Lawn mower racing returns to Ellerbe

By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com

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* Previous coverage
July 14: Lawn mower racing set to return to Ellerbe
June 17: ‘Misunderstanding’ led to suspension
June 14: Lions Club suspends racing indefinitely
May 25: It’s loud and it’s fast

ELLERBE — For Tim and Haleigh Emmett, there was something special in the air as they walked around the Ellerbe Lions Club Speedway.

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com Turn 2 on the Ellerbe Lions Club Speedway proves to be a bit of a wheel-raising experience.

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Turn 2 on the Ellerbe Lions Club Speedway proves to be a bit of a wheel-raising experience.

But it had nothing to do with a return of lawn mower racing for the first night of lawn mower racing since activity was canceled on June 14. Instead, the Laurinburg couple was simply taking in a new experience, something the northern transplants had never before seen.

“We just heard about it from a coworker of mine,” said Tim, who works in Bennettsville, S.C. “We thought we’d check it out.

Haleigh, a Scotland County teacher, said the couple moved to North Carolina from New York two years ago and they had “never” even heard of lawn mower racing.

“It was fun,” Haleigh said in between bites of a funnel cake. “I think we’d come again.”

Tim said the couple is “always up for trying something different, trying new things.”

It was new for the Emmetts, but locals knew Saturday meant much more than just another Saturday night in Ellerbe as lawn mower racing returned to the Ellerbe Lions Club Speedway more than two months after being suspended due to issues between former track manager Kermit Perkins and Lions Club officials. Perkins now manages lawn mower racing operations in Marston.

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com These South Carolina drivers compete in their mini-cup machines to the delight of the crowd Saturday night in Ellerbe.

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
These South Carolina drivers compete in their mini-cup machines to the delight of the crowd Saturday night in Ellerbe.

Racing was set to return two weeks ago but rain washed out that plan. On Saturday, though, competitors signed up and spectators lined the fence around the track for the first race since racing was suspended on June 14. Events included youth and open lawn mower competition, mini-cup racing, a Power Wheels race for younger children and an open footrace, shoes optional, for older children.

Kris Williams and Cory Quick, of Ellerbe, knew all about the suspension and racing’s return. Williams said he counts both Perkins and the new managers of the Lions Club Speedway racing, Wayne Taylor and Rex Crouch Jr., as good people. Williams said they all go way back — it’s a small community — and he supports both groups.

“I enjoy it,” said Williams, who seemed itching to be out on the racetrack himself Saturday night but his mowers not yet ready. “I’m glad it’s here.”

Future race dates include Sept. 6, Sept. 20, Oct. 4, Oct. 18 and Nov. 1. Gates open at 2 p.m., practice laps are allowed from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and racing begins at 6 p.m.

Results

 

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com Turn 2 again. Wheels up.

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Turn 2 again. Wheels up.

Kids Class 
1-Andrew Faircloth 
2-Kole Dutton
3-Dexter Jones

Stock
1-Simon Langley
2-Gene Lewis
3-Jimmy Cobbler

Ungovern
1-Damen Jones
2-Mitchell Pankey
3-Thomas Thompson

SP
1-Randy Perez
2-Charles Ford
3-Dean Buck

 

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com

Stock V Twin
1-Derrick Robinson
2-Cori Cox
3-Brett Caruth

BP
1-Derrick Robinson
2-Steve Morris
3-Daniel Crouch

Super Mod
1-Andy Clabough
2-Randy Perez
3-Derrick Robinson

Cars
1-Drew Clabough
2-Taylor Clabough

Filed in: Latest Headlines, Outdoors, Sports

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