(ET) (Fwd) GE Electrak tractor pulls Wins first place

["David Roden (Akron, Ohio, USA)" <roden ald net>]

Forwarded from the EV discussion list:

------- Forwarded message follows -------
From:                   "Paul A. Cianciolo" <paulc snet net>
To:                     <ev listproc sjsu edu>
Copies to:              "Kathy&Nick Nicholson" <nikatnit esslink com>,
        "Lisa A Cianciolo" <lisalynn snet net>
Subject:                GE Electrak tractor pulls Wins first place
Date sent:              Sat, 9 Oct 1999 20:19:08 -0400
Send reply to:          ev listproc sjsu edu

Hello Folks,

Well last night was the last garden tractor pull of the season.   My
second time entering the GE E-20,  my second time pulling with anything
for that matter.   My son and I used the same tractor to pull in the same
2 classes we had at the last event.

He had 13 competitors in his class and I had about the same.  He got 3rd
place with a 1450 LBS pull of 7" The best pull the tractor ever did!! 
They started the class with 650 lbs and increased the weight in 200LBS
increments till every one was weeded out.

In my class they started with 850LBS on the sled. Everyone made a "full 
pull" of 8'  Next came 1050LBS and some of the weaker tractors started to 
get weeded out.  The E-20 Full pull no problem.    Then they loaded on 
1250LBS and this weeded out a few more.  E-20? Full pull no problem.  As 
you may recall the last time I pulled the interlock under the seat shut 
the tractor down at 1050Lbs and I had to go home. Took care of that 
problem this time.  Only 4 guys left now 3 gasser's and the E-20.  
1450LBS is stacked on the sled.  Lot's of smoke and lot's of noise from 
the gasser's 2 of which had to call it quits as they sunk in and could 
not pull the load.   Now it's my turn and I am getting really nervous, 
this is a lot of weight and when you look at the aggressive tires and 
wheel weights these gassers were running and seeing sink in it made my 
heart sink a little.  BTW the it's 40 degrees out, nightime and the 
tractor has around 7 or 8 pulls on the battery pack. The pack has  2 
years worth of lawn mowwing  and snowblowing on it.  The capacity of the 
pack is down at 40 degrees but by how much I don't know.  I back up to 
the sled with the 1450LBS on it, tension the chain and slam the pedal to 
the floor.......   

And silently pulled the 1450LBS  for a full pull.   Well I have at least 
second place now.  Bad news the last gasser digs in and also pull the 
load the full length!!! 

Well the guys loading the sled were determined to shut us down on this 
round so  they upped the weight to 1750LBS.  All the while we are pulling 
the announcers is saying stuff like he's only seen 1 electric tractor 
before in his life. and he cannot believe it could be this strong, and 
how I should put a muffler on it since the neighbors are complaining 
about the "excessive" noise it makes!

2 tractors left now 1750LBS on the sled.  I hooked up and ready to pull.  
I am laying so far back as I can to get as much weight over the rear 
wheels my body was almost horizontal.  Off the line we go.....   13" 
later I sank in.  But was I ever pumped !!!!!   Almost a ton of weight 
back there!! 

The gasser is ready to pull now.   He's off the line and going strong 
.... and then sinks in.    The announcer bellows out 12"!!!!  The 
electric tractor is the winner!!!!  The crowd cheered as they assumed the 
electric to be the underdog, the tractor is very unassuming compared to 
the gas counterparts. I run stock tires and only 40LBS wheel weights  
Most of the big boys run the limit of 75 LBS on each side plus a 
underbelly mower of about 75 LBS.  

What a night ...  Had a lot of people asking questions after that.   Well 
it's back to mowing  the lawn and snowblowing....  until next season that 
is!!

Thanks for listening
Comments welcome.

BTW does anyone know what the colors on the current meter correspond to 
what amount of current?  It was pinned on every run.

Paulc
W1VLF
Cloudbounce Webpage  http://www.qsl.net/w1vlf/

1986 Vanagon Gas
1982 Vanagon Diesel  Turbo Diesel 1.9
GE Electrak E20 and E15  electric tractors


------- End of forwarded message -------