100mph Record Breaking Lawn Mower

See, this is why they keep you on an island. It would seem that some Englishmen decided that what the world needed was not just a riding lawn mower capable of going 100 MPH, but they also want its top speed certified by the Guinness Book of World Records people. Sure, it's good to have goals.

I've known that there has been lawn mower racing for some time. In a certain, hair-brained way, it has a certain appeal. There's different classes, so that gives you room to fiddle, and it's probably pretty cheap too. But like with any form of racing, some one is bound to ask, "Just how fast can one of these go?"

The current answer is 81 mph which was set in 2006 by Bob Cleveland from the USA, but now it looks like a group of British enthusiasts are designing a special lawn mower based on a Countax model and are hoping to break that record by creating the first lawnmower to reach 100mph.

The idea can be blamed on a fellow by the name of Stephen Vokins from the Beaulieu Estate. Yes, that's the same Beaulieu Estate that is generally known for being the home to the National Motor Museum. Guess the Brits aren't as conservative as they'd like some to think.

At the moment, Vokins is blaming his idea on the internet, "I saw a video of American, Bob Cleveland on YouTube setting the record for lawnmowers at an impressive 80.792mph on Bonneville Salt Flats. I was greatly impressed, but felt with the right team, 100mph should be possible," said Vokins.

Vokins continued, "This is a proper record, and building a lawnmower capable of speeds well into 3 figures is no easy feat undertaken in an afternoon. For a start, it still has to be a lawnmower, capable of cutting grass properly. And then it has to obey the laws of physics that will try to stop it going so fast, both through drag and also aerodynamics. There is a real danger that if the aerodynamics are wrong, it will flip up in the air, with disastrous results."

So when does Bob suit up and stand on it? He ain't. That job will go to Don Wales, who, on February 27, 2010 will pilot the modified lawn mower at the Pendine Sands. If Don, Bob and the rest want to be recognized by the folks at Guinness, they will have to show them that it is a proper lawnmower, built by a recognized manufacturer of lawnmowers, uses mostly lawnmower parts, and it has to cut grass on the day of the record.

Source: CarScoop