Not satisfied with the power and noise generated by big engines like a Chevrolet 454 and 560 cubic inch motors, which may produce in excess of 1000 horse power, tractors pullers have devised methods of coupling two or even three of these engines together.  Others have gone for a more exotic flavour and sourced their power from Chieftain tanks, WW2 Fighter Aircraft and even Jet Aircraft. 

The events are held on two x 100 metre tracks, running in parallel.  The Mini Tractors on one track and the Big Tractors on the other.  This layout ensures that there is non stop action throughout the day, with a competitor commencing their pull at the completion of a pull on the other track.  The pit areas are opened during interval to allow the spectators to have a closer look at the tractors and to chat with the drivers and crews.  

Tractor Pulling is a family orientated motor sport.  There is a friendly atmosphere between all the members and their families.  It is not uncommon for tractor pullers to cannibalise their own tractors (when they break) to allow another puller to compete.  The sport is open to both women and men, the only restriction being that competitors must at least hold a current Learner Driver’s Permit.  It sometimes comes down to members of the same family competing for the trophies.  

Safety is the name of the game.   

The sport of tractor pulling has more brute horsepower than any other sport in the world. 

Therefore, the rules and policies of the ATPA are extensive and cover all aspects of the sport, from the actual construction of the tractors themselves to the construction of the track on which they compete. The rules and policies were based on the experiences of the NTPA (National Tractor Pulling Association of America) and modified to suit Australian conditions.  All tractors are built to and must comply with these rules and are closely scrutineered prior to every tractor pull meeting.  Whilst the tractors may appear ‘simple’ and even to some ‘unsafe’, they have all been constructed to protect the driver and the spectators.     

Some of the safety features include a ‘kill switch’ which is mounted at the rear of the tractor and literally ‘kills’ all power to the engine(s) should there be a problem with the sled.  The exhausts must point upwards to prevent the exhaust gases from throwing up dirt and stones.  All tractors have ‘wheelie bars’ which prevent the tractor from flipping over backwards and roll over (mini tractors only) bars for the drivers.  A fire extinguisher must be carried on each tractor and all engines, transmissions and differentials have shielding to prevent flying shrapnel in case of explosion. All drive components are also shielded.

As you can see, there is a lot more to these deceptively simple vehicles.  All of the people associated with the tractors welcome questions and discussion, so feel free to come and talk with us at display and competition events. 

Who wins what ?

The object of tractor pulling is simple, to pull an ever increasing load further down a dirt track than anyone else in your class.   

A puller does not have to go faster than the competitors, only further.  Unlike other forms of motor sport, there are no eliminations.  Once a class starts, the competition continues until a winner is determined.   

Should more than one competitor clear the 100-metre mark, then the sled has more weight added and the tractors who ‘Full Pulled’ competes again to determine an outright winner.  

Competition for the last event is as keen and determined as for the first.  Pulling order is picked at random because of the importance of the order of the pull.  On some tracks, the actual condition of the track will change for the better or worse, so the pulling position will have a great deal to do with the outcome of the class.  All competitors earn points which culminate in the "Puller of the Year" which is awarded at the Annual General Meeting Presentations Evening each year.

All tractors are scrutineered by officials at the beginning of each Tractor Pull Event.  This scrutineering ensures that all tractors meet the requirements for safety and the specific requirements for the category in which they have nominated to compete.  The tractors are weighed prior to each event, the tractors are not allowed to weigh in excess of the stated weight. 

A points system is applied to the various classes for puller & hooker (the number of times a tractor hooks up to the sled) points.

All tractors and their drivers must be registered with the Australian Tractor Puller Association (ATPA) before they may compete.