“I can’t wait to see the track up and running so I can get in one of these weird contraptions, and not actually be just mowing the grass, but actually be racing around and having a great time,” Cr Harmon said. He said it was exciting to see a local group promote such a unique sport.

“If this is going to be the first licenced lawn mowing track, we can tick that up on the wall and say, ‘Inverell: another first,’” he said.

A long time in the making, club secretary Steve ‘Jacko’ Jackson said the track would be a blueprint for the future of the sport in Australia. The club have been taking their cues from go kart racing, discussions with Inverell Police motorsports representative Heath Roberts, and American mower racer Adam Lusk.

“This will be the safe way of conducting with licences, insurances. So if anything does happen, they’re covered with insurance,” Steve said. He said the club have worked with the police, Inverell Shire Council and Sport and Recreation NSW to find a safe, legal way to race.

“It’ll be basically like any other motorsport in NSW, and everything will be above board,” he said. Cr Harmon said the council appreciated the club’s collaborative approach. 

“You’ve got to work hand in hand together,” he said. 

Currently, mower racing is only available to those old enough to obtain a car licence. However Steve hopes to work with the police to lower the age to around 12 years, with more restricted vehicle specifications such as lower horsepower.

The club are also hoping to one day build the largest standalone burnout pad in the southern hemisphere on the site.