Our southerners have a new website at http://www.pulling-team-allgaeu.de
Nice job - but german only...
Monday, June 18, 2007
New Website Pulling Team Allgäu
Our southerners have a new website at http://www.pulling-team-allgaeu.de
Nice job - but german only...
Opinion
You know - once in a while I have to speak my mind. It's time for some more...Today I decided to NOT go pulling, but take my nephew Vincent to our local race track and see what the long track motorbike guys are up to.
When I was a kid, there usually were like 10.000 spectators at that track and we got to see really thrilling races.
Today I was totally shocked to see maybe 1500 spectators and a competition that was not really thrilling. There was maybe two or three good drivers - and two of them I remember being "youngsters" when I went to that track as a boy.
To make it short - it was a pitty sight to see how that motorsport almost died within 15 years.
At the track, selling DVDs with 6 hours of footage of his life's career, was Egon Müller, multiple German, European and World Champion. They gave him the microphone for a few minutes and he then hold a speech of how the sport went downhill and mainly blamed it on the fact there was no professionals doing the media work.
I totally agreed with him - as that problem is familiar in Tractor Pulling, too.
What he said then though, made me wonder: "We need to have the results given out to the newspapers, so people can read them".
And my thinking was: "Newspapers? I don't read newspapers? If I want to have results or find out about somehing I'll just switch on the computer?" I had checked before the event about speedway footage on the web and the result was rather poor. There is A LOT more Pulling Videos on youtube than there is speedway videos.
I more or less said to myself: "They don't need to work on the newspapers - they have to get their internet deal going!" This was heard by a guy next to me who replied: "Internet? The guys in charge here are all way past 50, they don't have a clue about the Internet!"
I looked around some in the stands and figured most of the people in the stands had grey hair and were more or less the leftovers of the glory days of Speedway in germany. Me, being 32 years old, was for sure "younger generation". There was like NO young fans in the stands.
And then it really got me thinking:
In 1983 we asked that motorsport club to use their track for holding the European Championships there, and they simply laughed at us. We then went on and built the "Füchtorf Arena" 10 mls down the road and by now we have the big crowds they used to have.
They simply forgot about getting new blood in.
Are we as pullers getting new blood in?
Yes we do, we have a lot of young folks running Hot Farm competition, keeping the sport alive from the base - feeding the Pro Stock class ...
But what about our modified division?
The only ones I could think of having some kind of "step in, learn, step up" program are the dutch and danish with their B-Divisions.
But what about the rest?
I realized, Tractor Pulling has one big problem: You can do it until they virtually have to help you onto the tractor. A 30 year career in tractor pulling is nothing uncommon. Problem is, in that time you build up a pile of equipment and more or less improve every year, by building more and more power.
Somebody new in the sport has to start with virtually nothing. He has the advantage of not having to reinvent the wheel and it also got a lot easier and cheaper to build 2000 horses now than it was 20 years ago. But still considering he spends the same on his operation every year as what the big dogs did in the last 20 years, it'll take him AT LEAST 10 years to be where those are now.
The way things are, the top dogs are spending more money on their equipment in a year, than a newcomer has in the complete tractor. So how to ever keep up with that?
What is the motivation of getting involved at all, if you don't see any light at the end of the tunnel?
If one of the top teams doesn't stop and makes room for you, you'll be pretty much stuck behind them.
Now I am not a socialist and I don't blame anybody for having, making or spending money, but I really wonder, if we can keep new blood coming?
Look at the top of the mod classes now. Now think 10 years ahead. Who of those will still be in there? Do we have enough people to fill up that hole?
In my opinion, we need to get a "youngster modified program" started in Europe. Kind of like "super sport class" for the modifieds, with unified rules and limits all over Europe, that are at a affordable limit (+ - 25.000 €), let you use parts that you can still use when you move up a class (and the lowest there at present is the 2.5t) but where you don't have to stress your material to blow up, to be competetive. We need people to learn how to design, operate and maintain modified tractors - and not teach them how to burn money.
Out of experience I know where the money in a modified tractor goes.
That is a) the engine and b) this costum made light weight stuff that comes behind it.
We need the engine for the show - but do we need all that lightweight stuff? I don't think so.
So - why not create a set of rules for a modified class for tractors that can be build with a truck rearend, truck transmission and steel wheels and enough power / weight ratio to put on a good show?
I have something like a 3.5t in mind with single V12 engines, maybe two blown Chevy's, a single turbines and some tough Diesel engines.
Since it is more or less impossible to limit the amount of money spent on engines (and the resulting horsepower) we'd have to make exceeding a certain amount of horsepower useless.
