Inaugural Manufacturer’s Cup Big Success

Orange won, but it was close.

Just a tad over 20 feet separated the top four finishers in the inaugural “Manufacturer’s Cup” at the West Coast National (WCN) tractor and truck pulls held earlier this year as part of the World Ag Expo in Tulare, Calif.

It was an AGCO tractor from Quality Machinery with stores in Hanford and Tulare that took the champioinship trophy back to the dealership with two pulls totaling just under 250 feet, topping the second place New Holland entry from Garton Tractor by only 11 feet.

“I think the entire event turned out really well,” says Brian Potter, Quality’s operations manager.

Organizers of the tractor and truck pulls wanted to boost the event locally and added the Manufacturer’s Cup for the 2009 event. It did. The crowd set a new record.

“We were more than happy with the Manufacturer’s Cup idea and certainly are planning on bringing it back in 2010,” says Donnie Fagundes of Hanford, Calif., president of the sanctioning body, Pacific Tractor Pullers Association. “All of the participants were pleased and made a great showing.”

“For a first time part of the event, it came off very well. There may be things we can do to improve it, but it was pretty fair. If we change anything, it will be only to make it more competitive,” said Fagundes.

Billed as “friendly competition,” Potter notes it was obvious all the dealers wanted to put on a good show. “No one wanted to embarrass themselves before a big crowd and we all wanted to definitely win.”

More than 4,300 people saw this year’s West Coast Nationals at the Tulare County Fairgrounds. It was a record crowd and Fagundes said the Manufacturer’s Cup concept added this year was a contributing factor.

Quality Machinery’s baler mechanic Blake Wiens was selected early on to drive the AGCO entry, and he did not disappoint.

“He had a great pull the first night with a smooth pull that really covered the distance. I think we finished second or third the second night, but it was enough to win the trophy.” said Potter. The two pulls were combined to determine the winner. Each entrant also had an opportunity to do a practice pull before the show.

Potter said it was obvious each manufacturer/dealer set up their tractors for competitive pulling.

“We talked to guys who had pulled before and came up with a strategy for winning,” said Potter. AGCO had one of the smaller tractors in the field. Quality’s mechanics worked magic on the weight distribution of the tractor and brought home the trophy for the dealership and the manufacturer.

“I think the manufacturer’s cup broke up the show a little, and the crowd seemed to like it. We are ready to go for next year. We are looking at a different tractor and a new strategy,” said Potter.

Potter said he spotted 20 to 30 Quality customers at the event the first night, an indication that adding the Manufacturer’s Cup to the show brought in the local farmers.

“World Ag Expo did a good job of building a crowd by allowing people to attend the tractor pulls free with a ticket purchased to attend the expo. That seemed to really help attendance,” said Potter.

“We are ready to defend our title next year,” proclaims Potter.