuit. “This is so much fun,” he said. “We are all close friends and are like a family out here, but we are deadly competitive on the track. Everyone helps each other because we want the challenge at race time.” Minaker said he has to get air in and out of his motors and K&N helps him with additional horsepower on the dirty and dusty track.

Minaker has raced lawn mowers for seven years. “At one time or another most of us have raced something else,” said Minaker. “I’m a drag racing fan and if someone approached me with a big drag racing deal tomorrow I would say no. That is how much I love this sport. It is my redemption.”

This article originally ran on the K&N Filters Website.

As Americans celebrate the end of summer Labor Day Weekend, the United States Lawn Mower Racing Association (USLMRA) has announced the location of the USLMRA National Lawn Mower Racing Hall of Fame & Museum of America at the 17th Annual STA-BIL Nationals Labor Day Weekend Championships (Sept. 4-6) in Delaware, MOWhio.

Miller Lawn and Power, 1299 Harding Highway East State Road 309 in Marion, Ohio will be “Mowtivation Station” as a place of honor for the Lawn Mower Racing Hall of Fame.

“I’ve seen the growth of the USLMRA since the first race in 1992, “ said Miller. “It amazes me to see how this sport has grown so fast and how it has become part of American culture. I’ve stayed competitive over the years, and although I’m getting older, I’ve still got my MOWjo.”

The Class of 2009 includes:

• The Organizing Committee of the Twelve Mile 500 in Twelve Mile, Indiana. The Twelve Mile 500 is the home of America’s oldest organized riding lawn mower race. Founded in 1963 and hosted by the Twelve Mile Lions Club, the annual mow down takes place on July 4th each year. 33 mowers run 60 laps around a 1/4 mile track covering a distance of 15 miles, a bit longer than the original distance of 48 laps – twelve miles – due to increased speed in recent years.
• Jim Gavin of Wisborough Green, West Sussex, England, Founder and General Secretary of the British Lawn Mower Racing Association (BLMRA), founded in 1973 at the Cricketers Arms in Wisborough Green, West Sussex. Gavin, an Irishman who had raced and rallied cars across the world, became disillusioned with the increasing costs of motorsport. Whilst downing their pints in the village pub, Gavin and a group of locals looked across the village green to see the green keeper mowing the cricket patch. They realized that everyone had a lawn mower in their garden shed, so a Championship was held in a local farmer’s field. About 80 competitors turned up for what turned out to be a very successful event and the formation of the BLMRA. The BLMRA still sticks to its origins as a non-profit organization (any profits are given to charities or good causes) while providing well-organized and inexpensive motor sport with a strong social atmosphere.
• “Racing Ray” Mrocks of Lake Zurich, Illinois, the first member of the USLMRA heeded the call to sod slinging glory on April 1, 1992, the birthday of national lawn mower race sanctioning in the United States. “Racing Ray” tore up the turf from 1992-2001, claiming BP Class Points Championships on his mower Sodzilla 1995-1997. “Racing Ray” served as Chief Technical Inspector, race course builder, rule maker and friend to lawn mower racers far and wide. “I like lawn mower racing because it’s fun and affordable,” said Ray in 1997. “Come to think of it, I like anything that is fun and affordable, that’s why I gave up my marriage, but I’m still racing lawn mowers.”
• Chuck Miller, of Marion, Ohio, the only USLMRA member to compete in every STA-BIL Nationals since 1992. The “Boogie Woogie Man” is a multi-year racing champion and is a Charter USLMRA Member. His record of 16 consecutive starts in the annual STA-BIL Nationals is unmatched. Miller won the 1st BP Class Championship at the 1992 STA-BIL Nationals and the Factory Experimental Championship in 1993. In 2008 he took 2nd place in the STA-BIL Challenge of Champions Race. Miller has also been involved as a race coordinator, rules consultant and Local Chapter contact.

Lawn mower racers from across America will converge in Delaware “MOWhio” during the Labor Day weekend as the United States Lawn Mower Racing Association (USLMRA) presents the 17th Annual STA-BIL Keeps Gas Fresh Finals and Challenge of Champions. More than 100 Sod Slingers on mowers at speeds nearing 60 mph will compete on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 5-6, at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, 236 Pennsylvania Ave., Delaware, OH.

Founded on April 1, 1992, the USLMRA sanctions and presents organized lawn mower racing across America including the 18-race STA-BIL National Lawn Mower Racing Series and a network of 43 Local Chapters and Affiliated Clubs hosting more than 140 sanctioned races nationwide each year. Races feature riding lawn mowers with cutting blades removed at speeds up to 60 mph. Lawn mowers race in four road course classes: Stock (8 mph), IMOW (20 mph), Prepared (50 mph) and Factory Experimental (60 mph).

For more information call (847) 272-2120. Interviews, b-roll and funny quips available upon request

Check out this great video from Texas Country Reporter featuring Tim “Mowron” Robison and his wife Patty “Precious Mowments” Robison of Rhome, Texas.