IT’S ALL ABOUT... Lawnmower races

If you like NASCAR, you are going to love the lawnmower races. It’s exciting, fast, at times dusty, dangerous and noisy just like NASCAR as the mowers race around a dirt track. Even though it’s not unusual to see me on a mower cutting the yard, I never dreamed that you could use that ole Husqvarna in a race, of all places! The trick is to strip off the deck housing, and blades and drop in a high-powered engine to run them as fast as they can possibly go.

Recently you read about my young Louisiana cousin, Sweet Caroline, that we lost in a car accident several months ago in 2021. The out pouring of love and support for the family convinced them to start the CAROLINE BRADFORD SCHOLARSHIP FUND. As soon as it was established, the Annual Lawnmower Races were scheduled as the first benefit event to be held on April 1st, Caroline’s birthdate. Professional racers and people from all walks of life came to participate. Who would ever guess that people could make a living traveling around the country with an old souped-up lawnmower; but they do! The professionals came from Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas and of course Louisiana to participate in the event.

A lot of preparation goes into a race event. Arriving the day before to help set up, you could not believe how many neighbors and friends were already in place assisting. Looking around, there were lots of tents for not only spectators to sit under, but food trucks, concession stands, souvenir areas, raffles, silent auctions areas and of course the high scaffold stand for the finish line with flags and a publicity booth!

The dirt track had to be prepared, watered and rolled. Some of the racers were already running test laps. One of the locals coming around the last curve lost his steering wheel and flipped off backwards landing on both arms. Unfortunately, he broke both elbows and was quickly carted off to the hospital ER to cast both arms. So, beware. It’s dangerous.

The races began the following day with the children starting off the event on their power wheels. Any child 0-4 years old could enter and had to make one lap around the track. The top three received trophies almost bigger than each child. The funniest part of this race was to witness the parents running alongside each little car and kid!

The next category was children 5-10 years old with the Kids Stock mow er races. Again, to see the little tykes proudly participating to win a huge trophy was a special highlight.

Finally, the adult categories began as follows:

FXS (Open) Factory single cylinder lawn mower 44 cubic inch max

FXT 44 cubic inch twin engine (twin can’t run with single but single can step up and run with twin)

Savage Stock 44 cubic inch single cylinder stock engine (billet fly wheel for safety)

Savage Stock Twin

Old School, stock mower, transmission with pully change

And, the last race and best race of the day was the Women’s Wine Race. The timed event once around the track with a full glass of wine (or grape juice). The gal with the most liquid won; however, in the case of a tie, it was to be awarded to the first across the line. No worries about this race. One of the ladies entered with a Zero Turn mower, which takes 2 hands to operate especially around a curved track. Needless to say, wine was everywhere, and she lost the race. It was however worth the biggest laugh of the entire day… and no wine was left once the glasses were measured for volume and promptly consumed!

For the first Annual Lawnmower races for the Caroline Bradford Scholarship Fund, 700 people walked through the front gate, signed liability wavers and made donations. We ate the best “Cowboy” grilled cheese sandwiches from Cheese Louise, excellent hamburgers and BBQ from Big Daddy’s; bought T-shirts sporting art work designed in a contest by classmates of Caroline and watched some very young and really old guys and gals speed around on their lawnmowers.

We are already looking forward to next year, April 1st. I will be entering on my old Cub Cadet with a future new PINK paint job, pink helmet and pink racing attire; maybe a glass of pink wine! There is no doubt I can outrun some of those OLD guys! Watch for the closest Lawnmower races coming to your area and go enjoy a crazy fun day and a lot of laughs.