An American-built lawn mower hit 152.8 mph at Arkansas Mile and can still cut grass.
An American-built racing lawn mower has reached 152.8 mph at the ECTA Arkansas Mile, potentially putting a new land-speed record within reach. Built by Elliott Loe and his friends, the machine combines motorcycle power with a functional electric cutting deck. Its record status remains pending certification.
The project features a custom chromoly steel tube chassis topped with body panels from a 1990s MTD Tradesman lawn mower. Power comes from a 988cc inline-four engine sourced from a 2004 Suzuki GSX-R sportbike.
In stock form, the engine produces more than 160 horsepower. Loe added a nitrous oxide injection system capable of providing an additional 50 horsepower.
The completed machine weighs approximately 450 pounds, making it a lightweight platform for an engine designed for a sportbike. Despite its racing-focused construction, the mower retains an electric cutting deck taken from a Hart push mower sold at Walmart.
The machine competed at the ECTA Arkansas Mile, a standing-start event in which vehicles accelerate along a one-mile course. It recorded a top speed of 152.8 mph during a single pass, while its average speed across runs in both directions reached 147.3 mph.
That two-way average is the figure that matters for the potential record. The result is still undergoing certification, so official recognition has not yet been confirmed.
The lack of suspension also presents a challenge at speed. Loe told The Drive that the rough course surface caused the mower to leave the ground two or three times during each run.
If the 147.3-mph average is certified, the build could establish a new benchmark for lawn mower land-speed records. For now, its verified timing results and pending certification remain separate milestones.