Above are the three pulling trucks it was my pleasure to be working in the pits with. These trucks were running in the 6200 pound class. The object is to pull the sled (pictured below them -- this one was used for the heavy pulls) down the track as far as they can. At the start of the pull the weight box is located at the rear of the sled and as they pull it down the track the weight box slides up the sled to apply more weight to the skid plate at the front of the sled which creates more drag and thus making it harder to pull.

There were a number of classes going all the way from vintage farm tractors to the unlimited class which included 2200 horse power turbine powered tractors and 3500 horsepower V12 Allison aircraft engine powered tractors. The noise was deafening but the exhilaration fantastic.

Unfortunately Grant's truck blew the rear end on the second run and so was unable to place in top of his class. These guys are something else instead of anger at his misfortune it was suck it up time with the comment that he would have a stronger rear end for the next pull. Then it was off to help the other guys with their trucks.

Some of these guys are owner operators with the company I work for and this is the way they are normally so one wouldn't expect anything less in this thing they call a sport. Though some come to these events for the sole purpose of winning others come to compete, test what they have built and if winning is in the cards then yahoooo they'll take that too.

So if you get the chance and one of these pulls comes to a track near you, head on out and enjoy the excitement of raw power being put to the test. See how the vintage tractors have still got the umph to get the job done and see how easily the big boys dig a trench and thats just with their tires.

Publisher: James E. Jeary
Copyright: 2004
Keywords: Trucks, Tractors, truck pulling, tractor pulling