Motors Pulling Pull Off Rules/Regulations
The Blown Budget truck is driven by Charmain Wierstra with her dad John as her crew chief. This was Charmain's third year pulling and finished third in Great Lakes Truck and Tractor Puller Association. John is the mechanic for Charmain when she pulls and John has been pulling for about 22 years. John used to run a truck called Limited Budget. John (a long time ago) ran a truck called Johnny Locker and after that My Pet Monster. John is also the mechanic of a new co-owned addition to the pulling team called Gotta Go. This is driven by Cathy Wierstra (Charmain's mom). Gotta Go is a mini modified tractor.
The Blown Budget truck runs a blower motor. This means that the motor runs using a supercharger instead of being naturally aspirated. The blower pushes air into the motor causing more horse power to be made. It is like a motor from a top fuel dragster. The motor is only 500 cubic inches but it makes a little less power than a 621 naturally aspirated motor. It costs about $30 000 to create a naturally aspirated motor. It costs about $10 000 to make a blower motor.
Blower Motor trucks must have an 500 cubic inch motor maximum cut down to 40% overdrive. They must have a belt shield. All blowers must be bolted to manifold by aluminum studs. Blower must have 4 separate straps holding it to the motor. The blower motors must follow 4X4 rules and regulations (for more info on 4X4 rules see the links and the specific clubs). For other specifications on blower motors contact John and Cathy.
Our truck pulls in the 6200 pound class. This means that the weight of the truck plus the weight of the driver plus their fire suit and helmet has to equal 6200 lb. or with in a few pounds of that. After the truck has been weighed, the crew can't take off any more weight or add any on. It's against the rules to add weight on after weighing in your truck. The trucks also have specific hitch heights. The hitch must be 26 inches high. Drivers when ready must pull on to the track and back up to the sled. The truck is hooked up to sled by a chain and hook. Then the driver waits for two green flags before proceeding. The driver uses the throttle to pull the sled the farthest that he/she can. The farthest pull (inside 300 ft.) wins. If two or more pullers go past 300 ft then there will be a pull off.
In the pull off, the sled is put into a harder gear or weight is added to the sled. The two or more trucks pull against each other and the farthest wins. These trucks can't pull more than two or maybe three times in a row. If they do this can result in blowing up of the motor or damage to the truck.
| free web hit counters |
©2009 C. Wierstra
