04:34:57pm, Friday, September 04, 2026
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My Opinion- Who makes pulling work!
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Moderator Registered: 03/25/2008 Posts: 2,040 |
I have written a couple opinion articles on what I believe are the ingredient for a successful pull from the fans point of view. And after going to pulls that range from an A+, to a couple that where an F , I think I understand what it takes to put on a show that is fast, exciting and well run. I know I harp on starting on time and moving vehicles on timely manner. It's more than that, it's how these things happen that makes or breaks a tractor pull from a fans view point.
I don't know how many shows I've been to where the track equipment is blocking the fans view of either the start, finish or in some cases the entire track. I was at a state event this year click here for the rest of the article-My Opinion Dick Morgan www.PULLOFF.com Independent Pulling News Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/04/2013 11:24PM by Dick Morgan. |
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Re: My Opinion- Who makes pulling work!
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Registered: 09/03/2010 Posts: 393 |
Well said Dick Morgan |
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Re: My Opinion- Who makes pulling work!
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excellent!
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Great article that hit the nail on the head as usual. Nothing is worse than a slow moving show. I realize there are challenges with this when there isn't a lot of equipment at a pull, but all too often it happens at pulls when there is plenty of equipment. |
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Re: My Opinion- Who makes pulling work!
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Anonymous User
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Dick, I like the idea and concept of what your looking for, but I think your dreaming of a purple unicorn.
What your article did not go into is the reasons why local/state level pulling does not move at this pace. Its easy to explain. Your talking as if the pull is for the fans. At the larger events you are correct. At your local level its the opposite, the pull is for the pullers. Pullers spends hundreds of thousands of dollars and thousands of hours building, maintaining and hauling these vehicles to these events. Pullers run the organization that sanctions the pull and they create the rules. In your article you mentioned that you could not believe the track officials let the puller work on the vehicle right on the track. Guess who hired that track official? The pullers did. With 8-12 or so regular pullers in most classes; you can not risk pissing off a puller and lose them. The ones that would like the fan experience improved is the promoters but many of them are intertwined with pullers. Meaning many of the pulls are put on by or supported by local pullers. The larger events have created an identity of there own. They have major sponsors. Major sponsors want the fan experience to be the best and they put up enough money to help it happen. The large events have motivation for pullers to get to the line faster and not hold up the show. Louisville may not invite a puller back if they have issues with them. Bowling green and Gordyville have such large number of pullers at each event in each class; if they have to piss a puller off and they never come back its a small impact. Gordyville and Louisville; hire the track officials, if they tell them the priority is "the show must go on"; then they can make it a focus of the show. I'm not bitter toward the local pulls for being run like this. I understand; who ever has the most skin in the game should make the rules. My $15 does not have the impact on the show that the pullers do. That is why sometimes I take $20 and put a few miles on my car and attend some of these larger events. I look at the local events as a gift from the pullers to get to come out and watch them compete with one another. I know you and Jake probably frequent many bars...hahaha.....But here is an analogy for you. Local pulling would be like going to a bar and watching two buddies playing darts and then going up to them a complaining that they are spending too much time screwing around talking between turns. Its their game, leave them alone. I know this is going to tick some off; but lets face it our $15 to see a pull barely covers the insurance money it cost promoters to allow us to site that close to these power full machines. Thank You, Justin Bennett |
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Re: My Opinion- Who makes pulling work!
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Moderator Registered: 01/11/2009 Posts: 1,631 |
I'll crawl out of my cave for a moment as I work on the next edition of Lucas Oil's Pro Pulling Magazine (shameless plug--subscribe or find it in TSC soon) to chime in.
