Randy Marshall has been competitive all his life. Even though he came from a small high school and attended a small college in Oregon, his athleticism catapulted him to huge success. In 1970, Marshall was drafted by the NFL Atlanta Falcons as a Defensive End. He was the first person from Linfield College to be drafted by the NFL and he played pro football for three years before retiring due to severe knee problems.
It was only natural that Marshall’s competitive nature stayed with him and enticed him into trying a sport that sounded intriguing – lawn mower racing. Mike Sofich, of Sportsman’s Grass Car Racing, had set up one of the first lawn mower races at his track in 2006, and Marshall thought Sofich was “out of his mind”. However, Marshall saw a few of the machines before the race and it was enough to spark his interest: “I jumped on the thing and liked it!” From there, his interest grew.
Today, Marshall is a key member and top racer of the club. He has invested himself in the design, leadership, and growth of Sportsman’s Grass Car Racing, Inc.
The competitive atmosphere and evolution of the sport have been a key aspect of why Marshall continues to love lawn mower racing. “I like the competition. I’ve been competitive all my life. I played football, track, and basketball…it’s in my blood,” he said. Because lawn mowers can be upgraded and modified, there are many challenges that Marshall faces to stay on top. The machinery is constantly improving and getting more powerful which means that riders not only have to adjust their machines, but they need to adjust themselves as well. “The mowers get faster and faster and the talent you see on the track increases, too,” Marshall said, “Each year you need more horsepower, driving skills, and riding skills in order to be ready.”
Marshall’s own mower, the “BLACK MAMBA”, is what he would call his “dream” lawn mower. Completed just last year, he has modified it to the point where it is incredibly fast – so fast, in fact, that he actually has to surrender driving it sometimes. Its power is so immense that he opts to let a driver who can “drive it hard”, use it for races. It is a sacrifice he is willing to make in order to show the MAMBA’s capability.
Even so, Marshall can still dominate on the track. In the last year he has had what he calls “a few good races”. One example was a race where he was side-by-side with a racer from California. His competitor hit his front wheel and went airborne, so Marshall ended up winning. He also came in first place on a Labor Day weekend race. As competitors, Marshall said that he admires many of the racers out there. He keeps in touch with his racing friends and loves to learn from them. One such rider is Bob Newman, from the west coast. “I do admire that man,” Marshall said. There is so much to learn and talk about with so many people that it just makes the sport better for him. The camaraderie is what keeps him coming back.
Currently, Marshall owns a large ranch in Oregon where he has plenty of land and livestock. His horses allow him to “pack up and head out for a few days” to hunt and he takes his boat out onto the river to fish. But, his heart is with lawn mower racing. In the upcoming year, he has big plans to travel to race locations around the U.S. and grow the sport even more with his involvement in Sportsman’s Grass Car Racing, Inc. Marshall is most excited about the Western Mower World Series, which is a competition between three different clubs. It is in its second year and provides him with a chance to travel, see old friends, and participate in fun races. On Labor Day, Sportsman’s will even be hosting a night-race under the lights of the track. New venues and new competition keep things fresh.
There is nothing stopping Randy Marshall from doing what he loves and staying true to the competitiveness that is in his blood. “I’m 69 and there are lots of things I can’t do anymore,” he said, “but… I can still race!”
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