Though on later reflection, she felt she was being overly cautious.

"The straights are good," she said, standing by the tyre-lined gravel track behind the Tas Dragway complex at Powranna. "But I've got to watch the corners."

Though not new to the idea of lawnmower racing, Mrs Wiggins was a first-time competitor on Saturday. And one of a growing number of Tasmanians catching the bug.

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Ranging from the heavily modified - fitted with higher-powered motorcycle engines - to the almost garden variety, the vehicles must comply with only a few restrictions around safety and appearance. Many can reach speeds of up to 100km/h, but track restrictions - like corners - usually limit them to half that.

The sport has a large following both on mainland Australia and internationally. The US Lawn Mower Racing Association has existed since 1992. Races have been broadcast on ESPN.

But established in late 2017, Lawnmower Racing Tasmania has seen a groundswell of interest in recent times. About 20 regularly attend race meetings. Though more than a dozen new mowers are being built - two Saturday spectators are preparing their own.

For Steven Wiggins, who has built a number of the vehicles at his Beaconsfield home, the draw-card is the cost of entry. Two have set him back a combined $600. "It's the cheapest way to race," he said.

Illness forced him to sit this meeting out. That was when his wife, Shirley, thought the time was right to try.

Jodie Swan traveled from her home in the Derwent Valley to put her bright pink mower on the track after having it custom built by her son, who also races them. She was hooked after one run and said the sport was a family affair, despite its perhaps rough appearance.

Railton man Jamie Gaffney said he had met "so many good people" through the sport.

This was reiterated by organiser Shane Hamilton, who says though competition exists, the race day events are "fun-based" and open to all.

"It's not a blokey thing," he said. "It's a family thing."

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