• Who's Who?

    So Who Does What For The BLMRA?
    Below is brief outline of those involved in the organisation of the sport. The British Lawn Mower Racing Association (BLMRA) is managed by a committee and elected by the members. Each Committee Member has a role to play in the running of the club.
    We also have a President, Pete. We also bestow the title of Honourable Vice President to those who have given long service and dedication the BLMRA. Some still play a part in running the sport.

     

    Club Founder and Former President  - Jim Gavin

    I have been involved in motorsport for most of my life, mainly long-distance rallies.
    In the early ‘70s, with the arrival of commercial sponsorship, all types of sport became more and more expensive, especially motorsport. So, a small group of us, in the Cricketer’s Arms Pub, in Wisborough Green, thought of racing lawnmowers, but with no commercialism or cash prizes. The idea took off like wildfire and today it is more popular than ever, and it’s still possibly the world’s
    lowest-cost motorsport!

    President - Pete Hammerton

    I am the Proprietor / Director of a specialist engineering company in Billingshurst.


    Originally I was just a keen spectator and first got really involved at the 1978 - 12 hour race in as a mechanic for the successful first Cricketers Arms Team, in other words dragged over the fence into the pits to provide urgent mechanical help – and that’s another story!
    I was then elected onto the first race committee in 1980 and started helping Jim Gavin, our Founder with the 12 hour race in 1982. I was elected committee Chairman in 1996 and held the post for 17 years. In 2008, I considered retiring, but was appointed Vice President before I could.
    When Jim retired 2016, I was very proud to be appointed President and vowed to continue with Jim’s vision of the sport. Since 2003, in partnership with Pete Longley, have been organising the annual BLMRA War Trips. And finally, although I’ve built a quite few, I’ve never actually raced a Lawn Mower, but the sport has been my life’s hobby and I love it!

     

     

    Chairman / Group 2 Representative - Ian Ratcliff

    I am a garden contractor

    I was introduced to mower racing after seeing racing at The Big Field at Dorking in June 1981. I entered my first race in October with my 2 brothers running behind a group 1 mower. I returned in 1982 for my first 12 Hour on a Group 2. Although it was tiring it was nowhere near as bad as group 1. I was then hooked. My role on the committee amongst other things will be to represent the group 2 racers.

     

     

    Technical & Homologation - Charlie Gould

    CAA Licensed Avionics engineer for Virgin Atlantic.

    I look after the equipment, the trailer and our store. I also take the BLMRA trailer to most meetings. I am also responsible for Technical and Homologation. I started lawnmower racing around 34 years ago in Group1. After a break of 2-3 years I built a Gp2, which was the start of "Red Robin Racing". We raced in this group for a few years. Eventually I retired from group 2 and went to group 3 with a Lawnbug, race number 24 AKA "Piston Broke Racing". In 2000 I stopped racing after our trip to the USA, but I still can't bring myself to sell the mower. I joined the committee in 1990.

     

     

    Group 2 Representative, Club Safety Officer - Graham Tibbenham

    Electrical, Control & Instrumentation Engineer

    On moving from Gloucestershire to Kent I realised that I no longer had the time or space to continue racing Bangers and Reliant Robins as I had for 10 years or so. After a bit of a break I started to crave motorsport and remembered that crazy lot I had seen racing mowers at a steam fair. I built my Group 2 during the 2016 season and haven’t looked back! Since then I have raced in France, the USA and on a frozen lake in Finland. Realising I had found more than just a sport, I joined the committee in 2018 to try to give something back. Mower racing is the best stupid idea I’ve had in years.

     

     

    Events Coordinator / Group 3/4 Representative - Richard Atherton

    Richard Atherton- Events Coordinator

    Director of Atherton’s Construction Ltd

    My first taste of mower racing was in 2003 and 2004 in the 12 hour at Brinsbury College where I raced in Group 3. After a number of years away from the track, I dragged the racing mower out of the brambles, dusted down the helmet and gave racing another go- I haven’t looked back since.

