Anybody here going to the Mackinac Bridge crossing?

[JDemaris]

I'm wondering if anyone on this forum is going to be driving an old tractor across the Big Mac Bridge in Michigan on the 18th? I'm taking the family over there, just as a spectator. That if it's not snowing and the wind is less than 75 MPH.

I live almost 1000 miles away, but own a small farm and land in Presque Isle County, just "down the road" from the Mackinac Bridge. I'll be up there putting a roof on my house, so we're going to go over to see the tractors. I have several old tractors (Case VAC, Deere 420, IH 3414, and Ford 641) in storage up there, but it's too much work to participate.

I'm kind of amazed that the State of Michigan gives permission. The Mac Bridge can be sort of a scary place to be when its windy. They even have a state worked that "leads" people across the bridge if they're too scared to go it alone.

Here's some info; might be a neat thing to see if the weather is nice. This info is from the official Mac Bridge Crossing Website at www.bobstractorpartscorner.com :

Beginning around 10am September 18, 2009 over 600 antique tractors will take around 3 hours to cross the Mackinac Bridge and parade into St. Ignace on out to Kewadin Casino. The event is sponsored by Owosso Tractor Parts. Last year, over 600 tractors were in the parade.

Rules:
Your antique tractor must be able to maintain a minimum speed of 10 MPH.

Alcohol: There will be a Zero Tolerance for alcohol before, during or after the bridge crossing through St. Ignace. Wait until your tractor is parked at the Casino to celebrate

Tractors built 1965 and before, are the only tractors allowed in the parade across the bridge. Some special series of tractors may be allowed. You will need to check with us to be sure.

No one under 18 years of age will be allowed to drive a tractor across the bridge.
Sorry no steel wheels or spades, spikes, grouser pads, crawler tracks. Also, no steel wheel tractors with solid rubber pads or solid tread. No spike wheels either. You already knew that I hope. Read further, you can still cross but it will have to be on a trailer in the parade.

Weather issues were addressed and it was decided that the parade will go on rain or shine so watch the weather before you leave. The only thing that would stop the parade is high winds in excess of 35 mph. If the winds are over 35 MPH the show will be called off and there will NOT be another time to cross

Tow Straps:
All tractors will be required to carry a suitable tow strap or tow chain in case of a breakdown of your equipment. If your tractor breaks down during the parade in Mackinaw city and it can’t be fixed before the actual bridge crossing you will not be allowed to be towed across the bridge. If during the parade on the Mackinaw city side your tractor does break down, you can still cross the bridge if you get it fixed before the actual bridge crossing event is over, even though you may be out of line. You can rejoin the parade or your club just before the bridge crossing. Tractors will be parked just before the bridge crossing waiting for a 11:00am Mackinac Bridge starting time. We reserve the right to adjust the time of the actual bridge crossing.

Fire Extinguishers:
All clubs during the event will be required to carry at least but not limited to one (1) of the Type A B C dry type fire extinguisher in their group of tractors.

 

[ryanwheelock]

I live about 8 miles south of the Bridge right off I-75. Took over my grandpas farm when he died. I'm a big McCormick/IH collector and would love to take one of my Farmall H's on the crossing, but dont like that they do it on a weekday. I know about 7 of my friends that would go but cant because we all have to work mon.-fridays. Need to change that for ext year. I think a lot more people would go and watch it if it was on a weekend.

 

[Gary in da UP]

I drove my D17 across the Big Mac last year and might do it again this year. Depends a lot upon the weather. Since I have done it once already , I'm not as enthused about a rerun.But it was an expeience I'll always remember. Gary

 

[JDemaris]

Yeah, I wonder if the State of Michigan won't give permission to cross on weekends when traffic is high? I'm pretty amazed that they allow it at all. There have been a few times I chose not to cross in my 3/4 ton truck, when wind was really blowing. A truck with a camper on it is like a big sailboat.

So far, anybody I've come across that attends the show is a "troll" from under the bridge. I wonder if any upper peninsula collectors attend?

 

[JDemaris]

You just answered my last question about any Yupers attending. I haven't come across many tractor collectors in the eastern UP, but met many in the western part. I tend to hang around Paradise, Newberry, Escanaba and Grand Marais. I don't know much about many other parts.

I searched around Michigan for years, looking for some older tractors - mostly to use. I wanted to avoid attempting to truck anything here from New York. Way too long a trip, especially if I have to take the USA route through Ohio. And, if I took the shorter Canada trip with a tractor on a trailer? Not sure how complicated that could be. Never found anything in northern MI worth buying. Usually anything I did find was way overpriced, going by rural New York standards. I wound up buying all my tractors in central MI around Lapeer and trucked them up.

 

[JD70D]

I did the crossing last year, very well organised, good time. The truck show is the same weekend, consequently the Friday crossing. I think they have even more tractors signed up this year. Owosso Tractor Parts website has all the info.

 

[Rootsy]

My father plans to take his M w/ 2-71 DD across... Doubt it'll be painted but it'll be mechanically finished by then... Have not quite figured out if I can make it that weekend or not with market and everythign.

 

[Rollie NE PA]

That must be a real site to see, All those tractors crossing the bridge. I saw the bridge for the first time in August. Really impressive. My father inlaw retired from the USCG Ice Breaker Mackinaw, in 1970. We took him up for the Mackinaw reunion.
Some real nice farm land along I-75.