Picture: GEOFFERY SWAN
IT is motorsport, but not as we know it.
The humble ride-on lawnmower will be transformed on 7 November into a speed machine for the Millicent Show’s inaugural lawnmower races.
A new addition to the show society’s calendar- and one of the town’s biggest events of the year- the races are expected to send dirt flying and attract spectators of all ages.
Grand Hotel Millicent owner and race organiser Steve Thomas said the event was something he thought would attract more people to the show on a Saturday.
“We went to the Meningie races and it was such a cool event,” he said.
“It is really fun and everyone gets involved, from kids through to adults.
“This year’s event they have some of the top class drivers coming out to participate and they are unreal.”
Mr Thomas said Millicent was also poised to host the South Australian Lawnmower Association’s (SALA) first event on its 2019 racing calendar.
“Lawnmower racing is an actual sport and next year we will host a race for SALA.
“We will have our own fun races going, but then we will also host the competitive ones.
“This year’s event is a fun one to see how it goes and so everyone can have a look at it.
“It is about breaking the ground so people can see what the sport of lawnmower racing is all about and also about bringing something new and different to Millicent and the show.”
Currently, there are around 20 entrants registered for Saturday’s event, with some travelling from as far as Perth to compete.
There are four classes including standard, modified standard, ultra modified standard and open up to 250cc and 250cc to 450cc.
The class competitors enter depends on how many alterations and how heavily modified their vehicle is.
“The top class mowers actually use 500cc motorbike engines so they are like a go-kart on steroids,” Steve said.
“I think at the Adelaide Show they got up to speeds of 160kph.
“There are all sorts of classes so you could literally take the blades off a lawnmower and enter it.
“The standard ones are all about having fun and the modified ones are very fast and mud flying everywhere.
“It is sort of like the Pines Enduro, but on lawn mowers.”
As part of the event competitors will race across three laps at the Millicent Showgrounds and each class will consist of five races.
The track will be set up behind the oval where the shed will be run as a bar.
Viewing for the event will start at 11am before the racing action kicks off at 12.30pm.
Contact Mr Thomas at The Grand Hotel on 8733 2242 by Friday if you would like to enter the competition.
