Vermont Tractor Pullers Association All rights reserved by VTPA  VTPA General Rules (all divisions except Garden) OPERATORS 1. Must have written permission of owner or parent if under eighteen 2. NO ALCOHOLIC beverages before or during the pull. 3. Must remain seated, be in full control, and operate in a safe manner at all times. PULLING 1. Pulling positions will be assigned at sign up. 2. Number one will be test puller. Test puller may take pull if sled is properly adjusted, or may re-pull immediately, or may re-pull in third position. 3. All decisions on repull must be made prior to pulling away from sled. 4. All pulls start with a tight hitch, no jerk pulls permitted. 5. A competitor is allowed a second attempt within 75 ft. to start sled. 6. Operators have the option of moving starting line between classes. 7. Judges have the option of moving starting line between classes. 8. Any portion of the tractor touching boundary line during pull will result in disqualification. Comment: This would be limited to the front or the rear tires. There is no out of bounds once the tractor passes the full pull mark. 9. Vehicles that are being repaired or readied for pull and that miss their turn, will pull last. 10. Vehicles must be stopped immediately on signal from track official. 11. Vehicles must be in neutral or park when hitching or unhitching 12. NO PASSENGERS. Note this applies to track or pit area GENERAL 1. Age: Driver must be 16 years of age or older. Those under 18 years of age must have written parental / guardian permission. 2. Violation of any rule will constitute disqualification. The punishment of the violation will be up to a panel of judges (See Rule #4). Grievance will be discussed at that point, with the judges’ decision being final. 3. All operators are expected to attend meeting at scales 15 minutes prior to event time. 4. Contest will be governed by three or more judges with all decisions final. 5. Judges (consisting of flagman, tech personnel, sled operator and/or pull supervisor) may stop and disqualify any operators not operating safely. 6. No pit crew or operator coaching on track. 7. Any protest against operators and /or equipment must be made by end of that class and before start of next class, and only by another operator within the class. 8. Any operator, owner, or pit crew disrupting the pull whether in the pit or on the track, will be cause for disqualification of that tractor/truck from class in question, all previous, and all subsequent classes for the remainder of the event. All trophies and ribbons will be returned to the steward immediately. 9. Spectators and other operators not entered in class are not permitted on the track. 10. Since reasonable rules cannot cover any and all eventualities, the discretion of judges will prevail, including safety, operations, equipment, good sportsmanship and common sense. Safety will be paramount. 11. Driver or operator must be in seat when vehicle is running. 12. All pulling vehicles must have a functional breakaway kill switches. This will apply to all classes except stock antique, farm stock and street stock trucks. 13. Any loss of weights or safety equipment while hitched to the sled will result in disqualification with exception of test puller. 14. No moving of weights between tractors within the same class. 15. Driver will be disqualified if he or she delays contest. 16. All tractors will be teched and subject to re-teching at random at each event. 17. NOS (nitrous oxide) or propane injection fuel are illegal in all divisions INCLUDING street legal pickup trucks. 18. BRAKES – All competing vehicles must have adequate brakes. a. Rear brakes are mandatory on vehicles that compete in the following divisions: Super Stock, Pro Stock b. Front brakes are mandatory on vehicles that compete in the following divisions: Four Wheel Drive Trucks c. All drivelines must have 3/8 inch steel, 360 degrees around brake components, and both ends must be closed with 1/8 inch, or greater, steel. This rule applies to Modified, Modified Minis, and Trucks. STOCK ANTIQUES TRACTORS 1. General Rules apply see page 2. 2. Age: Driver must be 16 years of age or older. Those under 18 years of age must have written parental / guardian permission. 3. Stock, out of field antique farm, tractors, 1960 or older, rubber tired, standard Ag tread, set in forward rotation. 4. Steel wheels (cleated or lugged) permitted. 5. No cut or ground tires; no duals, studs, or chains. 6. Two wheel drive (four wheel drive with front disengaged). 