Lifesaving Lawnmowers

This is one of the many interesting press releases to arrive in my inbox;

SAVING LIVES THROUGH LAWN MOWER RACING:

ZION NOSTALGIA DAYS HOSTS DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER AT

FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND MOW DOWN

Glenview, IL – (June 8, 2009) –Lawn mower racers from across the country will converge on Chicagoland for two days of sod slinging action as the at the United States Lawn Mower Racing Association (USLMRA) presents the STA-BIL Nostalgia Days Classic Friday-Saturday, June 19-20, 6:30 pm at Shiloh Park, 2500 Dowie Memorial Drive, in Zion, IL.

A feature of the weekend will be the ongoing filming of a lawn mower racing documentary. On Your Mark, Get Set, MOW: A Story of Hope, Redemption and Lawn Mower Racing being filmed, produced and directed by Mike Ratel, an independent filmmaker from Washington, DC. Ratel has followed the sport for two years and is currently in production of a documentary film which will tell the story of how lawn mower racing is being used to raise research funds and awareness of Huntington’s disease.

“Can lives be saved through lawn mower racing?” asked Ratel. “The lawn mower racing Mikula family of Sparta Michigan hopes so. The Mikula family has lost five members of their family to Huntington’s disease, a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder.

“Every year in Sparta the Mikula family organizes a United States Lawn Mower Racing Association national points race to raise funds for and awareness of the disease,” added Ratel. “Congressman Bob Filner of San Diego has appeared on camera for the documentary film as he has introduced the Huntington’s disease Act of 2009 (HR 678) which if passed will eliminate the two year wait that those diagnosed with the disease currently have to wait before they get Medicare benefits. The efforts of those campaigning members of Congress to co sponsor the bill will be documented in the film. During the time I’ve worked on this film, I’ve discovered that there is much more to the sport of lawn mower racing than winning and losing. There are racers who have redeemed their lives though the sport and those who have had the satisfaction of using the sport to raise money to fight diseases such as Huntington’s.”

Another highlight of the weekend will be the appearance of Bobby Cleveland, the Engine AnswerMan who set the World Land Speed Record of 80.792 mph on a lawn mower at the Bonneville Salt Flats (2006) and is the builder/driver of the world’s first Monster Mower. The Monster Mower will lead the Classic Car Cruise down Sheridan Road at 4:00pm on Saturday, June 20.

The races are hosted by Nostalgia Days which includes an antique and custom car show, a Friday night 60’s party, cruise down Sheridan Road, movies, a carnival and family entertainment. Events are free and open to the public.

The USLMRA sanctions and presents organized lawn mower racing across America including the 18-race STA-BIL National Lawn Mower Racing Series and a network of 42 Local Chapters and Affiliated Clubs hosting more than 140 sanctioned races nationwide.

Races feature riding lawn mowers with cutting blades removed at speeds up to 60 mph. Lawn mowers race in four road course classes with all cutting blades removed: Stock (8 mph), IMOW (20 mph), Prepared (50 mph) and Factory Experimental (60 mph). USLMRA lawn mower racing is featured on the Outdoor Channel and Speed TV.

Fore more information visit letsmow.com