MEXICO — The first Mexico Invitational Lawn Mower Race and Family Fun Day kicks off Saturday morning at the Mexico Recreation park.
Registration begins at 9 a.m., with the races in four classes starting at 11 a.m.
Members of the Mexico Recreation Department, along with the Mexico Fire Department, have been preparing the “track” at the park with “pits” for the crew, and hundreds of tires to line the race route.
All mowers must have had the blades removed and drivers must wear helmets. The registration fee is $10 in advance, $20 on race day.
A full description of the regulations for the race are available from Peter Merrill at 364-3343 or Gary Wentzell at 369-3679, or at the park on the day of the event.
Four prizes of $50 each will be awarded.
Tammy Burgess, a Recreation Committee member and one of the organizers, said a variety of raffles will be held throughout the day, along with games for children, including a jumping house. Music will be performed from the pavilion, and a variety of tractor and boat vendors will have their wares on display.
“This is the first big event of the Recreation Committee,” Burgess said.
All racing lawn mowers will be checked for safety and to make sure they fit into the guidelines.
Flags for the races were created by students from one of the local schools.
The snack bar will be open all day, and portable toilets will be available to the public.
“We’re hoping this will become an annual event,” Burgess said.
For children ages 3 to 12, a miniclass of racing on electric vehicles will take place.
Also playing a big role in the organization of the day is Recreation Committee member Mabel Merrill.
The lawn mower race is one of two big races planned by the Recreation Committee this summer.
On July 10, an outhouse race will take place at the park starting at 10 a.m. This is a team sport with four pulling or pushing the 6-foot tall homemade outhouses, and one person sitting inside on the throne.
The registration fee is $10. Contact Peter Merrill with questions or for an application.
Comments are no longer available on this story