There’s a big race scheduled for this weekend – but it might not be where you think. Lawn mower racers from NASGRASS say their activites will get underway today for the 2024 edition of the Snowbird Nationals.
It’s a big deal – this is the first nationals to be held in their new facility at Florida Flywheelers Park off the Avon Park Cutoff Road west of Frostproof, and record crowds are expected. In fact, they’ve put up extra grandstands – but still are asking people to bring chairs – just in case.
Seome campers also have come in for the 2-day event.
Competitors from all over Florida and several from out-of-state have arrived to run in the annual race. Practice will get underway at noon today with heat racing at 3pm and feature racing at 6pm.
The nationals will wind up tomorrow.
Units from Highlands Lakes were called out last night to extinguish a fire in a semi tractor-trailer rig. State Road 64 at Ballard Road was shut down for about an hour while they got the blaze put out. Fortunately, the driver had disconnected the cab before units arrived at the scene.
There were no injuries. The blaze was attributed to mechanical issues. And the load of potatoes – was roasted.
A Wauchula man has died in a Hardee County traffic crash. Florida Highway Patrol reports say the 63-year-old motorcyclist was eastbound on State Road 62, and was hit from behind by a sport utility vehicle.
The force of the impact sent the biker off his cycle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The SUV went off the road clipped a fence then hit a tree. That driver sustained minor injuries.
The incident remains under investigation.