Tractor pulling

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Competition tractor with four V8 engines
Brake truck
Standard tractor in the six-ton ​​class

Tractorpulling (English for "tractor towing", in Northern Europe also known as Trecker Treck , "Trekker Trek" or "Tractor Traek") is a motor sport in which a vehicle (brake truck) loaded with weights has to be towed as far as possible by a towing vehicle ( tractor ) . The towing vehicles are divided into different weight classes.

history

Tractor pulling originated in the USA in the 1940s from “horse pulling”, which is still in operation today and which dates back to the 19th century. After the successful mechanization in agriculture, farmers wanted to know which of them had the most powerful tractor.

They met at the “county fairs” for the “Tractorpull”. At the beginning, two tractors were always allowed to compete against each other. The two tractors were connected with a chain and now had to compete against each other like in a tug of war . Since this system was very time consuming, you had to find another system. It didn't take long to get the idea of pulling a boulder .

Because this method was still unsatisfactory in practice, the “Step-On Sled” system was developed, in which the spectators jumped from the edge of the track onto the brake skid pulled by the tractor and thus increased the pulling resistance depending on the route. This system was very successful and is still used in part at classic vehicle tractor meetings today.

The “weight transfer sled” was developed in the 1960s. Here, the weight of a ballast container is shifted further and further from a wheel axle to a brake slide by a gear unit, depending on the distance traveled. This means that the braking resistance is continuously increased with the length of the train. With the invention of this brake truck, higher speeds were now possible, so that there were spectacular competitions with modified tractors.

Tractor pulling spread very quickly from the 1970s. Especially at the "County Fairs", annual markets in the agricultural areas, it developed into a welcome show. Even today, the “fair pulls” are an important pillar of American tractor pulling.

Soon bigger and stronger tractors were being built specifically for tractor pulls. After the power of the common V8 engines was no longer sufficient, tank and aircraft engines as well as helicopter engines ( shaft turbines ) with high power (more than 1000 kW) or constructions with several engines were used. These tractors start in the free classes .

Distribution in Europe

In 1977 the first demonstration tractor pulling took place on the Dutch Flevo farm on the occasion of the 24th World Plowing Championship.

Some American tractors and brake trucks were brought to Holland by container. The tractor pulling stole the show from the actual event, a plowing competition. From then on, tractor pulling spread across Europe. The DTTO e. V. (Deutsche Trecker Treck Organization) was founded in 1980 by Top Agrar in Germany as an organization that has been working out the safety regulations for tractors and brake trucks for Germany and organizing the German championship ever since. Together with other national associations, it is also part of the ETPC (European Tractorpulling Committee), the European umbrella organization for tractor pulling.

In contrast to America, the European tractor pulling has gone through a different development: Right from the start, the Free Class was treated as the main crowd puller. However, the “stick” classes, which are based on farm tractors, have grown in popularity significantly in recent years. The Pro-Stock class is currently the most popular class in Europe and is now even being used by factory teams.

Germany

Tractor pulling has been practiced in Germany since the late 1970s. The first German and also European "Trecker-Treck" competition took place on May 28, 1978 in Anholt . In 1980 the DTTO e. V. (Deutsche Trecker Treck Organization e.V.) was founded to give the sport a safety regulation based on the American model , which is constantly being further developed in cooperation with the European and American umbrella organizations. The DTTO supports organizers in the planning and implementation of tractor pulls technically and with staff and insures the drivers and spectators. However, organizers are not forced to organize their tractor pull together with the DTTO and can therefore set up their own rules. Without the DTTO, it is difficult to find insurance coverage for the participating tractors in Germany, as their liability insurance in Germany excludes operation at motorsport events. Should an accident occur that would have been prevented by the safety standards of the DTTO, both the organizer and the driver of an accident vehicle will normally be held accountable by the state for negligence.

Switzerland

1986: The Schweizerische Trecker Treck Vereinigung (STTV), today's Swiss Tractorpulling Association (STPV) was founded. At the same time, the first event in the founding year was held in Schafisheim in the canton of Aargau .

2000: The manual measuring method was replaced by a laser-based one, as it was too time-consuming and not precise enough. A laser device helped to record the distances covered more precisely and more quickly. A laser measuring device was set up at the end of the runway and the brake plate was equipped with a reflector. As soon as the tractor was brought to a stop, this made it possible to quickly determine the distance between the brake plate and the location of the laser device.

2001: A new brake truck was introduced.

By 2020 several venues such as, Tranchepied , Iselisberg , Dürnten , Zimmerwald , Schwadernau , Knutwil , Etziken , Oltingen and Montet / Cudrefin were added. The Powerdays in Knutwil (approx. 30,000 spectators) are one of the largest events in Switzerland.

