Fair and Reasonable Superfarm Rule Changes (originally posted on October 4, 2002)

Published October 28, 2008 05:27AM, by Jake MorganViewed: 2304 times

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(originally posted on October 4, 2002)

Some of these ideas are going to be hard to swallow, and many of you are probably thinking “this is the fastest growing class in pulling and why would we want to change anything?” I’ll be the first to agree that this is one of, if not the, fastest growing classes, but much can be done to improve the class.

The important question is: what niche was this class designed to fill? The obvious answer is: The class is designed to be a beginner class, an entry level tractor class with limited horsepower for the person with a limited budget who wants to move up from brush pulling to organized sanctioned pulling or the person who is just looking at getting into the sport at the entry level. The limited horsepower was designed to keep the breakage to a minimum.

Does this class fill that niche? The simple answer is: NO, at least not really anymore. The fact is that Superfarm class has since grown into an expensive, smaller-charger version of the Prostock class. I’m not saying that the following suggestions should be followed overnight. The rules should be put in the rulebook two years prior to enforcement for the 2004 summer season.
Proposed rules:

1. ENGINE
1. Engine size to be no larger than 540 CID ±1%
2. OEM block that will operate with the stock crankshaft for that make. Factory recommended replacements are also acceptable (no crossing brand lines)
3. OEM block must be offered in a rigid frame 2wd tractor only
4. OEM block cannot be altered in any way externally, except for normal repair or for mounting fuel injection pumps
5. Internal webbing and water jacket to remain intact with provisions to re-bore motor block
6. OEM stock head for that model or series engine
7. No overhead cams.
8. OEM stock intake and exhaust manifolds for that model or series
9. No altered or modified manifolds, i.e. tubing or box type manifolds
10. No intercoolers
11. No waste gates, or waste-gated exhaust housings
12. No air entry after 3 inch opening in compressor or exhaust housing.
13. All tractors will be limited to two (2) valves per cylinder.
2. TURBO
1. One turbo-charger is allowed: one (1) pressure stage or one (1) air compressing device
2. Exhaust bolt pattern shall be no larger than 2.75 x 3.5 inches
3. Compressor inlet maximum of 3.0 inches
4. Tips of wheel must protrude into 3 inch opening at least 1/8 inch
5. Intake Housing may use a reducer or slug if welded in place
6. No setscrews or provisions to remove slug
7. The exhaust outlet maximum of 4.0 inches
8. Tips of wheel must protrude into 4 inch opening at least 1/8 inch
9. Exhaust Housing may use a reducer or slug if welded in place
10. No setscrews or provisions to remove slug
11. No Map width enhancement grooves
12. No altering housing to accommodate foot or base a smaller foot or base. Such as a T18 with a smaller foot or base welded to it
3. FUEL SYSTEMS
1. Only Acceptable fuel is diesel
2. The largest diesel injection pump allowed will be a P-pump
3. 1 plunger per cylinder maximum
4. No oxygen carriers or combustion accelerators
5. No nitrous oxide, nitro methane or propylene oxide
4. WATER INJECTION
1. No combustible agents or oxygen carriers allowed in water injection
5. TIRES
1. 24.5 x 32 maximum size tires
2. No lug or cut limit
6. WEIGHT
1. Class shall be run at 9000 lbs.
7. CHASSIS
1. Stock transmission housing or O.E.M. replacement.
2. Frame must remain stock from rear of the engine block to rear of tractor on all Super Stock tractors.
3. Clutch housing, transmission case, rear end housing and axle housing must be O.E.M. No aluminum replacements.
4. One piece main cap bearings allowed, one piece main cap, not considered a girdle.
5. Tractors must have hood and grill in place as intended by manufacturers.
6. Wheelbase: maximum 114”
7. Maximum length 13 feet from center of rear axle to forward most part.
8. ROLL CAGES
1. All Tractors must have 47.1 SFI Spec. roll over protection.
9. PROTESTS
1. Organizations reserve the right to spot check for infractions at any time. Refusal to do so will result in disqualification and barring from all events until the vehicle is checked out.
2. In the event of a protest by a competitor:
1. The protester will be allowed to select an independent representative from another class to witness the protest procedures in addition to the officials and the protested party.

