Results

NTPA Spring Nationals Shipshewana, IN (USA) Session 1: https://ntpapull.com/pullresults/2022/2022-ShipIN-01.htm

NTPA Spring Nationals Shipshewana, IN (USA) Session 2: https://ntpapull.com/pullresults/2022/2022-ShipIN-02.htm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PPL Nationals, Louisville, KY (USA) March 26, 2022: https://development.propulling.com/events/results#/results/2022-03-26/1/0/730

Light Limited Turbo Tractors at Ocala Winter Nationals Jan 28 29 2022

Light Limited Super Stock Tractors at Ocala Winter Nationals Jan 28 29 2022

Watch Orangeburg SC pulling live PPV

 Orangeburg Truck & Tractor Pull Mar 25-26

194 Drag Strip Road, Neeses SC

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Pro Stock 4x4 Trucks at Ocala Winter Nationals Jan 28 29 2022

This Weekend!

https://truckingshow.com/

 

Trecker Treck Grasberg

https://youtu.be/dOfRRXlsAjk?t=2439

Stock & Hot Farm Pulling from Grasberg / North Germany - live

Join us for our first live stream from Europe.

Up at the North Sea Coast, a little north of the city of Bremen, the winter is gone and the farmers are getting their tractors ready for the first Tractor Pull.

Expect real "out of field" competition as well as some local hot farm guys testing their machines for the upcoming season.

It's a dairy area with lots of silage - so 4WD and big tires are what matters to them.

Super Modified 2WD Trucks at Ocala Winter Nationals Jan 28 29 2022

R.I.P Peter Gregor

Last Saturday, the German tractor pulling scene was informed by the death of former modified and mini modified competitor Peter Gregor from Wadersloh in Germany. Peter Gregor passed away on Friday, the 11th of March 2022 at the age of 65 after a long illness.
Peter was, in the year 1980, one of the founding members of the German Tractor Pulling Organization ''DTTO''. But, Peter already started with tractor pulling before the DTTO was founded. Usually, Peter wanted to build a single axle trailer, out of an old Henschel truck. After Theo Beumker from his neighborhood had caused quite a stir with his legendary modified tractor called ''Zwölfender'', Gregor decided to build his own modified tractor on Christmas 1979.

He, together with Andreas Finger, build the modified tractor called ''Orly'' during the winter of 1979/1980. That tractor was powered by a Henschel semi-truck engine and did his maiden run in Lippstadt 1980. After that first event, the tractor received a roots blower for more power. But that roots blower wasn't driven by the Henschel truck engine. That roots blower was driven by a petrol fuel car engine. This car engine with the roots blower was positioned in a box behind the driver's seat. With that car engine-driven roots blower setup, Peter and Andreas saved horsepower for the Henschel engine. After the establishment of the DTTO in 1981, new tractors entered the classes and the power of the tractors also increased.

That meant, Peter put on the Henschel engine a turbocharger for more power. With that setup, the engine made around 650hp. With the extra horsepower of the engine, Peter Gregor and Andreas Finger saved the runner-up position in the 4.2t and 5.7 modified class in the 1981 German Championship point standings. In 1982, Peter and Andreas built their second modified tractor called ''Twenty Four''. This machine was completely different to their first tractor Orly. This Twenty Four tractor was powered by 3 Opel Diplomat V8 engines (the engine is like a Chevy 327 V8). Each engine had around 250hp, so in total the tractor had around 750hp, which was a lot at that time.

The engines were positioned on the chassis in stair-step configuration. During the 1982 season, they sold their old Orly tractor to Johann Schnackenberg (the late dad of tractor pulling announcer Ulf Schnackenberg) from Oldendorf in Germany. Johann renamed the tractor into ''Swingel''. After the sale of the tractor, they concentrated fully now on the new triple V8. At the end of 1984, Peter stopped with tractor pulling because his family was more important to him.
But in 1994, he returned actively to the tractor pulling sport again. 

