Pull Power
Antique tractors reved up at annual event in Paris

By DAVY MOSELEY | Country World East Texas

June 7, 2001 -- When people think of a tractor pull, they likely see visions of high-performance tractor-like machines, sporting quad Hemi engines, and flamed paint jobs all rolled into a sensationalized arena sport that catches the eye of spectators and cable networks alike.

Of course, this is great eye candy, and it is exhilarating to see a 700 horsepower tractor make a "full pull" -- the crowd on their feet, the announcer caught up in the moment and thick clouds of exhaust smoke billowing across the track. But, all this heart-pumping action is a far cry from how tractor pulls started out.

Here is a different visual: A John Deere 720 tractor, circa 1957, pulling a flat sled loaded with concrete blocks down a dirt track. As the tractor pulls the sled down the track, spectators step onto the sled to add weight. The winner is the tractor that can make it the farthest with the most people. Sound archaic in this day and age of high-tech this and that? Absolutely, and that is exactly the draw for many people. Obviously, this form of pulling probably won't make it onto the Sunday afternoon power hour, but at local antique tractor shows, these antiquated pulls are a big hit.

"I love these old tractors," said Jack Ervin, a bonafide antique tractor enthusiast, at a Red River Valley Antique Tractor Club show in Paris on May 19.

Ervin, a dealer of old tractors, was one of the first eight members that started the tractor club in 1988 and has been pulling ever since.

Elvis Daughtrey, current president of the Red River Valley Antique Tractor Club, said the tractor club was started by eight local antique tractor enthusiasts who wanted to promote and preserve the farm machinery that has aged with them.

"Most of these antique tractors are about our age, and we didn't want to see them not be of any use anymore," said Daughtrey. "Of course, these old tractors aren't worth what it takes to restore them, but we get a lot of satisfaction out of making them useful again - whether it's for showing, for pulling, or actual farming."

Many of the club member's tractors are still valued farm machinery. Ervin pulled with a 720 John Deere at the event that had just come out of the field. Try that with a quad-Hemi engine pulling monster.

Ervin is quite the collector with 73 antique tractors. Of those, about 30 are restored.

"I've got all kinds: Olivers, Fords, Alice Chalmers, International, Massey Ferguson ... . But, I guess I'd have to say John Deeres are my favorite," Ervin said.

Ervin, now retired, acquired many of the tractors while driving a truck. "I'd see an older tractor in a field somewhere, and I'd end up asking about it on the trip back - and then bringing it home."

Daughtrey said they do their tractor pulls the old-fashioned way. The tractors pull a home-made sled with 12,000 pounds of concrete weights, plus people for added weight. The tractors pull in first gear for safety reasons. And most importantly, they pull for fun.

According to Daughtrey, the tractor club for years held its show and tractor pull at the fairgrounds. Two years ago, they had it at the civic center, and then last year Hillards Construction in Paris donated the dirt and materials and built a dirt pulling track behind the civic center for the tractor pullers.

Daughtrey said in addition to their annual tractor show and tractor pull, the club also participates in shows in Lindsey, Tyler, Mesquite, Durant, Hillsboro, Temple, as well as different parades throughout the year. The club is even invited to Six Flags three times a year to demonstrate the older tractors and equipment.

The Red River Valley Antique Tractor Club meets the first Thursday of each month. Anyone interested in joining the club can contact Daughtrey at (903)784-7182.