02:57:12am, Monday, January 13, 2025
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What pulling has to sell and what it lacks.
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Moderator Registered: 03/25/2008 Posts: 1,582 |
What pulling has to sell and what it lacks.Pulling does not have records to break, no speed, no relapse times, nothing. So how does pulling make the next step in growing the sport. There have been a lot of positive moves that have tried to bring new fans into the sport. With the far reach of social media the efforts by such entities as Full Pull Entertainment, Beer Money, and various podcasts, all are attempting to draw in new fans. While their efforts have brought more awareness to the sport, what can the organizations do to also grow the sport? I think the list is extensive to say the least. Let's start with a couple ideas. Needless to say most, if not all, have already been discussed. First and foremost it always comes back to rules. Uniform rules both national and regional [ state, club ] are a must. I know everyone always thinks their way is the only way [ yours truly ] however it's not helping the sport. All national organizations need to settle on a uniform set of rules. I realize that the Outlaws are in a position that they need separate rules in some of the classes. However SF, TWD, FWD LSS already mostly adhere to most national class rules. Second, what does a new fan see when they go to their first pull? At most national classes they most likely will see at least two to three hooded tractor classes. That's what the new fan is seeing, hooded tractors. So the real issue is how do we make those classes look different from all the other hooded classes? I know that true pulling fans will say if you can’t tell a PS from a SF, DSS, bla bla bla. Well the new fan can’t tell any difference. Yes a Mod is a Mod, same with Mini’s, TWD and basically the rest of the national classes. Even the LSS and the 650 Open SS all look alike. So what is the solution? Let the higher HP hooded classes go farther down the track, [ that’s a lot to put on the sled operators ] incorporate some type of speed indicator, strain gauges to let the fans know the amount of weight being pulled? Thirdly, this never ending thirst for more HP. Seeking more HP is what every puller is always searching for, however when pulling rewrites rules to allow the pullers more HP, it does nothing to help grow the class or the sport. In fact it’s truly counterproductive, more expense, more breakage, less pullers willing to compete. In fact on some tracks the Unlimited Mods struggle to put on a great show. How do we figure times does it take to realize more HP has done nothing to grow the sport. First of all pulling is ‘’ sensory sport ‘’ it starts with sight and sound. First comes the visual part, how does the vehicle look? Does that Mod really have 4-5 engines, did they really get that huge motor in a Mini, that doesn’t look like my FWD truck, the wheel speed, anyway you get the picture [ pun intended ], Then the sound of the sport, that sound is so cool, a unique experience for the new fan of hearing all that HP coming to life. Pulling needs to strengthen its strong points and fix the issues that hold it back. Dick Morgan www.PULLOFF.com Independent Pulling News |
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Re: What pulling has to sell and what it lacks.
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BL
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I've liked the idea of the social media. Jason with Beer Money has definitely made a massive impact to Truck & Tractor Pullin. Also with Full Pull doing they're betting this summer is cool too. One thing I've always liked is letting people come into the pits before a pull. I always like getting the people who have no clue interested in what they're looking at. I pull a modified, so the motor is usually what gets talked about. And I like that the kids are sometimes starstruck at our tractors, especially if you let a kid sit on your tractor... I love those reactions.
Pulloff's could come back too. But that's hard on the motors. Letting the high horse tractors go further is a lot to calculate on those guys. Plus you get them 4.1's and 5.0's on a light sled and a good track, it just sounds like trouble. The Full Pull mark was 300 Feet forever. 320 is OK but the true test 25 years ago was 300. There's not alot left to do to promote pullin. It's up to the promoters (NTPA, ITPA, PPL, Etc) and us pullers to figure out though. Social Media is one of the best ways to promote it. |
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Re: What pulling has to sell and what it lacks.
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Registered: 04/04/2008 Posts: 1,593 |
With most all sleds fitted with the agritronics monitors,why not use a speed board..that would be a great start,hell antiques have been using the speed board for close to 30 years now..what's the real reason why the big associations won't?? |
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Re: What pulling has to sell and what it lacks.
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Badgerfan
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If you want to add excitement I think we need to look at our brothers on the other side of the big pond. I don't understand why we don't. If you want to get the younger generation involve it needs to be fun and exciting not just the pull. I know allot don't like it but you need to incorporate a light show and music. Farm show tried to but the die hard fans complained about it and it went away. I personally thought it is pretty neat. You have a good pull you set off a couple fire works or some kind of lights and sound. Get the fans excited.