There is two things in my mind:
1st Limit the tire speed (which in fact is possible and measuring has been done successfully before)
2nd Give them some small tires (max 600 wide on 38 inch wheel - keeps the 24.5s out)
While the first would probably result in a lot of technical stuff needed on the tractors and sleds, and then still lead to a tire war, the second sounds a rather cheap solution to me. Used tires in that size are avaliable for rather cheap everywhere and it's easy to control for everybody. I seriously doubt you can transfer much more than 2000 hp with them at that weight ... but anything over 1000 hp will spin them pretty hard.
Then let them just run for prize money and let them run at any ETPC event they want to and where that class is offered.
Comments here
New Photographer from Finland!
I would really like to welcome and thank Nicke for sharing our picasa project!
Finally some updated pics from up north in Finland!!!
Check out his pictures from Piikkio.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Working on Füchtorf track
Today the Füchtorf track got three truck loads of new dirt mixed in, to get the clay a little less sensetive to water and drought. We hope the track will change to being less "concrete like" and a easier to prepare and maintain.
Friday, June 15, 2007
New video clips on tractorpulling.tv
Tractorpulling.tv has some new Hot Farm videos ready for stream download.
Made Sunday (part 3 of 3)
part 1
part 2
After all that noise it was smoker time again!
The ITTC Hot Stocks (free cui, 3 inch turbo inlet) were making their runs on the third track and I spotted something amusing in between.
The Red Impact, usually running in the 4,5t Super Sport (so with free turbo but 2700 rpms only), was running the same class!
And if I didn't get it totally wrong, this rpm limited IH put it on them limited charger guys pretty badly...
The center track had stock tractors from now on and this beautiful Ford got in front of my lens:
(click on the pictures for bigger view)
On the right hand side track it was time for more Euro Cup action, Pro Stocks this time! Like in the 2.5t mod before, the competitors of the B Division were running in this class for local points, too.
First one on the track and laying down a strong Full Pull was the danish John Deere, but it got declared as test hook and they made the sled lighter?
Now we got to see a bunch of Full Pulls! 14 out of 20 made it through the end - and those few who didn't all had technical problems.
So John Deere was again first hook in the pull off and laid down a MONSTER run to 104,74 meters!
Would this be enough to keep the Valtras behind? Matti Herlevi was up next on the Caesar Valtra and also made a very strong pass, but 103.63 was all he could get out of the Sisu powered tractor.
The danish John Deere team was already all smiles, as keeping up with the Herlevi family means a lot. They've ruled this class for years!
But there is more Valtras out there and one of them is the dutch Next Sensation.
It also ran excellent and came to a hold at 101.50m. Not bad at all!
From the rather modern Valtras to a more classic machine, Cees Weijer and his beautiful White Crow Case.
Cees doesn't have an intercooler and thus is a little short on power, but with 95.20m and the engine not being spread over the track this time he had all good reasons to be happy.
From green, to silver, to white.. to finally the first red machine. The dutch Extreme Temptation had been going strong with a runner up finish at Bernay the week before, but today the IH, despite of running well, could not cover enough distance to make the podium. 98.22m was still anything but a bad distance, and good for 4th place at that moment.
But there was still a green one in the lead and the next one rolling onto the track had the potential to change that, Pekka Herlevi with the Sigma Power (it's running a Hypermax pump though).
Pekka made it into the floating finish, but covered "only" 102.41m, which made the danish John Deere guys really happy!
Still - it was Valtra on 2nd,3rd and 4th place!
Maybe the young british man Ted Nicholson would have a good run with the Rough Justice IH and get somewhere near the podium?
No - the Hypermax machine snuffed out having a bend valve and stopped before the 90m. Tough luck!
But there was still some strong red machines to come. Bukke Bruse for example, which had great results during the indoor season and on it's day can do better than a top 5 finish. But not today, the danish IH spun out at 96.51m and even stayed behind the Extreme Temptation, which was still the best red one in the bunch.
But there was still another very strong IH to come and also another Valtra! So it was by far not over yet!
In the meanwhile the ITTC ran their Diesel Super Stock class on the other track, and the diesel fans really go their money's worth right now.
On the center track the stock classes were still going and there was some really nice turned out IHC 1455 (the biggest german built IH) pulling now.
But back to Pro Stocks. Johanna Herlevi now had the last chance to put a Valtra on top of the pack with the Doris machine and really tried hard - but the engine got under the charger 2/3rds down the track! What a rare sight - and Deere still in the lead!
