Tractor pulling – Wikipedia
Tractor pulling is a popular motorsport in the United States, Canada, and Europe, in which antique or modified tractors pull a heavy drag (sled) along an 11-metre-wide (350-foot) track, with the tractor pulling the drag the furthest being the winner.
History in the US
Farm implements were pulled by horses prior to the invention of the tractor; today, fixed weights on drags (sleds) are dragged for a set distance, with additional weight added in successive rounds. Tractors remained single engine until the crossbox was introduced; modified tractors added multiple large turbochargers, as well as intercoolers. Engine sizes increased from 7,400 to 11,000 cubic centimeters.
Two-wheel-drive (2WD) truck class
The 2WD division of the United States National Tractor Pullers Association was established in 1983, with a weight limit of 2,800 kilograms (6,200 pounds) for each competing truck. Alcohol methane engines with up to eight cylinders are permitted, but diesel engines are not.
Super stock, pro-stock, and mini-modified
The NTPA Mini Modified class is a highly specialized and custom built tractor to be fitted with a naturally aspirated engine, at minimum. They weigh only 930 kilograms (2,050 lbfu22c5ft) with the driver.
Antique tractor pulling
Farmers began attaching tractors to drags and dragging them down a field as early as 1929. By 1950, county fairs across the country featured tractor pulls, and in the late 1960s, a weight-exchanging drag was invented that allowed spectators to walk on the track. Antique tractors are classified into different weight classes based on the tractor weight.
History in Australia
The first Australian tractor pull took place in 1976 at the Elmore Field Days in Victoria, with the difference between first and last place as small as one or two metres. The competition is open to both men and women, with the only restriction being a Learner Driver’s Permit.
Drag (sled) pulling
The step-on method, in which people stood in fixed positions and stepped aboard as the drag passed, was used in the early days. Most drags (sleds) have grouser bars that act like teeth and dig into the soil to stop the sled.
Engines
Tractor pulling, which began in the late 1970s, uses high-powered engines, primarily single, double, or multiple US-made big block dragster engines, but today, a lot of parts from discarded military machinery are also used.
References
a b c d e f g h “Tractor Pulling in the 1950s and 1960s”. livinghistoryfarm.org. Retrieved 2020-03-31. 2010 Pulling Rules, National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA), A division of World Pulling International, Inc. (WPI) http://www.ntpapull.com/Gregg’s Releases/St. Hyacinthe 2006.htm
Sources
The history of tractor/power pulling and sled technology, as well as the rules of tractor/power pulling, are all covered by the United Pullers of the Carolinas.
External links
Tractor and truck pulling at Curlie Retrieved from “https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tractor_pulling” on Wikimedia Commons. Tractor and truck pulling at Curlie
What is the point of a tractor pull?
Tractor pulling is known as “the world’s heaviest motorsport,” with the goal of determining the strongest machine and the best driver. Unlike any other motorsport, it is not about speed, but rather distance pulled, with the pulling track measuring at least 30 feet wide by 320 feet long.
What are they pulling in a tractor pull?
Truck and tractor pulling, also known as power pulling, is a motorsport competition popular in the United States, Europe (especially the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany), Australia, Brazil, and New Zealand that requires modified tractors to pull a heavy sled along a 35-foot-wide, 330-foot-long track, with the winner receiving a trophy.
How does tractor Pull work?
Tractor pulling is a competitive motor sport in which modified farm tractors, tractors, or trucks pull a metal sled along a predetermined course with a box filled with weight that is mechanically winched forward as the sled progresses.
How expensive is tractor pulling?
“Some guys spend $12,000 just on the motor,” Walter said, adding that in the pro-stock class, spending upwards of $60,000 isn’t unheard of. However, the winning pull doesn’t always come from the most expensive machine.
How much HP do pulling tractors have?
The majority of the engines in the u201cOpenu201d division have been modified to run on methanol fuel, though fans will occasionally see a diesel-fueled Super Stock join the fray.
Why do pulling tractors smoke?
Tractor pulling isn’t simple or easy; it puts motors under some of the most extreme mechanical stress imaginable, and diesel-powered pulling machines frequently eject large clouds of thick, black smoke because they’ve been modified to generate a lot of torque.
What time do the tractor pulls start?
Session 1 begins at 8 a.m., and Session 2 begins at 6 p.m. Grandstand seating is limited to reserved seating.
How many feet is a full pull in tractor pulls?
At some events, the full-pull distance is set by the first truck to pass the 300-foot mark, while at other venues, the full-pull distance is set by the first truck to pass the 300-foot mark.
How heavy are tractor pull sleds?
A “full block” that weighs 2,000 pounds and a “half block” that weighs 1,000 pounds are used in most sleds.
What are the rules for garden tractor pulling?
INDIVIDUAL CLASS RULE LINKS IN DETAIL:
- Open to 2-wheel drive rubber tire tractors.
- A class must have at least three tractors to qualify.
- Each tractor may compete in more than one class, but not in the same class twice.
- All drivers must sign a release form before pulling.
- No alcoholic beverages allowed.
What weight can a tractor pull?
What is the maximum combined weight of a tractor and single trailer? The maximum combined weight of a tractor and single trailer has increased from 24.39t to 31t, while the maximum laden weight of trailers has remained constant at 18.29t.
How did tractor Pulling start?
Farmers began attaching their field tractors to weighted sleds and roaring down a track as early as 1929 to see who could pull it the furthest, and event organizers in Bowling Green, Missouri and Vaughansville, Ohio discovered that the noise and smoke attracted spectators.
How do you win a tractor pull?
When more than one tractor completes the course, more weight is added to the drag (sled), and those who moved beyond 91 meters (300 feet) will compete in a pull-off, with the winner being the one who can pull the drag (sled) the furthest.
How much does a truck pull sled cost?
We pay around $1400 per pull for the sled, operator, track scraper, and scales, on average.