Twelve Mile 500
| First run | 4 July 1963 |
|---|---|
| Characteristics | |
| Team members | 33 competitors |
| Mixed-sex | yes |
| Type | Outdoor track |
| Equipment | Riding lawn mower |
| Venue | Plank-Hill Park |
The Twelve Mile 500 is a lawn mower race held in the small town of Twelve Mile, Indiana, organized by the Twelve Mile Lions Club and occurring annually on Independence Day.
History
The tradition began in 1963, as a race for factory-built mowers, with their mowing decks removed. The first race took place at the former site of the Twelve Mile High School, with a traditional oval track. In 1969, the race was moved to it's present location of Plank-Hill Park, and adopted a new "Grand Prix" style track. In 1996, the event was split into a two race's, with one for four-cycle Briggs lawn mowers, and another for modified mowers. The race structure was changed again in 2010, with the addition of a super stock race, in addition to the Briggs and modified races.[1][2]
Rules
The Twelve Mile 500 is 15 mi (24 km) race, with 60 laps run on a one-quarter mile (0.40 km) track in the park, with a maximum of 33 entrants per race. Each participating team consists of a driver, a two-person pit crew, and a lap judge, and must meet a speed of approximately 30 mph (48 km/h) to qualify.[3]
References
Bibliography
- Costello, James (4 July 2006). "Drivers revving up for Twelve Mile 500". Logansport, Indiana: Pharos-Tribune.
- Wicker, Beau (4 July 2025). "Troyers dominate Twelve Mile 500". Logansport, Indiana: Pharos-Tribune.
- Ardoin, Jordan (29 November 2023). "The History of Lawn Mower Racing". Retrieved 5 August 2025.