making a profit from a pull

[north puller]

Anyone have any ideas on how to have a pull that doesn't lose money? One of our local fair pulls has been dropped by the group that puts it on. The grounds and track are still available, but the pull would be totally on its own. No help from the rest of the fair. Without a big sponsorship I don't know how it could go on. Could increase hook fees, but that may drive away pullers. Any ideas?

 

[Two-cents]

I used to organize and promote antique pulls for a few local fairs and if I was still doing it I would do as follows. Two classes open and stock. $5 hook fee, no payback, trophies, etc...However, have 2 jackpot classes 5,000 and 6,500 with a $25-$30 hook fee and payback. This will keep the locals who want to play happy and let them have a few more hooks, and those who want some money for their time will have their shot too.

 

[Allis Fields]

I'm puting myself in the same spot. But tring to start up a new pull. Not realy looking for a profet but more like you not to end up footing a big bill.

 

[Welding man]

I would say if the pullers want a big pay back it would be tough. Our club owns all of it's own equipment. We pull 15 classes and only give trophys for the top 5 in each class. We sell sponsorships for each class for $60.00 per class . That covers the costs of the trophys. We never have any problem getting sponsors. We charge $6.00 hook fee. $1.00 goes for insurance and $5.00 goes to the club.We average 150 hooks per pull. That's $750.00 times 7 pulls a year, plus we sell hats, tee shirts and some pulls we get a spectator admission. Works for us.not getting rich but we buy some new piece of equipment every year.

 

[north puller]

My numbers are not concrete, but here goes:

Antique only, 3500 up to 10500. Typical turn out is 120 hooks total.

Sled rental and trucking: $1000
Scale rental: $200
Prizes (small trophy): $500
Sound system rental: $200
Insurance (aprox): $500
Pens, markers, printing, misc: $200

That totals $2600. To be safe I would like to have $3000.

100 hooks @ $10 gives me $1000. I am $2000 short. The fair is still going, but they are leaving me hanging. Any admission at the gate goes to the fair, same for a food booth.

A long time running pull might be dead. In an area with not many pulls, it's a shame to lose one.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Charge a 20 dollor entry fee pay back 50 percent.If you need more hooks to break even let thhem hook more times.Ir works in southern Il.I dont know what your sled cost wich would have a big bearing on what you need to break even.I would think you would have a sled there if it is a fair and should be abel to get a break on sled rental.It takes about a 100 hooks for us to break even.

 

[DAVE Thompson jr]

You should post your name. You have a very good topic. I think that a pull should have common rules like USAP or NATPA. Small clubs make rules to keep out competition and that has been a problem for years. There are alot of people out there that look forward to going to a tractor pull and would support it or donate to the pulls.

 

[johndeereman]

is there a local pulling club that would donate or help with sled? and who needs more trophies? most our clubs around here give ribbons instead i think i heard them say they cost 45 cents each cheaper the more you buy and can have anything printed on them. most pulls dont offer payback and get as many hooks as clubs that do

 

[wi50]

It's alwayse a fight to try and make money pulling or hosting a pull, what about admission to the pull? Most places here charge a fee, say $5, but there's some free fairs also. Get the admission to high though and it turns people off.

Get donations from various business in the area, trackside banners for $100. Common here to get some sponsorship twards a pull and advertiseing for the business.

My take on pulling is that if I'm going to travel to one, I don't care if the hook fee is $5 or $25, and I don't care what the payout is. Just happy to be able to pull.

Weather pending, sometimes a club can make decent money, but it's just as easy to come up short.


Good luck

 

[showcrop]

A big sponsorship could be very difficult to find, but I see some of the pulls with many smaller ones.

 

[showcrop]

A big sponsorship could be very difficult to find, but I see some of the pulls with many smaller ones.

