subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Fri, May 16 2008 

Published: April 25, 2008 08:50 am    print this story   email this story   comment on this story  

Lawnmower races start Saturday

50-60 participants expected at event

By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor

That weekend chore of cutting the grass is now a competitive sport — and some of the fastest mowers in the eastern United States will be in Barbourville this weekend for the 2008 Kentucky Bluegrass Spring Nationals.

The second-annual event is the only USLMRA (that’s the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association) sanctioned race in the commonwealth.

“Last year it was part of the Redbud Festival, and it’s part of Redbud month this year,” said organizer Kevin Buchanan. “It was such a big event last year, we decided to move to a weekend of its own.”

Buchanan is expecting at least 50-60 racers this year — that is the number that showed up in 2007, when the race took place during the pouring rain.

Despite the abysmal weather (this year’s race will be postponed if heavy showers hit Saturday) several hundred people came to last year’s event.

“The Redbud Festival Committee suggested organizing just a local lawnmower race for the fun of it,” Buchanan said of the event’s origins. “I got to looking around on the Internet and found the USLMRA and found there was nothing in Kentucky pertaining to lawnmower racing.”

The closest chapter of racers is in eastern Tennessee, which is where most of Saturday and Sunday’s competitors will come from, though last year’s race drew competitive mowers from 15 states.

The USLMRA was formed on April Fool’s Day 1992 — but these racers aren’t joking around with their supped-up lawnmowers. Racers spend thousands of dollars on their riding lawnmowers which reach speeds of up to 60 mph.

As Buchanan said simply, “It’s fast and it’s loud.”

The 2008 Kentucky Bluegrass Spring National USLMRA Lawn Mower Race will be Saturday and Sunday at the old Minton Farm behind the Barbourville Business Park on Hwy 225. Gates open at 9 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday. Races begin at 2 p.m. both days and last about two and a half to three hours.

An antique tractor show will precede the races. Tickets are $5 and admission is free for children ages 5 and younger. Call Kevin Buchanan at 606-622-6327 for details.

print this story   email this story   comment on this story  

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.



Photos


After helping park a racing mower on the lawn of city hall, Barbourville Mayor David Thompson puts up a sign advertising the lawnmower races. Photo by Samantha Swindler/ (Click for larger image)

monster
wheels
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premier Guide
Premium Jobs

Sales Opportunity!
SALES Opportunity! We’re looking for high-octane winners to join our team of sales professionals. You’ll get the best tr...>MORE

Post Office Now Hiring!
Post Office Now Hiring! Avg Pay $20/hr, $57 K/yr., incl. Fred ben, OT. Placed by adSource, not aff w/ USPS who hires. ...>MORE

House Keeper
Immediate Opening House keeper wanted, cooking, and cleaning, Full time. Williamsburg 606-261-5764. ...>MORE

Childcare
2nd Shift at laugh and Learn the place kids want to be. Cameras in every room, now hiring 528-6607 ...>MORE

Radio Sales
Radio Sales, Programming and News Reporting: Brand new radio stations are
looking for help in Sales, Programming a
...>MORE

Salesperson
Salesperson

Growth-stage company in Southeastern Kentucky currently with $1 million in sales is seeking to hi
...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Rentals & Sales

1 Bedroom Apartment for Rent
1 Bdrm Apartment. Stove and Refridgerater furnished $275 mo, $275 deposit 528-8484 / 521-4203....>MORE

House for Sale
Highlands Park Williamsburg 3/BR 1/5ba 2 car garage, Hardwood floors, new thermopane windows & roof, cent h/a, $130,000 ...>MORE

Apartment For Rent
Executive 1/BR Duplex, Large, Private lakeside, utilites inc. $695/mo $300/dep 528-3356, 524-6027...>MORE

See all ads

Deal of The Day

Pond Stocking !
Pond Stocking! Sat, 5/27! The Fish Tuck will be at Corbin Farm & Garden Center (SS) from 12-12:45. 1-800-335-2077 or www...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2008. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

rc