Austria

In 1983 the first tractor pulling was held in Probstdorf.

Luxembourg

The history of tractor pulling in Luxembourg goes back to 1983. The event took place in Ettelbrück . Several years later, the final of the European championship was held in several classes in Bettborn . In the standard class there has been an event in Luxembourg since 2006. The Luxembourg championship in the standard class is held annually in Hoffelt .

vehicles

An IHC tractor “rises”. There is either too little front weight or the towing vehicle's attachment point is too high.

There is a comprehensive set of rules with technical regulations on how the tractors must be converted or built in order to comply with the rules. Building regulations on the materials and protective devices to be used for the spectators at the tractors are among the most important parts of the regulations. If z. B. If flywheels burst at too high a speed, flying metal fragments could cause fatal injuries. An important measure for the driver is to protect the tractor against rollover: For this purpose, so-called climb limiters are used on support arms, which protect the tractor and its pilot from rollover. The height of the mounting point is also prescribed. For serial tractors this is 80 cm, for competition tractors 50 cm. Hitching above the center of the axle is normally prohibited for safety reasons, but is often ignored on many small “tractor treks” that are not driven according to the regulations, which often leads to dangerous situations for the driver.

Another goal when pulling is to keep the tractor's front axle as close to the ground as possible. With the correct tire pressure and additional weights, it is important to adapt the tractor to the track conditions before starting. The “art” in tractor pulling is to correctly assess a competition track in advance and to set up the tractor correctly.

Basically, a distinction is made between different types of tractors that are used.

Farmer class
Series tractor with road approval without major changes.
Standard class ("Farm Stock")
In the standard class, there are series tractors that have been slightly prepared for use in tractor pulling. In the German championship, an air flow limiter is used in these classes .
Sports class ("Hot Farm")
In the sport class, the engines of the tractors can be tuned. The installation of a larger injection pump, a larger turbocharger and an intercooler are permitted. Water injection and, when using the original flywheel, a speed of more than 2700 rpm are not permitted. In the German championship, a 68 mm air flow limiter is used .
Pro-stock class
In the Pro-Stock class, the tractor is based on a series tractor and may be equipped with a maximum of one turbocharger. Only diesel is allowed as fuel.
Super stock class
A self-made (free class) tractor pulling.
A Super Stock tractor has to keep its original appearance, but apart from the engine block and its position in the tractor, a Super Stock has nothing in common with a standard tractor.
Free class ("Modified")
Self-made prototypes in various weight classes start in the free class. Features of these vehicles are the lightweight base frame on which one or more engines are mounted and a steel cage in which the driver is located. Since these vehicles drive at high speed and engine speed , the specially made tires are provided with a special profile that enables power transmission with high slip. Due to the high slip, the torques in the drive train can be brought under control and high power can be transmitted. Free-class tractors often run on methanol , as this enables high boost pressures with simultaneous internal cooling of the engine. Outputs of over 5000 kW are not uncommon in this class.
Garden pulling
Entry-level class with garden tractors (ride-on mowers) for children from 8 years. There are four different classes:
  • 350 kg standard
  • 500 kg standard
  • Free class 500 kg: self-made tractors with an engine limit of up to 1300 cm³ and four cylinders, no charging is allowed; from 12 years
  • "Compact Diesel" 600 kg: self-made tractors with an engine limit of up to 2.5 l and four cylinders. Only diesel may be used as fuel and charging is allowed. The drivers must have reached the age of 16.

Increasingly in Germany , so-called "quad-Pullings" or "truck Pullings" with the SUV instead. There are also subdivisions according to power, weight or modifications in these special areas. Maize choppers, wheel loaders and bulldozers are also checked for their power in front of the brake truck from time to time.

Engines

In the open classes, in addition to so-called big block engines of American origin from dragster racing , discarded military drives are also used. These come from tanks, helicopters ( gas turbine ) or from propeller-driven aircraft, both V12 engines and radial engines being used. Large-volume diesel engine blocks that are provided with different cylinder heads, pistons, connecting rods and crankshafts, converted to methanol operation and operated with two-stage turbocharging have also become very popular.

Examples:

Brake truck

The brake truck (in Holstein also called “tow truck” or generally also brake sledge) ensures that the pulling process becomes more difficult, depending on the distance covered, and that the tractor is pushed to its limits.

The brake truck is elongated in the direction of travel and has a rear axle with wheels and a skid at the front instead of a front axle.

A weight shifting on the brake car, the so-called back (Dutch box ), allows the brake car to change its pulling resistance. The back is located on the axle at the start and is moved in the direction of the brake runner depending on the route, driven by the rear wheels of the brake car. This increases the friction with the ground and the drag of the brake car increases steadily.

