POTSDAM -- The NNYLMR (Northern NY Lawn Mower Racers) will host a tech day at CJS Enterprises, 6770 State Highway 56 on May 17.

This inspection process will certify all racing mowers of all classes are legal to start the racing season. The public is welcome to attend and see the machines and meet the participants.

NNYLMR(is an association created solely for the love of racing lawnmowers. They race for trophies and bragging rights every Sunday from June through October at various fire department fields throughout the North Country.

The association was conceived by Aric Leggue, Chad Smith, Jeff Dishaw, and Lester Crump. The first race was held at the Lisbon fire department field in 2002 with less than a dozen participants.

In 2003 they took the idea to Dennis White, proprietor of Frogtown Motor Speedway and a weekly Sunday race schedule was started. Soon many more fire departments accepted race dates and soon we were racing across the North Country. Races were held at the St. Lawrence County fairs.

In 2010 the association was accepted into the American Racing Mower Association, a national body whose structure allows local racers access to national races as well as insurance to protect racers and crowds.

The membership now approaches 70 with interest continuing to grow weekly. Anyone 10 years or older can race in many different classes.

All proceeds from their events benefit local rescue and fire departments.