Maverick Race Rules
The Maverick Lawn Mower Racing Association (MLMRA) is an organization designed for lawn mower racers by lawn mower racers. This sport provides racers, their families and friends the opportunity to get involved with competitive racing that is affordable.
This rulebook provides the standards that regulate the operations within MLMRA. Maintaining safe, competitive racing is the primary purpose of this document and with the cooperation of all members, we can collectively keep this sport as it was intended, FUN.
A lot of time, and energy have been spent on mower fabrication, engine building, and traveling to and from race venues. Keep that in mind when racing and race clean and safe. Although mishaps will happen from time to time on the track, let’s look out for each other and keep ourselves and our mowers in the same conditions when we started the race as when we leave.
1. On Track Regulations
Completing a safe pass is the responsibility of the overtaking driver. This means if you initiate a pass and during execution you realize you cannot complete the pass in a safe manner then it is up to the overtaking driver to return to a safe position on the track while avoiding contact with other racers. You will gain more respect by taking yourself out then placing the other racers in an unsafe situation causing personal injury and mower damage.
a. If you are being overtaken by another racer and it is clear that they are much faster make room for the overtaking racer and let them pass.
b. Blocking is part of racing but not to the point where it causes a crash.
c. The racer that causes an incident will restart the race at the end of the field. This
will be determined by the track officials.
d. Flags will be used to communicate to the racers the following on track conditions:
1) Green: The race/practice is underway when displayed.
2) Yellow: CAUTION, DANGER. No passing on the entire track and the drivers will form a single line at a safe pace speed and close up to the leader and follow the starter’s directions.
3) Yellow & White: The field is not bunched up for restart. If this is displayed, close it up.
4) Red: Stop all racing action immediately and shut off your engine. This flag is used in emergency situations where personal injury has occurred or the track is blocked.
5) Black: This for driver or equipment infractions. A furled black flag is a warning to a driver to clean up his/her act or receive the full black flag indicating he/she needs to exit the track.
6) White: One lap to go. Crossed white and green indicates race is halfway complete.
7) Checkered: End of race or practice session. Winner may choose to make a victory lap with the checkered flag. The remaining drivers will complete the lap and safely exit the track to the pit area.
e. If you leave the course during the race re-enter the track as close as possible to the exiting point. Exiting the course and reentering in order to gain position will result in the driver being placed at the rear of the field.
f. If the mower stalls move the mower to a safe place at least 10 feet off course.
2. Pit Area and Track Regulations
a. No person under 14 years of age shall be on the grid. Those 14 years of age and older are permitted with an approved parents consent form on file.
b. Long pants, closed shoes and shirts are required in the track area.
3. Driver Eligibility
a. Drivers must be at least 14 years of age. Drivers under 18 years of age may compete with the approved parent’s consent form on file.
4. Safety Equipment
a. Every driver must wear an automobile racing or motorcycle-type full-face helmet approved by the U. S. Department of Transportation or the Snell Foundation.
b. The helmet must fit snugly and be securely buckled when driver is on the track.
c. All drivers must wear long pants, long sleeved shirt, full-fingered gloves and leather over the ankle footwear on the track. Chest protectors and other
anti-abrasive suits are highly recommended. No loose clothing on the track.
5. Mower Eligibility
a. Events are open to all riding type lawn mowers and garden tractors (with tires 20” or less) that were mass-produced and commercially available to mow residential lawns. Zero turn riders are not permitted. The mower may be modified from its original configuration as noted in section 7 General Mower Specifications
b. Organizers reserve the right to reject at any time any mower, which in their opinion, represents an attempt to defeat the spirit of these rule, even though it
complies with the letter of them.
