Vermont Tractor Pullers Association All rights reserved by VTPA  VTPA Garden General Rules 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 pull immediately, or may pull in third position. 3. All decisions on re-pull must be made prior to pulling away from sled. 4. All pulls start with a tight hitch, no jerk pulls permitted. 5. Competitor is allowed two attempts within 25 ft with exception 50ft for sport stock, super stock open and 4 cyl modifieds. 6. Operators have the option of spotting the sled on starting line. 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. Violation of any rule will constitute disqualification. The punishment of the violation will be up to a panel of judges (See Rule #4 below). Grievance will be discussed at that point, with the judges’ decision being final. 2. All operators are expected to attend meeting at scales 15 minutes prior to event time. 3. Contest will be governed by three or more judges with all decisions final. 4. Judges (consisting of flagman, tech personnel, sled operator and/or pull supervisor) may stop and disqualify any operators not operating safely. Refunds of entry fees will be at the judges discretion. 5. No pit crew or operator coaching on track except for youth classes. Coach must maintain a safe distance from tractor. 6. 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. 7. 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. 8. Spectators and other operators not entered in class are not permitted on the track. 9. 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. 10. Driver or operator must be in seat when vehicle is running. 11. All pulling vehicles must have a functional breakaway kill switches. This will apply to all classes except youth and adult garden stock and ATVs. 12. BRAKES – All competing vehicles must have adequate brakes. 13. No moving of weights between tractors within the same class. 14. Any loss of weights or safety equipment while hitched to the sled will result in disqualification with exception of test puller. 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. Competitors wishing to compete for points in the class must contact VTPA for a competition number. This number needs to be displayed on the side of the tractor. YOUTH / ADULT GARDEN STOCK: 1. General Rules apply, see page 4 of VTPA Garden Division Rule Book 2. Factory stock, commercially available. Engine, chassis and sheet metal must be from a factory produced garden tractor and maintain stock appearance. Refer to rule 8 for clarification. 3. Gasoline or diesel fuel only. No additives. No gasoline above super grade that can be bought at a gas station. 4. Must use OEM available, unaltered parts for engine manufactured and configuration. a. Explanation – No fabricated intake manifolds, carburetor stand-offs, or velocity stacks allowed. b. Carburetor must be stock, unaltered and unpolished. Air restricting venture must not exceed stock size for engine model, horsepower, and configuration. c. No port altering, grinding, or polishing allowed. Ports must remain as cast. 5. Modifications to clutch, driveline, and transaxle assembly are allowed to help prevent breakage. 6. No welding or modifying of block or cylinder head. Cylinder head must maintain stock combustion chamber lip at head gasket. 7. Maximum bore size: .030 overbore from manufacturers standard specification. Piston must be flush or below deck of block. 8. No performance improving alterations to chassis or engine parts allowed. No billet steel or billet aluminum flywheel allowed. No welding or machining of stock cast flywheels. a. Explanation – All factory engine shielding must be in place. b. Explanation – Chassis may not be lengthened or altered to accept non-original engine. Must maintain original wheelbase. 9. Must have muffler – must be OEM type and OEM mounted to block. 10. Must have working PTO. 11. Engine RPM must be governor controlled. Maximum limit: 3600 RPM. 12. Diesel engines must be governor controlled to factory RPM specification. No injection pump alterations allowed. Must conform to rule #2 on page 7. 13. Maximum hitch height: 13 inches. Must provide own clevis or straight flat plate with 2 inch hole with a dead man zone of 3 inches on each side of the hitch. Must be rigid in all directions. 14. Maximum tire size: 26 x 12.00 x 12. Larger tired allowed if factory available on that model tractor. 15. Only OEM Garden Tractor style tires (Turf or Bar). No alterations. No professional pulling tire of Chevron style. 16. Maximum distance from furthest point forward to center of rear axle: 96 inches. 17. Wheelie bars must be rigid in all directions and able to support the tractor and driver in the heaviest class. Each skid shoe must be a minimum of 2 inch x 3 inch or the use of 5 inch round wheels is allowed. Tractor must have 2 skid shoes or 2 wheels. The wheelie bars must be a minimum of 5 inches from rear most part of tire and maximum of 10 inches. The wheelie bars must also be a maximum of 5 inches from ground to bottom of skid shoes or wheels. A bumper bar 6 inches in length vertical in rear most position is required. Refer to diagram on page 19. Weights on back of tractor must be contained up to 1 inch before the end of the wheelie bars. 18. Any tractor not qualified as stock will jump to sport stock AND must conform to all sport stock rules. 19. No stock tractor competing in the stock class can move to sport stock in the same event. 20. Youth classes are for children 8 – 14 years old. All participants in this class must have a helmet. 21. Youth ages 12 and older may participate in adult classes with written parental consent. Youths must wear helmets in the adult classes. 22. All youth 8 – 14 years old must be able to handle their tractor safely by themselves. 23. A youth participating in either of the youth classes is not eligible to participate in either of the adult classes at the same event. 24. A tractor can only be used for 2 youth classes and 2 adult classes. 25. Recommend pants, shirt and full shoes. No sandals. 26. A tractor may be entered only once per class. 27. If there are 30 or more participants in a class at an event, persons with more than one tractor in the class will be limited to only one tractor. 28. Tractors equipped with factory locking differentials are allowed to be used. 29. Competitors wishing to compete for points in the class must contact VTPA for a competition number. This number needs be displayed on the side of the tractor. 