Dick-your opinion falls pretty much in line with my line of thought. No matter where you are in the sport, there needs to be timely action on the track. There are instances where a chassis may be crippled and warrant inspection before removing it and that takes time, otherwise the show has to go on. JMB-let me quote you here.."What your article did not go into is the reasons why local/state level pulling does not move at this pace. Its easy to explain. Your talking as if the pull is for the fans. At the larger events you are correct. At your local level its the opposite, the pull is for the pullers. Pullers spends hundreds of thousands of dollars and thousands of hours building, maintaining and hauling these vehicles to these events. Pullers run the organization that sanctions the pull and they create the rules. In your article you mentioned that you could not believe the track officials let the puller work on the vehicle right on the track. Guess who hired that track official? The pullers did. With 8-12 or so regular pullers in most classes; you can not risk pissing off a puller and lose them. The ones that would like the fan experience improved is the promoters but many of them are intertwined with pullers. Meaning many of the pulls are put on by or supported by local pullers." I can't speak for your part of the pulling world but in mine Promoters want a timely show, and they want butts in the seats. If local pulling was just for the pullers, why charge admission at the local level? Yes, some pullers promote pulls,every one of them I know is very aware of idle time on the track. There's also the county/community fair component of the equation that's constantly looking for a means to draw a crowd in. When they start counting gate receipts for a pull vs. a demo derby or mud sling and there's a significant difference, they start asking questions and observing the action, or lack thereof. They can make changes---since they're the ones paying at the front end here--on who gets to entertain their crowds next year. Officials are hired to officiate in a honest and fair manner by the sanctioning body and in turn the pullers who may govern that organization. They're being paid to make things run smoothly by getting vehicles on and off the track in a timely manner and making fair decisions on the track. If they're not active in those kinds of activities, they're not doing the pullers that hired them any favors. Yes a puller might get mad because he/she is forced off the track, but 1) they're in the heat of the moment of competition and 2) that means they've got blinders on to the 500 to 5000 people in the stands, at $10 a head, who ultimately pay the purse through the promoter's coffers. Here's the deal: the puller will get over it--they do. If they don't, that's a part of their nature that they apply to every other part of their life, and would get upset no matter if it was pulling or pitching quarters on the porch of the local choke-and-puke. We're all human and we all react differently to the same circumstances. Successful pulling is a circle with four links. Promoters-Sanctioning Body-Pullers-Fans. All have to work together, and the last one.....fans.....is there by their own will and their ability ($$$$) to be a link is determined by one factor: "is this product worth my dollar?" How many pulls survive with empty seats where admission is charged? I've written a novel already and could write more, but that's for another time...back into the cave... |
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Re: My Opinion- Who makes pulling work!
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Anonymous User
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Bryan
The $10 (Your number, not mine, ours is $15) admission goes to pay insurance, bleachers, guard rails, lights, fences, bathrooms/port-a-johns and so forth. If you have 1000-2000 people per pull at these local events that is about $10,000-$20,000 ($15,000-$30,000 our numbers). That is not much money to work with. Also if you look around the crowd and go to the pulls week after week you start to notice clusters of people the same at each event. If you do a little research into these groups you figure out most of them are there representing a pulling vehicle. So a good size portion of that "Fan money" you talk about was paid for by the pullers family, friends, and coworkers. Which just drives home my point that the pullers are the ones that put on your local shows. So unless they feel the show needs to go faster, its not going to happen. The promoters survive on is food and beverage sales. As for your comment "There's also the county/community fair component of the equation that's constantly looking for a means to draw a crowd in. When they start counting gate receipts for a pull vs. a demo derby or mud sling and there's a significant difference, they start asking questions and observing the action, or lack thereof. They can make changes---since they're the ones paying at the front end here--on who gets to entertain their crowds next year." Our local organizations are loosing hooks at these events very regularly. They are going with cheaper and cheaper organizations, let it be cheaper pulling organizations or other motor sports. I do think Dick is right about having issues; I just don't see it getting fixed easily. The way these organizations are structured. If a track official DQ's a few pullers at local events for not having their act together, that official will be looking for a new gig come next season. You can not bit the hand that feeds you. I know this is not the officials bread and butter but they still have to make everyone happy to keep their job. Thank You, Justin Bennett |
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Re: My Opinion- Who makes pulling work!
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Moderator Registered: 01/11/2009 Posts: 1,631 |
Good points Justin...my thought however is that there are more unique visitors to pulls....in my part of the world...than it seems in yours. We, meaning the folks that have a day-to-day knowledge of pulling or have some vested interest in being at an event, make up 30-35% of the "local" crowds I see. There are pull "regulars" but by and large I see local families looking for entertainment at events. That other 65% attend would likely attend 5 pulls or less a year-a casual fan looking for entertainment. Good example is the Murfreesboro Pull; That event (non-sanctioned, indoors, invitational) has the biggest ethnic/socioeconomic mix of fans Ive seen. The pulling "family" was a distinct minority there the past two years, by far the two biggest and most successful years they've had in attendance. That show moves pretty good for indoor limitations.
