Lawn mower racing was started back in 1973 by an Irishman called Jim Gavin, who, with a bunch of mates had gone down to The Cricketers Arms in Wisborough Green, West Sussex for a few pints one lunchtime. Jim was heavily involved in rallying and like all motorsport at this time, sponsorship was creeping in. Jim didn’t like this and wanted to create a form of motorsport that didn’t involve lots of money and was readily accessible to everyone. As the pints flowed they looked out across the village green and there was the groundsman mowing the cricket pitch. It was then they realised that everyone had a lawn mower in their garden shed so they said “let’s race them”, and they did! They announced there would be a race in Murphy's field and about 80 mowers turned up!

The main objectives were and still are, no sponsorship, no commercialism, no cash prizes and no modifying of engines. The idea being, it would keep costs down and resulted in lawn mower racing being described by Motor Sport News as "the cheapest form of motorsport in the U.K." The BLMRA still sticks to its origins as a non-profit making organization, any profits are given to charities or good causes.