Horsepower! Tractor Pulling in the American Heartland

http://www.justinfrancese.com

Driven by competitive spirit and the love of horsepower, tractor pulling is rural America's most underreported passion. In an era of over-hyped and over-paid athletic superstars, tractor pullers are the unsung heroes of motorsports—focused on community, competition, and the simple task at hand. On one level, tractor pulling is the most basic of contests—a rivalry to determine who has the most powerful machine. It is a sport nearly as old as agriculture itself. However, despite its simple roots, tractor pulling has developed a diverse and complex culture. Over 12 different classes of vehicles define modern tractor pulling, some using thousands of horsepower, multiple jet-fuel driven engines, and computerized turbochargers. They have one purpose only—to pull thousands of pounds only a few hundred feet. The individuals that design, maintain, and run these amazing machines are motivated by a love of adrenaline and an enthusiasm for the pull. Many have devoted years of their lives and countless dollars to the sport. And, most come from rural communities, where they have been farming for generations. This is the story of one uncle and nephew pulling team, Dennis and Rodney Schnitker, of Hoyleton, Illinois, and the tractors they build and pull. Dennis and Rodney describe the thrill of the pull, explain their thirty-year involvement in the sport, and reveal why they have consistently dominated the Midwest in their class. Their commentary is supported by vivid track-side footage that places the viewer in the stands and under the hood.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• illinois
• cars
• tractor
• pulling
• francese
• byers
• farming
• documentary
• agriculture

[Larryb1231]

are you serious, you are concerned with the effects of global warming created by a few tractors......shit....take a look at how we produce electric...just for starters....think before you comment

[noonecanhide]

tractor pulling is part of my life, this is a good tribute to the people who love tractor pulling

[BuffBillsfan12]

Who cares about pollution... If it is loud and will give you a adrenaline rush who gives a fuck... I can't wait till I have the money to build my own tractor and it will be bad ass

[dbounds2]

3:34 Yes Sir it is.

[noethe213]

call me dumb for asking. but is this Thoma, WI?

[XxGanjaXXGOD]

best 13 seconds...unless the motor comes apart,then it turns into the scariest split seconds

[JETZcorp]

@DieselDoc83 Different technology. Algae produce something almost identical to crude oil, which is then processed in refineries as crude oil, and produce diesel fuel that is, chemically speaking, identical to petroleum-based diesel fuel. It's exactly the same stuff. The only difference is that the carbon in the fuel came from CO2 taken from the atmosphere by algae, rather than being taken from the ground in Saudi Arabia. The engine will not know the difference.

[DieselDoc83]

@JETZcorp to make a note on your algae based fuels...I own a diesel shop that rebuilds fuels systems..injection pumps,injectors,turbos etc. and as of right now thanks to your algae fuels also known as Bio fuels it pays my bills quite well for the simple fact that the Bio fuels turn to sticky grime that cant pass through a fuel system and requires me to clean and rebuild them

[JETZcorp]

@DieselDoc83 The only way I'd ever drive a Prius, is if it had a Hemi in it. I've been planning a "Judas Prius" for some time, actually. I also wrote an essay exposing how over-rated the Prius is, and pointing out that a steam locomotive is cleaner per passenger mile. You'll note that below I mentioned the possibilities for algae-based fuels, which allow for existing internal combustion engines to run carbon-neutral with no modification. When that's available, I'm getting a '68 440 Charger.

[DieselDoc83]

@JETZcorp do you know  that they make locomotives now that have 3 hybrid diesel engines that prolly put off less emissons that your Prius you prolly drive