From HeraldExtra.com:

The Utah State Lawn Mower Racing Association and the Intermountain Mower Racing Association met Saturday to determine the fastest mower. In some cases it was to see who had a mower that could finish.

The event, organized by Roger Hope of Spanish Fork, was one of a planned ten races this year. Mowers are grouped by size (power) and include some modified classes. Most rush around the track at a speed that hardly exceeds a fast walk, but some of the modified mowers do move at a lively clip.

The track was laid out at the Salem Yahoo Arena and included two lengths of oval. The driversstarted their mowers and then retreated to a standby line for most classes. At the signal, they rushed to their mowers and took off. Winners were, of course, the first to complete the required number of laps. Strategies for winningcan rival NASCAR or Indy Car races – keep the guy behind you from passing and don’t make mistakes. All in all, the races were fun to watch and even more fun for the drivers.

To read the whole article by Richard V Harris, click here.

The Utah State Lawn Mower Racing Association (sponsored locally by Hope’s Outdoor Power Equipment) opened their season on Saturday, June 19th in Salem, Oregon. Photographer Patrick Smith of The Daily Herald was there, and captured these great photos:

Saturday, June 12th marked the opening of the second season for the Intermountain Mower Racing Association, a U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association affiliate. The Standard-Examiner in Ogden, Utah had this to say:

While sports fans around the globe sat in their cozy homes watching the opening round of the World Cup, a different group of enthusiasts braved the weather to race yard-care equipment around a makeshift track inside the dusty arena.

“This is real huge back East,” event organizer and Intermountain Mower Racing Association (IMRA) Chapter President Mike Hudson said. “But this is pretty new to everyone around here.

Also from the article, written Monday, June 14th by Gentry Reinhart:

There was no prize money, no trophies or medals for the placing racers, but the camaraderie was evident throughout the afternoon, with each team helping each other with push starts, lending a hand with the choke, or just grabbing a hot dog.

“Everybody’s kind of starting from scratch, but they’re definitely stepping it up a notch,” Hudson said. “It’s pretty cheap to get a mower ready to race though, and I think it’s going to catch on.”

Hudson’s optimism was shared by virtually everyone who attended Saturday’s race.

That and being handy with a wrench are the main reasons he’s the man you want to talk to in Northern Utah if you need help with your lawnmower … especially if you plan on racing it.

Read the whole piece here.

Come join the fun Saturday, June 19th in Salem, Oregon!

Grab your lawn mower and meet at the Salem Rodeo Arena. Tech and tune will be from 10am to Noon, and raceing starts at Noon. It will be $10.00 to race and $5.00 for general admission.

For ‘mower’ information contact Roger Hope at (801) 310-7315.

Racing Lawn Mowers will Compete in at least Four Classes with top speeds reaching 30 mph.

This is part of the Utah State Lawn Mower Racing Association and is sponsored locally by Hope’s Outdoor Power Equipment.

The Intermountain Lawn Racing Association (IMLMRA), an Affiliated Club of the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association (USLMRA), will host its season opener on Saturday, June 12, 2:00 p.m. at the Rodeo Arena, 21060 North 5200 West, Plymouth, Utah.

Admission is $4.00, and free for children 12 and under. The Rodeo Arena will serve as the IMLMRA home which plans to host ten Club races June through September.

“We are very excited to be offering such a unique motor sport opportunity to the racing enthusiasts of Plymouth and surrounding communities,” said Intermountain Lawn Racing Association Chapter President Mike Hudson. ” Come one, come all! If you have a riding lawn mower sitting in your garage just waiting to become a racing mowchine, we welcome you to come out and join us for some high speed action – with cutting blades removed of course.”

The Intermountain Lawn Racing Association is one of four turf busting Clubs in Utah, including the Utah State Lawnmower Racing Association (Spanish Fork), the Wasatch Sod Slingers (Ogden), and the Black Rock Rye Cutters (Meadow). In addition the Western Slope Lawn Mower Racing Association is based in Grand Junction, Colorado.

For mow information, please contact Mike Hudson at 435-230-0161 or visit tractorandequipmentservice.com.