Frequently Asked Questions
This page contains answers to
common questions asked by members and racers new to the sport of lawn
mower racing. Also, there are some tips
and advice that we have found useful and they are presented here as
questions.
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How do I make my racing mower go
faster?
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Where can I find the official
rulebook?
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Are there performance parts
available?
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What's
the best mower to use?
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What is a tethered kill switch and
where do I get one?
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When is the STA-BIL Nationals?
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Do they have blades on them?
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What about the blade deck?
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Can I remove the governor?
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What can I do with the
steering?
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Can I modify the engine?
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What About Safety Equipment?
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How fast do they go?
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How long have people been
racing lawn mowers?
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What is
STA-BIL?
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How can I find out where to
stay, and which hotels/motels are near the race?
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How much is it going to cost me
to race at an event?
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Who do I go to on the day of a
race to find out if my machine is legal to race?
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Where do you race these things?
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I want to start racing in FX or
BP. But how?
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How can I get started, or is
there anyone in my area?
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Is
There Any Money In The Sport?
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Can
I Download a printable version of the FAQ's?
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None of the questions listed above
apply to me, can I Email my question to you?
Notice the question included "racing
mower", not the mower you cut grass with. For safety reasons
we will never offer suggestions of how to make your family mower faster!
As for the mower you intend to race, you will
need to change
your belts and pulleys to achieve a different final drive ratio.
We cannot
specify which pulleys will work best because every mower is different
and there are a lot of variables -- such as weight of the mower, the
driver, etc.
Remember this formula;
Small front pulley + large rear pulley = slow
Large front pulley + small rear pulley = fast!
You can find the official rulebook of the
USLMRA right here --->>> Official
Rulebook
Yes, some high performance parts are
available. Some racers have a few parts available, but it's pretty
much a build your own kind of thing. Go to the Yahoo
Group Site and ask for who might have performance parts.
The best mower to use are the free ones. They
keep more money in the pocket to work with. But if you ask 15 different
racers you'll get 15 different answers as to what is the best
mower. It's basically what works for you.
A tethered
kill switch is a device that will shut down the engine if you happen
to get bucked off. For safety reasons, it must be securely
attached to the driver and the mower! Most snowmobile or marine
shops have these available. Also, NAPA has a selection of them in
their accessories catalog.
The
STA-BIL Keeps Gas
Fresh Finals and Challenge of Champions, also known as the
STA-BIL Nationals, is
always held the Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day Weekend in Mansfield,
Ohio in partnership with the Mansfield News Journal Newspaper in
Education Program.
NO! The blades are removed! The blades must
must be removed when racing and it is the very first rule under General Mower Requirements in the
rulebook. Remember, safety first.
Keep the blade deck on. Plus, you should bolt it
solid so that it will hold your weight as well as not sway when you
drive the mower. Check the rulebook for
specific build rules and
clearances.
Remember, this is lawn mower racing!
Removal of the
governor or governor linkage for any reason other than racing is NOT
recommended and should NOT be done on the family lawn mower. If
you want to mow the lawn faster, buy a bigger mower!
Stock and IMOW classes are governed at 3650 RPM and
therefore the governor cannot be removed. Prepared and FX classes allow
such modifications. See the rulebook
for specific build rules. Also, you can install a hand or a
foot throttle. However, it's up to you, your driving style and
preferences on which you choose.
Spend
some time to get the play (looseness) and deflection out of your steering and front
suspension. If you do have play or deflection, you have no true setting, thus, less
control and speed. To improve the handling, some racers bolt or
weld the front end solid
(where it pivots).
Yes, in Prepared and FX classes you can. Work on the engine
like you would traditionally with an automobile (port & polish,
etc.). What type of engine is up to you and the class division
you intend on running. It must be a lawn mower engine and most
racers run Briggs & Stratton or Tecumseh. Some guys run a Honda
lawnmower engine. All seem to do
great!
Always make sure
that you have on safety gear when practicing or racing. Helmet, gloves, long
pants, sleeves and neck support are mandatory in the USLMRA. Lawnmower racing is fun but it can
also be dangerous.
Remember, this is a motor sport!
SAFETY FIRST!!!
The speeds vary by class. Stock classes may
only go about 6 to 8 miles per hour. The Prepared (modified) has been
known to go as fast as 85 mph, however on the track they only do 35 to 40
mph. FX (factory experimental) can reach speeds of 60 mph on the track.
There has been organized lawn mower racing in the
U.S. and in England for more than 30 years, with the annual Fourth of July
Race in Twelve Mile, Indiana and 12 hour lawn mower race in Wisborough Green,
England the oldest known events.
STA-BIL is the best
selling fuel stabilizer that keeps gas fresh in power equipment for quick
starts. STA-BIL is used for lawn mowers, boats,
snowblowers, and most outdoor power equipment as well as cars, trucks and even
locomotives. For more information, click here: STA-BIL
Go to the race venue information on the schedule
for the calendar years events, find the event you are going to attend.
This will list the race director's name, phone, and e-mail info. You will
also find the main hotel offered for the area at a reduced rate. The
director may also be able to direct you to other hotel/motels in that area.
Go to the schedule
for the calendar years events, find the event you are going to attend, and the
director should be able to tell you this info if it isn't already
posted. This fee may vary from race to race, but by no more than $5 -
$10.
Even though you may have followed the suggested build
rules, you still need to have it inspected. Ask the day of the race for
the Chief Technical inspector that is handling the race that day. You
will also need to obtain a race registration form, and a technical inspection
form.
We race our lawn mowers all across the country,
from Maine to California. The USLMRA holds 10-15 sanctioned races per season
and local chapters under similar rules as the USLMRA hold many more races. Go to the
Local Chapter Map to see if
there's a race near you.
If you don't have any racing experience, we suggest
that you don't start in the faster classes, however, everyone is welcome in
every class. Even though there's no rule against rookies racing in the
fast classes, you should get your feet wet in IMOW, AP or SP, and get a
"feel" for a lawn mower chassis. Then you can move up to the
faster classes.
Go to the Local Chapter Map
for Local Chapters and contact people.
They should be able to help you get started. Then get a mower and go to
a race!
WE DO NOT RACE FOR PURSE MONEY!!! We race for FUN,
trophies, points, and bragging rights and sometimes for lawn ornaments! If any money is made available
to racers, it is shared equally among every racer for gas money and to help
with their expenses.
Absolutely! To download and save for printing
or later viewing off line, right click here and select "Save Target
As...". If you prefer to view, just click here!
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Get
your Free Adobe Acrobat Reader!
Yes you can. Look below for the appropriate
address for your questions or needs. If you have a question that you
would like to see posted here, please Email me, the webmaster with your
question.
