National Lawn Mower Racing Hall of Fame

It’s hard to believe Labor Day Weekend is coming up!  With the STA-BIL Lawn & Garden Mower Racing Series and USLMRA Chapter and Club Racing Programs still in full swing, Mid Summer is time to start thinking about the 19th STA-BIL Nationals Weekend in Delaware, Ohio.

The Who, What, When and Where, have been blasted here, the USLMRA Facebook Page and the Heymow Forum for months now, and it’s just about Mow Time!

Again in 2011 for the U.S. Open, we are inviting everyone from everywhere, USLMRA member or not! All that been to a STA-BIL National USLMRA event in the past few years has seen the awesome Timing & Scoring system that Kerry Evans of EOP Pro provides to the USLMRA. Kerry and staff have assured me that they have us covered for the weekend, no matter how big the race field gets.  We will also have enough race stewards, tech inspectors, flaggers, track maintenance people and support staff on hand to deliver a well-run event.  The weekend will include:

• 19th Annual STA-BIL Keeps Gas Fresh Finals*
• 4th Annual Performance Mowersports Expo**
• 3rd Annual National Lawn Mower Racing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies
• 2nd Annual U.S. Open (Pre-register here!)

* The STA-BIL Keeps Gas Fresh Finals will be taped for Fox Sports Net, and will air in October with exact dates to be announced.

** PME Vendors will set up in or adjacent to the Race Pits with easy access for racers. There will be no set hours for the PME this year, as it will now take place all weekend at the discretion of the vendors. The Performance Mowersports Expo will bring together manufacturers, suppliers, builders and related product and service providers in the lawn mower racing industry.

STA-BIL Keeps Gas Fresh Finals: September 3rd, 2011

This event crowns Points Champions in each class and is the culminating Event in 2011 STA-BIL National Lawn Mower Racing Series!

Racers in the STA-BIL Keeps Gas Fresh Finals must qualify by class competing in at least one (1) lap in each of two (2) USLMRA STA-BIL National Lawn Mower Racing Series US Points Races. Note – competing in Local Chapter races no longer factors into qualifying for Nationals Weekend.

The Top Ten racers in points in each class will grid by descending order, 1^st – 10^th in Points. The remainder of the field will qualify through elimination or qualifying heat(s).  If elimination heats are not required for a particular class, a gridding heat may be ran.

In the event of a tie for the Top Ten point positions, the following tiebreakers will be applied in this numerical order:

1. Most STA-BIL Series US Points Races competed in.
2. Highest top five finish at a STA-BIL Points race
3. Most top five finishes.
4. Drawing of “lots”

2^nd Annual U.S. Open: Sunday, September 4th, 2011

On Sunday, September 4, 2011, the USLMRA will host the 2^nd annual U.S. Open, an Open Invitational. The U.S. Open will afford a wide range of lawnmower racers an opportunity to participate in USLMRA Nationals Weekend without having to qualify for the USLMRA STA-BIL Keeps Gas Fresh Finals. The U.S. Open is a free event!  Racers will pay no race fees, and USLMRA membership is not required to participate. We will feed racers and families all weekend and we will provide each racer with a cool souvenir. 1^st-5^th Place trophies will be awarded for the U.S. Open. The U.S. Open will have full computerized Timing & Scoring provided by EOP Pro.  There will be no transponder fees.

At U.S. Open racers must have participated in organized/sanctioned lawnmower racing of some sort within the 24 months previous to the US Open. These racers may be required to provide proof in the form of official results from previous races. The U.S. Open is open to any USLMRA-legal mower, USLMRA Local Chapter (LC)/Affiliated Club (AC) mower or, any mower deemed safe by USLMRA Tech Staff. No roll cages. Open to all mowers that meet all USLMRA Safety Standards, see USLMRA Rule Book – No Exceptions!

We want ALL groups out there to be allowed to compete in the U.S. Open.  We have created a set of rules designed to allow just about any reasonable type of mower to compete. Please contact us with any questions about your mower’s eligibility, or your participation in the weekend!

2011 STA-BIL Nationals Weekend Event Schedule

Friday, Sept. 2

• 5:00-7:00 PM: Seafood Throwdown* (Sponsored by EOP Pro)
• 5:00-7:00 PM: Registration

* WE NEED YOU TO RSVP FOR FOOD if you plan on attending the Seafood Throwdown!  Please send an e-mail to Bruce@letsmow.com and let us know how many in your party.  We do not want to run out of food! Meal tickets must be presented.

