Heritage - News
South Africa participates in massively successful World Record tractor challenge
7th August 2007
South Africa participates in massively successful World Record tractor challengeAt Cooley in Ireland on Sunday, 5th August, nearly 5,000 tractors turned up to participate in what was arguably an event of biblical proportions. The Irish were not put off by the fact that torrential rain fell for most of Sunday turning the fields into quagmires. Although the muddy conditions worried the organisers for a while it provided added entertainment for the thousands of drivers. In fact the Sandstone Heritage Trust Hi-Crop 60 looked like a normal John Deere when it descended into huge pools of mud. Even now it carries a high water mark a metre high. Despite the difficulties they sounded the siren at 3.30pm and a total of 4,572 tractors moved off. Sadly between 500-600 were never even offloaded from their trucks. There was simply no space or time for people to physically offload and get to the site.The organisers printed 4,000 registration cards, which were consumed in their entirety. Photocopied registration cards had to be hurriedly put together. What was significant about the above event was that it was run true to the rules established by Sandstone Estates in the Eastern Free State in 1999 when the first World Record attempt was made. A modest 101 tractors participated, and of course that became the World Record at the time. South Africa's support for the event was robust. A total of seven tractors were shipped in two containers from South Africa to participate. They included the Emerson Brantingham Big 4-30 driven by Charles Viljoen, the GO tractor driven by Barry Coffen, Field Marshall Series III driven by Jim Dean, John Deere Model H driven by John Sinclair, Landini Hot Bulb driven by Gerhard Wille, John Deere Hi-Crop 60 driven by David Mouland, and a 4-wheel drive Holder driven by Wilfred Mole. All seven tractors performed flawlessly and seemed to thoroughly enjoy the muddy conditions after the dust of the Eastern Free State South Africa and Cootamundra Australia. Three of the tractors, namely the Emerson Brantingham Big 4-30, the GO, and the JD Hi-Crop 60 participated in both the events. Since Sandstone started the World Record attempt means that we are always in people's minds and our support and attendance at events of this magnitude is considered almost compulsory. We are fortunate to be able to carry the flag for South Africa which receives much recognition and praise for both the scope and the adventurous nature of its vintage tractor movement. The feeling of national pride in Ireland, coupled with their high density of farms and the broad spread of vintage tractors throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, have made them the undisputed Vintage and Classic Tractor World Heavyweight Champions. We have heard that the Canadians may be considering a similar event so our tractors will bide their time in Europe to see what announcements are made. For further details contact For details of panoramic photos of the event - click here. |
ARRIVING They came under their own power |
 Who needs more water? |
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Hi-Crop 60 and obviously taking no strain. |
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Barry Coffen, the most jovial of men,
waiting for the start of the event on the very rare GO tractor. We hope he wasn't planning to lean back much more! |
| THE BEGINNING OF THE TRIP | ||
 Loaded and almost ready to go. Departing Lower Pertwood Farm, Wiltshire.
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Do not forget to always take the Field Marshall up backwards.
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 I think we will give this one a helping hand.
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David Mouland's Scania which did |
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ARRIVAL IN IRELAND |
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 Visitors to the Great 400 working event in South Africa in 2002 were there to welcome the team to Ireland.
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 Being parked on sideways means that you have to be lifted off. The
facilities available to participants was outstanding. |
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WAITING |
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 Is it a bird - no, we think it is a girl. Our GO tractor looking resplandent in
the mud. |
 Will it stop raining?
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 Waiting to start... but the clouds are lifting.
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 We are enjoying the mud Mum.
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MORE PEOPLE |
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 The Manne. Left to right: Gerhard Wille, Charles Viljoen, Barry Coffen, Wilfred Mole, David Mouland.
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 A veteran of many World Record attempts, Charles Viljoen, proudly displaying his country of origin.
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 John Sinclair, a member of the Sandstone team, was taking no chances with the weather. John was driving the John Deere Model H.
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 The Irish Vintage Tractor enthusiasts must be the most jovial people on earth - always smiling and always ready to have a chat. Note the upright stance of devoted South African vintage tractor collector standing to attention with his flag.
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 If tractors could smile! |
The South African team.
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Camping can be so much fun.
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 To get more than 4,500 tractors into one field in Ireland means you have to pack them very closely together.
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 What it looks like from behind the steering wheel of the John Deere Hi-Crop 60.
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| THEY'RE OFF! | ||
 They are off!
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 Mud and tractors as far as the eye can see.
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 As can be expected the Hillbillies were there.
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 Even getting stuck can be fun!
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 Having a 4-wheel drive tractor made in Switzerland can be a real advantage.
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 Don't worry Mum, I promise I am alright!
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 Follow that Avery.
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 They did not have to be restored tractors - they just had to be tractors.
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 It's over - time to stop and reflect.
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GOING HOME |
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 It is over. We may as well go home.
Accommodation and all. |
 For many it was quicker to walk home.
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 The morning after. When is someone taking us home?
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 Loading on Monday morning for the long haul down Ireland, across the Irish Sea, through Wales into England and then down to Wiltshire.
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 Time to relax and savour the moment.
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| PRESS CLIPPINGS | |||
 (1.3Mb PDF) |
SUPPORT FOR COOLEY 2007 WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT FROM SOUTH AFRICA |
(1.2Mb PDF) |
AugustLive |
| (1.2Mb PDF) |
Deluge Fails to deter vintage fans | (1.3Mb PDF) |
Irish Independent |
| (150kb PDF) |
Irish Farmers Journal | (1.4Mb PDF) |
Irish Independent |
| (440kb PDF) |
Old Glory pg1 | (440kb PDF) |
Old Glory pg2 |
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South Africa's involvement in the Tractor
World Challenge programme around the world was summarised in this recent article;
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Irish Vintage Magazine
Pg 3 (2Mb PDF) Pg 4 (2Mb PDF) |
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