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As another season has come to a close and it seems the page is getting a little quiet, I figured I'd take a minute and share a thought I've had running through my head for quite some time:
What are the Top Ten States for Pulling? A thought like that is pretty dangerous, and I kinda like that, but studies show that people LOVE lists. David Letterman has spent 30 plus years with a list as part of his arsenal, so why not here too? My intent here is to inspire some well-thought-out and good-natured conversation about what states are in that list and what states aren't. My goal for this initial thread is to offer some honorable mentions and number 10 in my opinion. MY opinion, and thats all it is. I do cover a lot of miles every year in the sport and see about 8000 hooks per year but I still could be wrong, very wrong. Another thing, don't take any of this personal...it's for entertainment and conversation purposes only. I would hope that the conversation would change my rankings! So....here we go: Honorable Mention, NO particular order: Mississippi, Alabama, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Texas, California, Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, Tennessee, Nebraska, Washington and Oregon. Some heavy hitters in that crowd, I know, I know. Number 10: New York. ESP, NYTPA, WNYTPA. A fan in New York can see everything from an Antique to a four-engine Mod on any given summer weekend. The season for some clubs is brief but very busy and no less exciting. Transfer sled to stone boat pulling, it's all there. Bryan Lively - 
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I am not referring to a singular sanctioning body. There is an exceptional amount of activity in this little pocket of pulling. Google the states there and see how much pulling is going on. Lots of growth on antique side of things, active East Coast events and other sanctioning bodies in the area. Is it a solid number 8? No. 10-9-8 are interchangeable in my mind, I already said that, and 3-4 hon. mentions could've cracked the top 10. 7-1 are locks, in my opinion.
Remember, I'm the only one that keeps up with everything from an antique to a mod. Therefore, I measure the sport in a comprehensive manner for this list. I'm having fun with this, hope the rest of you are too. Defend your turf, please! And I appreciate those of you doing it, that you've done it like pros. Bryan Lively -
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Thanks for the responses. Folks don't be afraid to defend your home turf. I left a state out of the Hon. Mention, Kansas, by the way. You all will think I have a pretty D%^M convoluted way of thinking once this is done, but thats how I processed it.
Face in crowd, you're right, those states are great pulling states, I have some very good friends in those states who have afforded me the opportunity to know the quality of what goes on in both Iowa and Nebraska and I've snapped a few thousand photos in both states over the last 5 years. And for the record, I put some of my home turf out of the top ten, fully knowing whats what in their world. For example, Athens Alabama and Springfield Tennessee are home to some of the best there is in pulling, 5 decades worth of pulling experience. However since this isn't a top ten pulling town list and as a state list, this is how I had to do it. The rub here is that there are some awesome pulling states on the outside looking in, thats the fact of my opinion, if that makes any sense. Number 9: Michigan. From the one end of the sport to the other, Michigan stands out. A rich history of NTPA pulling and a high-quality profile of pullers that compete on multiple levels in PPL and NTPA gives it the nod here. Regardless of the class, you will find a Michigan name playing at the top of it, whether its a Farmall M going 3.5 mph or a four engine mod running 35 mph. Quite frankly, I could flip 10-9-8 amongst their spots and be happy with it. Here's another thing to note: By my records, there's pulling of some sort in every state but Hawaii. There's a small group in Alaska that plays up there when the weather and soil is fit, and thats a fairly small window. Bryan Lively -
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/29/2014 04:59AM by Bryan Lively. |
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Good list Chip but the remainder of my list is going to be quite different and safe to say, convoluted a bit. Bryan Lively -
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Convoluted, adj. : extremely complex and difficult to follow.
Here's where we get a little convoluted, the last time. Number 8, the Del-Mar-Va region. Yes I know, its not a "state" Yes, VA got stuck in the Honorable Mention pack already, and again, I have changed my mind dozens of times on the rankings. Now that I put it to the keyboard, The three states united by location, sanctioning bodies, and growth at all levels of the sport are a top ten lock to me. As stated 10-9-8 could flip-flop and I wouldn't be unhappy. From here on in, I have very strong feelings on the placings, and it might surprise some of you who is in the top five and who isn't. and for those not entertained and think this is retarded, I'm sorry your state wasn't in the top ten. Awesome pulling state, go there at least once a year, but on the outside looking in unfortunately. My friend from Texas: Pulling is big in Texas, went there in May, enjoyed myself, enjoyed the pull, and enjoyed the BBQ. Problem is Texas is BIG and the pullers are spread out enough it seems that logistics is an issue. There's actually pulling there more than you think, some indoor pulling in February that if time permitted I would attend. Bryan Lively -
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Since it is Halloween and I won't be able to post anything tomorrow as I attend a NATPA event in Mason, Michigan, Today will be a treat of sorts and some might consider it a trick. Two picks today!
Number 7: Pennsylvania. Rich with pulling history and currently active across the forms of pulling. Exceptional quantity and quality of clubs/associations that call Pennsylvania home. From one end of the state to the other you're going to find something for everyone to enjoy. The Harrisburg facility is by far the best indoor pulling facility in the nation, as a puller remarked this past weekend at the PPL banquet about the ability to stage indoors and never getting off asphalt to park. Two more words to mention that need no historical explanation: The Buck. Number 6: Kentucky. Breeding ground to not only champion horses but also the origin (or at a minimum a home for the expansion of) of most truck classes as well as LSS and LLSS. Farm Show, and home to the best pulling convention in the world in Broadbent arena, a literal pulling "United Nations." For my friends spewing their RC cola as they read that, it's my opinion and thats all. Five years ago a dead-lock top five. An explanation of that statement will require a face to face response, not enough room here. REMINDER: ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. Bryan Lively -
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Number Five/Four, A Tie: Indiana and Wisconsin
Both states deeply invested in the pro ranks with consideration to events, pullers and builders. Rich in pulling history, tradition, all of the key markers you can provide across spectrum of pulling--both states score equally well in my opinion. The one thing I think they share and it reinforces their status to me is how different styles of pulling are embraced. Be it a stone boat pull in Indiana or a blacktop pull in Wisconsin, there are some niche events out there. The top three should be obvious; how they stack up--we'll have to wait and see. Bryan Lively -
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To recap:
10) New York 09) DelMarVa 08) Michigan 07) Pennsylvania 06) Kentucky 4-5) Indiana/Wisconsin Number 3: Illinois. A pulling giant, what more can you say? High profile PPL and NTPA events, lots of pulling history. There's a who's-who of pulling elite that call the state home. Enough pulling there that a whole magazine could be devoted to it...oh wait that did happen for a time. It's hard to describe Illinois. For me it is an "oh you didnt know???" underlying current here to describe it. I honestly don't think I spend enough time there giving the spotlight to the high quality local action that goes on there. Thanks to everyone who is stepping up to voice your choices. I still like mine pretty well. Will you all agree with the final placings? We'll see. Bryan Lively -
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/03/2014 04:07PM by Bryan Lively. |
