ELLERBE – It won’t be long before the thrill and excitement of lawnmower racing once again returns to Ellerbe Lions Club Raceway. Saturday, March 10, marks the beginning of this year’s racing season.
What continues to draw people to the local lawnmower races? According to Joey Bostick, 10-year veteran of the Ellerbe Lion’s Club and current Vice President, folks enjoy the lawnmower races so much “because they’re something different and they provide an afternoon of family fun.”
“It’s just a good family-oriented sport,” Bostick continued. “We love to see the community come out and enjoy the races.”
Saturday, March 17, will bring the national benefit race, “Racing 4 Taylor.” Rex Crouch, organizer of the race, stated that proceeds from this event help support those suffering from Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA).
JRA, an autoimmune disorder, is a type of arthritis that causes joint inflammation, stiffness and pain in children aged 16 or younger. It affects approximately 50,000 children in the United States. The race was dubbed “Racing 4 Taylor” due to the fact that Crouch’s own daughter, Taylor, also suffers from JRA.
“This weekend event will bring racers from all over the United States (New Hampshire, Florida and Missouri to name a few),” Crouch said. “It’s actually on the series for points. We’ll be selling shirts, hats and other items to raise money for JRA. We’ll have anywhere from 50-100 lawnmowers that weekend.”
This will be Crouch’s sixth year running the JRA benefit race.
Crouch noted that the lawnmower races are very competitive, but the racers are quick to help each other out. As spectators are attracted to the races, so are the racers.
“At least part of the attraction for racers is that, within the rules, they can actually build their own racing mower, not just go out and buy one, and they (the lawnmowers) are really fast,” Crouch explained.
Crouch himself has been racing for 12 years, when racing began in Ellerbe.
There will be food vendors and children’s activities during halftime.
“Kids will be able to come on the track, walk to the pit to see the lawnmowers, participate in foot races, water balloon tosses in the summertime, and other activities to get them involved,” Crouch said. “A lot of times we’ll have a 50/50 drawing, too.”
Ellerbe Lions Club Raceway is located at 306 Millstone Road. Races are always on Saturdays and usually begin at 6 p.m. There is a $5 fee for spectators, but admission is free of charge for children six and under. Races take place once a month from March to November. A complete racing schedule will be available soon.
For more information on the Ellerbe Lions Club Raceway activities, visit its Facebook page.
