Lawn mowers are built for one purpose, and one purpose only: to help people maintain great-looking yards, parks, and other properties.
But people are creative. They're also competitive. On top of those qualities, they like to have fun.
That's just part of the explanation of how lawn mower racing evolved as a competitive sport.
Lawn mower racing is exactly what its name suggests: competitors race their mowers around a track for several laps, the same as your favorite Indy Car driver would.
They simply do it at a slower pace, on a riding mower that, when upgraded according to the rules, can still reach speeds up to 40 miles per hour.
And there are rules to lawn mower racing, as well as two official governing bodies that oversee the sport. There's also a history.
The first organization to embrace mower racing in the U.S. was the Twelve Mile Lions Club. It held the first American race on July 4, 1963, in Twelve Mile, Indiana, an annual tradition that continues today.
Not much later, in 1968, a cricket league in the United Kingdom held a "Lawn Mower Grand Prix" as a benefit to raise funds for cricket player Ken Higgs.
The British Lawn Mower Racing Association grew out of Jim Gavin's races and still oversees the sport in the UK today. Meanwhile, in the U.S., the United States Lawn Mower Racing Association debuted on April Fool's Day, 1992.
A key regulation of lawn mower racing is the use of both the original lawn mower engine and chassis. The actual mowers used in races can be modified in several other ways, but the essential components will look like those on the lawn tractor in your garage.
In the U.S., lawn mower racing has a few safety rules in place:
Most importantly? The lawn mower's blades must be removed. High-speed cutting isn't part of the race.
If you'd like to learn more about lawn mower racing, the United States Lawn Mower Racing Association has member chapters across the country.
That being said, it's worth noting that the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) does not approve of lawn mower racing, citing its dangers and risks.
We'll repeat the warning here: lawn mowers are only supposed to be used for lawn care, in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.
But if reading about people riding along on their mowers makes you want to (safely!) enjoy a mower of your own, we know just where you can start.