Concessions are a tremendous factor for pulls that I didn't consider; look at the Grassy Fork Pull in Tampico, Indiana, with two days of top flight PPL pulling with some local brush pulling mixed in. There is no admission fee to the event but the VFD covers their expenses concessions alone, and they do quite well because of the quality of the food they serve (read: best fish sandwich ever). The circle/cycle of pulling is hindered when the "show" is held up...you're only as good as your last performance, and if you're not putting on a good show, future potential revenue, from gate sales to concessions to merchandise, are all affected. Keep the show moving, period. The matrix I use is four classes, avg. 15 per class, 3.5-4hrs tops. Start at 7, finish by 11 or sooner---that to me is a perfect pull. If that pull stops moving at 10pm because someone decides to fix their vehicle on the track, watch the crowd leave...the harder you work at keeping folks entertained and not looking at their watches keeps them in the stands. Fans that stay raise the chances of more concession purchases, or buying a t-shirt, or whatever....I spent too many hours in "professional development" seminars for teaching to not understand the underlying premise in each seminar: you can hold a person's(students) attention for 20 minutes, tops, without changing the entertainment (lesson) up a little. Pulling changes every 2-4 minutes ideally, no two vehicles make the same run. Keep it moving, don't stop. To finish up I guess you learn something new every day: 1) Some groups are crowd-centered, where fan keeping fans entertained is priority one. 2) Some groups are puller-centered, where the on-track activity is at the discretion of the officials/pullers and the outcome of fan opinion is not a part of the equation 3) and I do see this one: some folks aren't happy unless you're still pulling at midnight and think they've been cheated out of a "show" even if they saw what I call a "perfect pull." I don't claim to know it all, I just report what I observe. |
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Re: My Opinion- Who makes pulling work!
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Moderator Registered: 03/25/2008 Posts: 2,040 |
Justin; thanks for your response, however I don't think I can agree with you. What I believe you are saying that at the big pulls it's the right way to do it: start on time, run a fast paced show, and give the fan's a clean and unobstructed view of the track. However at the state events you are satisfied to sit in your seat for 2 hrs. waiting for the 7 pm show to start at 9, wait for a hook every 12 minutes and have a blocked view of the track? Not me, and not most other fans, if it can be made better why not make it better! Dick Morgan www.PULLOFF.com Independent Pulling News |
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Re: My Opinion- Who makes pulling work!
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Registered: 08/26/2009 Posts: 60 |
I agree completely with your opinion Dick. Our club takes a lot of pride in the fact that we run a very fast pace show (average 60 plus vehicles in 4hrs.) I think a lot of it has to do with our level of vehicles, they aren't as finicky as some of the higher horsepower equiptment, but our guys have jobs and families to get home too, so they don't want to drag it out for no reason. As a father who takes two kids under five to pulls regularly I know how big a difference wasting 2-3 minutes here and there makes on an entire event. I've also heard it said that 4 hours is the maximum an average person will sit on a bleacher! We as a club are moving towards adding an event manager to take some responsiblity off the competion director, and president. We feel if that person can be able to move around and fill in it will help the show. I'm sure most clubs suffer like we do with a lack of help or a lack of the right people at the right time.
Geoff O'Brien Pres. WNY pro-farm club |
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Re: My Opinion- Who makes pulling work!
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Having moved to western NY from eastern NY this last winter I had never been to a WNY Pro-Farm pull until this past summer when I found my way to 3 of them near to my new home. Granted they are not in the power of equipment the ESP/NYTPA or the USA East events that I was also newly introduced to this summer; but the events I saw were well run, the show moved quickly along, and the tractors and trucks were very completive making it a good experience. I will be going back next summer to see them again. |
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Re: My Opinion- Who makes pulling work!
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what
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if the small shows are for the pullers and not the fans how many firedepartments or fair boards would have a pull if the stands where empty. why don't they have there pulls at 7am so they could get back to farming or driving truck |
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Re: My Opinion- Who makes pulling work!
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Reader
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a good anounswer should be high on the list for any club to have they can help making a bad show look good or at least better |
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Re: My Opinion- Who makes pulling work!
