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Racing mowers can reach 100 mph
Larry Sullivan photo
Teammates Bud Karriker (left) with Kenny Karriker (center) and Mike Edwards.
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Published: December 28, 2008
Mooresville's Kenny Karriker and his makeshift crew have caught up to the sport of lawn mower racing — yes, it's a real sport — just as fast on the track as they have off it.
The small outfit with big plans has the trophies, the many mowers, success and almost a cult-like following to show for it.
K2 Racing — in recognition of his initials — made an immediate impact on the scene in just its first full year on the circuit.
Competing in various divisions based on the size of the motors, K2 placed first in one division overall and challenged for another before placing second.
"The first question that I always hear," said Karriker, who partially credits his dad, "Legend" Bud Karriker for getting him steered in the sport's direction, "is 'Can you cut grass with that?' I tell them sure, if you want to do so at say, around 60 miles per hour.
"They just laugh. I had never done this kind of work before either, but I got addicted. I enjoy the competitiveness and the fun of racing lawn mowers."
Despite that "newbie" status tagged to rookies, Karriker and company placed first in the Modified Division and accounted for a second-place finish in the Super Stock Class. The team entered mowers in the two classifications for races held throughout North Carolina and Virginia. It boasted of a number of wins within the divisions throughout the season that only recently came to a close.
For the most part, the mowers used on the dirt tracks look on the outside to be standard machines. Upon closer inspection, it doesn't take long to notice the differences. Engines are rebuilt to certain specifications depending on preferred division of competition. Also, the tires are designed for dirt-track racing.
"These mowers," noted Karriker, looking over an array of models at his team's shop just off N.C. Highway 115 a few miles south of Mooresville, "look like what you'd find in a garage. But some of them can go over 100 miles per hour, depending on the size of the engine."
Karriker and K2 Racing are looking to already expand their operation and field a mower in more divisions following the success during what amounted to just its rookie season on tour.
In addition to the two Karrikers, their team also includes fellow driver Mike Edwards.
Almost from scratch, the outfit secured some mower frames and relied on their experience with lawn mower and go-kart maintenance to get some entries ready for track runs. They crew has even built its own test practice track in order to get the most from its machines.
"We got into it pretty heavy right from the start," stressed Karriker. "If we were going to do this, we were going to do it right."
It showed.
K2 made its presence felt almost from the get-go. In addition to winning races and collecting trophies, the organization has become fan friendly by involving as many fans, especially youngsters, as possible to the scene.
"We like to involve kids in the crowd in our races," revealed Karriker. "We'll pick out a random kid and ride them around the track in a parade lap. We'll even give our trophies to them. It just puts a smile on all their faces."
The races themselves, for the most part, also pay tribute to youth. Many of the events are for charity causes, with proceeds being raised for the likes of St. Jude's Children's Hospital. For the most part, the drivers and teams compete only for trophies and pride.
"There is very little money to be made as far a rewards go," quipped Karriker, making it a point to appreciate all the financial assistance his team receives from its number of sponsors. "We're not in it for that. We do it for the kids. That's what it is all about, at least for me."
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