Is tractor pulling taking a back seat!

[Massey 101]

It seems the numbers are decreasing in the area, I know everything is becoming expensive.....what would help your area get the pullers to hook agian?

 

[buickanddeere]

Smaller and smaller % of the population has any direct ties to agriculture. The remaining persons are getting older and don't attend shows or have seen so many they are bored.
People are not drawn to something that requires time, work and $ without an emotional need for the luxury.
Any entertainment that requires active participation or clubs and groups that need volunteers are shrinking or folding.
Last generation has grown up on computers, video games and big screen TV's and raised by thier Mothers.
Tractor pulling, car collecting , fishing, hunting, boating etc participation is shrinking. It's easier and cheaper to stay home and eat chips or get stoned in front of the tv.

 

[leej]

It has for me for many years. Only people with lot and lots of money to throw away or to show off are the big pullers. Go back to the standard
engines fine tuned and any fuel that can be purchased at a gas station. Anyone winner must tear his engine down must post A fine. If his engine is found to be standard then and only then is his fine is recinded and his First prize
money is given, possibly with a small bonus.
It sickens me to see a " BRUT" tractor belching fire and black smoke 20 feet in the air, front wheels off the ground, cages ,for possible roll
over, is not mine or many others "fun to watch".

 

[RandyB(MI)]

Boy , I'm glad you said it! I agree 100% (plus a few reasons I can't post on here)but at least the defensive ones will aim at you! My opinion , if the shoe fits...........! Oh , also , might be said that some pulls and pullers are their own worst enemy. PR isn't their strong suit.

 

[bp4455]

One big problem around here is young people arent getting into it. They need to be active in bringing young people in to try it, because in my experience people just need to get on the tractor and then theyre "hooked". Clubs also need to have a variety of classes, from stock for the gentleman below to faster and more exciting classes to draw young people in. I myself am a young person and am losing interest in the stock classes and gravitating towards faster speeds and more power.

 

[lazy A]

Gonna get fined for winning and have to tear your engine down. Sounds like our government they want to fine you for being successful.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I think a problem in our area is that we are to have stock class or barnyard class and they allow tractors with double the horsepower in the class. It makes it impossible to compete. It also hard to compete if you don't have that kind of money to spend on the tractors.

 

[20MuleTeam]

leej, "winner must tear his engine down" you say? Really? Wow.

 

[42 M]

I think there should be classes for our younger folks to run. By the time the kids get to 14-16yrs old they are to the point they found a girl/boyfriend and I don't want to pull. We have some 7-8 yr olds that are better tractor handlers than the adults because they respect the tractors and don't want to disappoint. Before everybody piles on EACH KID WOULD HAVE TO PASS A SAFETY CLASS AND A OPERATOR DRIVING TEST. With the way most clubs have rules [kill switch,wheelie bars,hitch points,low gear rule] the kids stand a better chance at falling off a swing set and breaking there neck before they would get hurt driving/pulling a tractor. As far as the running over people while backing up most of the problems are over ambitious chain hookers not waiting for the all clear sign from the puller. Here is a pic of my 8yr old this year [I'm just out of view holding the kill switch.Makes a better pic without me] . I had more veteran pullers give me more compliments on his handling skill then I ever got. I'm not saying all kids can do this but you as a parent know,my youngest might run one when he's twenty he might have the common sense by then.

 

[42 M]

This is his second yr pulling big tractors and 3rd pulling garden tractors.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Don't you think kids want too see more speed and action. I thing have the bone stock classes and have more open classes to keep more action to keep people interested. I am old and get bored watching 3-4 mph classes.

 

[Massey 101]

Very nice!

 

[kruser]

15 year old daughter (with boyfriend) pulled for the first time last Saturday on "her" tractor and loved it. She has been going with me for quite a few years (classic farm stock). 80 tractors at this pull and another 40 tractors 30 miles away in central Illinois.
Dad, when's the next pull we're going to?
Looks like I need a bigger trailer.

