Lawn mower race turns into giant fight

The best part about this picture is the guy in the back left casually drinking his beer while watching these lawn jockeys throw bows.  Looks like some people have either been watching too much Tool Time or NASCAR.   

Southland Times: Two competitors in a ride-on lawnmower race at Saturday’s Lake Hayes A&P Show near Queenstown proved that road rage can happen anywhere, even on grass in front of hundreds of spectators.

The competitive edge of two participants erupted into a punch-up after one shunted another directly after finishing the race.  A witness, on holiday in Queenstown from Christchurch, said yesterday the race was entertaining but, as it deteriorated into a fracas, the watching crowd did not know what to make of it.

“At first everyone thought it was a stunt or something that was being staged,” the witness said.

“The race was over and a guy on quite a large machine shunted a guy on a smaller machine sideways.

“The guy on the smaller machine climbed up on to the bigger machine while it was still being shunted and started throwing punches.

“The witness estimated about six punches were landed before the man shunting the smaller machine started defending himself and the fight was broken up.

“He had pretty long arms, so the guy was still swinging, but couldn’t connect. That’s when people started running over to break it up.

“It was lucky the guys involved were wearing helmets.”

Many locals in the crowd showed embarrassment that two grown men should fight over something so stupid, while many teenage males egged it on, the witness said.  The two drivers are believed to be an Alexandra lawnmower dealer and a Queenstown lawn mowing contractor.

Lake Hayes A&P Show committee chairman Mike Smith said the punch-up appeared to be the result of a feud between the two men that show organizers were unaware of, and were keen to distance themselves from.