Could we see a red winner today? The Rocky team really made it over night and replaced the bend valve, the piston and all the other smashed things and after a strong full pull in the first attempt, Barend Huybrechts now built boost.
The 10066 hooked up well and ran strong, made it over the 100m mark into the floating finish, but got stopped before the chequered flag, showing the leaders distance.
102.36m, just 7 cm shy of a spot on the podium...
Ok - the Euro Cup positions were clear now, but we still had some tough local guys to come.
None of them made the top 5, but some of them were cabable of a top 10 finish.
For example the new "Passison 4 Diesel" of Willie Monden who is coming right out of the neigborhood of Made. Some will remember the tractor as "Maximum Risk" running as an Alky Super in the past. Willie put a new diesel engine inside and had it running really well, given the fact this was just his 4th or 5th event with the machine.
The twin stacks (left over from the Alky days) take some getting used to, but the distance of 92.12m would have been enough for a ninth position.
Another strong local machine is the "Easy Rider". The tractor was originally built in France by Rob Soenen, but after his tragic death sold to the Netherlands. The dutch guys put quite some more work into it and run it very competetive in their area. That it could do well everywhere else became clear after a picture perfect run:
With 95.46m he passed the White Crow and would have been 8th ...
Another more or less local machine is the Wickie Power, one of the few Fords still left in the upper ranks of the Pro Stock class, but Arie v/d Weeken couln't keep his turbo spinning.
Even ahead of the Easy Rider would have been the new Neighbors Nightmare, which was competing for no points, as it runs in the northern dutch circuit.
Considering the fact the tractor was not sounding like it was running on all 6 cylinders, I think we all have to keep an eye on this machine for the future!
After the class Tonie van Heugten (driver of the Little Giant light mod) got a chance to check out the feeling of running an Alky Burner, and put the sled to 102.81m behind the wheel of the Aerdvruter.
But we still were not over with "test runs".
How about putting Erik van Oosterhout, announcer and one of the promoters of this event, into the drivers seat of a Pro Stock?
They passed the driver's suit on to him and then Erik was strapped into the drivers seat of Passion 4 Diesel!
His wife, kid and co workers were watching closely, what "papa" would do now.
In the first attempt he let out of the clutch a little too early, but in the second attempt got it lit up and went down the track!
No need to tell we now had one happy man!
As he said afterwards about dropping the clutch too early: "You see the needle heading for 6800 rpms and that really makes you nervous... but well, I got it in the end!" Right - well done Erik!
But no time to celebrate - get out of the drivers suit and back to mic (even though Eric v/d Heuvel did an outstanding job as co announcer that day).
Modified time again! The local 3.5t mods had not been running and with 12 machines in the class was still something wort seeing. (Usually most tractor pulling is worth seeing, but Made really is an overdose for all pulling addicts).
This is what the sled crew must have thought, too and set the sled rather heavy and we only had one Full Pull, laid down by the Viper, now running three KBs.
Most interesting thing about this class was it's variety. Tells you what we've lost in the top level by now:
Oh well.. every pull comes to an end, and even the dutch can run out of tractors after a while. But it's impressive what this little country (you have to realize, that 85% of the tractors at this pull - and that was over 400 in total - run for dutch associations) has to offer when it comes to Tractor Pulling. I mean.. I know they have even more!!!
But if you want to see a big portion of it in one weekend, "Made's powerweekend" is the place to go.
I had a good time and I hope I was able to do my share of work with this event with this article and pictures, to get the word around.
See you all again next year!
Sascha
part 2
After all that noise it was smoker time again!
The ITTC Hot Stocks (free cui, 3 inch turbo inlet) were making their runs on the third track and I spotted something amusing in between.
The Red Impact, usually running in the 4,5t Super Sport (so with free turbo but 2700 rpms only), was running the same class!
And if I didn't get it totally wrong, this rpm limited IH put it on them limited charger guys pretty badly...
The center track had stock tractors from now on and this beautiful Ford got in front of my lens:
(click on the pictures for bigger view)On the right hand side track it was time for more Euro Cup action, Pro Stocks this time! Like in the 2.5t mod before, the competitors of the B Division were running in this class for local points, too.
First one on the track and laying down a strong Full Pull was the danish John Deere, but it got declared as test hook and they made the sled lighter?
Now we got to see a bunch of Full Pulls! 14 out of 20 made it through the end - and those few who didn't all had technical problems.
So John Deere was again first hook in the pull off and laid down a MONSTER run to 104,74 meters!
Would this be enough to keep the Valtras behind? Matti Herlevi was up next on the Caesar Valtra and also made a very strong pass, but 103.63 was all he could get out of the Sisu powered tractor.
