Featured Attractions

Featured Attractions

The British Lawnmower Racing Association(BLMRA)

Lawn mowers are go!

Lawn mower racing is great fun and appears at fairs throughout the year. Exciting and fast, a thrill to watch!

It was started back in 1973 by an Irishman called Jim Gavin. He met up with some friends at The Cricketers Arms in Wisborough Green, West Sussex to discuss his latest motorsport idea.

Jim was heavily involved in rallying and as with all motorsport at the time, sponsorship was creeping in. Jim didn’t really like this and wanted to create a form of motorsport which didn’t involve lots of money and was readily accessible to everyone.

As the pints flowed, they looked out across the village green and there was the groundsman mowing the cricket pitch. It was then they realised that everyone had a lawn mower in their garden shed so they said, “let’s race them”, and they did! They announced there would be a race in Murphy's field and about 80 mowers turned up!

The main aims of the group were and still are, no sponsorship, no commercialism, no cash prizes and no modifying of engines! It would keep costs down and resulted in lawnmower racing being described by Motor Sport News as "the cheapest form of motorsport in the U.K."

The BLMRA still sticks to its origins as a non-profit making organisation and any profits are given to charities or good causes.

Lawn Mower Racing takes place all over the country from Wales to Norfolk and Yorkshire to Sussex, appearing at Country Shows, Fayres and Steam Rallies.

They race from May to October and the season includes The British Championship. Other events in the calender are:

The World Championships, The British Grand Prix, The Endurance Championship and the most famous of all, The 12 Hour Endurance Race.

Over the years lawn mower racing has attracted motor racing legends and celebrities. Sir Stirling Moss has won both the British Grand Prix and the annual 12-Hour Race. Derek Bell, 5 times Le Mans winner and twice World Sports Car Champion, has won the 12 Hour twice and one of those was with Stirling.

The actor Oliver Reed regularly entered a team. BLMRA also feature in the Guinness Book of Records with the fastest mower over a set distance and the longest distance travelled in 12 hours.

Other famous names who have been seen in the paddock are Murray Walker, Alan deCadenet, John Barnard (Ferrari F1 designer), Phil Tuffnell, Jason Gillespie, Chris Evans, Guy Martin, Karl Harris (British Super Bike riders) and John Hindhaugh (Radio Le Mans commentator).

The British Lawnmower Racing Association(BLMRA) will be appearing at the following shows:

Sorry, no shows available, please check back soon.

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