MOUNT VERNON — There was plenty of excitement, as well as dust, at the 2012 Knox County Fair lawnmower races on Friday evening.
Ron Day of Toboso endured the tight turns and the bumpy course to win in both the Super Stock and the Modified XR classes.
“I had a good day,” said Day. “Everything went our way. Just a lucky day. There was a good hole (coming off the first turn). If you could get around it or get below it, you would be OK. I tried to, but several times, I went through it and went a little airborne, but we made it.”
Defending American Racing Mowers Association National Super Stock Champion, Ed Annett of Danville, had a tough day and failed to finish in the top three in the Modified XR Class.
“The track’s a little rough (coming off the first turn) and I bounced out,” said Annett. “When you bounce out, you have to ease off so you don’t flip and they passed me on the inside — that’s racing.”
For Annett, who has been racing lawn mowers for four years, this is a full-time hobby and a passion. He plans to be in Hagerstown, Md. for an ARMA national points race with his Double Trouble team this weekend.
“I’m going to the doubleheader Saturday and Sunday,” said Annett. “It’s like NASCAR. You’ve got to get so many points and you get points by how you place.”
The goal in national racing is to win the national championship in Aberdeen, Md. While that is what Annett and the others shoot for, the sport of mower racing is all about fun.
“Either you love it or you hate it,” said Annett. “I love racing. This is something that is economical to get into and it’s fun.”
