12:59:59am, Saturday, October 10, 2026
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Banana Ball
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Registered: 08/22/2019 Posts: 190 |
Every month on here someone decides to start a discussion about what's wrong with pulling, or what we need to do to save pulling. If you don't live under a rock, you have probably seen or heard of the Savanah Banana's or Banana Ball. It's no secret the baseball has not been on top for a while. Tickets are easy to get and stand are never full. Banana Ball is the complete opposite. Tickets are harder to get and they are selling out ball fields. I am not into baseball and we have looked into going to a game. But is this something we need should be looing at? Banana Ball is getting more attention than baseball, in my opinion. Does pulling need to reinvent the way we putt on a show? Or is someone going to put on the a brush pull that outperforms a G.N. event? |
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Re: Banana Ball
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Buckeye Fan
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Go to any OSTPA show with their variety of classes - now that that they have Mini Rods, they can put on a good show. And they are GN caliber Mini Rods at that without paying the GN ticket price of $25-40 |
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Re: Banana Ball
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Moderator Registered: 07/06/2008 Posts: 1,918 |
The nearest thing to a Harlem Globetrotter type pull, which I'm not sure what that would look like, was Cleetus McFarland driving the Richardson light mod, and even that isn't a good analogy because he was in a legit class and trying his best.
My wife and I had to enter a lottery to even get the chance to get tix for any of the Bananas games at Indy this summer. It wasn't even the Bananas proper, it was one of their other established teams vs a new team drawing on ab Indy negro league team. We didn't get drawn to be able to buy tickets. So yeah, nationally the Bananas and affiliate teams are a big deal. |
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Re: Banana Ball
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Hum
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I'd seen this before but didn't know what it was called --- that bein said - if this is what pulling neads or is headed for count me out - ive pulled since the mid 80s and I want no part of bein a clown show -- pulling has its problems,this or anything like this is a step in the wrong direction -- I dont know the answer to fixing pulling but im quite confident that Banana whatever IS NOT THE ANSWER !!!! It's to easy for some to show their a$$ now, dont need something like this !!! |
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Re: Banana Ball
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Moderator Registered: 03/19/2018 Posts: 861 |
No. Not interested in cheapening the actual competition for this BS.
[youtu.be] CP |
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Re: Banana Ball
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But Why
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Way to think outside the box guys… maybe he wasn’t talking about the show specifically their ticket sales are genius. They have a lottery system where you have to pre register for in advance, you pick the selected venues you wish to attend then if you get picked for that venue they split all the winners into different groups and you get to select a $60 ticket or a $40 ticket option up to 5 tickets this keeps rich @#$%& from buying all the good seats and lets the normal income people have a chance. And the big reason they have such good sales is because it’s FAMILY FRIENDLY like a big pre game show, meet and greet the players etc. People want to take there kids somewhere and be involved. You people want tractor pulling to become big you have to start thinking outside the box. These big high stake series pulls your trying to do if you applied some of those marketing tactics to it could be bigger than anyone could imagine. But takes work and people to be social and not just sit at the trailer and stare at the pile of money sitting there.
BTW those “clown” are extremely talented baseball players. They make wayyyy more money than any of you bashing them put together. |
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Re: Banana Ball
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Moderator Registered: 03/25/2008 Posts: 2,071 |
I'm not sure how this will help the sport. Pulling is a legitimate motorsport, official classes, championships and how exactly does this fit into making the sport better? It still boils down to making the existing product better. And this is probably one of the most exciting times in pulling. The PPL/ IHRA Fendt Series, Chase. buying the Outlaws, so many new moving parts that will be very interesting for 2026. Dick Morgan www.PULLOFF.com Independent Pulling News |
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Re: Banana Ball
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But Why
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It is the same candy bar with a different wrapper. If you want more people to buy it you have to be willing to change what’s inside. |
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Re: Banana Ball
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Registered: 08/22/2019 Posts: 190 |
I should clarify. I am not saying people should be clowning around. I guess I am thinking more about how they thought "Out of the Box", and it is working. Does anyone remember how some guys would enter the track? It was a show itself. As a kid I remember going to a pull and a semi pulling out to the track and the cab lifting up in the air and thinking that was neat. The fire show that some of the turbine tractors would do. Who doesn't remember the Green Monster making those passes. But those guys did it for show. And as a kid, I loved it. |
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Re: Banana Ball
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Registered: 02/08/2014 Posts: 497 |
I pulled at a cancer benefit pull years ago in NY and an old timer (like me now) brought an old truck out on the track that was like what a medicine man on the old western shows had. He kept arguing in fun with the officials and the sled operator to let him pull the old truck. The crowd chanting let him pull! It didn't have any hitch but the clowning around by all was great. That was over 20 years ago but I won't forget it. Chase Steinman has a goofy guy in the stands clowning around and talking a little trash with the announcer about pullers etc. and jawing with the kids in the crowd. I'm not sure it pulls more into the pull but it's entertainment in between hooks and downtime. I think the best entertainment by pullers is still found at the farm stock pulls. Neighbor against neighbor. Blowing the head gaskets etc. and giving it all it's got and then laughing about it. You may have to hood another tractor to the baler on Monday. But you don't have hundreds of thousands of dollars tied up with a $50,000 breakdown to try and get it fixed before the next weekend. It's all about showmanship and getting the crowd going. I know I went a little or a lot of track but I think we miss the entertainment part of what we do or don't do. |
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Re: Banana Ball
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Moderator Registered: 03/19/2018 Posts: 861 |
I missed where our sport has to address this problem.