7. General Mower Specifications-
a. Cutting decks must be removed.
b. Mowers must maintain a minimum of 4” of ground clearance under the lowest point of the frame. Unused brackets and non-structural material may be removed
to gain clearance.
c. Exhaust design is open, but must terminate away from the driver and competitors, in a rearward and downward direction without creating a safety hazard.
d. Starter and functional battery must be on board.
e. Kill switch lanyard length shall be as short as necessary to effectively stop the mower as quickly as possible. Lanyard length shall not exceed 40”. This device
must be commercially available for racing and/or recreational vehicles such as ATVs, jet skis snowmobiles, etc. Homemade and/or magnetic switches are not
allowed.
f. Brakes may be hydraulic or mechanical.
g. Throttle and brake control may be relocated.
h. Drive line may be modified from the engine pulley to the rear wheels. All classes must use a shiftable lawnmower transmission or transaxle. vari-drives may be used if originally equipped.
i. No centrifugal or torque converter clutches permitted.
j. Rear axle may use open differential, locked, live or solid axle. No single wheel drive.
k. Wheels must be the same size on each axle, of any origin, but made of metal. Duel or tandem wheels are forbidden.
l. Front axle and steering may be modified or fabricated. Front axles may be pinned, bolted or welded into place. No suspension allowed.
m. All steering linkage must be ball-type or spherical threaded rod ends.
n. Footholds and seat side boosters must be minimally designed so as not to entangle body parts.
o. All steering and wheel retention fasteners should terminate with locking nuts, castellated nuts with cotter pins, washers with new cotter pins, shaft locks,
or locking bolts.
p. Mowers may reach a maximum width of 38” sidewall to sidewall.
q. Carburetors must be of lawnmower origin and from the same manufacturer as the engine block.
r. Mowers may only operate on pump gasoline.
s. All engines must be naturally aspirated.
t. Tires must be lawn tractor tires or snowblower tires..
u. Substituted steering wheels are permitted. They may not be mounted offset unless originally mounted offset. Steering “wheel” consists of a 360 degree
circular device. This wheel may not be pegged or have steering devices attached to them. Hand throttle and brake controls are permitted.
v. All positively charged terminals must be insulated with a cover or heavy tape. Battery must be well secured on the mower.
w. Seats must be present and of lawn mower origin.
x. Seats may be adjusted more towards the front or rear of the mower along the center line to help achieve better weight balance for handling.
y. The lowest portion of the seat pan should not be mounted lower than the top of the rear tires.
z. All mowers must have a functioning mechanical clutch. No chain drive from engine to transmission is allowed.
8. Mower Requirements and Designations
· Must be a full-size lawnmower with a 39” unaltered wheelbase, front engine origin, stamped steel frame, and have a steering column located behind the
motor.
· Mowers will use a governed engine with a 3650 RPM maximum.
· Motors may be any single or twin-cylinder valve-in-block (flathead) or overhead valve (ohv) engines 20 horsepower maximum in the
original factory location.
· The engine must be as delivered from the factory, internally and externally, with only the following exceptions; air cleaner, air filter or velocity stack,
open exhaust and the removal of the debris screen covering the flywheel.
· Transmission or transaxle must be shiftable and of lawnmower origin. Vari-drives are permitted if original equipment. Transmission must be in it’s original position
· Discreet frame strengthening is allowed. The front axle may be reinforced, substituted or fabricated. Racer-fabricated axles will be reviewed by the
Tech Inspector to determine their apparent safety for racing. Aluminum is not permitted as the material for the axle.
· Front spindles are to be a minimum of 5/8” in diameter.
· Metal rims are to be used both front and rear. Rim size will be 4” diameter minimum in the front and 8” diameter maximum in the rear. Rear rims may be reinforced on the inside.
MLMRA Point Structure
Points are given to the mower, not
the driver. If a driver cannot make it to a race, someone may run his/her mower
for his/her points in order to remain in the running for the end-of-year
points. If the driver starts on one mower, he will receive points for that
mower. If that mower breaks down, the points do not follow with to the feature
for using a borrowed mower.
Point Values:
1 point for registration/show
|
Heat
Points |
|
Feature
Points |
||
|
1st |
10 |
1st |
10 |
|
|
2nd |
9 |
2nd |
8 |
|
|
3rd |
8 |
3rd |
7 |
|
|
4th |
7 |
4th |
6 |
|
|
5th |
6 |
5th |
5 |
|
|
6th |
5 |
6th |
4 |
|
|
7th |
4 |
7th |
3 |
|
|
8th |
3 |
8th |
2 |
|
|
9th |
2 |
9th |
2 |
|
|
10th |
1 |
10th |
2 |
|
No points
given for dash or classic. Money payment for dash gets distributed to top 3
drivers (50-30-20 split)
after end-of-year payment is taken from
pot. Exceptions when city/function donates more money.