In that year, Peter and Andreas got a Klimov Isotov TV 2 turbine from modified competitor Martin Ortkrass and a used mini mod chassis was purchased from Mark Hermoneit in North Germany. With those 2 major components, they built a new mini mod tractor which has nobody seen before in Europe. Due to the length of the Russian turbine, the turbine needed the whole middle part of the chassis. That space problem meant the driver's position was not on the rear axle of the tractor. The driver's position on the tractor was on the left side of the chassis, alongside the turbine. The new mini mod got the name ''Sky Scraper''. Sky Scraper was Germany's first turbine-powered mini mod. The maiden voyage was usually planned for the first outdoor pull of the season in Füchtorf in 1995. But issues with the turbine didn't allow a start in front of the sled. 

In Anholt, they had issues getting the gear out of the tractor and the starter lock prevented the turbine from starting. Peter did its first meters in front of the sled in Haßmoor 1995. But Peter Gregor and Andreas Finger found quickly out it was difficult to drive the side steered tractor straight on the track. The steer and brake feeling were completely different compared to a normal pulling tractor. Over the years, Andreas Finger and Peter Gregor shared the driver's duties on the Sky Scraper until the end of 98. For the 99 season, Peter took over steering for all pulls on the tractor and drove a bit braver. Due to changes during the winter of 98/99, they saved some weight for more movable weight on the tractor.

After those important changes, the Sky Scraper was better drivable and the power could be increased during the season. 

With a lot of great results during the 1999 season, Peter finished the year in runner-up position in the German Championship point standings behind Thomas Zimmermann and his Arias V8 powered Joker.

Definitely, the highlight of the season was his first victory with the tractor in Edewecht, Germany. He had beaten the later champion, Thomas Zimmerman, by 5m. With the runner-up position in the German Championship, he was qualified for the European Championship too. He went with his white turbine tractor as a secret favorite to the 1999 EC in Bouconville in France.

But that EC wasn't very good for him. After a very good start, the rear axle, unfortunately, broke for the third time that season.

Another exciting thing, by the way, at that time he was sponsored by the Hohenfelder brewery. Because of the alcohol and tobacco advertising ban in France, the stickers of the Hohenfelder brewery had to be taped over for the 1999 EC in France.
After those problems with the Dana 60 rearend, the rearend was replaced by a new homemade axle with Mercedes components. Also, the look of the Sky Scraper changed for the 2000 season. After 5 years in white colors, the tractor was repainted in black, due to sponsor reasons. He did on his mini mod tractor advertising for the Hohenfelder brewery's new Black beer ''Lippmann's Dunkel''. After the problems were solved with the rear axle, then he had problems with the gearbox of the Sky Scraper during the 2000 season. But those gearbox issues on the mini cost him a place under the top 3 in the German Championship in 2000. 

The season was finished behind Joker, Mr. Rabbit, and Ghost Buster 1 in 4th place in the German Championship point standings. With this 4th place, Peter was again qualified for the European Championship in Herning, Denmark. But a further gearbox damage at the German season finals in Erkelenz-Holzweiler and already plans for a new mini mod tractor brought Peter to the decision not to repair the tractor anymore.

Already during the 2000 season, he had some plans in his head to build a new mini mod tractor for the upcoming season in 2001. Peter felt not well anymore on the side steered tractor, and also the power of the turbine wasn't enough anymore for the top positions. He started to make the first measurements and calculations for the parts and consulted with Günter Bals and Martin Ortkrass about his new project during the year 2000. Peter's plan was a completely new mini modified tractor with a Klimov Isotov TV 3 - 117 turbine. Peter started with the new mini modified project in the winter of 2000. He built for the tractor a completely new homemade steel tube frame with a 2 bar steel roll cage and a homemade rearend with Mercedes components. The driver's position on the new Sky Scraper was on the rear axle now and not anymore on the site of the chassis. The gearbox in the turbine mini was homemade and received custom-built shafts and gears from Höner Technic. Martin Ortkrass, the driver and owner of the modified tractor called ''Iwan'' developed the gearbox for the mini at that time. At the first half of the season, he drove with the old set of Firestone 18.4x16.1 tires of his old tractor on the new Sky Scraper.During the summer of 2001, the old set of tires was replaced by a set of new special cut mini rod tires from Bob Parks from the USA. Peter did his maiden voyage with the new Sky Scraper at the German Championship opener in Weseke 2001. And it was a success. 

