TRANSCRIPT
REPORTER: Muddy terrain may have deterred a few racers from taking on the British Grand Prix for lawnmower racing, but competitors like Daniel Jones hoped to prove that they were a cut above the rest. But no matter what the conditons, the grassroots-level sport can be a close trim to the finish.
DANIEL JONES, RACER: "The wetter the better, but yeah it's a skill to ride in the mud. It's not as fast, and obviously it's a lot harder to control the machine in the wet."
REPORTER: And with a rev of the engine, the mad mowers skidded down the track. The course isn't your average backyard. Equipped with sharp turns and some slight inclines, it's easier than you think to get left in the dirt. Some of the engines certainly appeared turbo charged, but rules say racers can only make slight modifications to the mowers. It was a close shave, but after a few heats, Ian Ratcliffe proved to be the legend of the lawn.
IAN RATCLIFFE, WINNER: "It's competitive, but it's all good-natured and everybody gets on with everybody else, and basically it's just good fun, good healthy sport."
REPORTER: With a rainy racing season coming to a close, competitors are hoping for a little more sunshine in 2013.
COMMENTS
How many lawnmower-related puns can you spot in this report? Here are some I spotted:
• a cut above the rest (better than the rest)
• mud, sweat and gears (a play on the expression 'blood, sweat and tears')
• grassroots-level (made up of ordinary people)
• a close trim to the finish (a close race)
• get left in the dirt (get left behind)
