As the team principal of McLaren Racing no doubt prepares for the Chinese Grand Prix next weekend, the vice-president of Kempsey Mower Racing Club will go head-to-head against the might of South East Queensland.

The Macleay’s Ron Dennis, along with his son Ronnie, will mount two of the local club’s five converted ride-on mowers for a racing event at Kempsey Showground this Sunday.

Also getting involved will be club president Michael Blayden.

“We’ll be having a test and tune day at the Showground,” he said.

“There’ll be a bunch of blokes ‘playing’ on their mowers.

“We want to raise awareness of the club and of mower racing.

“A few of us went up to the club in Queensland – they’ve just opened a new track at Willow Bank.

“Some of their guys agreed to come down – with hopefully between four and eight mowers.

“So we’ll have two clubs competing on between nine and 13 mowers.

“We hope to make it grow into a ‘State of Origin’.”

The South East Queensland Mower Racing Club has a 10-year head-start on their Macleay rivals.

The Kempsey club has been going for about four years, compared to 14 years for the Queenslanders.

The main difference between ride-on mowers used in racing is the removal of the cutting blades.

A 15 horsepower single-cylinder engine will typically reach a top speed of between 35 and 40 km/h.

Many racers will replace the engine with ‘Thumpster’ 125cc motorbike engines, which compete in the Outlaw class. These can reach 80km/h.

Some enthusiasts have customised their mowers to reach speeds of up to 100km/h.

The local club is keen to attract new members.

For more information, visit the Kempsey Mower Racing Club Facebook page, or contact Michael Blayden on 0429 676 858.

Sunday’s event will get underway around 10am and is likely to run until 2pm.