Everyone here hates pull offs. Guess what, when the first tractor lays down the winning pass and the rest of the class is 10 feet back its not fun to watch anymore. i.e. Chizek runs his tractors first at Tomah and no one can touch him. Pull the distances back in and take the top 3 no matter where they land and run a pull off. The guys will figure out how to make there stuff last for it. Just listen to some of the legends and there competitors talk, they want it back as well. Some of the classes will need to build longevity back in the class, bad thing? I don' think so. I agree the national organizations need to come together and make uniformity in the class rules and then work together on scheduling. The numbers aren't there to run two organizations on the same weekend with the mods, semis, and open supers. Some events struggle because of this. You have to attract the people that aren't on the farm or in the country using tractors or big trucks. 20 to 30 years ago or more everyone had to have a truck, if you were 16 and didn't have a truck you weren't cool, the really cool kids had big tires and lift kits, guess what they showed up at the pulls with there buddies to watch the truck classes or showed up at a truck pull with there truck with there buddies to see who had the best truck. Then slowly built into bigger trucks. How many family farms are out there now with kids growing up on or with tractors? That's not how it works today. The younger generation is into sports cars small sleek and fast. If not that they are into video games. These are the people we need to attract, and we will only do it by adding excitement and making it a party or destination. The trucks and tractors alone don't do that. I agree Beer money and Full Pull are doing good things but look at the grief they get for trying. Farm show tries something different and same thing they catch grief, but there trying different things sold out the Finals last year. |
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What people drive
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Moderator Registered: 07/06/2008 Posts: 1,447 |
If pulling wants to appeal to non-farmers, maybe it should offer classes for what people actually drive. Therefore, I suggest a minivan class, an SUV class, and for the high rollers, an unlimited Tesla EV truck class.
For the small sleds, a Dixe Chopper class. Around the north suburbs of Indy, we see more and more Tesla trucks these days. On a non-joking note, if a Tesla-style ev truck had a hitch, would it have enough power to pull an empty sled even 100'? Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/10/2024 02:22AM by The Original Michael. |
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Re: What people drive
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Registered: 08/16/2021 Posts: 348 |
I hate electric vehicles as much or more than the next guy but there is a video of a tesla truck pulling a sled on youtube and doing unfortunately well |
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Re: What people drive
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Registered: 08/16/2021 Posts: 348 |
[www.youtube.com]
Got to about the 17 minute mark. Theres only one block in the sled so not sure how much weight was actually pulled here. If Tesla or any other company gave me a free electric vehicle I'd say no thanks and give it back. I'm only 28 but have no intention of owning one in my lifetime. |
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Re: What people drive
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Evolution
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Curious, how many of you have a shop full of Milwaukee or DeWalt power tools? 25 years ago, air was the only way. Today, almost never use air. Like it or not, things change. This debate on electric vehicles will one day be looked at the same as the progression from horses to motor vehicles. The only difference is today that the government sticks their nose in everything and actually slows natural progress by implementing subsidies and hindering the need for the natural evolution of a product through demand and efficiency. |
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Re: What people drive
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Moderator Registered: 03/25/2008 Posts: 1,582 |
To get back on topic, a guy texted me and said, like all things a product is only as good as its weakest link. He pointed out that most new time fans first time exposure is most likely a local fair or club level pull. What he believes is that to often they see a show that is starting late, running to long [ it's 11pm and they just finished the second class out of 5 ] side note; pulling bills its self as a family sport and mom and dad have 3 kids that have fallen asleep and its still an hour ride home, that makes a family sport? Bad announcing, poor lighting, over priced bad food concession stands, the list goes on. Now this family is wondering what did I see, why did we go, next time monster trucks! And unfortunately this happens to often, if their first exposure had been to a well run national show they most likely would see a well run, action packed show, [ some organizations run vehicles at a much quicker pace than others ] starting on time with good lighting and knowledgeable announcers. So the bottom line is most new fans don't see the premier well run national shows.
Now I'm not saying that all club/state shows are bad, however there are way to many that are. And I will say it before anyone else does; if you can do it better why don't you try putting on a pull? The the answer is pretty straight forward, I post on a web sight, that's what I do. And once again that's how I see it. Dick Morgan www.PULLOFF.com Independent Pulling News Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/10/2024 07:34AM by Dick Morgan. |
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Re: What pulling has to sell and what it lacks.
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lewis c
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You better get some local farm classes back on the track to bring out families. Neighbors and friends on the track and in the stands. I pulled back in the time when the stands were full my Mom, Dad, Uncles, Aunts and Cousins Friends,Neighbors. They wouldn't have given a crap knowing that Chizek was going to be there. They came to see me, the rest was just extra. All the local county fairs have taken the locals out. Now the county fairs will soon be a thing of the past. Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/10/2024 01:58PM by Dick Morgan. |
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