 

[Ole Johnny]

The lower speed classes ( 3-5mph) or so, make for a great equalaizer towards nullifying 'big buck high horse power tractors' As long as everyone uses 'natural' tires and runs the same speeds and dont over weight their tractors, everybody has the same chance. Allow the participants to make enough horsepower to spin out even if it takes alittle tweaking and then from there, all the horsepower you make is only wasted. Alot of kids and youngsters like the sound of those dangerous beasts a couple times but for those that truly like tractor pulling, the stock or nearly stock, antique classes ( tractors that they can afford) is the ticket for future pullers.
There are classes for modified and on up but DONT let them use the 'dollars' to push out the 3 to 5 miles per hour pullers.

 

[NOS88]

For the time being its kinda of on the back burner. Used to go to 2 pulls a weekend. Happily married and three kids now. Priorities change and play money decreases. The "WANT" to pull is still there, just cant go as much as used too! I go when money allows and it makes it all the worth while!

 

[Anonymous-0]

I think if a clubs cut down there number of classes you will have more tractors in one class which equals larger payout per class. Heck even a 500 dollar jackpot class would bring in 20more pullers. I've seen it!

 

[Anonymous-0]

Really take apart your motor for winning a antique tractor pull. Wow some people are way out there. Less rules speed limit, safety equipment, tires, what else do you need.

 

[WorkerofTractors]

Well this 16 year old would pull if I could get new tires on my Jd A...or when I get around to fixing low range in my '37 B, or if my JD40 would pull worth a crap. I might work on that 40 some...hmm I see a build in my future! :twisted:

~~WOT

 

[Anonymous-0]

I think if a clubs cut down there number of classes you will have more tractors in one class which equals larger payout per class. Heck even a 500 dollar jackpot class would bring in 20more pullers. I've seen it!

 

[Mopower]

I find it interesting how two entirely different types of tractors/owners will refuse to show up because they dislike each other's style of pulling even if they are not in the same classes. I find there are three main types of alleged pullers. "Poor Cheater, "Cheater", and "Rich Cheater". They all hate each other and most have their own class. As long as there is a stock class, there will be guys who get beat and accuse eachother of cheating. Sometimes so. Sometimes not. A rules fight ensues resulting in an overregulated unwelcome mess. Keep some slow mph, regulate tires, and quit telling other guy in a different class that his way of building a tractor is wrong.

 

[ghost-rider]

pulling here in north ga and eastern tn sure is slowing down,no tractors and no croud. promoters not even putting on any pulls. glad i got out before the market gets flooded with pulling tractors.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I am not seeing as bad of turnouts as some of you speak of here in western pa. It's lower, but not a lot. We dont get any crowds to watch unless its a fair or power show. Its just not enough smoke, breakage , speed to keep a crowd "happy".

 

[Jason In IL]

Hey Kruser- thats the wrong "GREEN" line!!! Can you send me a schedule for your group? I need to do some test & tuning on a couple of my pullers.

 

[Stuart]

That includes your kids to.

 

[Larry Baker]

Think most of these are all correct but no one has stated how we will fix it.I know for myself if Im going to a place that I know has the few that do whatever I think twice about wasting my time ad money.Promoters and clubs are all about as guilty so thats one problem as far as passing the buck.Seems also that anything that concentrates on making money instead of a good job soon heads down hill also.Havent cranked an antique all year with work and weather and really dont know where I would like to go close right now without the problem.There are some pulls that run a tight ship but seems to always be several hours away,anyways this is a great family activity and we need to save what we can be fore its gone like the buffalo

 

[Massey 101]

I think it is imperative, that we as pullers keep it alive and safe, fun and find ways to help promote this sport.
We can't point fingers at promoters, they endure a big cost every time they bring out the sled.
It's up to us to keep it alive, my son pulls we come in most of the times with the smaller tractors.....and compete with much bigger built tractors, I think that's what keeps us in the sport as under dogs.....
I cut tires for others pullers, biggest complaint this year has been track conditions due to such a dry summer!

 

[BushogPapa]

The BEST Exposure you can get is to have a "County Pull" at your County Fair, of local tractors directly off the FARM (mainly)..

