From around the world
From around the world
race
/reɪs/ noun
1. a competition between runners, horses, vehicles, etc. to see which is the fastest in covering a set course.
race
/reɪs/ noun
1. a competition between runners, horses, vehicles, etc. to see which is the fastest in covering a set course.
get lost would like to submit that there are quite a few extra modes that could have been included in the above definition. Races are known to include horses, vehicles and runners running forwards—sure.
But in some parts of the world they include lawnmowers, buses and even pumpkins.
We’ve found five of the most extraordinary and ridiculous races from around the world, all of which you’ll be surprised to find exist.
Lawnmower Racing
West Sussex, UK
If you grew up wishing your family owned a ride-on mower so that you could hoon up and down your backyard—this is the race for you! Kicking off in 1968 at the Ashton on Mersey Cricket Club, the 'Lawn Mower Grand Prix' started out as an 800-metre running race, ironically sponsored by Esso and Player’s No. 6 cigarettes. Oh, the 60s.
Sadly, if it’s the smell of freshly cut grass you’re after, you won’t find it at this event. As a safety precaution, all mowers need to have their cutting blades removed, and despite no engine modifications being allowed, reach speeds of upto 80 km/h are common, which is not so safe.
Lawnmower racing, much like the mowers themselves, has taken off. You wouldn’t be hard-pressed to find an event, particularly in the United States. However, one of the biggest fishes on the lawnmower racing calendar is the 12 Hour endurance race in West Sussex, 17th August 2024.
unhinged RADAR
1. Stalling in first gear
2. Just getting out of pit lane
3. Picking up some speed now
4. Hitting the redline
5. Crossing the finish line
School bus Racing
Bithlo, Florida USA
Just Florida being Florida.
While you can find plenty of locations across the United States to watch the rubber burn, Bithlo in Florida is the 'Mecca' for bus racing, where they’ve invented a race Otto from The Simpsons would surely excel at. “Get off the bus or forever hold your peace, little dudes!”
The locals here came up with a great ideal to recycle their old school buses and paired with some rip-roaring entertainment, giving them a great send-off. A typical night at figure 8 school bus races, will see excellently-choregraphed sequences, adrenalin-inducing close calls and a small degree of outright carnage as buses come together. One highlight is watching the skilled (and not-so-skilled) drivers do doughies. Who knew these old girls still had so much life in them?
unhinged RADAR
1. Stalling in first gear
2. Just getting out of pit lane
3. Picking up some speed now
4. Hitting the redline
5. Crossing the finish line
Skijoring
Big Sky, Montana USA
Scandinavian countries have been enjoying skijoring for hundreds of years as a mode of transport but what do you get when you throw in some fire, ice hot tubs? You get Big Sky Skijoring’s Best in the West Showdown.
With a US$15,000 cash prize up for grabs, teams made up of horse and rider, and skier or snowboarder, make their way along a 300m obstacle course, pulling off some gnarly tricks (((and you can also bank on some bombers on the slopes crashing out))) (((NOTE: Not sure what sentence in brackets means))). From among all the skijoring events across the globe—this is the one really pushing the limits. Among all the innovations, they've recently thrown hot tubs into the mix… not as a pit stop (although, can you imagine?), but rather as an obstacle for the competitors to jump over. So even if skijoring isn’t really your thing, you can still grab yourself a mulled wine or a whisky, settle into a hot tub on the course, and watch as skiers and snowboarders soar above you. As long as you don’t mind a bit of extra snow falling into your drinks.
unhinged RADAR
1. Stalling in first gear
2. Just getting out of pit lane
3. Picking up some speed now
4. Hitting the redline
5. Crossing the finish line
Pumpkin Racing
Ludwigsburg, Germany
Much like Bubba Gump’s passion for shrimp, Ludwigsburg in Germany has a passion for pumpkin. At their annual Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival, you can try pumpkin cream soup, pumpkin fries, pumpkin pasta, pumpkin bread, even pumpkin 'secco. Cheers!
While the majority of activities at the festival involve the consumption of pumpkins and pumpkin related products, paddling around in a bio-degradable pumpkin canoe is something out of left field, and all the rage. The pumpkin regatta on the lake in the south garden of the Ludwigsburg palace is a highlight as competitors in hollowed-out pumpkins race across the water. As you can expect, not at great speed. It’s more of a bob across the lake. You can BYO pumpkin (the event organisers will even give you seeds to grow your own at home) or if you’re short on space and time, you can borrow a pumpkin.
unhinged RADAR
1. Stalling in first gear
2. Just getting out of pit lane
3. Picking up some speed now
4. Hitting the redline
5. Crossing the finish line
Marathon du Medoc
Médoc, France
If you shudder at the mere thought of running 42kmm we've got the perfect marathon for you. Trust us. This IS something you want to be a part of, because refreshments are included. To be specific, there are 23 separate wine tastings along the route.
Bordeaux’s Marathon du Médoc is known as the longest marathon in the world but before you clench your butt cheeks thinking it’s a course you want no part in, read on. You can get shucked up during oyster tastings, be entertained by 50 orchestras scattered throughout the course, sink your teeth into a perfect medium-rare steak. And the wine we mentioned earlier? If ever there were a more perfect place to wrap your lips around a bold Bordeaux, it would have to be in the heart of Bordeaux itself.
The dress code is 'fancy dress', which is perfect as you frolic along the 42km course through scenic vineyards and eating stops. Don’t forget to stop at a charcuterie board along the way to enjoy some of the and enjoy, some of the regions excellent cheeses. Take your time with this marathon, you don’t want to upset your stomach between stops.
unhinged RADAR
1. Stalling in first gear
2. Just getting out of pit lane
3. Picking up some speed now
4. Hitting the redline
5. Crossing the finish line
get in the know Marathons are inspired by the Greek soldier Pheidippides, who ran 40km from the battle of Marathon to Athens, to deliver news of a Greek victory.
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