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  • Tim Harris (right), a member of the West Edgecombe Ruritans, helps Chad Marshall of Fairfield gear up his lawnmower, "Mama's Money," for a pulling competition Saturday night. The Ruritans' lawnmower pull was the first of its kind in the county.

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September 25, 2012

Lawnmower pull offers family fun

Staff Writer MIRANDA BAINES

TARBORO — Hearing the cheering and revving of engines and seeing the hundreds of cars parked on North Carolina Highway 43 North near Rocky Mount Saturday night, it would’ve been hard for a passerby not to stop and see what was happening.

The event drawing an estimated crowd of 2,000 in the rural community was the West Edgecombe Ruritans’ first lawnmower pull.

“This is fantastic. This is wild,” said Leigh Waters, wife of B.G. Waters, who pulled his “Boss Hogg” mower in the event.

“There’s kids, there’s male, female [out here,]” said Tim Harris, a Ruritan member. “We wanted a family atmosphere.”

Marsha Jones of Hertford said she liked Saturday’s event because it was “more family-oriented” than a tractor pull. (No alcoholic beverages were allowed at the event). Jones attends lawnmower pulls across the state with her boyfriend, Jeffrey Wilson, who pulled his mowers “Hare Raiser” and “My Addiction” in Saturday’s competition.

Lonnie McGary of Temperance Hall said he was glad to see so many young people at Saturday’s event, adding the Ruritans “want to show teenagers that there’s more to life than video games.”

He was thrilled to be a first-time spectator at the lawnmower pull.

“I’ve been to regular tractor pulls and truck pulls, but this is awesome. This just takes it all,” said McGary. “I’m glad I showed up tonight.”

Cole Jernigan, 12, of Rocky Mount, was one of the youngsters who competed in the lawnmower pull. Wearing a helmet, neon shirt and his game face, Jernigan pulled a 12-horsepower stock mower owned by Bonnie Waters through the arena.

“He’s always been on the farm, on the tractor,” said Cole’s father Jason Jernigan.

Joseph Edwards Jr., 15, of Chocowinity, geared up his John Deere mower for the pull.

“I’ve been in it [pulling] since I was 13,” said Edwards. He said he got into the sport in part because he “didn’t want to be like other people.” He enjoys the non-traditional sport so much that he and his father have plans to start a lawnmower-pulling track in their hometown.

Edwards’ friend Buddy Lilley of Bell Haven pulled his “Cold as Ice” mower in Saturday’s pull. Lilley said his 8 and 10-year-old daughters are interested in the sport, as well.

“My girls pull about every weekend that I pull,” he said.

While the sounds of engines revving at Saturday’s event was reminiscent of a NASCAR circuit, lawnmower pulling is what Harris described as “an anybody sport.” It doesn’t require professional driving skills or fancy cars.

“Guys can work on this stuff in their backyards, in their shops,” said Harris.

Judging from the success of Saturday’s lawnmower pull, Harris said the Ruritans hopes to host more lawnmower pulls in the future.

“We’re pleased with the turnout,” he said. “We started barrel racing out here the end of last year. We had guys interested in a lawnmower pull, so we put it together for them.”

Participants in Saturday’s lawnmower pull competed in several classes: Jr., belt driven, v-twin, stock-altered, modified and 10, 12, 12 and 16-horsepower stock single. Trophies were awarded to the first and second place pulls in each category.









 

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