The danish John Deere team was already all smiles, as keeping up with the Herlevi family means a lot. They've ruled this class for years!
But there is more Valtras out there and one of them is the dutch Next Sensation.
It also ran excellent and came to a hold at 101.50m. Not bad at all!
From the rather modern Valtras to a more classic machine, Cees Weijer and his beautiful White Crow Case.
Cees doesn't have an intercooler and thus is a little short on power, but with 95.20m and the engine not being spread over the track this time he had all good reasons to be happy.
From green, to silver, to white.. to finally the first red machine. The dutch Extreme Temptation had been going strong with a runner up finish at Bernay the week before, but today the IH, despite of running well, could not cover enough distance to make the podium. 98.22m was still anything but a bad distance, and good for 4th place at that moment.
But there was still a green one in the lead and the next one rolling onto the track had the potential to change that, Pekka Herlevi with the Sigma Power (it's running a Hypermax pump though).
Pekka made it into the floating finish, but covered "only" 102.41m, which made the danish John Deere guys really happy!
Still - it was Valtra on 2nd,3rd and 4th place!
Maybe the young british man Ted Nicholson would have a good run with the Rough Justice IH and get somewhere near the podium?
No - the Hypermax machine snuffed out having a bend valve and stopped before the 90m. Tough luck!
But there was still some strong red machines to come. Bukke Bruse for example, which had great results during the indoor season and on it's day can do better than a top 5 finish. But not today, the danish IH spun out at 96.51m and even stayed behind the Extreme Temptation, which was still the best red one in the bunch.
But there was still another very strong IH to come and also another Valtra! So it was by far not over yet!
In the meanwhile the ITTC ran their Diesel Super Stock class on the other track, and the diesel fans really go their money's worth right now.
On the center track the stock classes were still going and there was some really nice turned out IHC 1455 (the biggest german built IH) pulling now.
But back to Pro Stocks. Johanna Herlevi now had the last chance to put a Valtra on top of the pack with the Doris machine and really tried hard - but the engine got under the charger 2/3rds down the track! What a rare sight - and Deere still in the lead!
Could we see a red winner today? The Rocky team really made it over night and replaced the bend valve, the piston and all the other smashed things and after a strong full pull in the first attempt, Barend Huybrechts now built boost.
The 10066 hooked up well and ran strong, made it over the 100m mark into the floating finish, but got stopped before the chequered flag, showing the leaders distance.
102.36m, just 7 cm shy of a spot on the podium...
Ok - the Euro Cup positions were clear now, but we still had some tough local guys to come.
None of them made the top 5, but some of them were cabable of a top 10 finish.
For example the new "Passison 4 Diesel" of Willie Monden who is coming right out of the neigborhood of Made. Some will remember the tractor as "Maximum Risk" running as an Alky Super in the past. Willie put a new diesel engine inside and had it running really well, given the fact this was just his 4th or 5th event with the machine.
The twin stacks (left over from the Alky days) take some getting used to, but the distance of 92.12m would have been enough for a ninth position.
Another strong local machine is the "Easy Rider". The tractor was originally built in France by Rob Soenen, but after his tragic death sold to the Netherlands. The dutch guys put quite some more work into it and run it very competetive in their area. That it could do well everywhere else became clear after a picture perfect run:
With 95.46m he passed the White Crow and would have been 8th ...
Another more or less local machine is the Wickie Power, one of the few Fords still left in the upper ranks of the Pro Stock class, but Arie v/d Weeken couln't keep his turbo spinning.
Even ahead of the Easy Rider would have been the new Neighbors Nightmare, which was competing for no points, as it runs in the northern dutch circuit.
Considering the fact the tractor was not sounding like it was running on all 6 cylinders, I think we all have to keep an eye on this machine for the future!
After the class Tonie van Heugten (driver of the Little Giant light mod) got a chance to check out the feeling of running an Alky Burner, and put the sled to 102.81m behind the wheel of the Aerdvruter.
But we still were not over with "test runs".
How about putting Erik van Oosterhout, announcer and one of the promoters of this event, into the drivers seat of a Pro Stock?
They passed the driver's suit on to him and then Erik was strapped into the drivers seat of Passion 4 Diesel!
His wife, kid and co workers were watching closely, what "papa" would do now.
In the first attempt he let out of the clutch a little too early, but in the second attempt got it lit up and went down the track!
No need to tell we now had one happy man!
As he said afterwards about dropping the clutch too early: "You see the needle heading for 6800 rpms and that really makes you nervous... but well, I got it in the end!" Right - well done Erik!
