This “Message From The President” is from the 20th Anniversary Cutting Edge Yearbook, available soon here on LetsMow.com!
20 Years of Sod Slinging. 20 years of Sod Slinging!!! I had to write that twice because I’m still letting that sink in.
I’ve recently been sorting through the vast USLMRA Archives, taking a journey down Memory Lane via newspaper clips, magazines, tapes, posters, flyers and assorted brick-a-brack. Fortunately, I’ve saved everything regarding USLMRA history over the past 20 years, and a photo sampling is included in the 2012 Cutting Edge Yearbook.
So, what memories come to mind? Here are a few:
- The first racing mower I ever saw, at the 1992 Twelve Mile 500.
- The entire first STA-BIL Nationals in 1992 – I remember everything about that weekend.
- The Dixie Chopper Jet Mower on Home Improvement, 1993.
- Mow Camp at the Benton Harbor Airport, 1995.
- Meeting Paul Harvey at Ken Smolecki’s garage, 1994.
- Point Mallard Park, Decatur, Alabama, 1995-1999.
- Mavis and Dink Strunk and Quincy and Tim Hamilton.
- Mendota, Illinois, 1998-2008.
- The British Invasion to Lisle, Illinois, 2000.
- Middletown, Ohio Balloon Festival, with the mower racers and Civil War Reanactors, 1996.
- Bristol Motor Speedway, running on the big track, 2002.
- The 2007 Edenton, NC IMOW race in between Wally Bender and Sid Whiteside. Amazing!
- Sid Whiteside’s Rain Dance, Avon Park, FL 2007.
- The photo finish between Tim Matheny and Jim Miller, 1995 STA-BIL Nationals, Rockford, IL.
- Janet Witt and her courage, along with her “plunging neckline” dress.
- Art Neavill dressed as a Flower Girl.
- Bob Stormer…just Bob Stormer!
- Racing Ray wearing his TNN t-shirt, 1995.
- Hanging with the original USLMRA lawn mower racers: Loco Larry Henning, Flyin’ Dave Brown, Kevin Abernathy, Bill Kroeschel, Greg Baum, Dave Mallas, Kurt Schwengel and Jim Poden.
- Gerry Hoos and the Shelby Mustang Mower Crew, 1993-1995.
- Art Evans, the founder of Dixie Chopper, holding court with the racers.
- Steve Moss!
- Cut Bank Montana: Guy Black, Tom Johnson, Craig Rude, Bob Stormer, 1994-1998.
- Jack Spangler, Mansfield, Ohio, 2002-2006.
- Dave and Yolie Hertel’s reserved spot by the pine tree at STA-BIL Nationals, 2002-2006.
- Art Elsner, Pot Stirrer.
- Kissing the cow at Genoa City, WI races, 2003-2004.
- The Ast family: Tom, Trudy, Kerri, Kyle and Curtis.
- Joe Gillians starting the first USLMRA Local Chapter – Florida Lawnracing Association.
- Ken Jones, who has stood by me through thick and thin since 1998, and he still does.
- My old and new friends in Texas: Cheryl Powell, John and Kathy Nelson, Tim and Patty Robison, Mike and Christina Denbow…Frank Pryor, Charles Powell, Mike Cupps, Garrett Gray, Sammie and Marion Neel.
- Mike and Mary Lou Boris, and their awesome parties at their house – with blues band!
- Dubba G, tabletop dancing, Mansfield, Ohio, 2002.
- George Herrin giving a spare motor to Mike “Gonzo” Leonard at 2003 STA-BIL Nationals.
- Racing in the middle of New York’s Rockefeller Plaza, 2006, with Dave Smith.
- The 2007 New York International Auto Show – DIRTY TURTLES RULE!
- The loooooong Rule-Making Weekends at Bill Simpson’s house, 3rd weekend in November, 1998-2002.
- Doug and Merriane Rogerson and the Drag Racing program.
- Watching Chuck Miller race…for 20 years!
- Filming “How a Combustion Engine Works” with Bobby Cleveland, Mark Boyce and Chuck Miller for Turf Rockets on Discovery Channel, 2002.
- The 1999 trip to England for the 12-Hour Race. Fish and chips at 2:00am; racing, sausage and eggs…racing…racing…cocktails…daylight…Ken Smolecki waving Checkered Flag…sleep!
- Bob “Tiny” Frennesson, from Katy, Texas, and the thousands of miles he travelled each summer to race his mower – “Tiny.”
- Race in Presque Isle, Maine, 1997, meeting Michael Bonville and Tim Ryan.
- The 1999 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway
- Silly String at STA-BIL Nationals Awards Ceremony!
Congratulations to our Award-Winning 2011 Drivers: Wally Bender, Driver of the Year; Ronald Rollman, Most Improved Driver of the Year; John Brewer, Rookie of the Year (Adult); Wyatt Sullivan, Rookie of the Year (Junior Prepared); Jackie Andrews, Dave Hertel Mowtivation Award; Rodney Peeler, Charles Powell Mr. Mowjangles Award; Wally Bender, The Dubba G Everyman Award and Lee Grover, Mace Mullins Crew Chief Award.
What a great 20 years it’s been! Great racing, fun times, awesome people, great products to promote and worthy causes to support. I’ve considered myself so very lucky to be guiding the USLMRA since Day One, and I still feel that way. I am as MOWtivated today as I was on April 1, 1992, our birthday.
Thank you Gold Eagle Co. for allowing us to do what we do and for 20 years of support, encouragement and guidance. You are the BEST!
Even though I could keep writing, I’ll stop now and just say, it’s been a great 20 years, so let’s keep it MOWING!
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