A Unique Motoring Event in Yaamba Raceway
Yaamba Raceway is a long way from Bathurst’s Mount Panorama. Located about half an hour north of Rockhampton and “behind the servo,” it is home to one of the country’s most unique motoring events. The 2026 All Australian Mower Racing Championships took place over three days, drawing competitors ready to race around a track on refurbished ride-on mowers.
Emily Butcher from Townsville is years away from having a learner’s permit, but that hasn’t stopped the 11-year-old from hitting the dirt. “I think it’s really fun how it’s really loud and powerful, it’s really fast!” she said. Emily is one of more than 100 racers who came from across the country to race, refusing to let rising fuel prices slow them down.
Organiser Tarm Booy said the community and camaraderie kept people coming back. “We’re 99 per cent social and one per cent racing,” she said. “Everybody has pitched in. It doesn’t matter what club, what state, what type of mower you’ve got. If someone can help you out, that’s the mower family. We help out.”
The Birth of a Sport
Lawn mower racing is thought to have begun in Australia in the 1980s. The tale goes that a booze-fueled argument at a Victorian country pub led a group of friends racing their lawn mowers around the local hills. Nowadays, blades are removed, engines upgraded, and the mower exterior is customised to fit the racer. Some vehicles reportedly hit speeds of up to 100 kilometres an hour.
John Brose from Tasmania has been racing for nine years and said part of the sport’s appeal is how little it costs to become involved. “It’s much cheaper than doing the car racing and the bikes,” he said. “When you’ve got a wife and things they go ‘let’s keep the prices down’.” His mower is named The High Chair because it sits a little further off the ground. Mr Brose said it was a sport you could race anywhere in the world and always find people to talk to. “Each and every one of them, in the places I’ve been to, have accepted me,” he said.
The Mower Family
For Andrew Dalley, the mower racing community gave him comfort as he mourned the death of a close friend. Mr Dalley travelled from New Zealand to the event to honour Ken, a fellow racer, who passed away recently. “I can talk to the guys over here, they know him, they know how I feel, it’s just a good family,” he said.
Bill Vaughan is a member of the Fraser Coast club and drew loud cheers as he raced in his bright yellow mower. The 94-year-old calls himself a “1932 model” and caught the need for speed later in life. “My partner passed away, had a loss, so I joined up a couple of men’s sheds and got into the mower racing,” he said. “Best thing I ever did.”
A Growing Community
The mower racing community continues to grow, bringing together people from all walks of life. Whether it’s a young enthusiast like Emily, a seasoned racer like John, or someone seeking solace like Andrew, the sport offers something for everyone. The sense of belonging and shared passion is what keeps participants coming back year after year.
From the excitement of the races to the friendships formed, mower racing is more than just a sport—it’s a family. The event at Yaamba Raceway showcases the dedication and enthusiasm of those involved, proving that even the simplest machines can create the most memorable experiences.
