Friday, August 15, 2003

Tractor pull returns to Turin for ninth straight year

By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@TheCitizenNews.com

For the past eight years, an average of 2,000 people per year have attended the Turin Antique Farm Power Show and Tractor Pull. Despite a different parade route this year, the event should be equally as successful.

The parade, which starts at 10 a.m., will not travel on Ga. Highway 16 this year. Instead, the 100-plus tractors will start on Will Banks Rd., go west around Will Banks, north on South Hunter St., and back east on Turin Rd. to the show area, which is located behind the Turin Fire Station. After the parade, there will be an invocation and a welcome from the mayor before the tractor pull begins.

In between tractor pulls there will be assorted events, including pedal races for children on their toy tractors, a hand-start race, a slow start race and a powder puff pull. The hand-start race has riders jump off their tractors, hand-start or crank it and jump back on and race to the finish line, while the slow-start race has the riders idle down to the lowest setting without stalling out or going too fast and crossing the finish line. The powder puff pull allows female riders a chance to do a tractor pull, as many of the entrants in the tractor pull are male.

The tractor pulls will be the main attraction though. they will compete in a number of weight classes and the event is expected to be concluded around 6 p.m. The Turin Antique Farm Power Show and Tractor Pull is hosted by the West Georgia 2-Cylinder Club and is, as always free. There will be a wide variety of refreshments available and tents as a way to beat the heat.

Turin will get the party started Friday night with a block party and dance beginning at 7 p.m., which is also free.

The parade and tractor pull are open to members and non-members alike, as long as they own an antique tractor that weighs 3,000 pounds and up. Those wishing to be in the parade are asked to bring their tractors to the site after 6 p.m. Friday or before 9 a.m. Saturday. Phone Bill Banks at 770-599-3611 for more information.