Tractor heritage, news and features

Sea Horse 2, sunk by cost!

Unfortunately the attempt had to be abandoned at the eleventh hour because of spiralling costs. Although gas prices in general have stabilised, it seems that helium continues to rise. A last-minute appeal to local partygoers to donate their redundant celebration balloons to the project was apparently too little, too late.

A member of the team commented that perhaps we should have recognised it as a bad omen when the date for the crossing was set as 1 April. The enclosed photograph shows an earlier aquatic trial, which took place at a fish farm near Aylesford in Hampshire recently. The tractor, which was a Massey Ferguson, capsized shortly after entering the water; this caused considerable damage to the engine when the air intake became submerged.

Fortunately the only human cost was severe embarrassment suffered by the remote control driver who had remained high and dry at all times.

It's thought incorrect tyre pressures may have led to this unfortunate mishap. No further amphibious attempts are planned any time soon!

John Rutter
Petersfield, Hants.