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Show Medio Group 1981 fair Quid0--Page 39 Contests and competitors Even minis compete Size doesn't matter in tractor pull Bv Steve Dikowski wheels on only one end where the growing number of entries can be The tractors ofter By Steve Dikowski S*ntin*l sports editor i WOODSTOCK - For the first time ever, the McHenry County Fair will feature a mini-tractor pull with machines as light as three pounds. You may not believe your eyes when you see a six-pound, four-wheel drive, truck pulling up to 300 pounds, says Everett Hunter, who's been involved in tractor pulling at the fair for over 20 years. Nevertheless, tractors weighing three, four and five pounds as well as the six-pound, four-wheel drive truck will be pulling their load at Hansen Pavilion on the fairgrounds starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8. While the mini-pull may be the only new feature of this year's tractor pull, the regular classes, like farm tractors, garden tractors and antique tractors also will be on hand, some weighing close to 18,500 pounds. They'll be trying to pull a weighted skid as far as possible before being stopped. The weighted skid, or eliminator, has % wheels on only one end where the weight is placed at the start. As the eliminator is pulled by the tractor, the weight moves up and away from the wheels, offering more resistance and eventually causing the tractor to stop... usually. Some tractors manage to pull the weight the maximum 250 feet. Track conditions are a big factor in deter­ mining the length of the pull. Hunter said when it rained two years ago, there wasn't enough friction to stop the tractors, which managed to pull the weight the full 250 feet. "We had to quit," Hunter recalls. But even when it doesn't rain, track conditions can change noticeably. That's why competitors sometimes disregard the rules in trying to gain an advantage by changing the weights on their tractors after the action has started and they see how the other tractors are faring. Hunter notes the rules state weights can't be shifted after the tractor has been weighed, but keeping tabs on a Sentinel photo EVERETT HUNTER has been involved in tractor pulls at the McHenry County Fair for more than 20 years. No matter what the size of the tractor, though, the object is the same - to pull a weighted skid 250 feet. "Imported Cars Are Not f PARTS FOR ALL FOREIGN CARS •BRITISH*JAPANESE*FRENCH*ITALIAN*SWEDISH»GERMAN m r 815-455-1300~| m •207 Commercial Road 'Crystal Lake, IL 2 Doors West of UPS Open Mon-Fri. 8-6; Sat. 9-5 growing number of entries can be difficult. Hunter remembers when seven or eight tractors competed one day; not it's up to 70 or 80 and two days of action. The tractors often are souped-up like racing cars in order to give them added power. Continued on page 34 riiL ' r Come to the 1981 McHenry County and WHILE HERE... STOP IN AND BROWSE AT V/ ntuHS-S/LvfrtSrvr* 216 MAIN STREET WOODSTOCK - Enjoy Lunch and Dinner Specials Every Day! Typical German Fare and Favorite American Dishes. •WIENER SCHNITZEL •PORK SHANKS •HUNGARIAN GOULASH •STEAKS •SANDWICHES •FAMOUS IMPORTED BLACK FOREST HAM •CONTINENTAL PASTRIES •TORTES •STRUDELS BkrtCTK OLD WORLD DELICATESSEN and RESTAURANT OPEN DAILY 10-9 SAT. 10-5:30 SUN. 11-5:30 Browse In Our Gift Shop 141SS. Rt. 47, Woodstock Next to the Liquor Mart 338-8778 Serving Domestic and Imported Bottle Beers •DORTMUNDER UNION HELL •MAZEN BEER DARK •MILLER LIGHT on Draft •WINES •CHAMPAGNES Cookout Treats • •THURINGER • BRATS IMPORTED RYE BREADS •BALTIC *ClCERO Fresh Every Friday Hearty Bruno's • and Rosen's Bread and Other Good Things I kfPW Shops 2020Vi So. Route 47 Woodstock, Illinois 815-338-3550 Mon.-Thurs. 9-5 Fri. 9-8; Sat. 8-4 Sunday 8 to Noon ewiPtce • TACKLE • LIVE BAIT • CAMPING •ARCHERY • CUSTOM CANVAS WORK