Published: July 03, 2008 12:39 am         

Sibling rivalry to be rekindled at Twelve Mile 500

John Troyer looks to unseat his brother Randy, the event’s all-time winningest driver.

John Troyer really wants to win the Twelve Mile 500 Riding Lawnmower Race.

He’s been in position before, but in 19 tries he has yet to get over the hump. On top of that, the all-time winningest driver of the event happens to be his brother Randy Troyer. John knows exactly how many titles he needs to win to catch his brother.

“Unfortunately, I’m reminded all too often that my brother Randy has won seven times,” John lamented.

John is in prime position for a win this year as he’s the pole-sitter in both the Modified Division and the Briggs Division for this year’s 46th running of the Twelve Mile 500, which is set to get underway at 1 p.m. on the Fourth of July at Plank Hill Park in Twelve Mile.

John said that he is not intimidated by his brother’s seven championships, which include back-to-back wins entering this year’s event. In fact, John enters confident that he, in fact, is the better driver of the two brothers.

“On other tracks he’s just afraid of me,” John said. “He doesn’t want a part of me in some of the other events. He knows it would get served up to him. ... For whatever reason, he seems to have a bit of luck in the big one.”

John said he prefers the Modified Division to the Briggs Division. The Modified Division has almost no restrictions in regards to engines, transmissions, fuel, etc. John’s Modified mower, in fact, is powered by a Honda motorcycle engine and includes an ATV rear and fabricated steering.

Briggs Division mowers, meanwhile, must stay somewhat close to stock, with a four-cycle engine being a requirement. Though John speculates that if one were to simply remove a deck from a stock lawnmower to compete in the Twelve Mile 500, by the time the rest of the field would be finishing up the race with the 60th lap, that person would have completed about 20 laps.

“Speed and power usually don’t win the race,” John added. “It depends on who has the clean pit stops, staying out of wrecks, keeping away from penalties. If you do that you’ll probably be in the top 10. And there’s luck there thrown in with it. ... There’s always a few defining moments in the race that are either fortunate for you or not.”

Beau Wicker can be contacted at (574) 732-5113 or via e-mail at beau.wicker@pharostribune.com