But no time to celebrate - get out of the drivers suit and back to mic (even though Eric v/d Heuvel did an outstanding job as co announcer that day).
Modified time again! The local 3.5t mods had not been running and with 12 machines in the class was still something wort seeing. (Usually most tractor pulling is worth seeing, but Made really is an overdose for all pulling addicts).
This is what the sled crew must have thought, too and set the sled rather heavy and we only had one Full Pull, laid down by the Viper, now running three KBs.
Most interesting thing about this class was it's variety. Tells you what we've lost in the top level by now:
Oh well.. every pull comes to an end, and even the dutch can run out of tractors after a while. But it's impressive what this little country (you have to realize, that 85% of the tractors at this pull - and that was over 400 in total - run for dutch associations) has to offer when it comes to Tractor Pulling. I mean.. I know they have even more!!!
But if you want to see a big portion of it in one weekend, "Made's powerweekend" is the place to go.
I had a good time and I hope I was able to do my share of work with this event with this article and pictures, to get the word around.
See you all again next year!
Sascha
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Made Sunday (part 2 of 3)
read part one first
What a night!
So.. grap the towel, soap and toothbrush, wash, get new jeans and shirt on - and back to the track!
They were already pulling stock tractors and modified diesel garden pullers there.
On the right hand track the southern dutch / belgian "B-Division" got ready to pull though and gave us a little wake up show.
Their competition is a little more relaxed and the tractors are maybe not always that powerful as in the A-Division, but with plenty of variety and unique concepts they are worth watching, too.
Like Boomer:
This modified tractor is powered by a HUGE V8 Mercedes diesel tank engine and for me it's always hard to believe something with so few rpms can turn the tires as quick as this machine.
Another impressive machine is the Bloody Mary, powered by a turbocharged V12 Continental Tank engine.
That thing screams and runs like any good turbo charged Allison. Actually I would love to see what these two tractors would do in an outlaw competition in the USA. They'd fit right in weight wise.
Anyhow - the main attraction for this sunday was Euro Cup Competition in the light mod and pro stock classes. The 2.5t guys were already lining up at the scales, to battle out the first Euro Cup champion in the light modified class ever.
First one on the track was Frank Bartholomé with the Le Coiffeur. He was runner up at the 2004 European Championships, totaled the tractor with the transmission coming loose, turning around and cutting his frame apart in the beginning of 2005. Then he had a great start into the 2006 season until his MSD 8 ignition box blew up. Since the middle of summer 2005 he had not been back to the old power. He tried with various Magneto ignitions but only got a few good runs out of that set up. It worked ok at the first Euro Cup in Denmark, where he finished 3rd but made nothing but trouble after that again. So he finally mounted the old MSD 8 back on, trying to get a top 3 finish here to qualify for the European Championships.
He got the green flag, hammered the throttle down and 4000 hp were on their way:
What he didn't know by then was the thrust washers in his left hand planetary were smashed (see the pictures in the gallery), blocking the left hand wheel and he headed out of bounds.
Of course he got the red flag for crossing the boundary line, tried to get back into the track, backed out of it but in that moment the right hand rear tire lifted up and the front end came down hard and the front wheel broke off.
The nose came back up, kill switch got pulled and then the nose went back into the ground and the whole thing went on it's side.
For luck except for a blue elbow Frank didn't suffer any injuries and the tractor chassis, except for the wheely bars, remained in perfect shape, too. So they'll be back...
After the mess was cleaned up, it was on Stefan Kronvall to have the next hook. The swed bought the old Humpco built Empty Pockets from Scott Tedder a while ago and has transferred it into an pretty much up to date light mod with two KB Hemis. After some bouncing problems caused by too much tire pressure at Herning he already left a good impression at Bernay and also here at Made things ran well: Picture perfect Full Pull!
The Little Giant team seems to be in trouble this season. Breakage at Herning, electrical failure in Bernay and again a broken transmission at Made. On top of that out of bounds and the driveshaft for the supercharger of the big Griffon engine broke into pieces. They've decided that's enough for now and will retire the little tractor and concentrate on getting their new twin Griffon machine ready within the season.
Then everybody expected the next Full Pull as Poul Ager Jensen drove onto the track with his triple V8 machine.
But already after the start the right hand engine spit oil out of the block and just a little over 90m was all Poul could reach with only two engines running. Seeing the hole in the block he kicked the chassis and was really upset. Looking at the points it became clear why: If he would end up with anything worse than 7th and Green Spirit 7 would win here, they'd be tied in points - and then the best performance at the last points pull would determinate the winner - which would then be Green Spirit!