Reasoning for the rules:
Limit the Cubic inches to 540. This is the single most important thing to get the class back on track to fill the niche it was designed for. Most tractor manufactures make motors that are already close to these limits. It would not cost current vehicles an outrageous amount of money to meet the proposed limits. A 540 CID limit would also encourage more color in the class. The class is quickly becoming a red vs. green show. Sure there are a few A-C tractors, a few Masseys, and one Moline, but that’s not much variety. The lower limit would allow almost all brands of tractors a fair chance of being competitive. The Ford/NH fans don’t have much to cheer for in the Super Farm or Prostock classes mainly because of the cubic inch limits being well over 600 CID. Allis Chalmers fans are in a similar situation. In reality there aren’t more than 9 or 10 non-IH or non-JD Superfarms in the country. More color may encourage manufactures to get more involved with sponsorship money. This class would be a manufacturers dream, it would be the closest thing to a high performance factory tractor there is.

Stock manifolding, no modifications, and no intercoolers. Everybody is looking for a competitive edge and airflow and horsepower are proportional. Too many pullers have been bending the rules on this one, blocking out the manifold, building extension runners, and I’ve even heard of someone heating the manifold and stretching it. Stock should mean Stock.

Limit the turbo charger to a 3” in and 4” out charger. Take the class away from the turbo builders and give the class back to the mechanics. I’ve heard from far too many pullers that the 3x3 chargers are too pricey, 3x4 chargers are cheaper. 3x4 more closely resemble a stock charger. An entry-level class should have chargers that are readily available. 3x4 or similar chargers are very common, sure there will be builders who make an expensive 3x4 charger but entry level versions would be available.

Diesel fuel only. No exceptions and no grandfathering certain tractors. An entry-level class does not need a controversy similar to the Methanol vs. Diesel controversy that still consumes the Superstock class. Grand fathering one vehicle isn’t fair to someone who may just be getting into the sport, and it isn’t fair to the rest of the competitors who if only one team is allowed to build a certain vehicle type.

Any cut on the tires. There is minimal price difference between a good set of double cuts and a good set of single cuts. Price justifies that any cut should be allowed.

As for the roll cages, it’s just common sense. Why risk puller’s safety, it’s time everybody got on the same page on this one.

The protest rule applies to all classes, not just Superfarm, and the reasoning is simple: rumors, speculation, and lack of trust. An independent representative would eliminate the lack of trust that the protest procedure may create. At the event in Bowling Green two protests occurred, the next 2 days all the talk around the pits was “how do we know they even check out the tractor, for all we know they went into the haulers and just had a beer or got bribed.” It just make sense to eliminate all the speculation.

Notes:
The Superfarm class just like every other pulling class has gotten to be a big money class. The big spenders should NOT be in this class; they should step up to the Prostocks. Now there is no way to keep money out of the class but there are ways to make the class so someone with a limited budget could step up and join the class with a little more ease.

The other advantages to tweaking the rules would be to eliminate the Limited Prostock class on the East Coast series. All the limited Pros could easily become Superfarms under the proposed rules. The addition of competitive blue tractors to the Superfarm class would be an asset to the show. The elimination of a class would reduce the amount of confusion in the tractor classes for the occasional or entry-level fan.

One other consideration for this class wound be to keep the class to the State and Regional level. The class may have a place at a few selected national events but an entry level class should not be on the national circuit.

I welcome all opinions or comments regarding my proposed rule changes. Please post any and all responses on the Feedback page, and please remember only rational and mature dialog will be tolerated. You don’t have to agree with my ideas but remember to keep your thoughts family friendly, thanks.

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Jake Morgan
Owner, PULLOFF.COM
Independent Pulling News

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