Peter made 2 nice passes in front of Iron Maniac sled and finished second behind Ghost Buster 3 there. Already at the 3rd Championship round in Eschach-Seifertshofen, he won his first event with the new tractor. During the rest of the season, he finished on 2 further events in runner up position. That was in Krumbach-Breitenthal and Edewecht. The year was finished in an impressive 3rd place in the German Championship point standings behind Ghost Buster 1 and Mr. Rabbit. But Peter Gregor not only competed in the German Championship in 2001. Peter also registered his new Sky Scraper for the Euro Cup in 2001. His best results in the 2001 Euro Cup were a 6th place in Herning, Denmark, and 8th place on the Windenhof in France. Sky Scraper was to find in 10th in Euro Cup point standings in 2001. With his 3rd place in the German Championship, Peter was again qualified for the European Championship. The result at the EC in Hörby, Sweden was only a 10th place. The track there was very difficult due to a lot of rain in the days before. So the track suit him not really and the tractor was difficult to drive.

That the new Sky Scraper was sometimes difficult showed Peter in 2002. That season was maybe one of the worse mini-mod seasons in his active pulling career. The new Sky Scraper with the new cut Bob Parks tires was difficult to drive, and Peter had lots of trouble keeping the tractor in bounds. The pull in Verl was perhaps the lowest point of the year. He couldn't keep the tractor in bounds in both qualifying attempts. After that, he built a new rear axle for the tractor with new modified components. Unfortunately, he missed the German Championship round in Krumbach-Breitenthal and the Euro Cup rounds in Putten, the Netherlands, and in Herning, Denmark at that time, due to the troubles with the rear axle. At the German Championship finals in Edewecht, he returned to the pulling track with the mini and a new rear axle. The new rear axle in the tractor worked properly, and he did 2 straight pulls for the first time that season. The result in Edewecht was a 6th place and a 6th place in the 2002 German Championship point standings as well. After Edewecht, the form curve was pointing upwards again. Another nice 4th place finish followed at the Euro Cup finals in Bettborn, Luxembourg, it also was the best Euro Cup result of the season.
After the positive end in 2002, Peter was motivated again to fight back in 2003. 

The 2003 pulling season started for him in Weseke, Germany. It was the first outdoor pull of the season at the end of March. Peter's first hook of the year was pretty well. He did a nice qualifying pass over the hundred with the Sky Scraper and was qualified for the pull off. The new needle bearing differential which he has built during the winter of 2002/2003 worked pretty well. The turbine-powered mini was better drivable with the new diff. But in the finals, he had a wild run again. After a good start, like in the first pass, the left rear tire lost traction and the pull ended with a broken steering at around 50m. But fortunately, no further damage was found on the tractor back home in the workshop. About 4 weeks later, was the official German Championship opener in Füchtorf. Like in Weseke, he had a great start, but at around 70m the driveshaft broke, and his pull was over. This broken driveshaft and the problems with the Sky Scraper in the past were for Peter Gregor the occasion to retire from the tractor pulling sport after the event in Füchtorf. Peter sold the turbine-powered mini mod to Austria.
Also, after his retirement as a competitor from the tractor pulling sport in 2003, he was always connected to the sport.
With him, the tractor pulling sport has lost another great person who has shaped the sport from the beginning in Germany. One is sure, he will never be forgotten, and his unique tractor designs will be in the mind of the people.

Our thoughts are with the whole family. We wish his wife, his 3 children Nina, Jeannette, Andre and his entire family a lot of strength to cope with this loss.

Modified Tractors at Ocala Winter Nationals Jan 28 29 2022

Mini Rods at Ocala Winter Nationals Jan 28 29 2022

This Week

https://www.keystonenationalspull.com/

 

https://www.michianaevents.com/event/ntpa

https://www.cowtownpull.com/

Le Coiffeur Stage 9 for sale

The 5500lbs/2.5t light modified tractor called '' Le Coiffeur Stage 9'' of Frank Bartholome from Georgsmarienhütte in Germany is currently for sale. The twin V8 Hemi-powered tractor was built by Frank and his Team during the winter of 2016/2017. The new Le Coiffeur Stage 9 with his 2 Keith Black Stage 10 V8 Hemi engines was a success in his first full season. Frank Bartholome campaigned only in the German Championship with the light mod in 2017. He won with the tractor the opening round of the season in Füchtorf, Germany. But the rest of the season was a close battle for the light modified championship between the Le Coiffeur Team and the Green Monster Pulling Team with their ''Green Monster Stage 4''. 

