Mike "Hedgehog" Miller

To celebrate its 20th Anniversary, the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association (USLMRA) has declared Feb. 1 “Hedgehog Day.”

The pun-happy organization says it will “mark the mowmentous occasion” by the unveiling of Mike “Hedgehog” Miller’s 80-mph racing lawn mower for the 20th STA-BIL Lawn and Garden Mower Racing Series.

“On Hedgehog Day, Miller will bring his souped up, 80-mph Factory Experimental race mower out its burrow,” the USLMRA says in a release. “If the Hedgehog does not become scared by his shadow, he will leave his burrow and his lawn mower racing season will begin on April Fool’s Day on the 20th Anniversary of the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association. If the Hedgehog sees his shadow, he will return to his garage to tinker and make adjustments for the season, making his racing debut June 23, under the warm summer sun at the 4th Annual STA-BIL Land of Lincoln Regionals, at Nostalgia Days in Zion, Illinois.”

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“Just like the famous furry rodent from Pennsylvania, I fully expect to be correct in my prediction of the coming lawn mower racing season,” says Miller. “And also like my Keystone State counterpart, I will not share my prediction with anyone in advance, not even with the lawn mower racing inner circle: ‘Mr. Mow It All’, ‘Turfinator’, ‘Sodzilla’ or ‘Ace of Blades’.”

Miller built his championship mower, The Hedgehog, 15 years ago and has piloted it to numerous STA-BIL Series victories and championships in his 19-year lawn mower racing career. Hedgehog is a 1968 E.T. Rugg, with a 390cc Honda Power motor, turning 45 horsepower. It will go zero to 50 in 5.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 80 mph.

“We plan to make Hedgehog Day an annual tradition,” says Bruce Kaufman, “Mr. Mow It All” USLMRA Founder & President. “It is only fitting that we present our first Hedgehog Day as part of our 20th Anniversary. I look forward to speaking with Hedgehog in “mowerese” a language understood only by myself, to hear his prediction on the coming race season, so that I may share the news with the world.”

The U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association sanctions and presents organized lawn mower racing across the United States, including the 20-race STA-BIL Lawn and Garden Mower Racing Series and a network of 50 Local Chapters and Affiliated Clubs hosting more than 140 sanctioned races nationwide.

For mow info visit http://www.letsmow.com.