30/08/2026
The iconic “20 Years of Tractor Pulling” video, originally on VCR.
A massive thank you to Steve and Sonia Whitfield for sending this to us along with loads of information and goodies!
This video is great collection of interviews and old footage from 1996 and beyond, celebrating 20 years of tractor pulling in Australia.
Hosted by Craig Moore, the video features interviews with Trevor Bennet, Kelvin Jobling, Leo Parker and Gordon Betson, along with plenty of stories and insight into the early days of the sport.
The video touches on Bevan McKee and John Parker’s experiences travelling to America for an Allis Chalmers conference, where they both saw tractor pulling firsthand. Although their experiences are covered separately, the trip would spark ideas for both of them, and it would be the start of many years of Tractor Pulling.
We hear Bevan McKee’s story of how that experience led to him starting tractor pulling in Australia, building Australia’s first sled, Heartbreaker II, as well as his two tractors, Mighty Mouse and the D21, for the debut of Elmore Field Days Tractor Pull.
John Parker’s experiences are also discussed, including his thoughts after seeing tractor pulling in America, his involvement in building the original Quambatook sled, and the debut of the Quambatook Tractor Pull alongside the Apex Club.
That event would go on to become the longest-running tractor pull in Australia, celebrating 50 years in 2027.
We also hear the story of Dicky Cheriton’s unfortunate flywheel explosion, which resulted in the introduction of stricter safety measures and rules; Quambatook’s introduction of twilight events; Graeme Mann going deep into the sport and sharing his memories from that point in time; and that’s only half of it!
A fantastic piece of Australian tractor pulling history. Definitely a great watch!
The iconic “20 Years of Tractor Pulling” video, originally on VCR....
