THE sound of roaring motors and a whiff of engine grease can mean only one thing – Dorset’s Mower Madness craze is back.

Fans of the comical lawnmower racing sport gathered at the Barley Mow, in Colehill, for the start of the season on Sunday.

Five ladies’ teams bumped around the zigzag course before 33 machines lined up for the 2.4 hour Grand Enduro event.

Organiser Paul Chick said they get a mix of standard and professional mowers, which do 60mph on a track but average around 25mph at Mower Madness. “One machine has had £1,500 spent on it, but it’s a case of some here have spent just £20 – £30,” Mr Chick said.

“It’s just for fun. There’s a national league that’s all about competition, but Mower Madness is about having a laugh and enjoying yourself.”

Mr Chick, 47, had to call in a welder when his mower’s axle flipped, and Team Hillbilly’s Kathryn Dunn, 32, hit problems on the track when her motor died.

“The mower spluttered a few times and then stopped,” she said.

“It’s just one of those things, but I was just getting a bit more confident and faster when it happened.”

Money from entries and collections is split between Bournemouth Hospital’s Jigsaw Appeal, Dorset Transverse Myelitis, Wimborne Hospital’s League of Friends and the Dorset Rifles at the end of the racing year.

After raising more than £1,000 at this first heat, organisers have set themselves a £10,000 target.

Becky-Beth Cox, 27, who races saloon cars across the UK took part for the first time.

“It was great fun but I was trying hard to stay on. You’ve got to hold on tight.” the West Moors girl said.

Sam Smith, 14, from Pennske Mower Sport team, said: “It’s not something you see every day.

“We bought our mower as scrap and did her up.”