Boys will be boys... and so will girls

Yesterday we went to a truck and tractor pull. This is a satisfyingly noisy and ecologically unsound pastime. The basic idea is the same as for heavy horse competitons, a heavy object, 45,000lbs in this case, has to be dragged along. The vehicle that pulls farthest wins the class.

Two types of vehicles compete, pick up trucks and tractors. The trucks are highly tuned and have nitrous oxide injection systems.

Some are actual old trucks tuned up and with vulgar bumper stickers.

Some are more like funny cars at a drag strip or NASCAR racers, the bodywork just being a decorative shell to provide familiarity and brand recognition.

It's ferociously loud and involves a lot of wheelspin, note the spectators' hands as this "modified tractor", more dragster than tractor, passes.



Wheelspin and dust, lots of dust.

Hot rod tractors are a variation of motorsport that was new to me. They're turbocharged diesels.

There's a competitive circuit for them and even geeky fans who know the history of their favourite tractors. A man who was sitting behind us muttered angrily correcting the idiot announcer "it's a 609 cubic inch engine, sheesh!"

There was a prize draw, the winner got a chance to drive a brand new Ford luxo-truck down the track with the weight behind it. Not a chance one gets every day.

This was the smokiest tractor. CASE? Allis-Chalmers? International Harvester? I couldn't tell you. I only know the green ones. I do know that it went at 17mph, the record for the day being 18 and change.

The tractor pull was at a "Fall Fair". There were lots of exhibits, animals, crops, quilts and so on. No cow patty bingo though and we missed the most promisingly odd event, the Frog Jumping Competition. Maybe next year.