Mowermania hits Amboy

AMBOY — The category is “Powder Puff,” but the way these women race their souped-up lawn mowers, maybe they should dub the class “Tuff Enuf.”

With the dust swirling and pit crews jumpin’, Kristi Thorson edged out Dawn Walker, in a gritty battle Sunday at Amboy Territorial Days.

Here are the top winners in Sunday’s Amboy Territorial Days lawn mower races:

o 1st Place Women’s Main Event: Kristi Thorson, Battle Ground.

o 1st Place Open Class Main Event: Kevin Rogers, Amboy.

o 1st Place 8 Horsepower Main Event: Ramey Waser, Amboy.

o Fast Qualifier: Ken McCorkle, Puyallup.

o Prettiest Mower: Jim McCracken, Elma.

As Thorson of Battle Ground blasted through the checkered flag in her green machine with the “Beer 30” plate, her father, Kyle Thorson, was beside himself, giving his “tomboy” 23-year-old daughter a tug on the cheek.

What’s it like to hit speeds in excess of 30 mph on a riding lawn mower?

“It’s kind of scary, you get sick to your stomach, but when you cross the finish line, it’s all good.” Kristi Thorson said, after winning the finals for the class.

This is the 14th year the lawn mower competition has been part of Territorial Days, and the 50th anniversary of the town’s celebration.

To compete, your machine must be a riding lawnmower. Most machines have 8 horsepower Briggs and Stratton engines that throw out a throaty rumble accented with percussive pops. You want more power? The open class allows beefier engines with 12 or even 18 horsepower engines.

What’s the attraction?

“Inexpensive entertainment,” said Tom Bethje, a volunteer firefighter with Fire District 10 in Amboy.

There have been efforts to bring in mowers with bigger artillery.

“We had a turbine engine a couple of years back but he caught on fire,” explained Assistant Fire Chief Gordon Brooks.

Chief Sam Arola and his department sponsors the lawn mower races.

Asked how the “Beer 30” gets its winning speed, Kristi Thorson said, “It’s got a bigger carburetor in it, and pulleys.” The machine is tended by her dad, owner of Kyle’s Auto & Electric in Battle Ground. He said the name “Beer 30” comes from the fact that the mower gets attention after work, along with a malt beverage or two. The father, injured this year, also has a winning record as a driver.

In the championship race, Dawn Walker of Battle Ground was challenging Kristi Thorson on each of the 12 laps. As Walker was about to make a move, she discovered racer Lindsey Paris of Battle Ground in her way.

Was she upset about being blocked?

“That’s racing,” Walker said. “We’re all friends.”

Kristi Thorson, who said her machine is a three-speed, savored her victory by picking up her daughter, 18-month old Lexi Lynn Kellogg, who seemed content in a playpen not far from the pits.

In the men’s competition, with some 20 racers, Kevin Rogers, 36, of Amboy won the Open Class A Division on his 8 horsepower FFF Special. He called the races “intense.” Asked what he does to get maximum speed, he hedged: “That’s top secret.”

Territorial Days was more than lawn mower racing. The 19-acre Territorial Park on the edge of Cedar Creek was alive with some 50 loggers showing their skills on Saturday. After the chips flew, John Wood of Estacada, Ore., was named all-around logger.

“The logging show was awesome. A little bit hot,” said Diana Requa, a celebration organizer, who said Sunday’s weather was perfect.

Nancy Buckbee, who has been a celebration volunteer for 15 years, estimated that 5,000 to 6,000 people attended the weekend festival. The population of Amboy is about 1,000.

As for royalty, 14-year-old Mary Grace Pennington was named queen of Territorial Days and longtime resident Eathyl Rotschy was the grand marshal of Saturday’s parade.