7. No alternative fuels; original equipment only. 8. Must be equipped with hood and grill. 9. No pulling from 3 point hitch or links (except for Ford Ferguson). Drawbars must be stationery in all directions 10. Maximum drawbar height: 20” to top of fixed hitch – (clevis is not the fixed point). 11. Minimum drawbar length 18” behind centerline of axle. 12. Maximum drawbar length 36” behind centerline of axle. 13. Equipped with a hitch point with a minimum of 3” opening (standard or twisted clevis excepted). 14. Governor bypass or over speeding prohibited. 700 PTO RPM maximum. 15. If a dyno is present at event, you may be asked to hook to it. 16. Torque amplifiers only as original equipment. 17. Weighted with operator and weighed prior to class. 18. Must have working rear brakes. 19. Tractor may be entered in no more than two classes per event, once per class; no switching operators within classes. It will be official discretion to allow additional hooks if not enough participation. 20. Added weight and/or brackets securely attached to frame or wheels. None behind or above rear tires or over 24” ahead of frame. Must not interfere with hitching. None on seat, platform, footrest, drawbar, 3 point links, or moved to another tractor in same class under penalty of removal. Maximum width, 10 ft.; redi-rods or attaching bolts will NOT protrude more than 4” in heaviest weight class. Any weight lost while hitched to sled DISQUALIFIES. Suitcase weights allowed. 21. It is recommended a tractor have at least a fully charged 2 ½ lb. fire extinguisher on board in reach of operator. A functional gauge on the fire extinguisher is required. 22. Wheelie bars and skid shoes MANDATORY and must meet VTPA specifications (refer to diagram in back of book) 23. Must have working PTO, if originally equipped with one. 24. Tractors must have stock frame, transmission, rear rends and axle housing. Front axles must be safe, sturdy and similar to stock with a stock wheel base. Crank cases must bolt to transmission in a stock appearing manner, be of the same manufacturer as the original crank case, and be the same number of cylinders as the original make and model of the tractor. Heads, blocks (jugs), manifolds must be of the same manufacturer as the crank case or that of a recognized replacement manufacturer. Series engine must match series of tractor. ENHANCED ANTIQUES 1. General Rules apply see page 2 2. Age: Driver must be 16 years of age or older. Those under 18 years of age must have written parental / guardian permission. 3. Safety: All tractors must have a deadman throttle and working safety kill switch. Wheelie bars are per VTPA design specifications (refer to diagram in back of book), wide front ends, fenders, use of seat belts and use of rev limiters are highly recommended. All tractors must cover the clutch housing with an approved scatter safety blanket. Steel flywheels are highly recommended. 4. Draw Bar: Draw bar must not exceed 20 inches in height. A 3” opening in drawbar. Draw bars must be stationary in all directions. No clevises. There will be a dead man zone of 3” on either side of draw bar. Minimum length of drawbar is 18” from center line of axle housing and a maximum of 36” from center line of axle housing. 5. Weights: Weights must not extend rearward beyond rear tires and cannot be more than 11 feet from the center of the rear axle to the furthest point forward. 6. Tires & Rims: No steel lug wheels. Two wheel drive only. No Duals. Any cut allowed on tires. No radial tires 7. All tractors must have side shields of at least .060” metal. Enhanced electrical systems permitted in all classes. Rev limiters are allowed as a governor. All tractors must have a positive throttle stop with fully operational governor. 8. Speed: Any gear, any speed. Shifting of TA’s allowed. 9. Engine: Tractors must be naturally aspirated. No turbos or blowers - except two stroke GM diesels. 10. Tractors must have stock frame, transmission, rear rends and axle housing. Front axles must be safe, sturdy and similar to stock with a stock wheel base. Crank cases must bolt to transmission in a stock appearing manner, be of the same manufacturer as the original crank case, and be the same number of cylinders as the original make and model of the tractor. Heads, blocks (jugs), manifolds must be of the same manufacturer as the crank case or that of a recognized replacement manufacturer. Series engine must match series of tractor. 