Twelve Mile 500 Rules
The Twelve Mile Lions Club will hold (2) feature races on the afternoon of July 4th. Each race will consist of a maximum of 33 mowers traveling (60) laps around a 1/4 mile track covering a distance of 15 miles. The following rules and specifications are to insure that only SAFE lawn mowers are eligible to compete, that driver and spectator safety are assured, and that the races remain a fun event for all. The first race will be for 4-cycle “Briggs” type powered lawn mowers only. The second race is open to all “Modified” engine types. All entries must comply with the following rules, and will need to pass inspection on qualification day and/or race day. Failure for mowers/drivers to comply with any of the rules listed below will be subject to re-inspection and/or disqualification from all race events.1. All entries must be factory built riding lawnmowers with a wheelbase not exceeding 48”. A maximum width of 36”, and a minimum seat height of 14”. Measurement is from underside of seat to ground. All mowers are required to have a working tether (kill) switch, mounted on the chassis of the mower, which must kill the engine if the driver is thrown from the machine. In addition, all mowers must have a “dead man” throttle that will bring the mower engine to an idle should the driver be thrown off.
2. All mowers must have brakes capable of locking the wheels with the driver in place. Steering will not be allowed to have excessive play and must be capable of guiding the mower. Steering and brakes will be inspected prior to qualification and is left up to the discretion of safety inspection personnel.
3. The mowing unit, or deck as it is sometimes referred to, may be removed.
4. Each driver shall have an assigned number painted or taped in 8” high BLACK OR RED numbers on a WHITE square plate or board mounted to the front AND front left side of the mower. The bottom of the number plates may be no less than 14” from the ground. Drivers/pit crew are responsible for keeping these number plates clean and visible throughout the feature races so lap judges can track your number of laps quickly and easily. A penalty may be assessed for failure to comply.
5. Each main event driver must be at least 12 years of age (proof of age may be required). Each mower entry fee is 40.00, and includes race T-shirts (driver and pit crew). Entry fees must be paid prior to practice and qualification attempts and are non-refundable. Drivers and pit crewmembers will also be required to pay the general admission fee at the park entrance on race day.
6. The pit crew is limited to two (2) people. Crewmembers are required to stay on the outside of the pit area in the designated observation area while their driver is on the track. Crewmembers are allowed to leave the observation area only when they are servicing their mower. Crewmembers may also help their driver push a disabled mower from the track back to the pit area for servicing. This must be done quickly and carefully, as mowers will be running at full speed on the track.
7. Each driver is required to wear a helmet (motorcycle type) during practice, qualification runs and the main event(s). The drivers assigned number must be placed on both sides of the helmet in large legible print for the main event.
8. There are no restrictions on the amount of fuel a mower may have in the tank at any given time. Each driver is responsible for bringing the necessary amount of fuel with him/her to complete the race. All fuel needs to be kept in an approved container at the pit stall.
9. All disabled mowers MUST be pushed back to their specific pit stall before any repairs are attempted. If a mower should run out of gas during the race, and the driver wishes to continue competition, the driver and/or pit crew must push the mower back to their pit stall before adding fuel. Mowers may be pushed back to the pit area taking the shortest route possible, provided there is no interference with the race. Violators will be assessed a penalty.
10. A 15 mile per hour speed limit will be enforced throughout the entire race. Speeding penalties will be assessed.
11. Each mower must make a minimum of three (3) pit stops over the course of the race. Mowers will not be allowed to pit until the pace car has exited the track. At each pit stop, the driver must kill the engine, dismount and stand beside the machine. Fuel may only be added after engine has been shut down.
12. No alcoholic beverages will be allowed on the track or in the pit area at any time during qualification day or race day. Consumption of alcoholic beverages during these events by drivers or crewmembers will result in immediate disqualification.
13. All entries are required to have an operable fire extinguisher with gauge at their designated pit stall at all times during the race rated for the type of fuel used in their mower. Fire extinguishers must be in place prior to start of race. Pit officials will check for compliance of this rule prior to the mandatory pre-race meeting held in the pit area.
14. No participants will be allowed the use of two-way radios during the race.
15. Mowers are to be operated on the racetrack only. Participants who drive mowers in other areas of the park may be disqualified for failure to comply. Spectator safety is very important to us.
