RATHDRUM - Michael Cover and a friend furiously worked in the shade of a canopy tent to get his 18-horsepower Craftsman, the "Turfinator," back on the road.

"We're trying to figure it out right now," said Cover, of Spirit Lake. "We're trying to get back to the races."

This is Cover's second year participating in the Big Back-In lawn mower races, which are now in their 15th season. His custom mower rocks an intimidating skull hood ornament with a green feather sticking out, and the "I'll be back" decal on the rear completes the "Terminator" spin on the racing mower's motif.

"The wife and I were goofing around with different names, trying to find something that was similar to cutting grass, mowing grass, turf, 'Turfinator,'" he said with a grin.

The third event of the 2015 Big Back-In season took place Sunday on Main Street in Rathdrum, where 27 racers with the need for speed competed with tricked-out mowers for trophies and bragging rights.

Debbe Mosiman of Athol has been racing mowers for three years and drove the "It's a Blonde Thing" 11-horsepower Craftsman, topped with a small American flag.

She explained that a friend of her's provides the mower so she can participate and she races with an all-girl racing team, Bamm Racing Stables.

"It's exhilarating," Mosiman said. "'I've always wanted to race."

Even Big Back-In event coordinator, Marc Kroetch, got in on the action with the "Mow Heat Oh!," his bright yellow, 14-horsepower, vintage stock Craftsman mower.

"It's one I've owned since 1977," he said. "I mowed the lawn with it and then I retired it about five or six years ago to spend the rest of its life racing. It's all stock except for the pulley chains underneath to make it go faster, and the exhaust."

Kroetch said the racers compete for points throughout the year, winning individual trophies at events and earning points just for showing up.

"We do have a lot of excited racers this year," Kroetch said. "It's a real good deal, and these guys are getting all warmed up for Priest River next weekend, which is important."

The Big Back-In is a fundraising effort to benefit the cities that host the races, facilitated by chambers of commerce and community organizations.

Families, couples and individuals lined Main Street and pulled up lawn chairs or sat on the tailgates of their trucks to catch the excitement of the Rathdrum races.

"I think it's cool," said Christian Box, 10, of Rathdrum. "This is cool for being here in Rathdrum. You don't have to go far, it's right here."

Christian watched the races with his dad, Charlie, mom Amberly and sister Summer, 5. The family usually attends the races in Spirit Lake for Father's Day. Christian said the best part about the Big Back-In is the racing, of course.

"And the looks, the looks are really cool," he said. "The coolest one I've seen is the one that's really long with the flames that's green."

Across the highway, the 36th annual Rathdrum Days continued for the third day of celebrating hometown pride with music, food vendors and merchants, activities such as watermelon-eating contests and camel rides and more.

"It's super laid back, it's nice to be around the community," Amberly said. "The face painting stand was amazing and the snow cones were fabulous."