Published: April 25, 2008 08:50 am            

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.

        

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