From the top of the competition to bottom of the pack and the unlucky ones. Poul Liefhoge from Belgium for sure deserved better than what he reached his season. His DAF 1260 Diesel is one hell of a nice powerplant with all the latest electronic gizmos. Well, I should say was: After the injection didn't do what it was supposed to do at Herning and Bernay, he switched back to a mechanical pump for Made, but the tractor just didn't keep the boost up. A methanol conversion of the engine is already planned. Maybe this is the time to get started on it and then show the competition what this inline 6 cylinder with 4 valve head can do.
Showing what it can do was the Viper. After over 25 years pulling with Chrysler engines the Wouters family should know what they are cabable of, if this Hemi stuff just wouldn't be so damn expensive...
Anyhow, the two KBs were running well and Viper made a Full Pull with the front wheels high off the ground.
Two germans up next. Günter Bals showed he by now knows how to handle the 4000 hp turbine machine "Isotov 2" in the light mod (he usually only drives in the 3.5t /77), and even though he backed out in the end, made a Full Pull.
Toine de Jong on the De Jong Special hammerd his supercharged Continental as bad as he could and also made a Full Pull.
Dirk Wessel with the Green Monster also parked the sled way past the 100m and Poul Ager already hoped for the single Allison machine to win the Pull Off and help him become champion.
Anyhow - Dirk was happy for now.
But the one who would decide it all was still to come and needed a Full Pull to stay in the points game. Jeffrey Constanje on the Green Spirit 7!
The Full Pull was no problem at all for the V12 and Poul Ager was already joking to the Green Monster guys back in the pits: "Damn - DO something!"... Poul.. not that easy with just a single Allison in this competition!
Next one up was the big radial engine mounted into the chassis of Herbie:
They must have lowered the hitch quite some, because the nose finally stayed more or less low - still the big radial was overgeared. It had enough low end tourque to join the Pull Off though.
So Poul Ager would only get 5 points and the Green Spirit guys could turn things around in the points now.
But there was more tractors to come, running for local points in the same class. One that everybody was curious about, is the Rocket Science of Jack Stijnen. He converted a 6cyl DAF 4 valve semi diesel to methanol and put three big Holset Turbochargers on top. He had already won a few local pulls and when running well should be capable of joining the European top of the class.
Unfortunatly today he had to fight some foul plugs and with one dead cylinder couldn't get anywhere near the rpms and tires speed he needed to get the nose up early enough and ended up just shy of the Full Pull distance. But there's hope in!!!
One of the pioneers of the light mod competition in Europe and always good ambassedors of this class is the Smidje team. Their current creation is powered by two GAA8 Ford tank engines with blowers. The tractor is a really low budget operation but does well on it's day. Today it just didn't wanna go right though. The left hand brake calliper broke off and the tractor ended up out of bounds.
On top of it, the calliper must have hit one tire badly and caused a puncture... I hope they can get that tire fixed. If not - we as well as the Eager Beaver team still have "single" tires for sale.
The Black Danger, another DAF Diesel unfortunatly failed to reach the Pull Off, but the Asterix with it's 5 Small Blocks joined in.
Then we had the chance to see what stupid politcs can cause. On the other side, on track 3, the ITTC was running it's 2.5t mod competition and the guys were really doing well! Especially the Road Runner with it's turbocharged Rover Meteor laid down a real nice pass over there.
Should be possible to just invite them over to come pull with us. But the problems between various associations fighting over territory just seem to be impossible to overcome...
But back to the competition. We were to have one fine Pull Off!!!
Stefan laid down a good run, maybe a little low on revs, and put the sled to 82.5 7m.
The Viper also ran well, but you could tell Stefan has a little more money invested into his engines. The pink black twin KB machine stood still at 79.27m already.
Günter Bals again did everything right on the Isotov and placed exactly between the two V8 machines (running on Good Year tires, just by the way).
Now it showed that the De Jong Special team needs to get their new tractor finished. As well as the Conti is running - it just doesn't have the power to be in the top. But reliable it is (and for sale... 20,000 $ and you can have it).
73.94m was distance. Enough for 7th place in the end and WELL in the money again!
Back to Mr. Poul Ager Nervous Jensen and the Green Monster. Dirk Wessel really did all he could and the single Allison laid down a new distance to beat with the nose high in the air and no more weights to place on the nose.
84.62m. That was 2m (or 7ft) ahead of the twin Hemis - but would this be enough for a RR Griffon in the end?
We were to find out very soon.
Jeffery nailed the big V12 and... well pictures are worth a 1000 words:
85.02m - 42 cm farther. What a close battle again!
