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Tractor Pulling Discussion Forum

Tractor Pull Gone Bad!

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Tara Z

04-19-2004 22:29:48




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This past weekend we put on an indoor tractor pull in Wisconsin. Things were going extremely well, that should probably should have been our first clue that something bad was coming. It started out when our antique tractor classes began. At first one person sandbagged, then the next sandbagged more, and it just progressed into our biggest entry class. The first place prize money was $202, and people were sandbagging like crazy. One person, I'm not proud to say was a family member, sandbagged and won the class. The flag man didn't stop the first sandbaggers because as he said it, "I made a bad call that really got taken advantage of. I couldn't call anybody on sandbagging because I made a bad decision not to call a person who sandbagged just a little bit." Now all the people that sandbagged are angry at each other and are saying that one is more guilty than the other. I say they are all equally guilty. The fact of the matter is that we are supposed to have another pull in a month. We would really like to put it on but with the cheeting that goes on, does it really pay? Long time friends are turning on each other, and I hate to see that. On Sunday, my dad said at the drivers meeting, well more like yelled, at everyone. He told them that if they planned on cheating they should go home because it wasn't going to be tollerated. He explained to the people that weren't there the day before about the flag mans bad judgement and how as the night went on it was really taken advantage of. On Sunday the flagman called people on sandbagging and really cracked down on all the rules. I felt it was the best pull I had ever seen, at least was judged fairly. Some people had a complete fit about some of the judgement, but as the event coordinator, my dad felt that he couldn't undermind the fladmans calls because then things would have turned ugly again. I really need feedback about this whole issue. Please respond freely.

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VH crew member

04-24-2004 03:45:51




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 Re: Tractor Pull Gone Bad! in reply to Tara Z, 04-19-2004 22:29:48  
I'm part of the crew that owns and operates the sled the antiques pulled at Medina. I was there all three days of the event, but I run the garden tractors not the antiques, so i don't know all the rules that antiques can have. What i don't understand is how much honor is left when you take advantage of the pace tractor concept. It's there to keep you from going faster than the officials want you to go, but to sandbag means once there is enough distance they hit the gas and go faster THAN THE PACE. Cheaters. why do you even accept such rules if all your going to do is undermind them the first chance you get. Maybe the track judge did make a bad call by not DQing the first one to do it, but what are you saying about your club, the sport, and quite frankly yourself when you dive towards a loop hole in the rules like a rabbit. jeff did an amazing job with that benefit pull. the second day he let you all know what he thought of your actions. it wasn't yelling it was a deserved talking to, to a large crowd. Sorry for sounding so opionated about a type of pulling i don't participate in but come on. Rules aren't made to be broken.

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Flyin Farmall

04-20-2004 18:42:01




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 Re: Tractor Pull Gone Bad! in reply to Tara Z, 04-19-2004 22:29:48  
Jeff did an EXCELLENT job at keeping it all together,considering all that happened over the weekend!!Hopefully we can get away from the pace tractor soon,the same guys sandbag everytime,and we all know they cry the loudest if some one else does it too.The flagman did an excellent job on Sunday,he was hardnosed,like a good flagman should be.I am sure the pull in May will go alot better,and after what happened on Sun.I think there will be some changes on alot of tractors.

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Mark

04-20-2004 14:10:02




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 Re: Tractor Pull Gone Bad! in reply to Tara Z, 04-19-2004 22:29:48  
I wouldnt worry about the sandbagging. I Just went to watch the pull and left early because I couldnt believe what I saw. We got there about noon and the very first tractor we saw pull flipped over backwards. Very lucky she wasnt hurt. Non one was checking for floating drawbars. After they made everyone leave the building to clean up the mess, we went walking around, looking at different things, talking to people. I cant believe there was a rule of NO wheelie bars in stock class. Come on. No tractor should pull without wheelie bars. And over half of the wheelie bars that were on tractors probably wouldnt hold anyway. And unpaced tractor were something else. No side shields on alot of them, and most were turning way more than stock rpms. I believe only two ran a little over stock Only a couple had scatter blankets, and I can almost bet none had steel flywheels. I was glad i left my tractor at home. Come on people, get with the program and put safety first, before someone gets killed. Sorry just had to vent.

Mark

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wags

04-20-2004 11:01:40




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 Re: Tractor Pull Gone Bad! in reply to Tara Z, 04-19-2004 22:29:48  
When and where is the next pull?, I want to see this myself. Are these antique classes?



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Paul in Mich

04-20-2004 10:26:29




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 Re: Tractor Pull Gone Bad! in reply to Tara Z, 04-19-2004 22:29:48  
TaraZ, The way I see it, it isn't cheating if the officials allow it. You can't expect pullers not to "sandbag" if the flagman allowed some pullers to do it. Don't blame the pullers, blame the flagman, or even the official who allowed the flagman to continue. Its no different than officials allowing the extra step in basketball. If the officials allow it it isnt cheating as long as they allow everyone to do it. It may be bending the rules, but it isn't cheating. They "Steal" bases in baseball every day, but that isnt cheating either. I would suggest that the next time you have a pull, that you make the rules very clear from the onset, and make sure the starters, flagmen, and other officials clearly understand that if they dont do their job, things can get out of hand quickly. I think if your Dad Yelled at the contestants, he yelled at the wrong people. He should have had a serious meeting with all the officials and outline what is expected of them. What should have been done with the first instance of sandbagging, is that if the flagman wasn't enforcing the first sandbagger to pick up tht pace, the pull should have been immediately aborted and the puller get back in line and the pull not count unless he was not heeding the flagmans signals. That would have prevented the domino effect that ensued.

