Co-organiser John Hall anticipates at least 300 tractors, plus classic trucks, traction engines, cars and a dozen vintage headers.
Host farmer Peter Butterick will dust off his 1931 comb-fronted Sunshine for its first run in 50-odd years.
“It was the first header in Ashburton County with a motor,” says Butterick, whose grandfather bought the Australian-made machine.
Butterick has had the engine apart and reassembled it, the radiator’s been off and soaked to lift dust and dirt out of clogged fins, and the fuel tank’s been checked for leaks. “And we’ve had the magneto checked so when we get it all back together it should be good to go.”
A magneto used to provide the spark for engines before machines such as the Sunshine had batteries. “A lot of McCormick tractors had them until the 1950s. So did aeroplanes [and motorbikes and outboard motors. Ed].”
The Sunshine’s motor, a Morris Commercial petrol, only powers the cutter and threshing works. Horses provided the pulling power when it was new but for Wheat and Wheels it will be hitched to a tractor. “We wouldn’t be able to make the horses go slow enough,” notes Hall.
The headers, including Hall’s own Massey 788, will work on 5ha of Sage wheat Butterick’s grown especially for the occasion. “We sowed it on November 1 to try to have it about right to harvest in mid April.”
Last week it was a touch green but with the dry weather he’s confident it will be ready in good time. “Then we just need a fine weekend.”
Fungicides have kept the crop clean, but nitrogen use has been kept modest to avoid making it too heavy for the old machines.
A couple of reaper binders are expected to do a pass or two over the weekend. “I’ve told them they’re welcome as long as I don’t have to do the work of picking up the sheaves behind them!”
Butterick’s Sunshine will contrast with a new Case IH 9230 (35-foot belt feed front) he used to reel in his harvest this summer and which will be on display at the event. “It’s the first brand new combine we’ve had in 80 years. The Sunshine was the last!”
The vintage club’s president, John Stewart, says such contrasts are part of the aim. “What we’re trying to do is show the public how the power has changed over the years. Not too long ago 100hp was considered a big tractor. Now there are several 600hp machines in the district.”
Some of those will be lined up in what organisers hope will be the largest display of pivot tractors ever assembled in one paddock in New Zealand. “We’ve identified 26 in Ashburton District and we reckon we’ll get 20 to 25 of them.”
Parades of different classes of machine will be run throughout each day, starting from 10.30am.
Wheat and Wheels is on Christys Road, Wakanui, April 13-14.
