Style not strength wins in tractor pulling

Reporoa farmer Art Maandonks, with Brutus, in the tractor pulling event which proved a popular spectator sport at Reporoa Tractor Pull and Community Day yesterday. Photo/Ben Fraser

Tractor pulling need not be a male dominated sport - as Chanika Hallett has proved.

The 22-year-old from Puhoi, north of Auckland, was not fazed by the being outnumbered by the men at the Reporoa Tractor Pull and Community Day event yesterday.

Chanika gunned her modified blue Leyland V8 tractor down the dirt straight at the Reporoa Pony Club grounds to record one of the best "pulls" of the day with 104m.

"I can't work out what I am doing right but it must be the technique," she said afterwards.

Chanika has been captivated by tractor pulling since she was 17.

"I got into it as soon as I passed my full licence.

"It's a great adrenalin buzz - sometimes I've got to wait for a few minutes after each event until my legs stop shaking and I can get off the seat."

The petrol powered Leyland can churn out 600 horsepower - 800hp if it uses nitrous oxide as fuel, she said.

It will use 18 litres of fuel over 400m.

"We can do 100m in four seconds in a straight sprint."

Chanika was one of two women in the event along with Nicole Maandonks, of Reporoa.

Tractor pulling is more about power than speed, said event organiser Art Maandonks.

Mr Maandonks was again undefeated in the sport class driving 'Brutus', a former DT 466 International straight six tractor which uses a Scania truck turbo to add 500 horsepower.

Brutus pulled around five tonne over 100m with ease - beating off close rival Roger Allen, of Palmerston North, driving 'Henry Ford.'

Reporoa farmer Devril Thomas ran a close third with his 'Lil Devil' tractor.

The day-long event, which has replaced the annual Reporoa Sport Day, attracted around 650 people from the district and Rotorua.

Funds from the Reporoa Young Farmers event were donated to BayTrust rescue helicopter.