Lawnmower races in California aren't BIG STUFF yet. But maybe they will be one day.

You can just imagine the thinking that went into the first lawnmower races. Somebody was mowing their big, boring acreage of grass & weeds when they fantasized about revving up that motor and making that machine fly! The concept took wings and has become a popular sport at festivals and fairs, especially in California counties where there are plenty of sit-down mowers to be had. OK...maybe it's not so popular yet, but we predict that if they don't outlaw gas mowers in California, this type of race has potential to grow one day.

Lawn mower racing is believe to have started in the U.S. in 1963 on grassy, gopher filled fields in the Midwest. Top speeds were 8 to 10 miler per hour approx. What began as a "grass roots" form of racing now takes place on banked clay oval tracks with speeds sometimes exceeding 65 miles per hour. The demographic of racers includes teens to seniors, men and women. Mowers can be built or modified for several hundred to thousands of dollars. Classes range from stock engines and frames with speeds in the low 20 mph range all the way to highly modified engines and frames with speeds over 60 miles per hour! There are several national race associations - USLMRA and American Racing Mowers Association (ARMA), with affiliates throughout the U.S.

LAWNMOWER RACES:

• ANZA - Anza Racing Mowers, Anza, Calif. Race season consists of monthly races March-September
• DIXON - Sac Valley Mower Races
• UKIAH - Redwood Empire Fair August. Includes Motorhome Demolition Derby and Lawnmower Races, redwoodempirefair.com
• WILLOW CREEK - Big Foot Days willowcreekchamber.com
• ROSEVILLE - Lawnmower races at Placer County Fair held in June, placercountyfair.org
• LOS BANOS - Merced County Fair Lawnmower Racing usually in May-June, co.merced.ca.us