PLYMOUTH -- Just under a dozen beefed-up, turf-terrorizing lawn mowers growled to life inside the Plymouth Rodeo Arena on Saturday afternoon ... and not one blade of grass suffered because of it.
While sports fans around the globe sat in their cozy homes watching the opening round of the World Cup, a different group of enthusiasts braved the weather to race yard-care equipment around a makeshift track inside the dusty arena.
"This is real huge back East," event organizer and Intermountain Mower Racing Association (IMRA) Chapter President Mike Hudson said. "But this is pretty new to everyone around here."
Saturday's race marked the opening of the second season for the IMRA, a U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association affiliate. This was the first of 12 events running from June to September that the association -- along with several other turf-busting clubs in Utah -- will hold, including a tentatively scheduled race in August at Golden Spike Arena as part of the Weber County Fair.
Hudson and his wife, Marie, organized the Plymouth event, a job that can take months. The couple made arrangements to use the rodeo arena, canvassed several neighboring towns with fliers, made calls to various participants and organizations.
They also verified insurance was current and available for everyone participating in the event.
All that was in addition to the most important task leading up to race day: prepping their own mowers.
The couple does the same routine several times a month in addition to operating (what else?) a lawn mower and tractor equipment and maintenance service in Plymouth. They're quick to point out that they get plenty of help from friends and family.
"In this town, everybody just kind of takes care of everybody," Hudson said. "There's been a lot of local support and a lot of people come out to help just because."
Clubs representing Spanish Fork (Utah State Lawnmower Racing Association), Ogden (Wasatch Sod Slingers), Meadow (Black Rock Rye Cutters) and Plymouth (Intermountain Mower Racing Association) raced for no reward other than bragging rights and to show spectators what several hundred dollars and dozens of hours can do for your gardening productivity.
Three mower classes hit the dirt track. First came the stock class -- barely more than the blades being removed -- which is typically reserved for first-timers and those looking to ease into lawn mower racing.
After the stock mowers ran, the two prepared classes that allow major modifications to the mowers hit the dirt.
These 7-12 horsepower beasts can reach speeds up to 60 mph, roaring like smaller versions of finely tuned hot rods when revved at the starting line. Custom axles, engine and exhaust modifications, gear ratio adjustments and performance tires are just the beginning of the improvements that can be made to the machines.
Professional teams spend thousands on machines that race on the national circuit, and while clubs competing in Saturday's race weren't doing it for the money, it was evident that Plymouth race participants had spent more than one sleepless night tinkering with the mowers to get them just right.
Saturday's main event winner, No. 13, Don (Donny) Flint of Garland, snatched the checkered flag after his victory for the celebratory lap and spun circles in the dirt before bringing his mower back to the pit.
"I needed a hobby," he said about getting into lawnmower racing. "I want to thank my entire family. They've backed me up and they help me. It's been a big family event, and that's what we shoot for."
Despite being a little bit disappointed with the weather and a less-than-expected crowd turnout, the Hudsons and all the other participants agreed the event was a success for racers and fans alike.
"I didn't know what to expect when I came," said first-time mower racing spectator Liz Gunderson, who is from Cache Valley. "But we thought it would be fun for the kids to see, so we came out and it was great."
There was no prize money, no trophies or medals for the placing racers, but the camaraderie was evident throughout the afternoon, with each team helping each other with push starts, lending a hand with the choke, or just grabbing a hot dog.
"Everybody's kind of starting from scratch, but they're definitely stepping it up a notch," Hudson said. "It's pretty cheap to get a mower ready to race though, and I think it's going to catch on."
Hudson's optimism was shared by virtually everyone who attended Saturday's race.
That and being handy with a wrench are the main reasons he's the man you want to talk to in Northern Utah if you need help with your lawnmower ... especially if you plan on racing it.
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