Gregg Randall, the NTPA executive director, told PRI, “Pulling is a historic sport that predates the piston engine.” The sanctioning body overseeing the event was the National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA), an organization that manages dozens of events East of the Colorado River every year. ![]() Attending these pulls in person is a tradition that’s easy to understand, given how friendly everybody in the segment is. The crowds helped celebrate the event’s 54th anniversary and were treated to some great action as competitors chased down their share of the weekend’s $250,000 in purse money and contingency prizes. The host for this past weekend’s event was the Northwestern Ohio Tractor Pullers Association, whose “Blue Shirts”-220-plus club members along with executives and board members-put on an excellent show for an estimated 80,000 fans over the weekend. The concept of harnessing modern horsepower to move a giant, weighted sled down a track continues to attract significant audiences both in person and on television. Pulling has deep roots in small-town America. ![]() And you might be surprised at some of the rigs pulling this past weekend their quality is evident in the images and video that accompany this story.īut before we get to the weekend’s competition, a little history: As the tractor replaced the horse across the farm fields of North America, Europe, and Australia, tractor pulls (also called power pulling) developed into a rural pastime. Farmers are no less competitive than any of us, and tractor pulls are nothing if not competitive. For further information check their Facebook lakeside pullers for more information following their schedule.Tractor pulls are a literal turbocharged extension of State Fair and 4H events. There is currently no definite schedule for their home tracks. Two clubs out of Georgia and the antique tractors from the Aiken area are expected to attend and pull. Many other clubs are coming to the fairgrounds to attend as well. Another big event they’re looking forward to is May 1st at Aiken fairgrounds. Their Next event is April 10 at their home track. “A Lot of it was for safety reasons as well as some members getting over COVID 19,” said Barrett. “Our 2020 pulling year we were not able to pull until October- November, and we only had a few pulls,” said Barrett. “This is all done from the heart,” said Barrett.Ĭovid has impacted many of the pulls for the lakeside pullers. ![]() The money was divided within each child in the home and they received Walmart gift cards. Despite COVID in 2020, they were still able to give yet another $4,000 to the Turbeville children’s home. In 2019 they collected many donations and were able to send a check of $4,576 to the Turbeville Children’s home. “Anyone is welcome to join, it is not just limited to club members,” said Barrett.Īll of the money made goes back into the track and donated to fundraisers. Spectators are welcome to watch for free. It is $10 per hook/pull, and you get two pulls. Anyone is welcome to join Lakeside pullers as long as they meet the rules and requirements for the division/class they are pulling in. They also go to Heath Springs, SC in September for their fall festival. Every year, they go to Aiken, SC fairgrounds in May and October. They have travelled to many states for away pulls such as Georgia and Florida. We just find an old lawnmower and strip it down to the frame and build it up.” “We usually have a good amount of tractors,” said Barrett, “The majority of the tractors used in the events are built. Cindy Barrett is the announcer for the events and also controls their Facebook account They have another club in Loris, SC called East Coast Pullers that also comes up to pull with lakeside pullers. They’re in charge of the events that take place and out-of-town trips. Bobby Grimsley is the president of Lakeside pullers and Robert McLeod is also a huge aspect and contributes to The Lakeside Pullers. The land is owned by club members, Lakeside Pullers. They have pulled in Panola, SC and Summerton, SC, and they have had their current location in Ram Bay for about 4 years now. They have been pulling for over 10 years. A couple of families, including the McLeod family, got together and were the ones who created the club. ![]() Anyone from the age of 2-80 can be seen pulling in these events with about 50 members in the club. An average pulling season is from April to November, and they pull on the first and third Saturday of the month. They pull a sled 300 feet and the person who pulls the farthest wins a personalized trophy made by Allen Smith. Lakeside pullers are similar to truck pulls and tractor pulls, but they only pull lawn garden tractors, v8 pulling tractors, and motorcycle pulling tractors. Lakeside Pullers is a non-profit pulling club located in Ram Bay at 1425 Hamilton Road, Manning, South Carolina.
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