Holy Cow Tractor Pulling Team

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Sandwich, IL (session 2)

I didn't break anything and again, there wasn't much to do between classes. I checked the data recorders and calculated points, while Stacey brushed off the dirt. A little air in the tires and fuel in the tanks, and she was ready for the evening session. As far as points go, I was tied with Dave Snyder for 8th. Mathematically, I couldn't get 7th, nor drop to 10th. There is no end of season money paid below fifth place, so basically I was in a battle with Dave for bragging rights. The top three places were pretty well fixed, but 4-6th places were tight and could go any number of ways. More importantly, the difference between 5th and 6th meant end of season money or not and a slot in the Enderle, or no. So, while Dave and I battled for bragging rights, his daughter Nichole was in the hunt for an Enderle slot.

I drew last hook. The track was much much better in the evening. I don't know if it was the sun going down and they could keep the moisture in the track (that was at least a factor), but the track was much better. I added quite a bit of nose weight for this one. We followed the Pro Stock class this time and pulled on the pit side track. The one thing I noticed is that they were running 3 scrapers. When the tarctors leave the line, they spin the tires really had and stir up a lot of dirt for the first 50' or so until the get moving. The scrapers are supposed to gather that dirt and put in back in the hole, where the packer will pack it back together. However, this crew drug the loose dirt off the track and put in in a pile. Now, we are not talking about a lot of dirt, maybe on a 1/2" or so, but tractor after tractor, it adds up. So, by the middle of the Mod class, there was a big hole, maybe 6" deep across better than half of the starting line, but centered more to the left.

As Stacey and I surveyed the track, I suggested spotting the sled all the way to the right to get out of the hole. As luck would have it, the next tractor did just that. It didn't work as you couldn't get completely out of the hole. That tractor went from sideline to sideline like a snake. OK, not the right choice. So, Stacey and I eyed the left side, and almost like they were reading my mind, the next tractor did just that. Same result, side to side like a snake. So, I said, put me dead center in the hole. It would hurt my hole shot, but a straight pass would make up for it. And again, the next tractor did just that and blew it out the gate. Nichole was test hook and got all crossed up on the first hook and dropped to last. Dave also had a bad run, and only went 220' or so. In fact, it was a bad night for Turbines all around. Neither Roberts tractor did well either.

By the time it was my turn, there were 5 tractors past 310. I had to get it out to do better than 6th place. I left the line and the tractor bounced once. I don't know what caused it or why, but my first thought was, "Well, this is going to be a bad run." Just then, it hooked up hard and I had the fastest run of the season. I blew it out to 315'. Cool. I let a tow tractor pull me and send Stacey for Alcohol.

OK, decision time. On the one hand, I pulled very well and I really like to put on a show for the crowd. I don't like it when tractors don't come back for the pulloff and always try to comeback myself. But, on the other hand, I have no reason to pull again. I won't help my points standings at all, and the additional purse money would likely only be a few hundred dollars. Plus, I am hot with little time to cool down. I also am having lubrication issues and don't have confidence that putting on even one more run is a good idea. Still, I will fuel up and be ready to go and see what happens.

Sure enough, at least 2 tractors had a problem with the hole and had poor pulls. I don't know where I fit in the pack, but I am thinking I can do pretty well, so I make the decision to pull again. Basically I made the same run, without changing a thing. I pull down to 280 or so and stop and just as I close the throttle, I seem a puff of smoke, so I kill the engines. I see small puddle of oil on the track with shiny bits of aluminum in it. I get out of the seat and find the hole in the side of the block. I had spun the #6 rod bearing and snapped the #6 rod. Should have put it in the trailer. I ended up 4th.

When we get back to the trailer, I run points real quick, while Stacey goes for my checks. Because I beat Tom Bollinger, Nichole and Tom tied for 5th place, and Nichole won the tie breaker by virtue of getting a third at Ft Recovery.

Stacey comes back and says they won't give her my check because I, personally, need to fill out a W-9 form for taxes. She said she would send me right over. So, I head over to the tower to get the checks. I stop at Snyder's trailer to tell them the news and she is excited. The was a CBS news crew there doing interviews for CBS and they snagged me for an quick interview.

