43rd running of the Twelve Mile 500 lawn mower race

Here's the pictures I took from this year's 43rd Annual Twelve Mile 500 Lawnmower Race The Peru Tribune :: Peru, Indiana

Wabash Plain Dealer Sports Editor Aaron Turner immersed himself into the competition for the first time this year, and learned what racing is all about - finishing.

Turner couldn't get his machine up to speed early on, but his day really slowed down when he suffered mechanical problems.

"The belt got so hot it melted right off," Turner said. "But (racing) was great. It was a lot of fun."

Turner, who finished 24th, got turned onto the sport by his cousins Todd and Greg Martin.

The native Roann brothers have designed their own course at home, but had varying success.

Todd finished ninth, while Greg had difficulty getting out of the faster racers' way, including his brother, en route to a 20th-place finish.

Midway through the race Todd sent Greg careening into a bale of hay.

"He was going too slow and wouldn't get out of the way," Todd said.

"I gave you the inside," Greg explained in disagreement.

But Greg was not too upset, as he explained the crash as "rubbin's racin'.

Race day doesn't last long

Well, when I last left you, loyal readers, I was struggling to find some speed after qualifying for the 43rd Annual 12 Mile 500.

And, I did. I found a lot of it.