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Wild Horses

04-20-2004 10:26:22




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 Re: Tractor Pull Gone Bad! in reply to Tara Z, 04-19-2004 22:29:48  
If they're sandbagging the pace tractor, your pace setter needs to slow down and not let them get a run on him. As long as he doesn't let them get farther back than a tractor length. I can't see them getting much advantage. They'll have to pick up the pace before the sled starts to bear down or it's going to shut them down quick.



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Ind. Puller

04-20-2004 07:31:16




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 Re: Tractor Pull Gone Bad! in reply to Tara Z, 04-19-2004 22:29:48  
With the new measuring devices most have a mph. built right in. When used for 1 season alone, the cost per day isn't that bad. We haven't used the pace tractor around here since the 70's. A lot of pullers here have never even seen one used. Are you still maeasuring with a string?



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ken

04-20-2004 05:08:18




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 Re: Tractor Pull Gone Bad! in reply to Tara Z, 04-19-2004 22:29:48  
What kind of pull was it ?



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CASEPOWER

04-20-2004 03:53:25




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 Re: Tractor Pull Gone Bad! in reply to Tara Z, 04-19-2004 22:29:48  
I'm lost What do you mean by sandbagging?? That's new cheating to me.



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WTW

04-20-2004 06:59:28




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 Re: Re: Tractor Pull Gone Bad! in reply to CASEPOWER, 04-20-2004 03:53:25  
Sandbagging happens when a pace tractor or vehicle is used to judge pulling speed. It is a term referring to the pulling tractor holding back its speed potential and letting the pace vehicle get ahead to get distance between it and the pace to get a run for it at the end of the track. The answer to all this is get rid of the out dated way of pacing and get a automated speed sensing device on the sled. Give the pulling tractor a distance to get his speed set and if he/she exceeds it after this distance he/she just DQed themselves. This type of judging is fair and nobody screwed anybody but themselves concerning speed. If you want to know how to build a home made version of a speed sensing device I can help as I have several out there that work well or you can buy a electronic type that is advertised in many pulling publications. Hey CASEPOWER this might make another article for your Magazine?? Let me know if you are interested. Dave W.

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CASEPOWER

04-20-2004 07:21:43




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 Re: Re: Re: Tractor Pull Gone Bad! in reply to WTW, 04-20-2004 06:59:28  
I have never seen a Pace vehicle used to check speed. We all use electronics here. Stock 3-1/2 and if the horn blows 3 times your out. In my experiences when you go slow then get into it you spin out. I was fighting the horn in 4200# class last Sat. I blew it twice but still spun out a couple of miles away from the leader. I couldn't even see the end of the 200 foot track were I stopped at. It took 10 minutes for the flagman to walk back and un hook my tractor. I had already fallen asleep and my tractor ran out of gas,so they pushed me off to the side.HeeHee

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ChadS

04-20-2004 09:09:41




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Tractor Pull Gone Bad! in reply to CASEPOWER, 04-20-2004 07:21:43  
Now that is what I call "sandbagging" LOL Chad



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WILDMAN

04-20-2004 04:50:54




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 Re: Re: Tractor Pull Gone Bad! in reply to CASEPOWER, 04-20-2004 03:53:25  
SANDBAGGING THATS ATERM I DON'T KNOW OF.



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BUDD

04-20-2004 04:43:51




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 Re: Re: Tractor Pull Gone Bad! in reply to CASEPOWER, 04-20-2004 03:53:25  
Me too, I would like more info please!

BUDD



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dctom

04-20-2004 09:11:41




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 Re: Re: Re: Tractor Pull Gone Bad! in reply to BUDD, 04-20-2004 04:43:51  
SANDBAGING OLD TRICK BUT CURED WITH RADAR SPEED CONTROL



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North of 8 Rebel

04-20-2004 10:27:40




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Tractor Pull Gone Bad! in reply to dctom, 04-20-2004 09:11:41  
Screw speed limits, let it run!!



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Iowa puller

04-20-2004 16:49:26




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Tractor Pull Gone Bad! in reply to North of 8 Rebel, 04-20-2004 10:27:40  
Agreed, The crowd wants to see speed,fire and smoke. Thats what they paid to see.



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Brian Dain

04-20-2004 16:42:42




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Tractor Pull Gone Bad! in reply to North of 8 Rebel, 04-20-2004 10:27:40  
Tara,

We have alot of friction at our pulls because of the tight competition. Example in the nearstock 7000# class 5 or 6 pullers were all within 4 or 5 feet of each other. I beat out one gentlemen by .600 of an inch for 4th or 5th place. Point being that alot of people expect to place in each class. Tara be proud of your father, he did an excellant job of being firm but fair with the rules. What he said at the driver's meetings was not taking as yelling or bitching, this is a good way to start out the season and put all the rules on the table and enforce them!!! If we did not have a person like your father (who is also a damn good puller)taking leadership of this B.S. by this time next year we would have a few black-eyes and tractors frustrated in sheds. Jeff thanks for all your hard work, the quiet guys really appreciate it. The pull that we are chatting about took place in Medina Wisconsin and was advertized in the Hook (Hopefully we will have another next year)

Brian Dain

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marlowe

04-20-2004 18:02:18




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Tractor Pull Gone Bad! in reply to Brian Dain, 04-20-2004 16:42:42  
WELL SAID BRIAN



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