Holy Cow Tractor Pulling Team

Wednesday, October 13, 2004

New Rules
As seen on the NTPA web site and in the latest issue of Puller, the rules have been changed. Essentially, at the GN level, the rules reverted back to where they were in 1999 with an adjustment down for the turbines. On the state level, the same thing occured, also with a reduction for the turbines, and also a blower overdrive restiction for the Hi-Helix blowers (which includes us) and a reduction in intake size for the Allisons.

I think the rules are pretty well set in stone, but I think some tweaking and clarification will occur at the December meeting. It is too hard to see into the future, but more than likely we will return to the GN circuit for 2005. I think we have a fair shot at winning, so that is probably where we will pull. We will fill in with what Indiana stuff we can, but I am pretty sure there will be conflicts, so a third consecutive HSTPA title is probably out. Only time will tell.

Allegan, MI
OK, guys, if I forget to update the blog, be sure and prod me a little.

Anyway, we get to Allegan with no problems at all. Our friends Brian and Kelley showed up later with Brian's sister and her boyfriend. My first comment was that everything went well on the trip up, so that doesn't bode well for the pull.

Later, my friend Ed from college showed up as well. I haven't seen him in about 9 months, but he lives relatively close and came up for the night.

We had a hook in the middle of the class and got a little chance to watch the others. This is difficult track to read, but we set it up and gave it our all. We full pulled with ease and just as I was shutting it down I saw black stuff floating in the air. At first I thought it was trash from somewhere, but I say the flagman motion to shut the tractor off. It turns out it was a belt. It didn't break, but all the teeth were ripped off except 2. So, we hurry back to the trailer and replaced the belt.

I just want to say that this is, I think, the 7th broken belt in the last 5 runs. All the belts are from the same batch and I really think something is messed up in their manufacturing process. The belts break on any engine. I can't find anything wrong, but I can't get more than about 2 or 3 runs from this latest batch of belts. Ed Stahl and Bob Jostock are also having similar problems. I know I have only been in this sport a short time, but there have been a noticable change in belt constuction. My first belts were softer, like a fan belt on a car. Maybe not quite that soft, but they felt like rubber. The lastest belts feel like plastic, they are hard like tupperware. This is something that is going to be changed for next year. The odd thing is that, according to my computer, I never lost boost on that engine, so the teeth ripped off AFTER I got out of the throttle. By looking at the computer data, you can't tell the belt broke,

Anyway, Diekman and Jostock also full pull and it will be the three of us in the pull off. We are first hook in the pull off. We learn Jostock has engine problems and can't come back, which is odd because he is staged at the starting line. Anyway, it will just be me and Diekman in the pull off. I hook to the sled and start my pull. It get a decent hole shot, but then start to bounce a little, and then I felt some odd. Next think I know, the left rear blower pops up and there is a big ball of fire. I quickly shut it off and watch all 14 quarts of oil quickly dump on the track. This is bad, I don't even need to look.

When we get back to the trailer, I can see damage to the left side of the engine, a huge hole on the oil pan, and two different holes on the right side of the engine. All of the intake studs are either broken or the intake where they attach is broken. (That is by design, by the way). It also broke another belt, although this probably is not the fault of the belt itself.

Diekman makes a short pass, 200' or so, just enough to safely get around me for the win. We finish 2nd' and Bob takes third.

So, we wench it in the trailer. and wish our friends a good night. At this point with only a couple more pulls to got, it is just stupid to try to get another engine on. The front right motor that is normally my dead one has a peculiar feel with turning it over by hand. I have a complete motor ready to be assembled in the shop, but will be in Detroit all week on a business trip, so I really only have just over 1 full day to build a new engine from scratch and hang it on the tractor. It could be done, but not with the care I usually take. My main concern is that there is somehting wrong with one of the parts that would get transferred to this new motor and I would end up hurting it as well. So, we made the decision right there, the 2004 season has ended.

My friend Ed said, "Well, I can't buy you a motor, but I can buy you dinner!" and with that, we headed to Applebees.

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