Ladies and gentlemen, start your Lawn Boys!
|
ADVERTISEMENT
|
|
|
Have a thought?
Go to the Forums or Chat.
|
|
|
Racing for the masses - not to mention the mosses - is coming to Augusta.
And all you need is a Sears card and a dream.
That's the idea behind the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association, created to fuel America's need for speed.
And if one local promoter has his way, lawn mower racing will be the biggest thing to hit Augusta in a while.
"No pun intended, it's a grass-roots sport," said Charles Miller, who started CM Motorsports Promotions to bring the "fastest mowing sport" in the world to Augusta.
"It's inexpensive to get into, and it's a real family sport. It's something anyone can do - kind of like a cross between four-wheeling and bull riding."
With support from the Greater Augusta Sports Council, the Augusta Chapter of the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association will begin its inaugural season with the Michael Vickers Memorial Mowdown on Sunday at the Augusta Exchange Club Fairgrounds. Additional races will be held every Saturday through Dec. 6, and will resumein March.
Local mower driver Duane Anderson of McBean said he is "psyched up" for the inaugural race.
"I've seen it on TV a few times, and we went to the monster truck races at the civic center about a month ago, and they had a lawn mower race exhibition," Anderson said. "My 7-year-old son was impressed, and I was impressed, and we got the bug and decided I was going to build me one of these things."
Anderson's modified mower reaches a top speed of around 30 mph, which unfortunately didn't impress local law enforcement.
"I was testing it out in front of the house, and the police pulled me over," Anderson said with a laugh. "Didn't get a ticket. I think they were just messing with me."
Lawn mower racing was introduced in England about 30 years ago and brought to the U.S. in 1992. Mowers race in four road course classes at speeds up to 60 mph.
Too bad they make you remove the blades. Think of the extra cash you could make around the neighborhood going from zero to 60 in 4.5 seconds.
"It sounds like a joke, and it definitely is a novelty sport, but these guys and gals really take it seriously," Miller said. "There's a lot of laughing and cutting up (again, no pun intended), but these folks are out here to win."
Win what, you might ask?
A lifetime supply of lawn fertilizer?
A one-year subscription to Mower World magazine?
A pile of mulch?
"The prizes are a trophy and bragging rights." Miller said. "The folks take the bragging rights very seriously."
Miller said the racers come from all walks of life.
"You know Tony Stewart, the Winston Cup driver? His dad is a lawn mower racer," Miller said. "The Mayor of Avon Park, Fla., is a lawn mower racer. There's even a gynecologist who races these things."
No pun intended.
BLAZE OF GLORY: Donald Shapiro and Henry Scheer of Augusta won their second consecutive BlazeTennis Challenge championship in Atlanta on Sunday. Shapiro and Scheer defeated Allison and Dan Lachman of Birmingham, Ala., in the final.
The BlazeTennis Challenge - formerly the Governor's Cup - is sanctioned by the U.S. Disabled Athletes Fund, the successor organization to the Atlanta Paralympic Organizing Committee and the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association. The format features one player on foot and one in a wheelchair. Forty-eight players from Georgia, North Carolina and Alabama competed.
DART CHAMPS: The Savannah River Dart Association concluded its fall season Oct. 20 and crowned champions in three divisions.
Any Given Monday won the A Division with a record of 169-61. The men's high in score was 160 by Will DeLoach, and the men's high out score was 116, posted by Bryan Hutton.
Kork Krushers won the B Division with a 134-89 record. Top scorers were Charlie LaFortuna (108 men's high in), Todd Stallings (145 men's high out), and Robin Mitchell (112 ladies' high in and 92 high out).
Back Yard Dawgs went 141-89 to win the C Division. Top men's scorers were Tom Marshall (121 high in) and Ron Bryan and Blake Brandon (92 high out). Mick Heard was the ladies' high in with 106, and Mary Sweitzer was ladies' high out with 80.
For information on the SRDA winter season, call the league hotline at 441-DART or log on to www.csradarts.com
BOCCE KING: Bocce player Bill DeGroat of First Baptist Church of Augusta participated in the 2003 World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland, in bocce. He finished second in Unified Doubles, third in Unified Team and fourth in singles.
IF YOU GO
What: The Michael Vickers Memorial Mowdown Lawn Mower races
When: Sunday (gates open at noon, races begin at 1:30 p.m.)
Where: Augusta Exchange Club Fairgrounds
Tickets: $8 for adults, $4 for children under 12, free for children under 3.
Seating: Bleacher seating capacity is 300. Spectators are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
If you mow: Contact local race organizer Charles Miller at (803) 221-4446 for information on how to enter this and upcoming races.