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I'm going to comment as someone who has promoted our county fair pull for 23 years and just started pulling this year. As a promoter, I have always let it be known what I expected from the pullers. First, safety of the pullers and fans is the first priority. If you've had even one beer, I don't need you competing. Drink when you're done pulling if you want to. Second, have your tractor running when the sled hits the mark and be ready to hook. If you're not ready, you go to the bottom. I'll give a guy a little time, but not much. Third, the track crew needs to have their act together, so some of the guys that help me have been doing it for 20+ years and don't hesitate to give instructions to new guys. Sometimes you get lucky and the track takes very little maintenance, and sometimes you have to work the crap out of it to keep it fair, but keep the equipment moving as fast as you can. I've had years when we ran 75hooks in a little over3 hours, I think that's about as fast as I know how to do it.
Whether it's pullers or workers, let them know what you expect, and most will work with you. As a puller, I appreciate a pull that starts on time and is kept moving. If you don't know how to build a track, ask for advice. Some of the county fairs and festivals we pull at have some crappy dirt to work with, but well prepared crappy dirt can still put on a good show. Great dirt and a poor prep job can lead to a crummy pull, for pullers and fans alike. It took me at least 10 years to figure out how to prep the dirt at the pull I promote, and I'd have to say I've only had a few tracks that I thought were really good. If you're the promoter, don't act like a horse's rear end. As pullers we have a lot of time and money invested, just treat us with a little respect and courtesy. A simple thank you for coming is worth a lot. And don't go ballistic when things go wrong, because they will, just deal with it and go on. And don't think because you've been to a few pulls you know what it takes to run one, because you don't. Like I said, I've trying to do it for 23 years, and I know I haven't had a perfect pull yet. A couple I thought were really good, but I learn something every year. A good sled operator can also make or break the show. Somebody that can read the track and the vehicles and get the settings right can make a good show for the fans and pullers. If you get a lazy one that can't or won't change weights and settings, find a different one. Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/06/2013 12:24AM by dirtfarmer. |
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Re: My Opinion- Who makes pulling work!
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Registered: 09/04/2008 Posts: 278 |
at our end of the state we pull all fairs and they want us done at a good time to get the people back out in the fair I think nytpa does a very good job with that |
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Re: My Opinion- Who makes pulling work!
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Registered: 04/04/2008 Posts: 667 |
JMB,
I remember going to a brush puller many years ago as a pull but also as a fan. The guy that promoted the pull also pulled a 4x4 truck. When his truck quit at about 150' about 6 kids ran out and jumped into the back of the truck and the driver got on his cell phone. It took them about ten minutes to get him off of the track. As a puller who had to go to work the next day and as a fan I was very upset and made up my mind that night that I would not go to another one of his shows. Nuff said!!! S'no Farmer |
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Re: My Opinion- Who makes pulling work!
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Larry Anderson
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It takes cooperation from everyone as a every delay people leave and starting on time is a must. |
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Re: My Opinion- Who makes pulling work!
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Anything to keep the show moving.
Having 2 sleds in a single track town, change sleds with the class change. Next to no down time, adding weight to sled, and if one has trouble the other steps in. Works good. |
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Re: My Opinion- Who makes pulling work!
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agree
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I'll agree that works good, or did when i saw it done once. i would think any sled operator would like it too, they actually get to take a break and not as much wear and tear on their equipment. only problem is expense for promoter, that adds quite a bit, and sled supply because there's a shortage in some places as it is. |
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Re: My Opinion- Who makes pulling work!
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TECH MAN
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The problem with most organizations they copied from our Government. The rules are supposed to apply to all competitors! I agree the track is not the place to do maintanence . The rules give 3 mins that doesn't mean your supposed to use it all? The fan in the stand is the most Important part of pullin! Without the Fans there would be no pullin as we know it, so whether it's 10 ,15 or 20 ect. every fan that pays at the gate is what keeps the show alive. And for the pullers most of them are AROGANT they think every one in the stands came just to see them pull, NOT!!! they come to see a show in a timely manner . How many pullers do you know that could go to a pull and sit in the stands for the duration of a show? The promotors all tech men , sled opperators, track crews,& pullers should have to go to at least one show a year and sit through a whole show to get the fans perspective!!!!! Then and only then will the Fans get the show they deserve! |
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Re: My Opinion- Who makes pulling work!
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flatliner
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was this an article about Outlaw pulling? |
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Re: My Opinion- Who makes pulling work!
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He's right
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Tech Man has it figured out. Better listen to him. Watch a Klint Tucker pull and take notes. |
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