The 12 Hour race is in institution that started 31 years ago. The first race took place in 1973 at Murphy’s field near Wisborough Green.

It’s devotees range from Stirling Moss and Derek Bell through to Oliver Reed (the range is from serious racing to serious drinking!) with every type of eccentric represented in between.

The race reached a peak in madness when in 1997 we celebrated 25 years by racing for 25 hours.

The race today is a fantastic opportunity to test your physical and engineering capabilities. In the 12 Hours you could cover over 300 miles, that’s an average of over 23 mph including refueling and  driver changes.

This year’s race will be start at 8 p.m. on the 2nd August 2003 at Brinsbury College near Pulborough West Sussex.
Entry Forms will be sent to members in April and you need to be members to race, so join now!

You will need the following 3 documents:
Adobe Acrobat Format
2004 12 Hour Entry Form
2004 Supplementary Regs
2004 Helpers Rota

The race will be run under the general regulations of the BLMRA and the following Supplementary Regulations. Additional Regulations may be issued.

Please read carefully together with the General Regulations ( if you do not have a copy, please send a cheque for £3.00 made payable to the BLMRA and an A4 stamped 41p addressed envelope.). Scrutineering will be strict and it will be completely the Entrants responsibility to present a mower that is fully legal. If you are in any doubt about the legality of your mower for the race, contact the organisers well beforehand.

ENTRIES OPEN : now!     ENTRIES CLOSE : 2nd July 2004

CLASSIFICATIONS

GROUP ONE	Run Behind
GROUP TWO	Cylinder driven with a towed seat.
GROUP THREE	Small garden ride on, wheel driven with seat on mower
GROUP FOUR	Wheel driven with engine in the front and covered by an obvious bonnet

AWARDS AND CLASSES This years race will be run on scratch. There will also be Famer, Ladies, Standard, Newcomer, Aircrew, Handicap, Journalist and other awards depending on the quality and quantity of the entries received by closing day. Finishers awards will be given to all mowers (still propelled by their engines) taking the finishing flag, who have completed at least 30% of the distance covered by the winners of their class.

MOWERS Allocated race numbers must be black, about 7" tall, on a white background. It is in the competitors own interest to ensure that their numbers are clearly visible to the lap-keepers.

As part of the track will be in total darkness, Gp.2, Gp.3 and Gp4 mowers must have headlights focused on the ground not more than 30' in front. They must also have two rearward facing red tail lights, as far apart as possible so as to indicate the width of the machine. Team Managers note: Mowers must have at least one forward light and both rear lights working at all times during the hours of darkness. If you allow your mower to continue regardless, its laps will not be counted!!! <

Mowers must be scrutineered before going out onto the track for Practice. Scrutineering will concentrate on safety and eligibility. You will be issued with a pass which must be displayed on the mower. Entry priority will be given to BLMRA members and drivers who have previously competed in this and other BLMRA recognised events. Others may be put on a reserve list.

TEAMS and DRIVERS Three drivers per mower in Gps 2, 3 and 4, (all drivers on the entry form in Gp2, 3, and 4 must be members of the BLMRA) Group 1 can have as many as they like. Driver changes can be made as often as you wish, but only in the pits. Drivers in Groups 2, 3 and 4 and must have previous race experience in a BLMRA recognised event, preferably in the last two seasons. If not contact the organisers beforehand.

HELPERS ROTA This year all teams will need to fill in the attached Helpers Rota Form and will be given the choice of a time to come and help. It will not always be possible to give you your chosen time, but you will be allocated another slot. Please see the form for further details. Please note this form MUST be returned with your entry.

BUILDING OF PITS, ALLOCATED AREA, and PADDOCK You will not be able to build your pit until the Friday of the race weekend. If you are unable to to do this, you will have to seek permission from the race organisers prior to race week. Each team will be allocated a pit area, the size of which is limited. You will only be allowed one vehicle behind your pit and it will have to fit into the area provided. Two other support vehicles, per pit, may be parked in the paddock. All other vehicles will have to be parked in the public parking area.

TEAM MARSHALLING Each team must supply a marshall to do a stint throughout the race. There will be a time chart where you will be able to choose the hours that would suit your team. This will be compulsory to all Team Entrants.

SAFETY The Pits are potentially dangerous areas and it will be the entrants responsibility to keep the area around his/her pit free from wandering spectators. While our officials will do as much as possible, they are not paid professionals and they are there so that you, the competitor, can have a good event. Please help them as much as you can so we can keep the race free of accidents.

TELEVISION AND JOURNALISTS If you will be involved with a television crew or featured in a newspaper/magazine, then you must inform the BLMRA prior to the event. Include on your entry form all the details of the producer, which TV company, or the magazine/newspaper and the name of the journalist.

AND FINALLY...... Please get your entry in early with the entry form and helpers rota form completed. Present your mower as early as possible for Scrutineering and Practice. Any mower not practicing satisfactorily will not be allowed to start. Drivers are reminded that there are other drivers on the track and not all of them will be equal in skill. Indeed some of them may be competing in the 12 Hour for the first time. Anyone driving in an irresponsible manner will be called into the Pits where, at the very least, he/she will be given a warning. He/She may more probably be disqualified and their mower will not be allowed to continue. There will be no appeal. Remember the sport of Lawn Mower Racing was devised primarily for the benefit of keen, but fun loving competitors. Both the fastest and the slowest are equally welcome.

NOTE : This is an invitation race. The 12 Hour is intended to be a race for teams who enjoy motor sport as much as, if not more than, the chance of winning. So have fun, drive carefully, watch out for slower machines and have a good nights safe sport.

ORGANISED BY: BLMRA, Hunt Cottage, Wisborough Green, West Sussex RH14 0HN. Tel: 01403 700220, Fax: 01403 700037 or EMAIL: info@blmra.co.uk

If you have any queries please mark your envelopes "12 Hour" and send a stamp.