Changes??

Rumor of some changes for next year? I will put it this way, I know of new blood coming into the Mod Gas class, 1 for sure, probably 2. The one for sure seems to think he wants Lil Whitey's power plant. This would mean that Lil Whitey would need a new power plant. This is all still in the "discussion" stages ..... but how exciting, new and more pullers and a change for Lil Whitey!!

I missed some big pulls at end of year, I will update those throughout the winter.

Thoughts??

Kent City

Jeff pulling to a 2nd place Behind Brad Bickle



Brad Bickle 1st place by about 14"



Sister Sara Hendrickson pulling the longest distance of the whole Day!!

2009 Greg VanHouten Memorial Truck & Tractor Pull

Greg VanHouten spent his life in Kent City, he knew practically everyone. He started this pull 2 years ago and am sure that he would want this to be as large and fun as possible. Help us make it so!!

September 12th at Noon

Rules etc. at http://www.kcpull.blogspot.com/

Hoping to have some pretty serious machines!!!

-Some of the top Diesel Trucks and Top Super Farm Tractors in the Midwest

Put it on all your calendars and bring ALL your friends, or trucks or tractors!!!

Hastings

What an awesome event. The track was awesome, lots of traction, long, and not bumpy. Greg Hickok had the Thumb sled there, he did a nice job. We hooked at 6200# in an open gas class. There were 15 trucks in the class, and some really good ones too. I think Jeff is still a bit gun shy about taking off to aggressively, he still has bad dreams about Gladwin I think. We got going pretty well, then he kicked it in. Got lot's of speed and pulled it out to a 312'. There were 4 other trucks that got it over 300' making a pull off with 5 trucks in it. Brad B with that Proverbial truck was within a couple feet, there was also a cheav.......cehvroe.......chelrvor........not sure how to spell that word, some fancy truck with a bowtie on the front which was also there really close. Mr. Petz seemed to be having some clutch slippage going on, not sure but it looked / sounded like the wheels were slowing down and the motor was accelerating??? Maybe that is a "I wish I had Mopar" thing?? We hooked first in the pull off, Jeff took off much more aggressively and man did we get a run going. Felt really good, I heard later we got up to 24.5 mph. I know that is not real fast but remember I had 45,000# sliding on the ground behind me!!! We ended up getting to 326' before Jim (sled operator) got us stopped. Next was one of those fancy bowtie gentlemen, he tried really hard but only got to about 295, we are giving him a break, he is running a small block. Had a great night for a small block!!! Next Mr. Bickle hooked, got going about 100' and "Bang" the rearend exploded. Happens to be he had made some bumper stops that day at work, they say timing is everything cause the sled made sure he made them solidly. We ended up pushing him off the track, rearend was bound up, had to pull the axle and drive shafts to run it onto the trailer with the frontend. Sorry about that Brad (fyi it was a fancy bowtie rearend, lesson: don't try to push Ford power through a tuxedo :-)). Andrew and his pet tiger (rides in passenger seat) couldn't get it to roll to good, ended up 280 something. OK, now for the big tuxedo man. He had a great run going ended up around 317' and blew is front axle and transfer case apart. I am not sure but I don't think even if he would have kept it together he wouldv'e caught us. (lesson, don't try to push enough power to beat a ford through tuxedo parts :-)). Ends up we had the longest pull. All this is in fun, I know that tuxedo man had more power than I did, that is a really good running truck!!!! He will win a plenty of his share when he gets all that power to the track!! Brad, I hope you get your rearend working good again!
Thanks Greg for the great pull, really enjoyed it.

Thought for the day: If you put your hands in a bees nest, you should probably expect to get stung (note to Lil whitey) lw

Michelle Tromp, if you have some video for us............that would be really cool. :-)

Remus

Went to Remus on Friday, that is always a good time. Mr. Aten was the heaviest this year when empty of weights, 5850#. So that was our light class weight, we could add about 300# to get there. Track was a bit slippery to start again, just like Sparta the night before. Couldn't get much footing in that light class, bounced on the rev limiter the whole way, finally at the end our driver, aka Jeff, did let off the throttle a bit. Don't remember the length but ended up winning that class. Added weight to get up to 6500#, that was a bit better for traction, ended up winning that class. Added another 1000# to the 7500# got 1st in that class too. On a roll, we needed to put the jumper cables on the battery between each class. We noticed the regulator on the alternator was blown apart, so we didn't have an alternator all night. Thankfully the battery was good and it held just fine as long as we had it connected to the duramax tow truck in between pulls. We also entered the 6000# open class, all diesels in there. Had the perfect opportunity again to beat the diesels, however, there were a couple pretty good running trucks. Jerrod with "Barney" and another good running Cummins, both beat us by a few feet. We ended up 3rd. I guess we can't complain about (3) 1st and (1) 3rd in a night eh? We could really use a bit shorter gear for the 7500-8000# classes, the gear we have now is a bit too fast, I just can't get it rolling that fast with that much traction. Does anyone know of anyone who can move my 1st gear into the 2nd position and make a slightly slower 1st gear for the 1st position. It would need to be a very small gear difference. Over all it went great. A big thanks to WATA for their efforts, once again a very fun pull!!!

