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The first two races of the 2012 STA-BIL Lawn and Garden Mower Racing Series will take place at the Florida State Fair on Saturday and Sunday, February 18-19, 2012. Race time is 2:00-5:00 pm on Saturday and 11:00am-2:00pm on Sunday.

Fluid-Film will be Presenting Sponsor and will have giveaways for racers.

Race Location & Schedule

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Saturday, February 18th

• Registration & Tech: 9:00-11:30
• Driver’s Meeting: 11:45
• Hot Laps (Mandatory): 12:15
• Heat Grid Racing: 1:00-2:00
• Finals / Trophy Racing Begins: 2:00

Sunday, February 19th

• Registration & Tech: 8:00-9:30
• Driver’s Meeting: 9:30
• Hot Laps (Mandatory): 9:45
• Heat / Grid Racing: 10:00-11:00
• Finals / Trophy Racing Begins: 11:00am

Click Here for Hotel Information &  More From Mr. MowItAll

The STA-BIL Sunshine State Winter Nationals
By United States Lawn Mower Racing Association  |  View on Facebook

When: Feb 18 2:00pm - Feb 19 2:00pm

Where: Florida State Fairgrounds
4800 U.S. Highway 301 N, Tampa, Florida, United States

» View map

The STA-BIL Sunshine State Winter Nationals will feature sod-slinging action on riding lawn mowers with all cutting blades removed in ten classes at speeds up to 60mph. Racers compete for points, trophies and bragging rights. There are no cash prizes and a sense of humor is not required, but strongly encouraged.

Racers from across the southeast will compete as will snow birds from Michigan, New Jersey and Ohio who need an excuse to take their racing mowers out of the shop before Spring.

Read mow: ... See full description

“Hedgehog Day”, Wednesday, February 1 broke cloudy, still and a warm 37 degrees in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, as the “Hedgehog,” lawn mower racer Mike Miller emerged from his burrow, the world waiting to see if he would see his shadow and to hear his prediction for the start of his first race of the 20th Anniversary STA-BIL® Lawn and Garden Mower Racing Series.

Miller then returned to his burrow, which also functions as his garage, and brought his souped up, 80-mph Factory Experimental racing mower, also named “Hedgehog” out for a few hot laps on the winter morning grass.

After slinging some sod, he turned to Bruce Kaufman, “Mr. Mow It All” U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association President to translate his prediction for when “The Hedgehog” will start his first race of the 20th Anniversary STA-BIL® Lawn and Garden Mower Racing Series. Spoken in “Mowerese” a language understood only by Mr. Mow It All, the news was shared with the world:

HERE YE, HERE YE!

On this winter morning I see,
No shadow lies near me.
So I shall bring out my mower to race,
On April Fool’s Day, to set the pace.
My bladeless wonder “HEDGEHOG” will soar,
To speeds of 60 mph – or more.
20 years of kickin’ grass,
Now, out of my way and let me pass!

Miller built his championship mower, The Hedgehog, 15 years ago and has piloted his trusty ride to numerous STA-BIL Series victories and championships in his 19-year lawn mower racing career. Hedgehog is a 1968 E.T. Rugg, with a 390cc Honda Power motor, turning 45 horsepower. It will go zero to 50 in 5.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 80 mph.

“We plan to make Hedgehog Day an annual tradition,” added Kaufman. “It is only fitting that we present our first Hedgehog Day as part of our 20th Anniversary. Since the “Hedgehog” did not see shadow, he will leave his burrow on April Fool’s Day, the 20th birthday of the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association to begin his racing season. If the “Hedgehog” saw his shadow, he would have returned to his garage to tinker and make adjustments for the season, making his racing debut June 23, under the warm summer sun at the 4th Annual STA-BIL Land of Lincoln Regionals, at Nostalgia Days in Zion, Illinois.”

