Revving up for Father's Day

SPIRIT LAKE - Spirit Lake has a lot to get Dad's blood pumping this weekend.

The Big Back-In lawn mower street drag races, a Father's Day tradition, will be held on Maine Street on Sunday.

The opening ceremony for the free event will be held around 12:45 p.m., where new Spirit Lake Police Chief Keith Hutcheson will be recognized. Racing will run from 1 to around 4 p.m.

"The police department last year made us put a speed limit on the racing," said Marc Kroetch, event organizer. "Anyone who goes faster than 50 mph in 200 feet loses a run.

"We had guys who went as high as 68 two years ago and it scared the devil out of people."

Kroetch expects about 40 racers to compete.

The parade of competitors starts at noon on Maine.

Spirit Lake is a popular weekend stop for Harley riders, who back in to the curbs, hence the name. Locals once pulled a prank and parked lawn mowers on Maine so the Harley riders couldn't park there.

The event, which typically draws between 2,000 and 3,000 people, is a fundraiser for the city's parks and recreation department.

There will also be vendors in City Park on Sunday until 4 p.m.

Today, there will be a rock crawl exhibition in which souped-up vehicles traverse rocky terrain at Volunteer Park, starting at 10 a.m.

At 5 p.m. today at City Park, George Bruner's band will perform a free concert featuring bluegrass and classic rock music.

Raffle tickets for several prizes - including a utility terrain vehicle - will be on sale throughout the weekend for $5 each or five for $20. Proceeds will benefit Spirit Lake recreation.