In this division, garden lawn mowers are given supercharged V8 engines and go roaring down the track. In , the National Tractor Pullers Association was established to standardize the rules and various classes. They also began worrying about safety rules. Spectators were moved back and concrete barriers were put up. Drivers were required to wear helmets and, later, fireproof suits.
Kill switches were added to the tractors and a neutral light was added to show when the tractor was actually out of gear and safe to hook up to the sled. Sled operators were given seat belts and a safer position on top. Scatter shields on flywheels, wheelie bars and a second draw bar help add to the margin of safety.
A sport that started with 50 horsepower machines driven by farmers directly from their fields to the pull off has now become big business with Super Stock Open class machines putting out over 5, horsepower. Thousands more flock to watch the events in person. When a pull starts, the weight is at the back of the sled. When the sled is towed, the weight moves tot the front.
This puts more weight on the sled making it harder for the tractor to pull the sled. Speed The developed speed during a run is of great importance. The sled mass will start to matter. A full pull is in less than 10 seconds possible on a well prepared track.
And with a total weight of 20, to 25, kg! If more than one competitor completes the metre track with the sledge a full pull , then the sledge is made harder to pull, and the competitors who made a full pull go again until they are stopped and a winner obtained.
However, the sport has many varied classes ranging from the small, single engined kg Modifieds, through the stock machines to the multi-engined 4. Here is a brief description of the classes which are competed at events with the North West Tractor Pulling Club.
The weight of each class is the weight of the machine and driver ready to compete. The Super Farm class is based on a stock farm tractor and is limited to one turbo charger and a RPM limit of The original tractor engine must be used. This is a low cost class and a starting class for many tractor pulling competitors. The class is competed at 3. There is no RPM limit on this class, which for many is the next step up from Super Farm in the world of tractor pulling.
The Under Prostock class is competed at 3. There are also separate divisions for modified tractors. These are usually much lighter but generate a lot more power. Numbers continue to grow and there may need to be a split between diesel- and petrol-powered machines to keep people in similar classes. With many different categories, tractor pull is open to anyone with a tractor — big or small, old or new, original or modified. All you need is a similar vehicle to compete against and you have a competition.
Most tractor pull events are advertised through Facebook or event newsletters, and competitors just turn up on the day. The only restriction on entrants is that they must be road legal to operate the tractors if you can drive it on the road, you can enter the competition. Local field days are the most common place to find a tractor pull event. There are also several clubs in New Zealand holding events throughout the year.
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