 

[mshultz]

Just to pay insurance that is worth having, I'd guess you'll need several pulls a year to try to make it cash flow. I think our club's insurance (allied?) is around 2400 a year for up to around 10 pulls, then so much per pull after that. We have our own sled, scraper, and roller; but they were all paid for over several years through the pulls. We have 4-5 antique specific pulls per year, and then we rent our sled to the fairgrounds for some of their pulls. Our club traditionally runs the fair pulls and keeps the area mowed around the track, bleachers, and pit area in exchange for use of the track for our monthly pulls (a little more complicated - but that's the general gist). We only charge $5 per hook for the antique pulls, and have no payback. We make ribbons available for those that want to take them, but hardly anyone even bothers to get them. We usually make as much from the food trailer as we do from hook fees, and the menu is limited - burgers, dogs, soda, and chips.

Most people I know patronize the food trailer because they know it helps keep things afloat. If my family had to pay to get into the pull, we'd probably pack a lunch and go to the food trailer less. I personally wouldn't be thrilled about an admission fee to get into a local antique pull. It gets to be expensive enough of a day for the puller. I don't know about everyone else, but it's a rare occasion to get my wife out to watch a pull - and if she had to pay I'd never see here there.... not sure if that's good or bad... :

 

[Allis Fields]

ant coments on likes or dislikes. If the pull I"m working on goes threw. The hook fee will be $15 with 50% payback. and pay back up to 3rd / and or progresive back as more entrys get in it. To keep the 1st place to $20 to $35 or so. Or would top thre devide all 50% prgresively. My idea is I"m more likely to pull 4 times as to 3 times with my $60. that was some people can get some back and feel better about it.

 

[gtx1967jewison]

The pulls i go to around here are free to watch & free to enter, just sign up. they are put on for FUN, by clubs. I seriously doubt there is anyone with any insurance & the equipment is owned by the club, usually just a simple old transfer sled. No need for insurance if the participants all sign a waiver. The tractors are all stock or nearly so, so very little risk unlike all the drag cars with tractor tires on 'em like seems to be the main theme on this forum. I do like to watch those too but they are in another world from what we have. The hotrod pulls i'm aware of charge like 10 bucks per hook, &/or require membership in the club but if profit is the goal forget about it. FUN needs to be the idea.

 

[north puller]

NO INSURANCE!? One spectator trips and falls, one 50 year old fan blade breaks and comes out, one rod let's go and sends a chunk of cast block flying and then what? You like your house? Want to keep it? As the promoter, I would not let one person set foot one the grounds before we had insurance.

 

[730lp]

gtx, "stock or nearly so"? What 'bout the "some road gear U" & "the screamin' jenny"?

 

[mightymolinekid]

I know if I'm planning on going to a pull, I will look up or call the organizer first with a couple questions. 1st what are the rules? 2nd, how much is hook fee? 3rd can I hook more than once? Weather I go or not depends on how they answer. If my tractor fits the rules for several classes, the hook fee is reasonable, and I can hook more than once I'm there. If the hook fee is $15 I'll hook twice, if it's $10 I'll hook 3 times, if it's $25 or $30, I'll consider how far away it is, and what the other classes are if it will be an enjoyable show for my family to watch all day. I'm not sure how the progressive payouts work, but are you better off having a lower hook fee to get more tractors in the class and therefore increasing the overall pot? I guess the point I'm trying to make is be careful how much you charge per hook, you want to keep puller numbers high. For the most part we are the ones who really understand and will make sure to visit the food stands as well.

 

[chevy2]

contact ray at hooked on pullin' llc, www.hookedonpullin.com great guy to deal with he organizes and promotes many pulls, he will help you or ray and his staff may even be interested in taking the pulls over, but i would give him a call.
Untitled URL Link

 

[chevy2]

contact ray at hooked on pullin' llc, www.hookedonpullin.com great guy to deal with he organizes and promotes many pulls, he will help you or ray and his staff may even be interested in taking the pulls over, but i would give him a call.
Untitled URL Link

 

[chevy2]

contact ray at hooked on pullin' llc, www.hookedonpullin.com great guy to deal with he organizes and promotes many pulls, he will help you or ray and his staff may even be interested in taking the pulls over, but i would give him a call.