Date: Fri 13-Nov-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: JAN

Quick Words:

human-interest-tractor-Ferris

Full Text:

Local Tractor Enthusiast Has A Lot Of Pull

John Ferris of 33 Pole Bridge Road has won his 9,000-pound class on points

awarded during the 1998 antique tractor pulling competition.

Overall, the championship program draws a total of between 100 and 150 pullers

at some 17 events between May and October across the region.

Tractors pull in nine classes, ranging from 3,000 to 11,000 pounds (weight of

the tractor and driver combined), and Ferris' 1956 Farmall 450 machine has

pulled as much as 23,400 pounds in the competition.

"My Farmall 450 is my pride and joy," Mr Ferris said. "I plan on restoring it

in the future."

A founding member of the newly-organized Newtown Tractor Club, Mr Ferris and

his brother, Tim, are noted for the quality of their restoration work,

bringing vintage equipment to a better-than-new standard.

Mr Ferris' tractor was one of a series built between 1956 and 1958. The 64th

of the series, Mr Ferris's tractor is considered a very rare classic.

Recently, Mr Ferris purchased a Farmall C model tractor from Tony Amaral of

Newtown, restored it, and ultimately sold it to Alan Hall of New Milford. This

tractor, operated by Linda Grady of Warren, won the 1998 championship points

contest in the 3,000-pound class.

The 1998 tractor pull schedule began on May 16 in Rhinebeck, N.Y. The

Rhinebeck pull and the next three events, scheduled for Middlebury,

Bridgewater and Harwinton, were rained out. But at Bethlehem, on June 21, Mr

Ferris placed second. Ultimately, he captured six second place finishes in

events at Roxbury, Warren (two separate events), Bridgewater, Ancram, N.Y. and

Pine Plains, N.Y. He also took two thirds at Kent and Goshen and a fourth at

another Goshen pull.

The pulls are for stock farm tractors, 1959 and older with standard tires. All

must be equipped with safety bars to prevent them from tipping over backward.

The distance of a "full pull" is six feet, and the winner is determined by a

combination of weight and distance pulled.

The Newtown Tractor Club currently has 14 members with 23 antique tractors. It

was formed in October to provide a forum by which enthusiasts could seek and

share information, stage events starring this antique farm equipment, and help

educate young people about their farm heritage.

Those who want to know more about the club should call John Ferris at 426-3988

or club coordinator David Kendall at 426-2024.