Thought for the day: Life.....it's not a thing, or a thought, or a feeling, or an emotion, or a friend, or an enemy, it can't be quantified, it needs a recipient. Life is so unique and yet so required to make our world even remotely what it is. We cannot make it or create it or give it to someone/something else, Only it's Creator can.....and GIVE it He did!!! lw

Sparta

Sparta, the almost, hometown pull. Had 4 of us in the class, Mr. Bickle, Mr. Aten, & Mr. Petz. Track was a bit "slimey" to start the night. Thankfully there were a couple tractor classes and the street truck class before us to kind of settle the track down. We had second hook behind Mr. Bickle. they had a nice hook, we think they got the bounce out of it, they are fine tuning the front tire "chatter", but doing well. I think that light blue truck is pretty "hot".......I am not sure my driver shares my sentiments. :-) Anyway.........sorry about that little distraction........they decided to turn down their first hook and try again. We hooked next and gave it all we had, I didn't have much bounce, Jeff was driving me right up next to the railing, I was a bit nervous I was going to rub my passenger side on the railing. I could tell why he was steering me that close, my right tires were sure doing a lot more work than my left ones, the traction was much better right there by the railing. I think we went around 260', can't remember for sure. Mr. Petz had a good run, came to within a couple feet of us, then Mr. Aten and the "Silver metal" hooked, they threw the power steering belt and we think that made them get pulled into the slippery center area, they were short by a bit as well. Finally that light blue "Proverbs" truck (Mr. Bickle) hooked for their second time, they had to "peddle" the gas a bit right at the end (little front chatter again) and came about 5" short of our mark. 1st place for our first points pull, we are really thankful. We also entered into the "King of the hill" class. Everyone puts in $10 and winner takes all. You can hook whatever vehicle you pulled in your class, except we were suppose to be around 7500#. There were diesels at 8000# plus, tractors at 10,000 & 13,000# and..........us at just under 8000#. We were second hook again, pulled a 285' and change. There were 13 vehicles in the class and we ended up winning by a foot or so over Mr. Tromp. I think he let us win, thanks Tim!!! So 2 firsts......Woo hoo!!

Thought for the day: It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling. Proverbs 20:3 God

Charlotte

Alright....back up a bit. Ends up it was a bit more than pushing the output shaft out the retainer plate. Output shaft was snapped in half. They put in a heavy duty shaft and a billot aluminum retainer plate in me, hopefully this will hold up.
They changed my oil, that felt good, I had about 20 hooks since the last change. I told them thanks for the oil change last night.............I gave them a couple good runs. :-)
While they were warming up my new oil, my alternator decided to throw sparks and smoke. Ended up totalling itself and in the process took out a bunch of fuses, a fusible link. They still can't figure out why the electrical gauges are not working. While they were trying to get the gauges working, in the pits at Charlotte I might add, they blew another fuse and couldn't get my starter to work. They ended up having to jump a wire from the battery to the starter coil just to get me started. That was a bit intense, I was ready to rock, the truck before us was hooking, and they were trying to figure out how to start me!!!!! They got me going, we made our way to the line, had to wait for a couple minutes, they did not want to shut me off and man did I get hot!!!!
Finally we got hooked, the track looked good, smooth, and plenty long. He gave me the GO signal and I ran for all I was worth, man did that feel good. I was screaming, good thing he had my rev limiter set at 7300 rpm, cause I was pushing it the whole way. Ended up getting about 380' before Dan (Nearpass) drug us down from behind. Man he can pull hard. We hurried around to the pits, he turned me off, opened my hood, put jumper cables to Mighty Whitey, and ran my fans and water pump, I was soooooo hot. Next thing he comes running back to say we needed to hurry back out there for a pull off. 3 other trucks did full pulls (over 300') as well. I new it would be a HOT work out. Dan had set the sled to "drop" sooner, so I knew I would need to get going quick. We got the green light, I gave it all I had, ended up going about 335'. I was sooooo hot, we went back to the trailer, he shut me off, I was boiling......literally!!!! Got the job done by about 30'. What a riot. I think Mrs. Tromp got some video, I think he is going to try to get it from her on Thursday, maybe he will put it on the site.
Shane Smith came along with us last night. I think he liked it. He helped load the weights and wired in some the gauges. Thanks for all your help Shane!!!

