Tractor heritage, news and features

Welcome... October 2011

This year the event moves south west to Bishops Lydeard, near Taunton, Somerset, and takes place on October 8-9. The event features many styles of ploughing – modern tractors pulling conventional and reversible ploughs, three classes with vintage tractors pulling trailing, hydraulic and classic ploughs, and horse-drawn ploughs. This year also sees the Ferguson 20 National Ploughing Championships, the David Brown National Ploughing Championships and the return of the Horticultural National Ploughing Championships.

But the prize they are all after is the honour of representing their country in the 2012 World Ploughing Contest, to be held in Croatia. We look forward to bringing you a full report of the Nationals in a future issue of Tractor magazine.

While we are on about key events of the year it’s worth an update about what to expect at the Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show on November 12-13. We’ve just heard that the indoor tractor exhibit space is already over half full. The feature marque this year is John Deere, but with the prospect of Friends of Ferguson Heritage, Ford & Fordson and Blue Force pulling out the stops, it looks like there will be plenty to interest all tractor lovers. So if you are thinking of entering a tractor into the Newark show now is the time to act to make sure you get your spot. Barbara Ward is the one to contact for enquiries about Tractor Show Entries, just give her a call on 01636 705796, email tractors@newarkshowground.com or visit the website www.newarkshowground.com – Tractor magazine will be giving regular updates as they happen on our website and through these pages.

One of the good things about my job is that I am guaranteed to bump into interesting people at every turn. That was certainly the case with the Massey Ferguson 135 feature I worked on in this issue (page 64). Not only are the lecturers and staff at the Riseholme Agricultural College doing a cracking job passing on engineering skills to new generations of students but they have also become involved in the restoration of older tractors.

This is due, in part, to another group of committed people, Project Cornerstone, a charity which is providing agricultural equipment to help people in Ghana become self-sufficient and improve their lifestyle quality. I am pleased to announce that Tractor has become involved with this project by helping sponsor the second tractor required and looks forward to bringing you regular updates on progress both with its restoration and the Project Cornerstone.

Tony Hoyland
Editor