CP |
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Re: Banana Ball
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Badgerfan
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We need to make it a show or an experience. The new generation isn't into just sitting in the stand watching the same thing one after another and only hearing a guy talk on the microphone. Not to mention only one good run wins, no build up to a pull off or excitement at the end. If the winner is the first tractor what excitement is the rest of the class? Everyone is against music, light shows, fireworks on here but look at pulling across the pond and the crowds they draw. As stated earlier we don't even have fire shows anymore from the mods or the semis. It needs to be upbeat and exciting non stop. Look at monster trucks as well they pack those places for trucks that don't look like trucks and have no difference in driveline or powerplant.
Another example, look at churches now. The ones busting at the seams have all out band concerts now, homily's and talks are just brief side note. Not saying it is right but another example if we don't give a show between and during the show nothing changes. |
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Re: Banana Ball
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Moderator Registered: 03/19/2018 Posts: 861 |
What? Pizzazz, but no substance is what I read here. I don't want a sideshow. I want the word of God to extend your idea. 6 people having a captive audience for their band doesn't move me. The message has to matter. I'm not the brightest guy in the world, but actual competition is what ought to drive this sport and rivalries within that can do the job. Make the people the fireworks!
If only a few of them would talk a little trash and become personalities. CP |
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Re: Banana Ball
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But Why
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Well then the “ let’s grow pulling “ idea I’ve seen on multiple threads on this page will never happen… I don’t know how you can make it grow when it’s the same old format. And I’m not saying there is anything wrong with its current form either. But it will be the same mid level event catering to the same fan base. And that means the same payout for pullers too. More fans = more money. If you can get the show to generate more revenue then in theory the pullers can get a little more money. But what do I know I’m just a nobody brush puller that’s loves the sport as much as the GN guys. |
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Re: Banana Ball
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Just Sayin’
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I also remember seeing pulling mixed WITH monster trucks, mud racing, motocross, trucks that turned into dinosaurs, celebrities taking pics and signing autographs, etc.
Everyone seems to have forgotten about that couple of decades, and pretty sure, that was when its popularity was at its highest! |
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Re: Banana Ball
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Registered: 02/23/2012 Posts: 629 |
I can understand the desire for entertainment, but I think it has to fit, as far as growing a fan base that ship has sailed, need to focus on keeping what ya got first!
Any of the gimmick stuff ain’t gonna work unless it’s in maybe an urban setting, but something as simple as bringing the frogs back to the farm show and other venues would work, but I still think that open trailers and and names on hooded tractors would go a long way, different times I’ve had people follow me to a pull after stopping for fuel that would not have known about if it was in a closed trailer, and yes I know there’s millions of dollars in those haulers and I have the utmost respect for them, I’m just speaking out loud |
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Re: Banana Ball
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liability
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I believe pulling insurance requirements and then combines with lawsuit greedy lawyers/the public, has a tremendous amount to do with any puller and even promoter from stepping out to do something different in adding more/different entertainment. Who is this day and age truly wants to accept more liability?
The Banana Ball lottery admission scheme does not entice me. Sounds like a form of discrimination. |
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Re: Banana Ball
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Buckeye Fan
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You can tell who wasn't around for the 80s!
Apparently speed pulling, jet funny car pullers, etc – all of them filling arenas wasn't good enough for ya and basically killed the growth of the sport. Pulling will NEVER be as popular again until pullers start to worry about the entertainment side. Till then - lets just have 50 single stack, 24.5 tire classes and keep fracturing our sport. |
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Re: Banana Ball
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Northeast Nebraska boy
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sounds like you should be a promotor beings you have all the ideas |
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Mega Trucks?
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Face in crowd
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This is the closest thing I've seen to Banana Ball pulling style. |
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Re: Mega Trucks?
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no thanks
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The only thing "Mega" about them is they are a bunch of narcissistic show off azzholes with a huge ego, obvious lack of personal safety apparel and what insurance company would even insure this event? |
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