Sparta is Thursday 6:30 - 7:00. Should be a good one. Look for you there.

Thought for the day: Why is there such large gaps between the different levels of species in the so called "evolution idea". How long before the next group of apes become human and why is there no group, of whatever they would be called, in between there right now? lw

Gladwin TTPA pull

Adam Tarswell, 1st Place

Bodacious, 2nd

Terry Card, 3rd

Lil Whitey, 4th

What a pull, we got out driven and out "set up". I think we had plenty of truck, just lacked on the driving ability and set up. We were not allowed front weights and I think we have gotten spoiled. We added about 600# in the bed and nothing on the front, this makes for a much more unstable truck. I got into it to quickly and got us bouncing. I couldn't get it to quit? Maybe some tire pressure adjustments would help too. You guys (TTPA pullers) obviously have the set up figured out for the rules you run, Great Job!!! I will remember for next time though! :-) We ended up 4th place. We did push the output shaft through the transfer case and out the back side of the transfer case housing, Brad Hyma says it is nothing to fix, "you just need a new this, that, and the other thing, guess we will see what "nothing" is huh? Adam Tarswell and his sweet 69 Chevrolet beat us all, he put up a 291 +/-. The Bodacious Truck pulled a 285.31 feet for second. Terry Card pulled at 285.30 for third. We had a 285.23 for fourth. Great job you guys!! We really enjoyed hooking with you guys, what a great show. Mike you keep that Chevy tuned in..........we are coming for you!!!! :-) Thanks again to you all for allowing us to hook with you!!

Centreville Pull

Brad, Lil Whitey

Jeff, Lil Whitey

Ed Aten

Brad Hyma

After much debating we decided to go to Centreville for the pull rather than Morely. With lots of rain of past 3 or 4 days we didn't know if they would be able to get the track together, but they did a great job. It was a great track! Pulled into pits a bit late, there were already 10+ trucks signed up in the Big Block Mod class. Mike Tarswell was there just ahead of us and triggered some complaints with his hitch. When we pulled on scale they told us they were going to make an "open" class. Apparently they didn't like our hitches. That was cool, we had 5 trucks entered into the class and needed 6 for it to pay out places. There were a couple guys who said they might jump from BB Mod to Open if they didn't break in their class. They also told us we could enter the same truck multiple times with same or different drivers to make the 6 entries. Brad Bickle had come to watch, didn't have his truck, and Brad Hyma was there as well. Ends up Brad B entered to hook with Lil Whitey and Brad Hyma hooked with............do you have name for that thing yet Ed?.............Ed's "Silver Pull Truck". We, myself & Lil Whitey, ended up hooking first, had a great hook, 368.485'. Ed went next 355' or so, good hook Ed. Ed had some very aggressive tires, and that track was hooking pretty good, it may have been a bit over geared? Ed, thoughts? He seemed to run out of steam right at the end. then there were 4 or 5 other trucks who hooked in there, Mike Tarswell & Andrew had good hooks, Pat Tixley (sorry about the spelling if I got it wrong Pat) had something come loose in transfer case he thought. Hope that is a quick fix. Brad Bickle then hooked with Lil Whitey and pulled a 368.615', that is exactly 1 1/2" difference from our first hook. Good job Brad!!! Brad Hyma was up next, he took some quick clutch lessons, including a couple trial runs. He finally got it going and got on top of the cam, did a nice run as well. How did you like using that "mans truck" with a clutch Brad? Was a great event! Thanks to all you at Centreville for the good time and letting us create another class.

1.5 inches?!?!?!?!!!!!...................I guess at least Lil Whitey is consistant.

Thought for the day: To drive from Grant MI to Los Angeles CA is approx 2210 miles. 1 1/2" is to 368' just as 2/3 of one mile is to 2210 miles. Maybe "Lil Consistant" is a better name? lw

Marshall is a favorite for the family. We went down Saturday for their pull, another great pull. Started a bit late but heard they put a lot of stock farm tractors through in afternoon and took a bit longer. Weighed up to 6500# for their Big Block class. Was one of the first pullers in class, pulled a 272'. Felt good, seemed to go well, track was a bit hard and slipperey but not bad. Part of truck pulling is prepairing for each type of track. There were a lot of really good trucks there that I don't think had their best hooks. Ended up winning the class by a few feet. I know there were a few who were breaking in their engines from a winter freshen up or a new engine, So really doesn't mean a whole lot. We had a good hook nonetheless. There was also a 7500# open class that had 7 or 8 trucks entered, however, only 3 of us pulled. Had a couple diesels in that class with us and we had to beat them as well. Have I mentioned recently that I really enjoy beating the diesels? :-) I was disappointed that Tim Tromp, Eric Merchant, or Jerrod Glover did not enter into that class. Oh well, maybe next time?!?!

