Antique tractor pull draws crowds to Brackney

BRACKNEY, Pa. (WBNG) -- Antique tractors roared through Brackney Sunday as competitors put their machines to the test during the Southern Chenango Antique Tractor Club’s annual tractor pulls. The event brought together families, fans and competitors for a day built around tradition and competition.

For competitors at Russell Farms in Brackney, pride is what keeps them coming back to the track.

The Southern Chenango Antique Tractor Club hosted its annual antique tractor pulls, drawing drivers and families from across the region for a day built around horsepower, strategy and tradition.

Drivers hook their tractors to a weighted sled and try to pull it as far as possible down the track, with shifting resistance testing both machine and operator.

“The weight transfer comes up and puts pressure on a pan in the front. Once you spin out or can’t go no more, it’s measured,” said Larry Barnhart, president of the Southern Chenango Antique Tractor Club.

Organizers say there’s more to it than raw power.

“It doesn’t always mean the toughest tractor wins. There’s a lot of physics involved in putting the weights in the right place,” said David Harasymczuk, a tractor pull participant.

That strategy — balancing weight and reading the track — can make the difference on pull day.

Weight classes ranged from 3,500 to 12,500 pounds in 1,000-pound increments.

While competition drives the event, many say the real draw is the community built around it.

“Just the camaraderie with everybody and hanging out and having a good time,” said Matt Fuller, vice president of the Southern Chenango Antique Tractor Club.

For participants, that sense of connection is as important as any trophy or ribbon handed out at the end of the day.

Organizers say events like these help preserve antique machinery while passing that heritage on to the next generation.

Another event is scheduled for July 5 in Cincinnatus, followed by a July 11 pull in Harpursville at the Super Celebration, giving competitors and fans more chances to get involved this summer.