Honda mower sets world speed record

We had an early look at the Honda Mean Mower when they first revealed the project last year, and dubbed it Lawn Order SVU (special velocity unit). For that preview of their Stig-worthy grasscutter, they gave it a backyard run with Honda racer and 2012 British Touring Car Championship winner Gordon Shedden’s gardening gloves helming the wheel and gumboot stomping the pedal. 

After another six months of spannering in their skunkworks garden shed at Honda's British Touring Car Championship partner, Team Dynamics, the team has emerged to do a track run that has claimed a speed record for World's Fastest Lawnmower, hitting an average of 116.57mph (187km/h).

The Mean Mower is based on a Honda HF2620 Lawn Tractor, but has been given a completely rebuilt chassis and a 1000cc engine from a Honda VTR Firestorm motorbike. It also benefits from a customised six-speed automatic transmission with F1-style paddle-shifters, a Morris Minor steering rack, Scorpion exhaust system and a Cobra sports seat to replace the normal ride-on pew.

“The original brief for Mean Mower was to create the world’s fastest lawnmower – and now it officially is, by some distance! We are all delighted to hold a Guinness World Records title and we’d like to thank everyone who was involved in what has been a challenging yet incredibly exciting project,” Honda UK said in a statement.

So now, looking at the overgrown Carsguide backyard, we are saying "c'mon lawn ... bring it on. We'll see you on the weekend".

Watch the desktop version of the Honda mower sets world speed record video here. 

This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott