Gold Eagle® Co.’s Engine Answerman, and veteran USLMRA Lawn Mower Racer Bobby Cleveland, who set the original land speed record on July 4, 2006 in his 104+® Octane Boost riding lawnmower, has reclaimed his title as the World’s Fastest Lawnmower Driver. During the weekend of Sept. 24-26, Cleveland took back the record with an official speed of 96.529 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.
In May, British driver Don Wales (on behalf on Project Runningblade) took the 2006 title by going 87.833 mph at the Pendine Sands in Wales, UK – beating Cleveland’s original record of 80.792 mph. Cleveland was in attendance to see his record broken, and to cheer on his British counterpart.
It took two days and five runs, but Cleveland was able to ‘smash’ the record Wales set just a few months ago. Unlike in 2006, Cleveland had his own personal pit crew this time around – a few who are members of the United States Lawn Mower Racing Association (USLMRA). Cleveland even cut some grass after the final run, to prove to any doubters that it’s a ‘real’ lawnmower.
“I’ve been waiting four years for this,” said Cleveland. “That’s why I was excited about Project Runningblade’s attempt – it gave me an excuse to come back to the Salt Flats. I was hoping we would get my machine up to 100mph, or even 104, but 96 mph is still a record and pretty fast on a lawnmower – it scared me so good! I couldn’t have done it without my team.”
Cleveland’s Crew consisted of USLMRA Vice President Kerry Evans, USLMRA Hall of Fame Driver Chuck Miller, and 2008 USLMRA Driver of the Year Pat “Rocket Man” Sullivan.
You can find Bobby on Twitter and Facebook!
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