Lawn Mower Racing

Australia's first mower race was dreamt up in a small, country pub in Harrietville, Victoria in 1987. The story goes like this.... Five men spontaneously challenged each other to a race around the local hills of the area after an alcohol related argument. They chugged up the steep slopes belching smoke from their unmodified Briggs and Strattons (popular lawnmower brands), rounded a nominated gum tree, then flew down in "Angel Gear" (Australian outback slang for neutral), to the finish line. For the record, a rogue called "Roger" won on his rover. "Half the town's 100 people, 300 sheep and 150 dogs were there,“ says the 6 time AROLMRA x-president Brian Ross.
A.R.O.L.M.R.A INC. (Australian Ride-On Lawn Mower Racing Association) has become, over the years, the biggest lawn mower racing club in Australia. AROLMRA has over 100 members and a large following in Victoria, and all over Australia. It holds between 8 and 10 races a year. The majority of races are held to raise money for the local Country Fire Authority, which is a volunteer fire service.
There are also lawn mower racing clubs in the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and Nowra. The first ever national race between all the clubs was held in Dubbo NSW on May 16, 2009.