|
Archived Past Pages:
2007 pages
2008 pages
011509
020409
021809
022709
030709
031709
033109
041009
042209
050809
051809
053009
061709
062609
070109
071609
072309
080609
082709
091709
100109 |
W
e e k l y F
e a t u r e P a g e
Links to archived past pages on lower left
| The contents of the “Weekly Feature” page are provided
to you for your entertainment, amusement, and perhaps information.
Here you may find articles of interest, pictures, historical information
on the Club, or whatever shuffles to the top of the pile on our
desk. The only defined characteristic of this space is that we
will make every effort to change/replace it around the middle of
each week. Thank you for visiting, and please stop by again. Click
on any photo to see it larger in a separate window. |
This week we welcome a "first time ever" guest
editorial to the Weekly Feature page.
The following article from Charlie
Poosch is reprinted with permission, to remind all you tractor pull
fans of the upcoming Great Lakes Classic NATPA (Indoor) pull at the
Shiawassee County Fairgrounds. Details and links are included.
2009
GREAT LAKES CLASSIC READY TO ROAR “The sum is greater than the whole of its parts” is a cliché applied
too often to too many
things, especially in sports. Nowhere else is this perhaps so true, though,
as in pulling. This
sport is one of singularities that, in the aggregate, can propel a competitor
to the front of the
field, but a wrong decision, an error of any kind, can send one plummeting
down the order.
It is a simple objective: pull a sled farther than
anyone else. Competitors may be broken
out into classes of like against like, but the objective for all remains
the same. The methods for
doing so have been honed by sixty years of experience. There is probably
no right way to get
down the track, but there certainly is a whole lot of wrong ways. Variables
in terms of engine
setup, general chassis layout, and tire design are made months in advance
and carry through. A
day long drive to the pull site and scan of the track filters through a mind
full of experience and
decisions are made as to tire pressures, weights and locations, gear selection,
choice of starting
position, and path down the track that are made minutes in advance. Once
on the track
controlling the butterflies in the throttle and the stomach and setting into
motion all of those previous decisions and reacting to the throbbing beast
beneath you brings a result measured in
feet and inches and the conclusion is reached in mere seconds.
There is no opportunity for practice, no pit-stops,
no qualifying, and no elimination rounds. Hours, days, months, even
years of choices culminate
very quickly
in
success or failure.
An error anywhere along the way means a short hook. For this reason, a 20
second or shorter
ride carries with it all sorts of pressure. The thrill is every bit as addicting
as the power.
By the time you read this, many of the men and women
of the National Antique Tractor
Pulling Association will have made those very decisions and travelled north
to Michigan for the
annual Summer Pull in Berrien Springs. It will be known whether or not
off-season changes are working. Those who improved will have a head start in their local
summer tours heading into
the winter national season, for those who stepped back, they will have a reprieve
to make
changes before coming back together in Michigan for the Fifth Annual Great
Lakes Classic at
the Shiawassee County Fairgrounds October 23, 24, and 25. Pullers from around
the country
will make back-to-back journeys to Pure Michigan for the first time ever, kicking
off the 2009-
2010 season in fine fashion. Many have begun their seasons here and we hope
many more will
come “Up North” again. 3 days of action awaits you with Friday evening’s “Hospitality” night
and Jackpot pulls, Saturday’s day-long NATPA national event, and Sunday’s
Michigan State
finals for the Michigan Tractor Pulling Association and featuring the 6000lb.
Farm, 5500lb. V8
Hot Rod Tractors, and for the first time ever, the 5800lb. Super Stock Trucks
of the Thumb
Tractor Pulling Association.
One year ago, there were some new faces joining us
for the very first time. 12 year old
Jason Jonckheere attended with an Allis-Chalmers CA and won his first
time out. Meanwhile
seasoned pros made new starts as well. Division 4 stalwart Gary Baker
moved down to Division
3 with another Farmall M. His decision to go out under the speed limit
class was much to his
liking and he marched through the season to win a class national championship.
In addition, one
of the largest and most competitive fields of V8 Hot Rods ever thundered
across the track in
search of a full pull blast and a commanding victory. Sam Gingell will
have a Michigan State
Championship for 6000lb. tractors to defend and Tom Isenhart will look
for another good pay
day in the 6000lb. Jackpot. In 2009 the hope is to see more fresh faces
as well as the return of
some veterans we have not seen in a while. All are welcome to join in
on the fun, be it from the
sidelines or by bringing out that ageless iron and making all of those
little decisions that could
send you down the track. For more information, check back early and often
with www.natpa.com and www.greatlakesclassic.org for event details,
schedules, sponsor
information, where to stay, and relive memories in the photo galleries.
Air up the tires, stack and rack the weights, and
yank the throttle open. See
you at the
track.
Charles Poosch
Great Lakes Classic Committee |
