European Tractor Pulling (ETPC)
North-West Tractor Pullers Club
Scottish Truck and Tractor Pulling Association
South West Tractor Pullers Association
Orllwyn Teifi Vintage Show Page
Orllwyn Teifi Vintage Show Site
Three Okefords Preservation Society
Of Diesels, Boats, Steam and Beer
Nuffield & Leyland Tractor Club
BTPA Classes
(source extract from a Tractor and Farming Heritage magazine article by Ted Nicholson of the BTPA, reproduced by kind permission). Click here to read the full article.
In the UK, there are three main classes in competition, Prostock, Superstock and Modified Tractors.
Prostock
Prostock Tractors are based on original farm tractors, and must contain the original engine block, transmission casing and rear axle casing. In the UK, Prostocks are separated into two classes of engine size limits, 401cid, and 510cid, as run in Europe. Modifications are limited to one turbocharger (albeit of any size) and diesel fuel must be used. These machines use water injection into the engine, in order to keep the pistons cool and prevent them from melting. This also increases the density of the air, allowing more air/fuel to be burned. The top machines in the Prostock class burn approx 1.5 gallons of diesel in a 10second run, and about the same amount of water, with boost pressure of around 80-100psi.
Superstock's
Superstock tractors, as with Prostocks, must maintain the original engine block. They are allowed up to four turbochargers, and are also allowed to switch to methanol fuel. This produces a much longer, colder burn, allowing in excess of 3000hp to be obtained from a 6cyl. Engine block. The colder burn of methanol allows the tractors to run ‘dry block.’ Aluminum pistons and rods are used in order to obtain high rpm’s, and many tractors also have billet aluminum cylinder heads in order to obtain greater flow. Methanol tractors, or alkyburners, can be easily identified by the clear burning exhaust, as opposed to the black plumes created from the diesel machines.
Modified's
Modified Tractors are run at three different weight classes, 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5ton. They are basically allowed any combination of engine, gearbox and rear axle, and some engine limits to keep competition as fair as possible. Engines range from truck engines, tank engines, and V8 drag racing engines to the 27litre V12 Allison engines, and the 38l RR Griffon used in the Shackleton Bombers of WWII. With combinations of 5xV8s and 3xV12s, in excess of 8000hp can be fitted onto 4.5ton.
The Sled
The sled has developed into a very sophisticated weight transfer machine, which provides an effective range of load settings for each different class. On the top rails of the sled is a weight box, which is linked via chains and gearboxes to the front axle of the sled. At the start of the run, the weight box is positioned at the back of the sled over the twin axles. As the tractor pulls the sled down the track, the weight box is automatically driven up the rails towards the front end of the sled.
As the weight box moves up the length of the rails, the effect of its weight is lessened on the sled wheels, but begins to increase its effect on the large skid pad at the front of the sled. The weight of the box progressively increasing down on the skid pan increases the friction with the track and hence exerts increased drag, up to 96tonnes dead weight in the biggest classes.