Notice in the 7500" class we were very heavy on the front, I was a bit concerned with the "60" in the front not holding it, it did fine!

Muskegon Test N Tune

Finally made it to the track at about 5:45. I had scheduled a company golf outing during that day......I am not always the best at allowing any margin in my life. We made it nonetheless. Got weighed and tech inspected, everything was good. Wondered around the pits for a bit, Brad has done some very nice work on the front end and the hitch of his truck. I wish I could do fabrication like that. Looks nice Brad. Seems to maybe have helped a bit too. He was first to hook and took it way down and WITHOUT BOUNCE!! We went next and had a great hook as well, I think we only got Brad by a foot or so. I think he took his gloves off this winter as well :-) he wants to play for "real". Next Ed hooked with his silver dodge. Had a good hook going but broke his rear pinion shaft. Truck looks great Ed, I really like your bed cover!! We got to hook again later on, had another really good pull. Brad hooked right after us and broke his rear U-joint. Hope you all get them together soon.

Brad (and Amy) Bickles Beautiful Baby

What a bunch of "B's". Congratulations to Brad and Amy Bickle. Libby Corrine Bickle was born on June 2nd . All are doing well and are amazed at the wonder of God's handy work in creating new life. It is truly a miracle!!
Congratulations again!!!!!
Hope to see you ALL soon cheering on that light blue Ford!!! :-) (and the Lil White one too!! :-))

Thought for the Day: EVERYTHING that has life, has that life breathed into it from God. We will pray that someday very soon you will accept His gift of un-ending Life, only that one really counts!!! lw

Busy weekend

Well we made it back from CA. My wife and I went to "sunny" California for our 17th anniversary. It was a great time, sun struggled a few days to come out but was still a beautiful and relaxing get away.
Hoping to get to Muskegon this Friday night to get a couple test hooks in. Doing a Carb change and would like to make sure we have the jets dialed in. If all goes well we hope to head to Marshall on Saturday. Sounds like we need to be there around 3:00 or so.
We changed some of the hitch height brackets around to save a little weight in the rear and it lookes like we built one of them maybe a bit on the "light" side. Had a bit of a bow in the cross piece when Lil Whitey got back from Remus so we added a couple pieces of flat stock to give a bit more "beef" to it. Hopefully that will eliminate that problem.
Hope ya'll can make it out to Muskegon or Marshall. See ya then.

Remus

Lil Whitey made it to Remus for a couple hooks. Brad Hyma was the "hired gun". Sounds like it went well, Ed Aten and his "Silver Bullet" kinda cleaned up sounds like, apparently he was not just sitting around all winter?!?!?! Sounds like it went good Ed, congratulations. Brad / Ed feel free to comment.......tell us all about it.

Remus Test & Tune

We will not be able to go to Remus Test & Tune. Our little Emma turns 9 this week and she is having a party that day!! Ya'll do some major testing & tuning without us, hopefully we wont need much of that!!

Warsaw IN Test n tune / open class

Went down to Warsaw Indiana last Saturday to do some testing and they had a couple open classes at night. Hooked first time with normal STS tires, big carb, 6200#. First hook of the year, track was really soft, didn't get much ground speed. Was a good hook. We then put the smaller carb on seemed to do about the same, the larger carb seems to only help on the top end and with not getting much ground speed the top end speed was low. We then put on the 35" tires (not much tread on them, it seems to come up missing after taking out on the road for a galavant), those tires seemed to get more tire speed but had pretty bad bounce. About the same distance, maybe a bit shorter. Test n tune was done by then. We set it up to run the 6500 open class. We used the 1250 carb, 33"STS, and added weight in front to get the weight. Ended up with a 304' hook. There was a turbine tractor and an Alcohol tractor in this class as well. The turbine pulled a 301' and change, (he had to hit the brake, was headed hard left) and the Alky about took it around the track. So.......we beat a turbine......got smoked by an Alky........AND gave lessons about spark plugs to ALL those oil burners!!!!! Gotta give you guys a hard time, after all you guys are good at dishing it out as well. :-)
Was a fun day. Brad B and Brad H both went with and helped tremendously in the pits and video camera. Thanks guys!!! I had a lot of fun.
Bickle is "upgrading" as well this winter and will be "playing for real" in a few weeks. Can't wait for the unveiling Brad. Also his wife is due to deliver a new little baby for them in next few weeks. Hope all goes well Brad & Amy!!