When I got to the tower, it was dark and locked up. I asked where the checks were and an NTPA official told me the fair office under the grandstand. So, I headed over there, but after finding a gate in the fence and getting to the grandstand, there was no office to be found. I asked a cop where the office was and she asked "Which one?" "There is more than one, I thought?" and told her I needed to pick up an exhibitor check. She didn't know where I needed to go, but directed me to the red barn. When I got there, they guy had no idea about any checks. He said the tractor pull group was their own group and not associated with the fair. He told me to go to a tent in the infield. When I told him there was no tent (I saw them breaking it down on my trip over) he didn't know what else to tell me. But he did mention more than one that he was tired and wanted to go home and that I should just come back in the morning. I asked him for a phone number, but all he had were home numbers. I asked if he could call them for me, but he refused. I didn't want to walk all the way to the fair corner of the fair to get my cell phone to call, only to find out that I needed to walk all the way back, maybe to the next building. Again the guy said go to the tent. I asked him to take me to the tent, and again he refused. At this point, one of his drinkin' and fishin' buddies showed up and they started chatting. It was obvious that this was all the help I was going to get from him. So, I cross clear back across the fair grounds. I this point, I have been walking for 30 minutes or so. As I am crossing the track again, I see at camper with a lot of activity, and not puller or NTPA people. So, I ask them if they are the tractor pull promoter group. They were. I asked where I get my check. One guy snippily came back that the girls went home because they didn't think anyone else was coming. Apparently they made three announcements on the PA that can't be heard in the pits that checks needed to be picked up. It was obvious they wanted to party and, like everyone, just wanted me to go away. I just snapped. I told them how they refused to give the check to my wife and then left before I could get back, even though she told me I was on my way. They kept telling me to calm down, but on the other hand really weren't doing anything to fix the situation. Finally after a few minutes, they got the president of the association. He was no help either. He said they would mail the checks. I asked him how they had my address and he said NTPA gave it to me. The problem here is that NTPA entered me at Mark Bryant and had the name of my tractor as Holly Cow, so I don't know if the information NTPA has in the trailer is correct. I am doubtful that I will get the check in the mail. I asked about the W-9. I asked if they wouldn't give me a check 45 minutes ago because I hadn't filled out a W-9, they why would they mail it to me without one? The president said they would mail me a W-9 form, I would fill it out, mail it back, and only then would they mail the check. Since I have a W-9 on file with NTPA, why didn't NTPA just give them a copy? He said to not worry about the W-9, and they will just send the check. I am becoming more irate as time passes. I finally get the President's home number and said I will be calling if the check doesn't show up. It is obvious this is the best I am going to get, because absolutely NO ONE on the grounds knows where the checks are. I have had numerous problems getting checks in the past when the fairgrounds issues them. Either they pay the wrong purse, pay the wrong number of places, refuse to pay us, or in the case of HSTPA, embezzles money so the checks bounce. But, it looks like the best I am going to get is a desire to get me to go away.

So, I get back at the trailer, nearly an hour later, and change out of my driving suit into shorts and a T-shirt. Now, I need to load the tractor and get everything secured for the trip home. A man shows up in a pickup and said he understood there was an issue with my checks. I tell him the story and he apologized and said the only thing he could do was go to the ladies home and get the checks. He asked if I could stay for about fifteen minutes and he would be back with the checks. He said, "Just to be sure, what do you have coming to you?" I replied, "A 10th and a 4th place check." Finally someone that cares and is trying to do a good job. He comes back 15 minutes later and hands me two checks. I look at them and see that they are the same amount. I look at the checks and they are Wayne Pursers. I tell him these are not my checks and point to Wayne's hauler. He said, well the only other checks were some fellow from Indiana. I said, "thats me." So, he asks if I can wait another 15 minutes. He takes those checks to Wayne and again heads to the ladies house. Another 15 minutes goes by and he hands me the checks. I thank him and he apologizes for his mistake and the whole ordeal that has now spanned over an hour and a half. As he leaves, I look at the checks, and see they have the wrong address on them. So, I don't know if NTPA gave them bad information, or it is was a typo on their end, but I don't know if I they would have gotten to me at all.

And this is just one reason on a long list of why the Sandwich fair is my least favorite pull of the season.

Sandwich, IL (session 1)

Even though it rained so hard at home, they closed US 31 because of flooding, there wasn't a cloud in the sky all day. I looked at the track as they prepped in, and it looked good. The last time I pulled here, the track was very hard and dry. I bounced so hard, I snapped off a fuel tank and broke my hitch. This looked like a much better track, more moisture, and a Bauer sled instead of Bouncy Bouncy Hagar. But, the track sure did change in the 30 minutes or so until the start of the show. Sandwich runs 2 tracks, with Mods and Pro's on one track, and Mini's on the other. Apparently, they make a big tire track and a small tire track. And, with about the same number of mini's and big tractors, it does make for a balanced show.

First up, a Mini. I don't remember who, it wasn't one of the "Big Guns," but it seemed like a decent tractor. Never fully opened the throttle, just screaming the engine, no ground speed. It seemed like a 5 minutes pass for something like 160 feet. Wow. Nothing to get a hold of. Plus, I don't think the new Iron Boy sled is as exciting to watch as the old one. It seems too heavy, and makes the runs too slow. I wish they would bring back the old one.

Anyway, the Mods were not much better. We at least got to the end of the track, but it wasn't a fast run. I hooked 8th and made a really nice pass to 296, but that was only good enough for 10th place. The whole class was clustered tightly, but at least we got a check.

Fort Recovery (session 2)

Saturday proved to be a relaxing day. Since we were ready to run the night before, but never actually run, there wasn't much to do to get ready. We did fire the tractor, just to make sure nothing unexpected got wet, and checked the air pressure, but that was about it. We drew 3rd hook in a class of 10 tough mods.

Singer was driving the green Iron Man since the singer sled was still broke. This was the first time that Singer has either hooked a GN Mod Class, and his first time driving this sled. Bruce Slagh was first up and went somewhere in the neighborhood of 330. They reset the sled. Tom Bollinger was next to give it a try and spun it in at 317. They reset the sled again. I thought I had a very nice pass and went 264. Being now the third test hook, I had the option to drop it or keep it. The official didn't specifically ask me, but I intended to keep it and drove off the track. Stacey gave me a hard time for not dropping it, but I honestly didn't know what I could do different to make a better pass.

Nichole Snyder was next yet. This would be my measuring stick. Nichole has been very consistant all season and is usually less than a foot behind me to 4 or 5 feet in front of me. She made a nice pass at 268. I knew I made the right choice. Finishing just ahead of Nichole, was Jostock, the Slagh on the rehook, and Veney for the Win.

Our best finish of the season, nothing broke, overall a good weekend.

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