Mowing ‘Em Down
Lawnmower Racing in 12 Mile, Indiana
By Cynthia Bowers
(CBS) Every Fourth of July the population of Twelve Mile, Indiana swells from 200 to 2500 – all to see the fiercest and fastest on riding lawnmowers as CBS News correspondent Cynthia Bowers reports.
“This is a big deal. This is the big deal for the year,” said Mark Lowe, Lions Club race organizer.
The sport, which began here back in 1963, requires racers start with a lawn mower, but they soup ‘em up with motorcycle engines – and trick ‘em out in all kind of ways.
The formula one style race course can be tricky with 33 mowers on the narrow course.
Some reach speeds of 50 even 60 miles an hour. Rocks and dirt fly as racers negotiate hay bales and hair pin turns.
But no mention of this sport is complete without telling you about the Troyers. Like the Andrettis and Pettys of auto racing fame, this is the first family when it comes to lawnmower racing!
There are worthy competitors, such as the Hines Family, the White brothers, and the intimidating Ulericks. But the Troyers, with 12 first place titles among them, are the winning-est family in Twelve Mile history.
The Troyers credit success to solid mowers, years of know-how, and their pit crews!
On race day, drivers do 60 laps in roughly 45 minutes.
There are no windshields on the lawnmowers.
“You eat the bugs. You eat it all,” said John Troyer.
Randy keeps a trophy room, complete with his Hawaiian shirts – retired after race day wins.
Even though he’s still hungry, the next generation is bearing down.
Joey Troyer said he’ll be doing this “until I can’t climb off the seat when I’m done.”
Until then, they’re determined to keep on mowin ‘em down.