The title was decided at the very last round of the season in Berghausen, Germany. Frank Bartholome won the round there and also the 2017 German Championship title in the light modified class. The German team went with high confidence into the 2018 season to defend the title. But the season opener in Füchtorf ended in a disaster. After a pretty nice test pass in the 3.5t / 7700lbs modified class, the guys were well-prepared for the light mod class. After a pretty good start, like in the 3.5t mod class, Frank was on the best way to the full pull, but at around 60m the back KB Hemi engine lost a lot of oil, and some pieces of aluminum flew away. Frank decided to shut down the tractor before the 100m. The oil and the aluminum pieces on the track weren't a good sign for only a little damage on the power plant.

Back in the pits, they found out the engine had kicked a rod out of the engine block and damaged some other components on the KB Hemi badly. After that, it was clear that the season was over before it even began. After some considerations during the year, the Le Coiffeur Pulling Team also decided to change the engine positions on the chassis. After one season with the crank to crank setup, they decided to switch to a stair-step setup on the tractor. For this change, the Le Coiffeur Team needed a completely new drivetrain, new engine brackets, and new clutches for both engines. The broken Keith Black V8 Stage 10 Hemi engine was replaced by a used BAE V8 Hemi from the Screamin' Bobcat Team.

After the changes were finished and the engines were refreshed, Frank and his Team returned with the tractor back to the track in 2019. All the changes on the Le Coiffeur Stage 9 worked pretty well, but some small technical issues during the season cost him some good results and points in the German Championship. Frank had no chances against the Green Monster Team with their twin Allison V12 powered machine called ''Green Monster 5 Mitas Edition'' in 2019. But Frank finished with his Le Coiffeur Stage 9 in the German Championship point standings in runner-up position behind the Green Monster 5 Mitas Edition.

But during the winter of 2019/2020, the Le Coiffeur Pulling Team did more changes on the tractor. 

The rear axle in the tractor got some new, lighter, and more reliable parts. The old CAT 966 planetaries were replaced by new custom-built ZF AP9 planetaries with cast aluminum-magnesium planetary carrier housing. These planetary carrier housings were purchased from Ulrich Kropp (Century Fox) in Nottuln, Germany. Also, new, stronger custom-built steel half shafts were manufactured for the rear axle. The rest of the parts in the rear axle, like the Humpco differential and the Humpco center section, were not exchanged. But that wasn't all. The drawbar and hitch on the rearend of the Le Coiffeur were completely new, developed, and constructed. Last but not least, the old cut Firestone Puller 2000 HP tires were replaced by a set of new Mitas 30.5-32 Powerpull tires on used Midwest aluminum rims. The new Mitas tires were purchased from the John Deere Pulling Team in Denmark and later cut by Hans Heesakers from the Netherlands. With all these changes on the tractor, Frank Bartholome and his Team hoped to be competitive again and to close the gap to the Green Monster 5 Mitas Edition for the 2020 season. 

But due to corona, there were no pulling events in Germany in 2020 and the planned fight was postponed to 2021. But 2021 was the situation not better in Germany. Only 2 events in September were on the schedule in Germany. But the Le Coiffeur Team decided not to compete at those 2 events and stayed at home.
On the 21st of February 2022, Frank Bartholome set the refreshed Le Coiffeur Stage 9 for sale on their Facebook site. Maybe a lot of pulling fans hoped, if the tractor is sold, he's building a new pulling tractor for the future. But this dream of the fans about a new pulling tractor will not come true. Frank had already announced, he and the Le Coiffeur Pulling Team will stop with tractor pulling after 35 years. In those 35 years, the Le Coiffeur Pulling has built around 10 different pulling vehicles for different classes.