Saturday, Sept. 3

• 9:00-12 :00 AM: Registration & Tech Inspection – Any Mower
• 10:00-12:00 AM: Practice (Only After Racers Register & Pass Tech)
• 12:15-12:45 AM: Driver’s Meeting – All Racers
• 1:00 PM: Lunch – Trackside
• 1:00-4:00 PM: Time Trials / Practice – Any Mower
• 4:00 PM: Qualifying / Elimination / Heat Races If Needed – Finals Racers Only
• 7:00 PM: STA-BIL Keeps Gas Fresh Finals*

*Taping for Fox Sports Net

Sunday, Sept. 4

• 9:00-11:00 AM: Racer Breakfast*, Awards Ceremony and Hall of Fame Inductions (Merchants Building)
• 11:30-12:30 AM: Registration & Tech Inspection (For Late Arrivals, or Racers Coming Sunday Only)
• 12:30-12:45 AM: Driver’s Meeting
• 1:00 PM: Qualifying / Elimination / Heat Races – U.S. Open
• 2:00 PM: The U.S. Open

* WE NEED YOU TO RSVP FOR FOOD if you plan on attending the Racers Breakfast!  Please send an e-mail to Bruce@letsmow.com and let us know how many in your party.  We do not want to run out of food! Meal tickets must be presented.

2011 Season Awards

The USLMRA needs your vote and essay for our prestigious awards, which are determined by vote of the membership. Click here to vote online, or click here to print a form. Rookie of the Year, Adult and JP racers must have raced during the 2011 racing season and must be his or her’s first racing season. Rookie of the Year Candidates for JP and Adult Classes can be found by clicking here. Here are the voting categories:

• Most Improved
• Dave Hertel Mowtivational Award
• Charles Powell Mr. Mowjangles Award
• Dubba G Everyman Award
• Mace Mullins Crew Chief Award

THE DEADLINE FOR VOTING IS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2011, AT 9:00 A.M! Please note, ONLY one voting sheet for each USLMRA registered member. If you vote twice, both votes will be disqualified. Winners of each category will be announced at the USLMRA Awards Ceremony on Sunday morning.

Track Location and Venue Info

The USLMRA will return to the Delaware County Fairgrounds, in Delaware, MOWhio, Sept. 2-4, Labor Day Weekend, for the 19^th annual STA-BIL Nationals Weekend.  Visit delawarecountyfair.com for mow info on what a great facility this is.

View USLMRA Local Chapters & Affiliated Clubs in a larger map

As Americans celebrate during 4th of July Weekend, the United States Lawn Mower Racing Association (USLMRA) has announced it’s annual inductees into the USLMRA National Lawn Mower Racing Hall of Fame & Museum of America!

John Nelson, “Sir Lawns-A-Lot,” and Dr. Art Neavill along with the late Charles Powell, “Mr. Mowjangles” will take their place of honor alongside legends of the lawn including “Turfinator” “Sodzilla” and “Boogie Woogie.”

• John Nelson “Sir Lawns-A-Lot”, Richardson, Texas:
  As a member of the USLMRA Steering Committee, Past President of the Lone Star Mower Racing Association (LSMRA) and the nations’ first “Mow Ambassador,” “Sir Lawns-A-Lot” epitomizes the spirit and unique culture of lawn mower racing. Also known as John Deere Nelson, John competed in five racing classes from 2001-2010. John still loves to show off in his John Deere 210, 14-foot, 5-engine machine he calls “Mow Longer.”
• Dr. Art Neavill, Commerce Township, Michigan:
  Dr. Art Neavill is beloved for his spirit, love of competition and eagerness to help fellow racers. Just before his retirement from the Michigan public school system, Art became a lawn mower racer, touring the country with his son-in-law and wife by his side, while intermittently battling cancer. Lawn mower racers across the country have benefitted from Art’s generosity. Be it a spare part, extra engine or entire lawn mower, if Dr. Art is in the pits, what’s his is yours.
• Charles Powell – “Mr. Mowjangles” (1950-2006), Forney, Texas:
  The late Charles Powell was USLMRA VP of Operations, LSMRA Founding President, Winner of the 2005 Pain in the Butt Award and simply, Mr. Mowjangles. He was a MOWtivated racer, chapter president and race steward. The annual USLMRA Charles Powell Mr. Mowjangles Award was named in his honor.