16. Penalties in the form of a “black flag” will be assessed for the following violations: cutting through the infield grass, exceeding the speeding limit, reckless driving, passing during a yellow flag, blocking and un-sportsman like conduct. Drivers who receive a black flag will be directed to a penalty lane and will not receive a lap counted.
17. A Maximum of three (3) penalties can be issued to a mower. A fourth penalty will result in the participant’s mower being disqualified from the race and they may be asked to remove it from the track area.
18. A brief pre-race meeting will be held in the pit area prior to each race. At this time all mowers should be at their designated pit stall as well as all mandatory safety equipment. Driver and pit crew attendance to this meeting is mandatory.
19. All drivers must supply (1) lap judge, 18 years of age or older, to judge their mower during the race. The Twelve Mile Lions Club will not be responsible for obtaining a racer’s lap judge. If a driver fails to provide his/her own lap judge, he/she will not be allowed to participate.
20. The first mower to complete sixty (60) laps under its own power will be declared the winner of the event. After the checkered flag has been dropped for the winner, all other mowers will be directed off the track to the pit area by a black flag.
21. The decisions of the lap judge official will be final pertaining to final standings. These decisions will be based on: lap records, penalty records, and pit records.
22. Abusive language by drivers or pit crew toward other drivers and pit crew or race officials will not be tolerated. Offenders will be ejected from the park with no re-entry permitted.
23. Unofficial standings will be announced approximately one (1) hour after completion of each race. Official results will be announced via local newspapers.
24. Pole positions will be awarded to the fastest qualifier on qualification day. The fastest qualifiers for each race who then go on to participate in the feature will receive $50.00.
24. Prize monies will be distributed as follows by final standings for each race:
- TBA & Plaque
- Second place $80.00
- Third place $70.00
- Fourth place $60.00
- Fifth place $50.00
- Sixth place $40.00
- Seventh place $30.00
- Eighth place $25.00
- Ninth place $20.00
- Tenth place $15.00
25.Safety flagmen will be stationed at various points on the inside of the track during the race. These officials will carry a yellow caution flag and will point to and wave the flag at any driver whom the judge deems driving with disregard to the safety of others which include, but not limited to: blocking, cutting through the infield grass, failure to slow down when the yellow flag is out, passing during a yellow flag condition, and un-sportsman like conduct. Should this warning go unheeded, a penalty in the form of a black flag will result. A red flag situation means stop immediately.
26.The 32 fastest mowers having properly qualified for the race will be eligible to run on race day. 33rd position will be filled race day for both feature events. A driver may have only one (1) mower qualified at any one time per event. Drivers will not be allowed to switch from their mower to another mower even if it is a qualified machine. Drivers may switch with their pit crew personnel as long as all safety gear is also switched, including helmet with correct side numbers in place, so mower gets proper credit for laps completed. If in either event the field is not filled with 32 drivers on qualification day, drivers entering the race on race day will be given placement on a first come first serve basis after mower has passed inspection. 33rd position on race day will only be filled by qualifying if there are more than a total of 33 drivers wishing to enter per race.
27.Entries with fewer than (3) official attempts and failed to qualify before race day will be eligible for a starting spot on a first come first serve basis on race day. Drivers may only attempt three (3) qualification runs on qualification day. Drivers who want an additional three (3) attempts on qualification day can pay another entry fee for an additional entry.
28.Bumpers: Front bumpers are allowed; only if they do not come past the front-most edge of the front tires (i.e. must be in-between and behind front tires). Rear bumpers are also allowed, as long as they do not go beyond the outside-to-outside dimension of the rear tires. No side bumpers will be allowed.
28. Briggs Race Intent: Briggs style mowers must be factory appearing. The mower must maintain the original factory hood/grill, fender decks, and be factory appearing. All engines must be stock factory appearing. Drive train alterations are allowed as long as factory appearance remains intact. Mower frames may be replaced or altered but must maintain original factory look. No go-cart (built from the ground up) appearing machines will be allowed to race. Basically, if it doesn’t “look” like a lawnmower it will not race in the Briggs race and we will determine that upon inspection. The Lions Club reserves the right to determine what factory appearing lawnmowers represent. Centrifugal clutches and torque converters are allowed.
29. Modified Race Intent: In the modified class, modification or replacement of the original power train, including motor, transmission, clutch and frame is permissible to the extent that the “factory look” such as grill, hood, fenders and housing must be on the mower. Also, all standard measurements discussed above must be met. No factory built Go-Karts will be allowed.