But the most tractors which they have built were for the light modified class. The team competed from 1997 until today in this class and that very successful. They won alone 7 German Championship titles plus one Euro Cup title in 2011 in this light modified class. 6 of those German Championship titles and the Euro Cup title were achieved with the legendary Rolls-Royce Griffon MK58 V12 powered Le Coiffeur light modified tractor.
With the end of the Le Coiffeur Pulling Team, the sport will lose another great pulling team in Germany in Europe. By the note, the Le Coiffeur Stage 9 is race ready for sale!

For further information and questions about the tractor, please contact Frank Bartholome at Frankbartholome74@gmail.com or by phone +491714930061

Or at their Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/LCoiffeur/

I would like to thank Frank Bartholome and the Le Coiffeur Team for the support of the articles on pulling-world.com about their tractors in the past!
We wish the Le Coiffeur Pulling Team a happy retirement from the pulling sport and good luck for the future. 

Tractor Pull Fails, Wild Rides, Wrecks, and Fires!!! 2020 Season Part 2 from WWPTV

These were the wild rides, wrecks, and fires from the 2020 season that never saw the light of day.

COVID was a terrible scourge across the lands and the world, really.  We lost some great pullers to that dreadful season of the pandemic. We are 10 feet tall and superheroes when we are firing on all cylinders, and bums when we are confined to a couch or rooms.  We also lost a lot of great memories, friendships, and moments that just were not to be.  

We did find a few venues that would allow us to run and have some fun and that is just what we did. We made the best out of a terrible situation.  And so we hooked, filmed, and had about as much fun as we could just social distancing off the track and on the track where it matters!

I hope you enjoy this one.  I have made great strides in 2021 to become faster, leaner, and quicker to edit and dispense content in more ways than just a simple upload.  I leverage every platform that views can come from because I have seen more people engaging in these videos and having genuine dialog about this fascinating sport more than ever.

Blue Fighter sled sold to UK

The sled of the Blue Fighter Team from Apen in Germany is sold. That news was officially announced on the Facebook page of the BTPA last Sunday. After 9 years of use, the German team has sold the sled to the newly formed Performance Sledging Ltd company from St. Cyrus, Montrose in Scotland. By the way, the Blue Fighter guys around Hermann, Marvin and Malte Behrens will not build a new sled for the future. That means the team will stop with tractor pulling. The sled was mainly used for sport and super sport classes in the past, but the team also has stopped super stock, pro stock and all kind of modified tractors with the sled during the last years. 

Currently, the Blue Fighter sled is ETPC Silver approved and can use for all big pulling classes in the sport. The Blue Fighter sled will arrive in the UK this month.

The news about the purchase of the sled from the BTPA Facebook page:

We are delighted to announce that the Blue Fighter Sledge from Germany has been sold to the UK. The sledge holds a Silver ETPC license and as such can run every tractor in the UK.

The sledge is due to arrive in the UK this month. The Performance Sledging Ltd company were even more impressed after having seen the sledge up close.

Thanks must go to all those involved in the purchase of the sledge and especially to the Behrens family for the knowledge shared and the hospitality shown.

More information will become available in the near future

For further information, check here: https://www.facebook.com/btpauk/

or, check here: facebook.com/Blue-Fighter-Bremswagenteam-222087874532914

 

 

Mitas Powerpull tire available as 24.5-32 now

The Czech tire manufacturer Mitas has introduced a new tire for the pulling competition on Tuesday. After the big success with the 30.5-32 Mitas Powerpull tire in the European and US pulling sport, the company with headquarter in Prague have launched the new 24.5-32 Powerpull 01 tire. The tire was developed especially for the most popular tractor classes, like the pro stock, limited super stock, super sport etc. The new tire will have no tread pattern like the 30.5-32 tire. That, allows the teams to make their own choice of the tire tread pattern. 

The new 24.5-32 Mitas Powerpull 01 tire is available now at our sponsor Team Whittingham-European Mitas Tyres distributor from Garstang in Great Britain. They are supplying pulling tires cut or uncut for the best prices. Contact them at snpywps@globalnet.co.uk for further details.

 

The official press release from Mitas:

Prague, March 2, 2022 - Mitas is ready to deliver more power to tractor pulling with the launch of its specially developed PowerPull 01 competition tyre. The new 24.5-32 PowerPull 01 is one of the most widely used sizes for competition-level tractors.

