Entertainment

To celebrate its 20th Anniversary, the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association has declared February 1 “Hedgehog Day” and will mark the mowmentous occasion by the unveiling of Mike “Hedgehog” Miller’s 80-mph racing lawn mower for the 20th STA-BIL® Lawn and Garden Mower Racing Series.

On Hedgehog Day, Miller will bring his souped up, 80-mph Factory Experimental race mower out its’ burrow. If the Hedgehog does not become scared by his shadow, he will leave his burrow and his lawn mower racing season will begin on April Fool’s Day on the 20th Anniversary of the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association. If the Hedgehog sees his shadow, he will return 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.

“Just like the famous furry rodent from Pennsylvania, I fully expect to be correct in my prediction of the coming lawn mower racing season,” said Miller, from his burrow in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. “And also like my Keystone State counterpart, I will not share my prediction with anyone in advance, not even with the lawn mower racing inner circle: ‘Mr. Mow It All’, ‘Turfinator’, ‘Sodzilla’ or ‘Ace of Blades’.”

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,” said Bruce Kaufman, “Mr. Mow It All” USLMRA Founder & President. “It is only fitting that we present our first Hedgehog Day as part of our 20th Anniversary. I look forward to speaking with Hedgehog in “mowerese” a language understood only by myself, to hear his prediction on the coming STA-BIL Lawnmower Racing Season, so that I may share the news with the world.”

Also like the famous mowtivated mammal that emerges in February, Hedgehog has its own “elixir of life,” HEET Gas-Line Antifreeze & Water Remover 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 is the #1 Selling Gas-Line Antifreeze & Water Remover. It removes water from the fuel system to prevent gas-line freeze-up and harmful rust and corrosion. Miller also uses Iso-HEET, the #1 selling 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.

Earlier this year, racers from the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association’s STA-BIL Lawn & Garden Mower Racing Series traveled top Midway Truck Plaza in Columbia, Missouri to meet with owner Joe Bechtold about lawn mower racing. Racers from the Arkansas Lawn Mower Racing Association, Iowa Lawn Mower Racing Association, Illinois Lawn Mower Racing Association and American Heartland Mower Racers are featured in this episode of Truck Stop Missouri! Be sure to check out the website for the show for a photo gallery from the episode:

Joe checks out lawn mower racing as a potential event to draw in business. Meanwhile, Jack and Ben host a bingo night at the Backdoor Lounge to try and increase sales on Monday nights and Kenny samples wine while on the job. TV-PG, CC

Truck Stop Missouri “Mow Money, Mow Problems” Air Dates

• Sunday, September 11, 7:00 PM E/P
• Monday, September 12, 2:00 PM E/P
• Thursday, September 15, 8:00 PM E/P
• Thursday, September 15, 11:00 PM E/P
• Sunday, September 18, 7:30 PM E/P
• Monday, September 19, 2:30 PM E/P
• Thursday, September 22, 8:30 PM E/P
• Thursday, September 22, 11:30 PM E/P

Photos From the Truck Stop Missouri Filming

U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association racers from the STA-BIL Lawn & Garden Mower Racing Series will be featured in the new Travel Channel Series “Truck Stop Missouri” which debuts August 3, at 10:PM ET/PT. Here is the proMOW trailer for the series:

USLMRA President Bruce Kaufman, “Mr. Mow It All,” along with racers and members Ken and Katie Jones, Jon “Rooster” Lewman, Cody, Tony and Gary Loveless, Cody and Mary Callentine, Marty Kunkel, Sid Woody and Adam Dinkins were on site at Midway Truck Plaza in Columbia, Missouri to tape a lawn mower racing segment and will be featured during the 13 week series. We got some behind-the-scenes photos from the taping:

See you on Truck Stop Missouri!

The Gnomeo and Juliet “Mow-Down Showdown” was featured on CBS.com News Feed!

Here’s a taste of the action from this weekends STA-BIL National Lawn & Garden Mower Racing Series action in Michigan! To celebrate the May 24th release of Gnomeo and Juliet on Blu-ray™ Disc and DVD, presented the Gnomeo & Juliet “Mow-down Showdown!”

Riders dressed as the film’s iconic red & blue feuding gnome families and raced for the right to present The Berrien County Michigan Farm Bureau Young Farmers with a $5000 dollar donation earmarked for agricultural education in Berrien County schools.

Stay tuned for MOW from Michigan!!!