July 2008

            Another interesting pull at Liberty Antique Tractor Pullers!  We had several delays but, as usual, the day turned out to be practically perfect in every way.  Rev. Ed of Liberty Methodist Church had a full proof invocation for us.  Rock gave us chill bumps as he sang our National Anthem.  So we were all set for whatever came next.  We were ready to bring it on.

            We had more first time pullers join us from North and South Carolina and they needed no coaching on how to get it done.  They knew what they were doing.  A few new truck pullers showed up, too.  Those fellows sure do have a good time and put on quite a show.  I think they would pull all night as long as we would stay and their trucks held up. 

            We were glad to have Wesley Scoggins and his family back for the day.  Tim Lamb and David Powell finally took a little time off to come in and challenge us.  And they did a pretty good job of it, too. James Coleman of White Plains, GA, entertained us with an exhibition pull.  His 1973 360 Brockway truck is quite a machine.  It pulled all the way down the track for a distance of 398.88 feet.  We were beginning to think we were going to have to go after him.

            The rain did delay us for a little while but it also c ooled us off and we can’t tell you how much we appreciated that.  In fact, the cloud cover and breeze all day long was truly a God sent blessing in summertime June.  We simply scraped the wet top layer off to the sides of the track exposing the solid lower layer, and we were back in business. 

            Now, David Hopkins is another story.  The wheel on David’s Oliver tractor broke off the axle at the beginning of his first pull leaving no way to move him off the track. So, of course, we fixed him up where he sat by welding him back together again.  And wouldn’t you know he went on to take a first place trophy!  But the best part of the delay was Morgan Clements who sang for us. It was truly worth a delay to hear this guy sing!  Morgan is 8 years old and his granddaddy told us he comes from a family of singers.  Well, he can come back and sing for us anytime!

            We are very saddened by the death of Horace Harwell.  Horace helped us at the entrance gate for our pulls along with his wife, Caren, and two sons, Trey and John. Horace was a good man and a friend to all.  We’ll miss him.  Please remember his family in your prayers.

            We’re sure you all remember that we are not having a July pull.  We’re resting up and cooling off - getting ready to meet you all head on August 23^rd.  We’ll look for all of you then!