The new tyre is the second Mitas PowerPull 01 tyre made to give exceptional drive, coming after the widely successful 30.5L-32 version launched in 2016. Designed for rear-wheel drive and extreme stress, the slick surface has no tread pattern allowing teams to carve their own. Its design comes from years of experience designing and manufacturing tyres for high-horsepower tractors.
Mitas has a long history within tractor pulling contests, working with several pulling stables, and a number of teams that have been competing with the Mitas PowerPull 01 tyres. 

Since 2014, Mitas has been a partner of the European Tractor Pulling Committee (ETPC), the organization behind the European Euro Cup competition series.
Pavel Kott, Product Manager for Mitas agricultural tyres, says: “Tractor pulling is an extreme sport that really puts tyres to the test. Producing the right tyres is a demanding job, and Mitas is right here to keep on supporting all our customers worldwide in this special sport. With two new sizes developed, we can cover the most popular competition-level tractors, and can’t wait to see how well they perform in upcoming showdowns.”
 

Find out more information on the Mitas PowerPull 01 tyre: www.mitas-tyres.com/en/products/agricultural-tyres/tractor-diagonal/powerpull
 

Find the nearest Mitas tyre dealer here: www.mitas-tyres.com/en/dealers-locator   

Indoor Pulling Zwolle 1998

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Goodbye Günter!

On Tuesday the 22nd of February, we got to know something that shocked the whole European pulling scene that day: We were informed about the sudden death of light modified competitor Günter Bals from Rheda-Wiedenbrück in Germany.
Günter was tragically killed in a working accident at the age of 66 on Monday night, the 21st of February.
For me, the message which was released by the Grautvornix Pulling Team and the DTTO, was very shocking and very sad, because I knew Günter very well since I had started actively with my Tractor Pulling picture work in 2010. He supported me from the first day on and also later with my news and article work on the pulling-world.com website. 

Günter was the first active pulling competitor which I had gotten to know personally at his home in Rheda-Wiedenbrück in 2010. On that day in 2010, he told me a lot of stories about the pulling sport which he had experienced and all the successes which he had achieved in the past.  Günter always had something to tell!
Alongside his pulling stories from the past, he always had a funny story to tell from his day job as well. He also told some very funny jokes at home or at the events. In his daily job, Günter was an automotive electrician and mechanic by trade. Günter repaired stranded trucks on German motorways and got them going or at last "off the road":
"I always park my service truck 200 ft in front of the scene. That way, if I hear a crash, I have app 3 seconds to get away..."

Günter was born on the 25th of November 1955 in Rheda, Germany in an ambulance and grew up on a farm with his 3 years younger brothers. There he learned how to work in farming as there was always plenty of work on the farm of his parents. In 1970, he graduated and started an education as an automotive electrician.
After that, he joined the military in the German air force for a while.
Günter Bals started tractor pulling in 1984. His first contact was with Egbert Wortmeier, who at the time owned the modified tractor called ''Le Boef''. Egbert was actually Günter's apprentice at work. In 1985, he built his first own modified pulling tractor, which was called ''Grautvornix''. The tractor was powered by a MAN semi-truck diesel engine with 2 turbochargers. 

With that tractor, he competed in the German Championship until the end of 1987. After that, Günter took over the work of the track marshal in the German Tractor Pulling organization ''DTTO'' for 2 years. After the wall came down and lots of Russian surplus turbines came up for sale and his next town neighbor Martin Ortkrass buying them, Günter was the one to haul them "to the west" and part of the deal was one Isotov turbine for Günter for a new modified tractor project.
For that project, Günter teamed up with the brothers Sigi and Burkhard Willmann from the Tractor Pulling Team Verl. That new project was a light-modified tractor with a Klimov Isotov TV3-M117 turbine. The new project was started in 1995 and was ready before the first competition in Füchtorf in 1996. The new single turbine-powered tractor was called ''Isotov 1''.

At the first events in 1996, the tractor was unpainted but during the season got a red yellow paint job. At that time the class wasn't as high-powered as now and most of the tractors had only one power plant on the chassis. So they had good chances to be competitive in this class in Germany. The tractor was competitive right from the start and Günter was in the fight for the German Championship title that year. The Championship was decided at the very last round in Erkelenz-Holzweiler. But in the end, Günter finished in runner-up position in the 1996 German Championship behind Tobias Hörstkamp and the Green Monster. 