11. Any updraft agricultural type carburetor will be allowed. Diesel tractors may be converted to gas as long as they use gas heads. 12. Any integral plate, girdles or reinforcement devices that enhance rigidity and improve safety will be allowed. Deck plates can be no thicker than 1” material: girdles can be no thicker than 1” material; spacer plates can be no thicker than 2” combined. 13. ALL TRACTORS MUST HAVE at least a 2 1/2 lb fire extinguisher on board in reach of operator. A functional gauge on the fire extinguisher is REQUIRED. 14. All Enhanced Antique tractors must have air shutoff (diesel) or ignition shutoff (gasoline) that has a hookup ring at the rear of the tractor to be connected to transfer sled. Kill switch must be with 6” of center and no more than 48” above hitch. It is MANDATORY that an electric assist fuel pump be tied to the kill switch. ALTERED ANTIQUE 1. General Rules apply see page 2 2. Age: Driver must be 16 years of age or older and capable of operating the tractor. Those under 18 years of age must have written parental / guardian permission. 3. Altered Antique tractors have stock appearing hood & grill for that model tractor. Tractors must be 1960 or older. 4. A tractor must pull in Altered Antique, no mixing of classes. 5. Cut tires & uncut tires are allowed. 6. Turbocharger compressor measurement to be measured at the face of the wheel inlet of a maximum of 3.0 inches. The wheel may be no larger than this measurement at the inlet. An exhaust measurement to be measured at the face of the wheel inlet of a maximum of 3.0 inches. The wheel may be no larger than this measurement at the outlet. All exhaust must exit through the turbo. 7. All Altered Antique tractors must have approved 6 strap SFI approved clutch blankets and removable engine .060” metal side shields. Blankets must be secured in front with 2 straps on each side. Straps must be 2” wide with a maximum of 1” between the straps. Steel welded bands around bell housing will NOT be accepted. 8. All Altered Antique tractors must have air shutoff (diesel) or ignition shutoff (gasoline) that has a hookup ring at the rear of the tractor to be connected to transfer sled. Kill switch must be with 6” of center and no more than 48” above hitch. It is MANDATORY that an electric assist fuel pump be tied to the kill switch. 9. All turbo charged tractors must have 2 – 3/8” bolts installed criss-cross through the exhaust after the turbocharger. 10. Decision of the judge(s) will be final. 11. Any tractor operated in a reckless manner or having an unsafe appearance will be disqualified. Any disqualification bars a second attempt in the class. 12. All operators must wear an approved racing helmet (minimum Snell rating 90). Fire suits mandatory. Minimum requirements for fire suit with a Nomax rating of SFI 3.2A-1 (single layer). It is recommended that all tractors be equipped with a lapbelt, and it is recommended that it be worn. 13. All Altered Antique tractors must have a fully charged 2 ½ lb. dry chemical fire extinguisher mounted with easy reach of the driver. A functional gauge on all fire extinguishers is required. 14. Naturally aspirated and turbo charged tractors may have non-stock intake and exhaust manifold. 15. It is highly recommended that all Altered Antique tractors have an SFI approved clutch and flywheel. All tractors will be MANDATORY to install frame connecting ladder bars. Frame connectors must be secured adequately from final drive housing to forward of bell housing and flywheel. Frame connectors must meet VTPA criteria: able to support tractor with engine disconnected from rear housing. 16. Vehicle must have a rollover protection bar or cage that is at least as high as the top of the drivers head/helmet. Rollover protection must be fastened at least two points to the rear axle housing. Factory style flip down tops allowed. Rollover protection must be able to lift one rear wheel when pulled horizontally from the top of the bar/cage without damage to the rollbar/cage. 17. If tractor has a roll cage it is MANDATORY to use a lapbelt. 18. Wheelie bars are mandatory and must meet VTPA specifications (refer to diagram in back of book). 19. Draw Bar: Draw bar must not exceed 20 inches in height. A 3” opening in drawbar. Draw bars must be stationary in all directions. No clevises. There will be a dead man zone of 3” on either side of draw bar. Minimum length of drawbar is 18” from center line of axle housing and a maximum of 36” from center line of axle housing. 20. Weight classes are 6500# and 7000#.. . Antique Rules