How to Build a Racing Lawn Mower
If you are interested in competing in a lawn mower racing league, you are probably wondering how to go about building a racing lawn mower. What follows is a simple guide that will help to get you on your way to a speedy lawn mower in no time. Before you begin making alterations to your lawn mower's motor, it is going to be in your best interest to consult with the league you are thinking about joining to find out about the rules and regulations they have for lawn mower motors. This is an important step because you are going to want to take advantage of every possible modification you can make. After all, everybody else in the league is sure to be doing the same thing. Also, you do not want to build a racing lawn mower only to find out that you are disqualified for breaking engine rules.
Open Class
One league that many lawn mower racers follow is the open class rulebook, which means essentially that there is no rulebook and all modifications are allowed. Sometimes, the open class league is also referred to as the "extreme modified" racing lawn mower league. If this is the league you plan on racing in, then the modifications you can make are only limited by your imagination.
Important Modifications to Consider
When building your own racing lawn mower, the areas you are going to want to focus on most are the flywheels, pistons, crankshafts, carburetors, valves, and heads. When constructing your racing lawn mower, always keep in mind that the horsepower and weight ratio is crucial. If your mower's weight is too large, even the added horsepower that comes from it may not be enough to compensate the added stress your motor experiences from a heavy mower.