Sure, some kid may come in with a Squirl-cage fan belted to the intake of a JD "A" or something, but the CROWD LOVES it...!!
REAL Americana...Farm kids having FUN, draws many interested new people..

Ron..

 

[BushogPapa]

Make it a RULE (as many local Horse pulls have)..if it Can't pull an appropriate sized PLOW, it aint gonna Pull...set a minimum amount they must plow the day before..then..no changes except weights..

Ron..

 

[kendak]

if you got money you win & if you're broke you don't ...thats why I quit

 

[gtx1967jewison]

U hit the nail on the head........now- who's raised such a bunch?! ? !?

 

[Anonymous-0]

Here we go with this "your class is wrong, my class is right" thing again. I enjoy watching a good driver in pace or speed limit classes but not as well as getting on my BRUT tractor wheels up, hammer down bustin out the gate 27 mph blowin smoke 150 feet in the air! You my friend need to get your head outta your katooter johnson cause i gotta 1000 dollar bill my tractor class will hold a crowd 3 times longer and twice as late as a pace/mph class. You have to like pulling to be able to sit and really enjoy your john deere bang bang go 3.5 mph and see it do it 15 times. So if my class sickens you then i suggest you go to the toilet and hug it while we make a little noise, throw a little dirt, and blow a little smoke. If i didnt like pulling I wouldn't be on this sight.

 

[Mopower]

Whenever a "we'll show them" approach is used to make the rules, a "we'll show you" approach is used in attendance.

A post was made asking for solutions, not comlaints. Create a class for each type of puller as simple as possible and pray neither type is offended by the mere presence of the other even if they are not direct competitors. Making far out rules and hoops for pullers to jump through limits it to those pullers who enjoy jumping through hoops. There are not very many that do.

 

[Rwolfejr]

Getting growth in the sport won't happen without the addition of at least one class of pulling to a club.

If you don't give pullers a class to grow into it gets old and they'll say heck with it.

With pure stock-ish only you end up with the same basic group at every pull producing about the same results each time. Starts to get to be like watching paint dry. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

Gotta get things cranked up and limit restrictions to get any variety in the outcome and to add some excitement to an otherwise pretty boring event. Without any hopes of generating better results out of a tractor due to rule restrictions, how many times can a puller come in fifth or tenth place before they get bored with it and leave the tractor at home?

If you only allow for operator variation and the slight changes in track conditions, you might as well just leave the tractors home and go by the Nebraska test results and draw straws for the close ones. Save hauling the things out there.

Sure stock is cool and everybody should try it at least a couple dozen times or so but....?

There is a direct coorelation between the amount of power a tractor produces and the level of pleasure it brings people. Low power = low pleasure... High power = high pleasure. I think it's one of the laws of nature? Maybe Newton already came up with that one?

 

[FactoryFarmer]

I have not seen this around here. In pulls where they allow some sort of stock class everyone and their neighbor shows up to pull for fun even though there are a ton of non-stock tractors in the same class. There's not really alot of rules around here at all and everyone still has a blast. It's sort of a sandbox run what ya brung environment. Granted, the tractors have to be kinda stock and nothing to hoped up nobody goes over your tractor with a finetooth comb and gets nit picky.

Make the rules a little bit looser and people will show up. For example, why should farm stock be limited to 15.5 tires when a majority of the tractors of the same size and hp may have had 16.9's.

 

[buickanddeere]

(quoted from post at 18:56:37 07/07/12) 15 year old daughter (with boyfriend) pulled for the first time last Saturday on "her" tractor and loved it. She has been going with me for quite a few years (classic farm stock). 80 tractors at this pull and another 40 tractors 30 miles away in central Illinois.
Dad, when's the next pull we're going to?
Looks like I need a bigger trailer.

Lucky for the girl she got her looks from her Mom.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I thought you had pankey power?

 

[cmickgo]

Having a good sound system and announcer at pulls helps. Many of the casual people will watch if an announcer hooks them.