Herbie couldn't make any changes anymore with a distance of 79.01m.
Asterix was not running for Euro Cup Points and with 78.38m was 4th in the local points.
In the end a well deserved win for the dutch guys. They had put this tractor on the track for the first time at Herning, finished 3rd there, then 4th at Bernay and with a victory at Made turned it all around and are the first "2.5t Euro Cup Champion" ever.
But WHAT a competition this class had put onto the tracks! A big THANK YOU to all the 2.5 modified teams! Now keep it going like that!
part 3
What a night!
So.. grap the towel, soap and toothbrush, wash, get new jeans and shirt on - and back to the track!
They were already pulling stock tractors and modified diesel garden pullers there.
On the right hand track the southern dutch / belgian "B-Division" got ready to pull though and gave us a little wake up show.
Their competition is a little more relaxed and the tractors are maybe not always that powerful as in the A-Division, but with plenty of variety and unique concepts they are worth watching, too.
Like Boomer:
This modified tractor is powered by a HUGE V8 Mercedes diesel tank engine and for me it's always hard to believe something with so few rpms can turn the tires as quick as this machine.
Another impressive machine is the Bloody Mary, powered by a turbocharged V12 Continental Tank engine.
That thing screams and runs like any good turbo charged Allison. Actually I would love to see what these two tractors would do in an outlaw competition in the USA. They'd fit right in weight wise.
Anyhow - the main attraction for this sunday was Euro Cup Competition in the light mod and pro stock classes. The 2.5t guys were already lining up at the scales, to battle out the first Euro Cup champion in the light modified class ever.
First one on the track was Frank Bartholomé with the Le Coiffeur. He was runner up at the 2004 European Championships, totaled the tractor with the transmission coming loose, turning around and cutting his frame apart in the beginning of 2005. Then he had a great start into the 2006 season until his MSD 8 ignition box blew up. Since the middle of summer 2005 he had not been back to the old power. He tried with various Magneto ignitions but only got a few good runs out of that set up. It worked ok at the first Euro Cup in Denmark, where he finished 3rd but made nothing but trouble after that again. So he finally mounted the old MSD 8 back on, trying to get a top 3 finish here to qualify for the European Championships.
He got the green flag, hammered the throttle down and 4000 hp were on their way:
What he didn't know by then was the thrust washers in his left hand planetary were smashed (see the pictures in the gallery), blocking the left hand wheel and he headed out of bounds.
Of course he got the red flag for crossing the boundary line, tried to get back into the track, backed out of it but in that moment the right hand rear tire lifted up and the front end came down hard and the front wheel broke off.
The nose came back up, kill switch got pulled and then the nose went back into the ground and the whole thing went on it's side.
For luck except for a blue elbow Frank didn't suffer any injuries and the tractor chassis, except for the wheely bars, remained in perfect shape, too. So they'll be back...
After the mess was cleaned up, it was on Stefan Kronvall to have the next hook. The swed bought the old Humpco built Empty Pockets from Scott Tedder a while ago and has transferred it into an pretty much up to date light mod with two KB Hemis. After some bouncing problems caused by too much tire pressure at Herning he already left a good impression at Bernay and also here at Made things ran well: Picture perfect Full Pull!
The Little Giant team seems to be in trouble this season. Breakage at Herning, electrical failure in Bernay and again a broken transmission at Made. On top of that out of bounds and the driveshaft for the supercharger of the big Griffon engine broke into pieces. They've decided that's enough for now and will retire the little tractor and concentrate on getting their new twin Griffon machine ready within the season.
Then everybody expected the next Full Pull as Poul Ager Jensen drove onto the track with his triple V8 machine.
But already after the start the right hand engine spit oil out of the block and just a little over 90m was all Poul could reach with only two engines running. Seeing the hole in the block he kicked the chassis and was really upset. Looking at the points it became clear why: If he would end up with anything worse than 7th and Green Spirit 7 would win here, they'd be tied in points - and then the best performance at the last points pull would determinate the winner - which would then be Green Spirit!
From the top of the competition to bottom of the pack and the unlucky ones. Poul Liefhoge from Belgium for sure deserved better than what he reached his season. His DAF 1260 Diesel is one hell of a nice powerplant with all the latest electronic gizmos. Well, I should say was: After the injection didn't do what it was supposed to do at Herning and Bernay, he switched back to a mechanical pump for Made, but the tractor just didn't keep the boost up. A methanol conversion of the engine is already planned. Maybe this is the time to get started on it and then show the competition what this inline 6 cylinder with 4 valve head can do.