“Our 2011 Hall of Famers have travelled across the country kicking grass and having fun,” said Bruce Kaufman, “Mr. Mow It All” USLMRA Founder and President. “It is so cool to put a doctor of education and two Texas lawn rangers into the place of high honor in the annals of sod slinging. May their lawns always be green and weed-free.”

The 3rd annual National Lawn Mower Racing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies will take place Sunday, Sept. 4 in Delaware, Ohio during the 20th annual STA-BIL Keeps Gas Fresh Finals and U.S. Open Labor Day Weekend Lawn Mower Racing Championships, which brings together hundreds of racing mowers from across America and Canada for mower-take-all showdowns in 11 classes.

Founded in 2009, the USLMRA National Lawn Mower Racing Hall of Fame is a place of honor for Turf Titans who have turned a weekend chore into a competitive sport. The USLMRA National Lawn Mower Racing Hall of Fame & Museum of America is located at Miller Lawn and Power, 1299 Harding Highway East State Road 309, Marion, Ohio.

Nelson, Neavill and Powell will join Hall of Fame Honorees including:

• The Organizing Committee of Indiana’s Twelve Mile 500 America’s oldest lawn mower race, founded 1963.
• Jim Gavin of Wisborough Green, England, Founder and General Secretary of the British Lawn Mower Racing Association, founded 1973.
• “Racing Ray” Mrocks, also known as “Sodzilla”, the first USLMRA member, who heeded the call to sod slinging glory on April 1, 1992, the birthday of national lawn mower race sanctioning in the United States.
• Chuck “Boogie Woogie” Miller, the only USLMRA member to compete in every STA-BIL Nationals since 1992.
• Ken “Turfinator” Smolecki whose mower, The Turfinator was featured on the TV sitcom Home Improvement and who raced in the legendary British Lawn Mower Racing Association 12-Hour Race.
• Bill Simpson, who served as the first USLMRA Race Director, adding consistency to race officiating by directing a staff of race stewards and staff.

Founded on April 1, 1992, the USLMRA sanctions and presents organized lawn mower racing across America including the 21-race STA-BIL Lawn & Garden Mower Racing Series and a network of 55 Chapters and Clubs hosting more than 150 sanctioned races nationwide each year. Races feature riding lawn mowers with cutting blades removed at speeds up to 60 mph. Lawn mowers race in several road course classes from Stock and IMOW (8-20 mph) to Factory Experimental and Open Twin Cylinder (40-60 mph).

Veteran USLMRA Racer Paul Krueger discusses the Factory Experimental or FX Class.   FX mowers have maximum engine displacement of 465cc, and are single cylinder, 4-cycle with extensive internal and external modifications.

Paul is based in Iowa  and leads the Missouri Valley Lawn Mower Racing Association, a USLMRA Affiliated Club, and serves as Vice President of the Iowa Lawn Mower Racing Association.

Bruce Kaufman, “Mr.Mow It All,” Founder & President of the United States Lawn Mower Racing Association (USLMRA), is featured on the January 28, 2011 edition of RadioSpeedTalk.com hosted by Pete LaFucia and Cliff Tanner – “Two guys with a show, talking about anything with an engine that goes fast!”

Mr. Mow It All talks about the STA-BIL Lawn & Garden Mower Racing Series, the involvement of STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer and Gold Eagle Company, racing mower rules, USLMRA Local Chapters, Affiliated Clubs, the National Lawn Mower Racing Hall of Fame & Museum, the annual Race for Huntington’s Disease Research, the annual St. Mary’s County Mow Down at Bowles Farms in Clements, Maryland, mowermovie.com – “A Tale of Hope, Redemption & Lawn Mower Racing”, and a new partnership with GnomeFrenzy.com in advance of the Disney movie “Gnomeo & Juliet” opening February 11, 2011.

Mr. Mow It All’s interview starts at 12:26 and ends at 41:56 of the 53:13 segment. You can use your mouse to fast forward.

Head on over to RadioSpeedTalk.com and become a Speed Junkie!

Ken “Turfinator” Smolecki and Bill Simpson were inducted into the National Lawn Mower Racing Hall of Fame & Museum of America during the 2010 STA-BIL Nationals Weekend (Sept. 3-5).

Here are the two racing mower veterans interviewed by Bruce Kaufman, Mr. Mow It All, Founder & President of the United States Lawn Mower Racing Association.

You can read more about the USLMRA National Lawn Mower Racing Hall of Fame & Museum of America here.