Depending on the weight class, the weights of the back and their feed are adjustable so that both small and large tractors can drive with the same brake truck. There is also the option of hydraulically driving one or more mandrels or steel plates into the ground, which also increases the tensile resistance. Modern brake trucks also have a so-called “push-down” system, which, from a previously set distance, lifts the rear of the car using a hydraulic cylinder so that all of the car's weight presses on the brake skid. This system, which is not loved by the participants and is known as the “anchor”, is used to bring the participants in a class as close as possible and to show the audience an exciting competition. Furthermore, the push down is a safety function that allows the brake truck driver to brake the tractor within a short distance if the driver loses control of his vehicle.

Braking vehicles that brake competition tugs must have extensive safety equipment, including:

  • an automatic monitoring system which immediately switches off the pulling tractor and triggers emergency braking in the event of damage to the drive of the brake car
  • an emergency stop system to be operated by the brake truck driver, which can immediately turn off the pulling tractor via a pull cord
  • a so-called "crash box" or shock absorber, or a combination of both, which can absorb an impact of the back at full speed into the front end of the brake car so that it cannot hit the pulling tractor under any circumstances
  • an automatically releasing back brake
  • Lateral stone catcher on the brake car runner

Furthermore, the use of slipping clutches in competition brake cars is prohibited.

The train

A tractor pulling takes place on a preferably clay-solid, level track 80 to 100 meters long. The tracks are often created permanently for sports in special stadiums. Permanent tracks or stadiums are located in Germany z. B. in

competition

A so-called brake truck is pulled by the participants and their tractors on an 80 to 100 m long and 10 m wide competition slope made of a clay-sand mixture. So that this is not that easy, the brake truck has a special property: the further you pull it, the harder it is to pull it. The aim of every driver is to pull the brake truck with its machine over the entire track without stopping. If the goal is reached, this is called "full pull" (German: "complete train"). If several participants in a class achieve a "full pull", they have to compete against each other again under difficult conditions (more weight in the brake truck). Whoever manages the furthest distance in this case wins.

Classes

European Championship

There are eight categories in the European Championship:

  • Gardenpuller (garden tractors)
  • Mini puller (mini tractors up to 950 kg dead weight)
  • Per Stock (Hot Rod Standard Tractors with a Turbo)
  • Super Stock (self-made tractors with hood and original agricultural engine block)
  • Modified (prototypes)
  • Two wheel drive truck (similar to the funny cars in dragster sport)
  • Truck

Germany

The German championship is organized by the DTTO e. V. extended in the following classes:

Garden pulling:

  • Standard up to 350 kg
  • Standard up to 500 kg
  • Free class ("Modified") up to 500 and 600 kg
  • Compact diesel up to 600 kg

Farm Pulling Series:

  • Hobby Sport class up to 3500, 4500, 6000 and 8000 kg
  • Sport class up to 3500, 4500, 5500 and 6500 kg
  • Super sport class up to 3600 kg

The division of the farmer classes in the Farm Pulling Series is left to the organizer and there is no DM.

Tractor pulling:

  • Free class up to 950, 2500, 3500 and 4500 kg (until 2011 also 5400 kg)
  • Limited Free Class 3500 kg
  • Pro-stock class up to 3500 kg
  • Super stock class up to 3500 kg
  • Light Superstock up to 3500 kg with a turbocharger
  • Mini puller class up to 950 kg

The tractors are weighed before the pull, including driver and fuel.

Switzerland

In Switzerland there are standard and sport classes. The Swiss championship has also been held in the sports classes since 2006.

  • Standard classes: 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 ton class + 100 kg tolerance each for the driver
  • Farmstock: 6.5 tons including driver
  • Sport classes: 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 ton class
  • Supersport:
    • 3.5 ton class, max. six cylinders with one turbocharger and max. 7.0 liter displacement
    • 4.5 ton class, max. eight cylinders with one charging stage and max. 9.0 liter displacement
    • 5.5 ton class, max. eight cylinders with one charging stage and max. 11.0 liter displacement

See also

Web links

Commons : Tractor pulling  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ https://rp-online.de/nrw/staedte/emmerich/gib-gas_aid-23238661
  2. ↑ https://rp-online.de/nrw/staedte/emmerich/gib-gas_aid-23238661 | Release: June 6, 2018
  3. ↑ Nutwil Power Days
  4. ↑ COM.POSiTUM GmbH, Fulda: Reglement | DTTO Deutsche Trecker-Treck Organization e. V. (No longer available online.) In: www.tractorpulling.de. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016 ; accessed on July 27, 2016 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.tractorpulling.de
  5. ↑ DTTO e. V .: Current safety regulations. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on August 15, 2016 ; Retrieved June 1, 2011 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.tractorpulling.de