Another runner-up place in the German Championship followed in 1997. In that season, Günter was beaten by Holger Lang with the single Allison V12 tractor called ''Money Pit'' but beat the Green Monster!
That runner-up position meant Günte was qualified for the 1997 European Championships in Erkelenz-Holzweiler, Germany. 

For that pull, Günter and the team put a faster gear ratio into the turbine tractor. These changes on the tractor brought the team, and him, 6th place at the EC on home soil.

For 1998, the team signed a sponsor contract with the Hohenfelder brewery from Langenberg. The tractor had already ran at the EC with small Hohenfelder stickers on the fenders. 

Like 97, the 98 season was finished in the top 3 of the German Championship. But after those 3 successful seasons in Germany, Günter and the rest of the Isotov Team decided to build a brand-new tractor for the light modified and modified class to keep up with their contenders. This time it was a tractor with 2 Klimov Isotov TV3-117M turbines. For that new tractor, they also received help from neighboring modified competitor and turbine puller Martin Ortkrass from Langenberg.  The new twin turbine-powered mod was then called ''Isotov 2''. That first season with the brand new modified ride was a learning year, in which they had highs and lows during the season. 

Already the first podium place Günter achieved with Isotov 2 in the light modified class was at the second round of the season in Eschach-Seifertshofen. Günter got another 2 runner-ups in the light mod class in Verl and in Lübbenau during the season. Those strong results brought him the runner-up position in the German Championship of the 2.5t/5500lbs light mod class and the ticket to the 1999 EC in Bouconville in France. In 1999 Günter and the team not only competed on the pulling tracks in Germany with the new tractor but also went abroad and that was very successful. 

In Herning, Denmark, Günter finished again in the runner-up position behind the multi European champion Black Power from Denmark and the first win in the light mod class followed a couple of weeks later in Windenhof, France. But already, between the events in Herning and Windenhof, Günter won the 3.5t modified competition at the German Championship event in Weseke. That was the first official win for the new Isotov 2 on German ground.

After those 2 victories, the team and Günter looked forward to the '99 EC in Bouconville, France. But that weekend in France wasn't great for him and the guys. 

When he backed to the sled with Isotov 2, something went wrong.
Unfortunately, in the pits, they found out the transmission brake of the tractor was broken. So the second attempt in front of the sled wasn't possible either. After the 1999 season, Günter and the team did some changes and improvements on the Isotov 2 during the winter. Those improvements helped quite a bit and the tractor was better drivable on the pulling tracks. The 2000 season was one of the best seasons for Günter. With very strong results and 4 events with maximum points in the 2.5t light modified class, he won his first German Championship title, 7 points ahead of their longtime rival Markus Obermüller and Money Pit. 

In the 3.5t modified class, Günter achieved one victory in Eschach-Seifertshofen and finished 4th in the German Championship point standings.

For the 2001 season, Günter Bals shared the drivering duties on Isotov 2 with Tobias Willmann, the son of Tractor Pulling Team Verl founder Burkhard Willmann. Günter was now the main driver of the tractor in the 3.5t modified class, and Tobias drove the tractor in the 2.5t light mod class. Günter and the tractor were in top form in the 3.5t modified class in 2001. He battled the whole season against Enrico Vollerthun with the twin Allison V12 powered mod tractor called ''Challenger'' (now Green Fighter) for the title in this class. The title was decided at the final round in Edewecht. 

With a good run and some luck in the finals, Günter won his first German Championship title in the 3.5t Modified class with Isotov 2 in 2001. That meant, he again was qualified for the European Championships, which were held in Hörby, Sweden in 2001. The track conditions at the EC were very difficult due to a lot of rain, but not for Günter. He did a very nice Full Pull in 3.5t modified class and was qualified for the finals. In the finals, he was on the best way with Isotov 2 to a place on the podium, but unfortunately, he couldn't keep the tractor in bounds and was disqualified.

During the next years until 2010, Günter achieved many victories and top 3 finishes in the German Championships together with the Isotov Pulling Team . 

