Mower racing gaining popularity in Lincoln County

During the past decade the non-traditional motorsport of lawn mower racing has slowly, but steadily, increased in popularity in Lincoln County. Lawn mower races have been featured at the annual Logger Days celebration and as exhibitions at the Millpond MotoX moto-cross competition.

Troy resident and lawn mower racing afficianado Royce Pemberton attributes the sport’s growing popularity, in part, to the low entry cost, especially as compared to motorcycle and automobile racing. Its broad appeal to all age groups has also helped.

“It’s a cheap sport to get into,” he said. “It’s also something for people of all ages to enjoy. There’s really no prize money in it, but it’s a lot of fun.”

The 78-year-old Pemberton started racing mowers about nine years ago, after seeing a race in nearby Bonners Ferry, Idaho. After watching the race Pemberton, a retired auto body shop manager, decided he wanted to try his own hand at the sport.

Pemberton bought a lawn mower and started modifying it for competitive racing. He runs in the super-stock class, which allows for some modifications to the engine and power train, but restricts engines to 20 horse power. The wheel base is limited to 38 inches and the mower blade assembly is removed. Pemberton said his mower, with the modifications, has a top speed of about 45 miles per hour.

During his nearly decade-long career in the sport, Pemberton has suffered his share of spills, including a spectacular roll-over accident in last year’s Logger Days race in Libby.

“I’ve had a couple of wrecks,” he said. “But never any serious injuries, even with the wreck in Libby last year. The safety equipment is that good.”

One step up from Pemberton’s super-stock class is the modified class. Members of Libby’s Igniters Car Club have started racing in this class. Kip Nixon, Jeff Forster and Darren Short all have modified-class mowers in competition. Short won this year’s Logger Days race for his class.

Short said in this class the frames are reinforced and the front ends are welded onto the frames to provide added stability. He said they run stock engines, also limited to 20 horse power, but the speed governors are removed. The drive assemblies are also changed. Short changes his drive assembly based upon the track.

For short tracks, he uses a much lower gear ratio, providing enhanced acceleration, but dropping the top speed of his mower. On longer tracks, he runs with a much ratio, decreasing the off-the-line acceleration but providing a higher top speed. His mower runs between 45 and 55 miles per hour, depending upon how it’s geared.

The one issue both Short and Pemberton expressed with lawn mower racing in Lincoln County is the scarcity of opportunities to race. So far this year there have been just two events, the Logger Days race and the exhibition during the Millpond MotoX intermission.

“I just wish there were more races,” Pemberton said.

Short is hoping to make that wish come true. Working with his friends from the Igniters, Short is hoping to bring another race to Libby this year.

“We’re actually going to try to do a race in September, if we can pull it off,” Short said. “We need to figure out insurance, advertising, that sort of stuff.”

Pemberton said he’d like to see races held once a month in the area, and would like to expand the appeal of the sport in hopes of involving younger people.

“This is a great thing for kids to do,” he said. “I could show them how to build the mowers. I think we should have a race once a month.”

Increasing the appeal shouldn’t be a problem, Short said. He said the sport is just too much fun to ignore.

“If I would have known it was this much fun, I would have done it years ago,” he said.

For Pemberton, it’s something he plans to do for as long as he can.

“Sitting around isn’t for me,” he said. “I need to be up and out. As long as I can still kick my heels I’m going to do it.”