    I’ve taken part in races in Finland and France amongst the various races held here in the UK, and was thrilled to win a 6hr in group 3 at the NWLMRA two years in a row. More recently I have built a group 4 mower from scratch for endurance racing and spend most of my spare time tinkering around with the mowers or contributing to the committee’s role in arranging these events- my partner to claim she is now a ‘lawnmower widow’!

     

    Technical and Homologation / Group 3 Representative - Les Pantry 

    Aeronautical Engineer
     
    I built my first mower a Group 2 for £23 in 1992 but was soon converted to Group 3 Westwood Lawn Bug which i helped to develop it to what it is today.  in the late 90's i retired from racing but kept my hand in building Group 2 & 4. I started racing again part time in 2007 on a Group 4 while building another Lawn Bug, & started my first full season in 2010, best achievements 4th in the British & World Championships I joined the committee in 2013

     

    Technical and Homologation - Mark Thurston

    Self employed car mechanic
     
    I started out as a mechanic for a local lawn mower racing team and progressed in to racing in 2009. I race a Group 4 tractor with varying levels of success. The highlight was being part of the 2013 group 4 endurance championship winning team. I was elected on to the committee in 2015. 

     

    Events Coordinator - Peter Reeves (Pugs)

    Car Mechanic
     
    I first started lawnmower racing in the pits at a 12 hour and loved it. I then decided with a friend we would build a group 4 together. We have won a few races including group 4 endurance championship in 2013. I have been lucky enough to travel with the sport to the f1, poland and finland. And you will soon know who I am as I talk a lot!

     

     

    Child Liason Officer / Events Coordinator - Vicky Reeves

    Service manager for a heating company

    I was first introduced to lawnmower racing around 11 years ago, when my then newly established boyfriend now husband, decided it would be a great idea to wake up at the crack of dawn to watch various types of lawnmower cross the finish line at Brinsbury College for the annual 12 hour race event. From then on I have been chief cheerleader with many of the other wives, partners and children that attend the race events throughout the season. I thoroughly enjoy the community spirit of the club, come rain or shine!

     

     

    Technical & Homologation / Group 3 Representative - Stuart Johnson 

    Vehicle technician. 

    I went along to the 12hr in 2008 as a spectator and enjoyed it so much I decided to build a group 3 mower over that winter and started racing the following year . 

    I have been lucky enough to race a mower in Finland, the USA, Germany and Luxembourg . After many years of racing I won the British group 3 championship. I have had some mixed results at endurance Racing with the best being winning the 12hr race in Finland.  I enjoy all the aspects of lawnmower racing from tinkering with mowers to meeting great people . I joined the committee in 2017 . 

     

    Website / Group 4 Representative - Carl Williams

    IT Architect and Part time DJ. 

    My dad raced group 2 in the 1980's, so naturally I wanted to race.... Group 4! Started racing a group 4 back in 2003 on a Westwood Gazelle, then built my current Western Auto Wizard in 2005 and have raced that ever since. Overall winner at the 6hr in 2005 with podiums at 6hr and 12hr races since. Have travelled to Belgium and Finland to race mowers on a street circuit and a frozen lake. Joined the committee in 2018.
     

     

    Honourable Vice Presidents Present and (Past)

    Nick Sergeant

    (Stan Cooper)

    Simon Haysom

    Dick Greengrass

    Howard Annett

    Chris Burrough MBE

    Mark Akeroyd

    Chris Glanville-Brown

    Colin Clegg

    Chris Johnson

    Mick Levey

    Dave Pattison

    Pete Austin

    Andy Stemp

    Pete Longley

    Hans Odoerfer

    (Tracy Mckay)

    Ian Tanswell

    Dean Fuller

    Steve Fielder

    Jim Hammerton

    (Jason Kanabus)

    Mick Hills

    Colin Fox

    Mark Constanduros

    Mark Jaffe

    Andrew Ashworth

    Simon Funnell