His teammate at the time Tobias Willmann won the German Championship title with Isotov 2 in the 2.5t light mod class twice. That was in 2004 and 2008. The team with Günter also achieved many victories on international events in Europe, like the runner-up position at the 2003 European Championship in Alahärmä, Finland and the third place at the 2004 European Championship in Füchtorf, Germany in the 2.5t light mod class.
Also, as the ETPC introduced the 2.5t light modified class in the Euro Cup in 2007, Günter and the Isotov Team were there from the first year on. In the Euro Cup, Günter was the main driver of Isotov 2 and did a great job for the team at that time. He positioned Isotov 2 in 2007 and 2008 in 5th place in the Euro Cup point standings.

But the luck of the Isotov Team ran out during the summer of 2010. 

At the Euro Cup pull in Zele, Belgium, Günter had bad luck. Isotov 2 was usually a very reliable modified tractor, but that luck ended here and there in Belgium with a costly run in the finals. After a great Full Pull in qualifying, something broke in the drivetrain of the tractor and the front end hit the ground very hard. Not only did something break in the drivetrain also the frame was massively bent by the hard hit on the pulling track. But was that crash the end for the successful light modified and modified tractor?
No, it wasn't the end for the tractor. It took a while, but in 2015, Günter started to rebuild the Isotov 2 tractor after he purchased the remaining shares from the old team members of the Isotov team. 

The plan also was to build a new chassis for the tractor, but after some considerations, he decided to repair the damaged chassis, and he did some changes to the tractor to get it lighter to gain more moveable weight. Between 2011 and 2015, he competed with Isotov 1 (now Rental Leih Fix) just for fun on the German pulling tracks.

The rebuilt Isotov 2 debuted at the Indoor Pull in Riesa, Germany in 2016. During the rebuild, the tractor got a new paint job and a new name. The Isotov TV3 powered tractor was renamed into Grautvornix, like his first pulling tractor in the mid-80s. Also, with the company Weka and Höner Technic (who supported him with driveline and gear parts for the rebuild), 2 sponsors returned to the tractor from the past. 

It was a joy to see him back with the twin turbine-powered tractor on the circuits in Germany. Like in the past, Günter did some spectacular and nice runs with the Grautvornix in the light mod class between 2016 and 2019.  His best seasons with the Grautvornix in the light mod class were in 2018 and 2019. In both seasons, you would find  Günter within the top 3 at the pulls in Germany. The reward was the runner-up position in 2018 and the 3rd place in 2019 in the German Championship point standings of the light modified division. He was very pleased and happy with those results. Günter also competed at the European Championships in Alphen, the Netherlands, and in Brande, Denmark.

By the way: The European Championship in Brande, Denmark in 2019 was the last event Günter has competed in with the Grautvornix.
In 2020 and 2021 Günter Bals and the Grautvornix Team didn't compete in any pulls in Germany and Europe due to the covid situation. For 2022, the plan was to return to the track with Grautvornix and the Rental Leih Fix in Germany.
 But that will unfortunately not happen anymore because Günter was torn from our midst far too early.
Alongside being a competitor, he also was the driver's representative in the DTTO for many years and he also helped many other teams at the events if they had problems with the tractor in the pits.
And more than once Günter picked up stranded teams, fixed their trucks, or picked up their tractors alongside the road and hauled them to the event - and back.
So Günter
Günter made friendships with many Tractor Pulling teams from all over Europe in those 38 years.

Günter always was a fair competitor at the pulling events in Germany and in Europe and was appreciated and respected by all competitors
Another positive point about Günter was you could also always have a good chat and exchange something at an event with him.
With Günter, the German and European pulling sport has lost another great competitor and sportsman who is gone way too soon.
Günter was always good and fair to me in the past, which I have very appreciated about him. When I had a question, he always took the time to answer my question, and he was always very hospitable to everyone. We will sorely miss him at the tractor pulling events as a competitor and person in the future.

Günter Bals will always be in the mind of the people and will never be forgotten.
Thank you, Günter, for everything in the past, and it was a pleasure to have met you!

Our thoughts are with the whole family and the Grautvornix Pulling Team.
We wish his wife Ilona, his 3 daughters Melanie, Michaela, and Stephanie, his entire family, and the Grautvornix Team a lot of strength to cope with this terrible loss.