It may be the path of the most resistance that pays off for drivers and their vintage machines at the Stampede grounds this weekend.

Tractor drivers kicked things off showcasing their equipment in the Calgary Stampede throughout downtown Calgary on Friday morning.

Colin Woodley drove his 1957 John Deere 820 in the parade and says he's been competing in tractor pulls with this machine for about 10 years.

"It's a tractor that was shipped to Northern Alberta, it was a sawmill tractor, and now it's retired as a tractor puller and showpiece here."

This year, the theme of the Show and Shine and tractor pull event is the roaring 50's, which Woodley says was an innovative time.

"Most of the big five that are here, the Masey's, the Case, the International, the John Deere, and the Oliver tractors, they were all vying for a piece of the pie," he explains, saying there were lots of manufactures at that time. "Lots were dropping off and these five, or even eight other ones including this, were growing very quickly in popularity."

He says three point hitches, hydraulics, live PTOs, comfort features, as well as propane units aiming to be more economically viable were all changes seen in the 50's era.

The tractor pull at the Calgary Stampede starts at 11:15 am Saturday, July 6, with the final performance starting at 6:30 Sunday, July 7 which is all taking place in the Nutrien Western Events Centre.

 

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