Howard County Fairgrounds Holds Lawnmower Obstacle Course

HOWARD COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- We'll just say you have to see it to believe it. Photographer Eric Kettering literally ran into this story.

Mike Schuh has more on the zero-turn lawnmower obstacle course at the Howard County Fairgrounds.

There are three identical courses at the fairgrounds and 70 drivers searching for glory. There's a capacity crowd, as well as real stickers, real numbers and nearly professional drivers.

The judges are trained and in place.

There are professional machines, plastic stopwatches, real white boards and genuine mowing obstacles.

If you work sloppy, you get a penalty.

At these speeds, the front wheels barely touch the ground.

"Some of them, you think they ought to go out and have another beer and watch," said one viewer.

Rookie Camilla Powell's Nomex flip-flops and pink uniform cause opponents to tremble.

"I think I'm ready. I barrel race in the rodeo with horses," Powell said.

Brock Richardson won. In perfect NASCAR fashion, he tried to do burnouts and climb the catch fence all in one move.

The winner won $300. This is the fourth year for that event at the Howard County Fair.