50 years of tractor pull

For long-time competitor and organiser Daniel Reymer, who has been involved in the competition for over a decade, The Tractor Pull is more than a sport – it’s a family tradition.

His father and uncles were among the early competitors in the ‘80s and ‘90s, with Dan’s father, Stephen Reymer, claiming victory in the late 1980s, and three Reymer brothers once famously sweeping the podium at one event, taking home first, second, and third places.

“These were two-wheel-drive tractors, some without cabs — it was a very different set of rules back then,” Dan says, reflecting on how the sport has evolved.

Dan has been involved since before he could legally drive and competing ever since. This year, Dan is hoping his new Case IH Puma 240 might be the game-changer, after narrowly missing out on the top spot in recent years, twice placing second in the weight-adjusted category.

The competition attracts farmers, contractors, and mechanics, with two different competitions.

The weight-adjusted competition sees two tractors with a concrete weight being towed, in a race to the finish line, with the emphasis on driver skill, rather than on a tractor’s power.

In the weight transfer competition, the tractor is driven down a specially prepared track for a far as possible, as weight is gradually added to the tractor-mounted competition sledge. Other categories include modified tractors and tractors manufactured before 1985.

“The modified tractors are always a crowd favourite,” says NZNFS venue operations manager Marie Rechner, who has helped coordinate the event for the past six years.

“The engines roar, the smoke pours, and you’ll often see the front wheels lift right off the ground. It’s loud and the crowds line the bank; they love every second of it.”

This year’s event has attracted strong entry numbers, with competitors from as far afield as Taranaki, Reporoa, and the South Island, looking to drive away with up to $5,000 in prize money.

Helping to power this year’s golden anniversary celebration is new Major Sponsor PTS Logistics, who joining returning sponsors, Corson Maize and Giltrap AgriZone. Heats take place during Wednesday through Friday with the Grand Final on Saturday, from 8am to 1:30pm.