RACING - Drivers in the mini-super modified division's feature race are packed in as they enter the second turn during last Saturday night's CarQuest Mowdown at the Alleghany Fairgrounds. Pictured are (from left) Johnathan Blevins, Jason Kelly, J.B. Boyer, Jerry Perry and Tommy Alley Jr. In the photo at left, Darryl Edwards pilots his 'wrecker' down the track pulling William Crouse's broken machine.

Mowdown draws about 1,400

The CarQuest Mowdown fall lawnmower race was held last Saturday night at the Justice Carlisle Higgins Agricultural Fairgrounds in Sparta, despite weather that threatened to postpone the event. Track conditions weren't the best and the parking lot was a field of water and mud, but about 1,400 spectators turned out to watch 57 drivers compete on 69 mowers.

"Due to the weather we were extremely pleased with the turnout," commented Walt Greene, chairman of the Alleghany Mower Racing Association. "We would have had a lot more racers, but we were just lucky to get this one in."

Greene said that while track conditions weren't good, several local people made it possible for the event to go on as planned. "We would like to thank a lot of people who helped with track preparations, the people that helped make this possible," Greene said. About $3,500 was raised, all of which benefits the Alleghany Fair Committee, a non-profit sub-committee of Alleghany Fairgrounds Inc.

The next lawnmower race, with proceeds going to the Sparta/Alleghany Volunteer Fire Department, is scheduled for Sept. 27 at the fairgrounds here.

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