Also like the famous mowtivated mammal that emerges in February, Hedgehog has its own “elixir of life,” HEET Gas-Line Antifreeze that allows his engine to start right up and spring him to life in the cold winter months. Hedgehog fills up with HEET each winter to keep him mowing and going. HEET removes water from the fuel system to prevent gas-line freeze-up and harmful rust and corrosion. Miller also uses Iso-HEET Premium Fuel-line Antifreeze, Water Remover & Injector Cleaner. It absorbs five times more water than regular gas-line antifreeze, while it cleans fuel injectors and carburetors. It’s designed for use year-round in all 2-cycle and 4-cycle gasoline engines and diesel engines.

As part of its 20th Anniversary, the USLMRA is pleased to announce the V-Twin Shootout has become the U.S. Open V-Twin Shootout.

The 2nd annual U.S. Open V-Twin Shootout will be held August 11-12, 2012 at the Vestaburg Kart Speedway, in Vestaburg, Michigan.

“We’re thrilled to be back with the 2nd annual V-Twin Shootout and to have the event become part of the U.S. Open Series,” said Event Co-Founder Ferris Hipolite, President of the Ithaca (MI) Dirt Devils, a USLMRA Affiliated Club.

U.S. Open V-Twin Shootout Event Details

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The event will be again be co-hosted by the Dirt Devils and the Western Ontario Outlaws. “It’s one you don’t want to miss,” said Co-Founder Ryan Kerr of the Western Ontario Outlaws. “All the fastest v-twins around, and some of the biggest names in lawnmower racing will be there to mix it up for the 2012 U.S. Open V-TWIN SHOOTOUT Title. It will be an awesome display of fast-paced high horsepower racing on this ultra fast, banked clay 1/8-mile oval kart track. Find out if you have what it takes to bring home the 2011 v-twin shootout TITLE on August 13th-14th at the Vestaburg Speedway in Michigan, no second place trophies here guys. It will be the largest display of Outlaw/Supermod twins ever assembled; all machines and classes are welcome.”

“The event will basically be run like last,” added Ferris. “And new this year will be the Open Twins competing for the V Twin Cup! First Place trophies and the same classes as last year, and we may add one or take one away as needed but the same principles: try and get everyone in classes were they can compete. Plus, just like last year, all mowers are welcome, not just the V-Twins and the Super Mods. C’mon out and join us.”

“The real upside is that this should draw a larger group of racers! 
 Dave Freeman from Vestaburg is excited about the Shootout and our group. We look forward to seeing you there!”

This race will be part of a multi-race U.S. Open Series that will end in on September 2, in Delaware, Ohio during STA-BIL Nationals Weekend.

U.S. Open V-Twin Shootout
By United States Lawn Mower Racing Association  |  View on Facebook

When: Aug 11 10:00am - Aug 12 10:00pm

Where: Vestaburg Kart Speedway


» View map

As part of its 20th Anniversary, the USLMRA is pleased to announce the V-Twin Shootout has become the U.S. Open V-Twin Shootout.

The 2nd annual U.S. Open V-Twin Shootout will be held August 11-12, 2012 at the Vestaburg Kart Speedway, in Vestaburg, Michigan.

“We’re thrilled to be back with the 2nd annual V-Twin Shootout and to have the event become part of the U.S. Open Series,” said Event Co-Founder Ferris Hipolite, President of the Ithaca (MI) Dirt Devils, a USLMRA Affiliated Club.

In this video clip from the 2011 STA-BIL Keeps Gas Fresh Finals, U.S. Open Series Co-Chair Lee Vine discusses K&N Filters and their support of the USLMRA.

View USLMRA Local Chapters & Affiliated Clubs in a larger map

We are proud to add another Affiliated Club in Arkansas! Says track co-owner Michael Kilbourn:

We’ve been racing lawn mowers for two years, and we are ready to take things to the next level, We also have a Track Judge, Pit Stewards, gate staff, professional announcer, and a host of other people to help, mostly family. We really plan for our track to expand this year via the USLMRA Affiliated Club program.

We have a Rulebook combined with USLMRA rules and our rules we created for our local racers. We look forward to learning about new rules and their classes as new racers come join us.

Our track is a dirt oval, 130’ long, 25’ wide straight-aways and 50’ radius turns, 35’ wide. Total track length 220’ x 100’ wide including infield. We also have lights for night racing.

Michael Kilbourn and Bud Hooten share responsibilities of the track and club operations.