Gonna be hookin soon

Heard rumor of a test-n-tune down south, Haisley Machine, April 25th. Not sure will be back together by then, reworking the hitch a bit. Changing a the weight configuration a bit as well. If we don't make this one will try to the test and tune up to Remus on May 23.

New club website

There is a new website representing the pulling club. The prior "Michigan Farm Stock Tractor Pullers Association" can now be found at mttpull.com

Check it out!!

Maybe a road trip?

Wondering about taking a little road trip the end of July / first of August. We are looking for a place to hook on Friday somewhere in the North half of Ohio, there is a pull in New Bethlehem PA on August 1st we were thinking about trying to make. If there is anyone out there who knows of any hooks that might fit into this let us know.

New website for the club

Michigan Farm Stock Tractor Pullers has become Michigan Truck & Tractor Pullers. Check us out at the new website www.mttpull.com

Please comment and have much conversation on the forum. We created this for everyones use.
Thanks

Kent City Pull, tentative date

Looks like the 12th of September is the date as of now. Start praying for no rain.
Would like to do a very special "In memory of" type pull or event or something special at this pull for our late dear friend Greg VanHouten. Put a bit of thought into it and share your ideas. We have an opportunity to show our support and memory of him at this event, I would really like to make it special.
Are we getting close yet? Is it going to warm up? I went a snuck a peek at him "Lil Whitey" the other day, he is still dormant, out like a lamb.............carefull, that means he'll come in like a LION!!!

Some pull dates for 09.....some are still tentative.

May 7th Remus Test & Tune
June 13 Muskegon Test & Tune - MFSTPA
June 20 Morley
June 26 Blanchard Trucks
July 9 Sparta - MFSTPA
July 13 Charlott - Greg
July 17 Remus Trucks
July 21 Muskegon - MFSTPA
July 23 Hastings - Greg
Aug. 8 Morley
Aug. 11 Mt. Pleasent - Greg
Aug. 14 Fremont - MFSTPA
Aug. 18 Caddilac - MFSTPA
Aug. 18 Mashall
Aug. 22 Greenville - MFSTPA
Aug. 28 Hart -MFSTPA
Sept. 4 Remus Trucks
Sept. 6 Hudsonville

Anyone getting the "itch" yet?

How about a couple days of nice weather to get the pulling blood flowing. Lil Whitey is still hibernating. He had a couple minor "skin flaws" touched up before heading to the "den". Looking pretty good if i may say so. Need to get a new harmonic balancer on him, old one was coming apart at end of year. Also some possible hitch changes for the new rules. Gonna try to just keep as is as long as we meet the clearance requirements.
I hear rumblings of some new pull locations this year? Cadillac? Ludington? Hudsonville? Greenville? Holland? Still waiting on some dates for sure.
I have a huge confession to make: Our F350 tow truck is being replaced with an '05 GMC Duramax. I know, many will probably disown us. All I can say is............I do like it. We put so many miles on both towing and more yet for work, I had to go with the fuel mileage and the ride. Both are considerably nicer. I do miss the "ruggedness" of the F350. Maybe...........just maybe..........we will try to get a few hooks with the Dmax, I "hear" they do ok.
Will try to keep some updates more often now.

Passing of a dear friend, Greg VanHouten

It has been a tough past couple weeks. Greg VanHouten, a friend and pulling comrade, passed away suddenly of a massive heart attack, Saturday January 24th. Greg had touched so many lives in the pulling world, snowmobile racing world and in his world outside of those. He always found and spoke of the good of all those he came in contact with. I had the privilege to have quite a bit of conversation with him last summer. He helped me so much with the taking over the reigns of the Kent City Truck and Tractor pull which he had initiated in 2007. In that conversation with him, I realized his love for his bride to be, Julie. He loved her tremendously. It challenged me in my relationship with my "bride". He also loved and trusted in his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and he would talk about that with a smile from ear to ear.

Gal 2:16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

1Thess. 4:13-18 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.

There is such peace in knowing that our friend is spending eternity with his Saviour only because of his belief and trust that the required judgement of his sin was taken and paid for by his Saviour Jesus Christ. What a call of consideration we all must do in preparation before we step into eternity. I know it has caused me to consider this in my life. I too share in this love and trust in Jesus Christ as my Saviour as well.

We will miss Greg and his many abilities, what huge shoes to fill.

We miss you Greg!!