Showing what it can do was the Viper. After over 25 years pulling with Chrysler engines the Wouters family should know what they are cabable of, if this Hemi stuff just wouldn't be so damn expensive...
Anyhow, the two KBs were running well and Viper made a Full Pull with the front wheels high off the ground.
Two germans up next. Günter Bals showed he by now knows how to handle the 4000 hp turbine machine "Isotov 2" in the light mod (he usually only drives in the 3.5t /77), and even though he backed out in the end, made a Full Pull.
Toine de Jong on the De Jong Special hammerd his supercharged Continental as bad as he could and also made a Full Pull.
Dirk Wessel with the Green Monster also parked the sled way past the 100m and Poul Ager already hoped for the single Allison machine to win the Pull Off and help him become champion.
Anyhow - Dirk was happy for now.
But the one who would decide it all was still to come and needed a Full Pull to stay in the points game. Jeffrey Constanje on the Green Spirit 7!
The Full Pull was no problem at all for the V12 and Poul Ager was already joking to the Green Monster guys back in the pits: "Damn - DO something!"... Poul.. not that easy with just a single Allison in this competition!
Next one up was the big radial engine mounted into the chassis of Herbie:
They must have lowered the hitch quite some, because the nose finally stayed more or less low - still the big radial was overgeared. It had enough low end tourque to join the Pull Off though.
So Poul Ager would only get 5 points and the Green Spirit guys could turn things around in the points now.
But there was more tractors to come, running for local points in the same class. One that everybody was curious about, is the Rocket Science of Jack Stijnen. He converted a 6cyl DAF 4 valve semi diesel to methanol and put three big Holset Turbochargers on top. He had already won a few local pulls and when running well should be capable of joining the European top of the class.
Unfortunatly today he had to fight some foul plugs and with one dead cylinder couldn't get anywhere near the rpms and tires speed he needed to get the nose up early enough and ended up just shy of the Full Pull distance. But there's hope in!!!
One of the pioneers of the light mod competition in Europe and always good ambassedors of this class is the Smidje team. Their current creation is powered by two GAA8 Ford tank engines with blowers. The tractor is a really low budget operation but does well on it's day. Today it just didn't wanna go right though. The left hand brake calliper broke off and the tractor ended up out of bounds.
On top of it, the calliper must have hit one tire badly and caused a puncture... I hope they can get that tire fixed. If not - we as well as the Eager Beaver team still have "single" tires for sale.
The Black Danger, another DAF Diesel unfortunatly failed to reach the Pull Off, but the Asterix with it's 5 Small Blocks joined in.
Then we had the chance to see what stupid politcs can cause. On the other side, on track 3, the ITTC was running it's 2.5t mod competition and the guys were really doing well! Especially the Road Runner with it's turbocharged Rover Meteor laid down a real nice pass over there.
Should be possible to just invite them over to come pull with us. But the problems between various associations fighting over territory just seem to be impossible to overcome...
But back to the competition. We were to have one fine Pull Off!!!
Stefan laid down a good run, maybe a little low on revs, and put the sled to 82.5 7m.
The Viper also ran well, but you could tell Stefan has a little more money invested into his engines. The pink black twin KB machine stood still at 79.27m already.
Günter Bals again did everything right on the Isotov and placed exactly between the two V8 machines (running on Good Year tires, just by the way).
Now it showed that the De Jong Special team needs to get their new tractor finished. As well as the Conti is running - it just doesn't have the power to be in the top. But reliable it is (and for sale... 20,000 $ and you can have it).
73.94m was distance. Enough for 7th place in the end and WELL in the money again!
Back to Mr. Poul Ager Nervous Jensen and the Green Monster. Dirk Wessel really did all he could and the single Allison laid down a new distance to beat with the nose high in the air and no more weights to place on the nose.
84.62m. That was 2m (or 7ft) ahead of the twin Hemis - but would this be enough for a RR Griffon in the end?
We were to find out very soon.
Jeffery nailed the big V12 and... well pictures are worth a 1000 words:
85.02m - 42 cm farther. What a close battle again!
Herbie couldn't make any changes anymore with a distance of 79.01m.
Asterix was not running for Euro Cup Points and with 78.38m was 4th in the local points.
In the end a well deserved win for the dutch guys. They had put this tractor on the track for the first time at Herning, finished 3rd there, then 4th at Bernay and with a victory at Made turned it all around and are the first "2.5t Euro Cup Champion" ever.
But WHAT a competition this class had put onto the tracks! A big THANK YOU to all the 2.5 modified teams! Now keep it going like that!
part 3
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