30. PROTEST RULE: If a puller protests another puller, he must put up $50. If the tractor is found to be legitimate, that puller will get to keep $40 and the other $10 goes to the club. If the tractor is found to be illegal, the puller making the protest will get $40 back and $10 goes to the club. SPORT STOCK: 1. General Rules apply, see page 4 of VTPA Garden Division Rule Book 2. Engine block, transaxle housing and chassis must be OEM available in a commercial garden tractor. 3. One or two cylinder, flat head or overhead valve, naturally aspirated, cast block, four cycle engine. 4. Flat head motor has maximum bore size .040 over manufacturer’s standard specification. Maximum total engine displacement 50 cu in. Billet aluminum heads are allowed. 5. Overhead Valve Engines. Must be available in an OEM produced garden tractor. Maximum of 38.8 cu in. Maximum cylinder bore size: .030 over manufacturer’s standard configuration. a. Must retain stock cylinder head and valves or engine configuration and horsepower rating. 6. Engine components must remain in original position. a. Original measurement from center of crankshaft to top deck of block must be maintained. b. Stock position of valves. 7. Stock crankshaft stroke must be maintained. Piston travel must be flush or below deck of block. 8. Stock appearing carburetor for engine manufacturer required. Maximum air restricting venture limit: 1.200 inches. Air flow must be controlled by throttle shaft actuated butterfly in stock location. No air may enter intake port after 1.200 inch restriction. 9. Maximum RPM’s: 4500 governor controlled. 10. Tractor must have stock appearing hood and grill (nose piece). Switching to another factory sheet metal is permissible. 11. Stock frame length must be maintained. 12. Maximum wheelbase: 52 inches 13. Maximum distance from center of rear axle to farthest point forward: 96 inches 14. Engine and driven components must be shielded with stock shields or 1/8 inch steel or 3/16 inch aluminum 360 degrees. 15. Single cylinder tractors not running stock side panels need to be shielded with 1/8 inch steel or 3/16 inch aluminum plate opposite cam side height and width of block. This plate would need to be mounted with two bolts to the frame and at least one bolt to the head. 16. Gasoline only 17. Maximum tire size: 26 x 12.00 x 12 alterations allowed. 18. Helmet, full length pants and closed toe shows REQUIRED. 19. Youth ages 14 and older may pull sport stock classes with a written parental consent. Exception: Any youth 12 – 14 wishing to compete in sport stock class must submit an application to committee for approval by December 31. 20. ALL TRACTORS MUST HAVE must have a minimum of a 2 lb fully charged fire extinguisher on board in reach of operator. A functional gauge on all fire extinguishers is required. 21. ALL TRACTORS MUST HAVE a kill switch to cut engine and fuel pump if tractor has electric fuel pump. 22. ALL TRACTORS MUST HAVE maximum hitch height of 13 inches. Flat plate with 2 inch hold. Hitches rigid in all directions with 3 inches on either side of the hitch as dead-man zone from hitch to top of seat. No weights in the dead-man zone, only the kill switch centered approximately 10 – 12 inches above the hitch in this area. 23. Wheelie Bars must be rigid in all directions and able to support the tractor & driver in the heaviest class. Each skid shoe must be a minimum of 2 inch x 3 inch or use of 5 inch round wheels are allowed. Tractor must have 2 skid shoes or 2 wheels. The wheelie bars must be a minimum of 5 inches from rear most part of tire and maximum of 10 inches. The wheelie bars must also be a maximum of 5 inches from ground to bottom of skid shoes or wheels. A bumper bar 6 inches in length vertical in rear most position is required. Refer to diagram to page 19. Weights on back of tractor must be contained up to 1 inch before the end of the wheelie bars. 24. PROTEST RULE: If a puller protests another puller, he must put up $50. If a tractor is found to be legitimate, that puller will get to keep $40 and the other $10 goes to the club. If the tractor is found to be illegal, the puller making the protest will get $40 back and the other $10 goes to the club. 25. A tractor may be entered only once per class. 26. Competitors wishing to compete for points in the class must contact VTPA for a competition number. This number needs to be displayed on the side of the tractor. SUPER STOCK OPEN: 1. General Rules apply, see page 4 of VTPA Garden Division Rule Book. 2. Drivers must be at least 16 years old and capable of operating the tractor. 3. Tractor must have a stock appearing hood and grill (nose piece). Switching to another factory sheet metal is permissible. 4. Maximum wheelbase: 56 inches. 5. Maximum distance from center of rear axle to farthest point forward: 96 inches. 6. Engine and transaxle must be from OEM produced garden tractor components. 7. Engines: Must be commercially available garden tractor engine. V*Twin type configuration, Single-Cylinder OHV, Single-Cylinder flat head and opposed twin flat heads allowed. 8. Maximum engine size will be as follows: V-TWIN OHV = METHANOL 45 cubic inches, V- TWIN OHV = GAS 48 cubic inches; Single Cylinder OHV = 45 cubic inches; Flat head engines (twins and singles) 52.5 cubic inches. 9. Maximum valve size for all makes of V-TWIN OHV METHANOL engines will be as follows: Intake valve 1.325 inches – Exhaust valve 1.170 inches. V-TWIN GAS ENGINES = open valve size. Single Cylinder OHV will be 1.437 inches intake and 1.437 inches exhaust. All flat head engines will be 1.380 inches intake and 1.380 inches exhaust. 10. Valve Lift: No restrictions. 11. Cylinder Head: Must be stock appearing cast head. Opposed flat head twins and single cylinder flat heads can run billet heads. OHV V-TWIN ENGINES must run factory OEM heads with no external modifications done to the heads. Valve cover spacers allowed. 12. Carburetor: Limited to one (1) carburetor. Maximum venture size will be 1.200 inches. No air entering after the 1.200 inch restriction, except for the OHV V-TWIN ENGINES must run factory OEM carburetor with a max venture size of 1.200. No air entering after the 1.200 inch restriction. 13. Electronic Fuel Injection NOT allowed. 14. Intake Manifold: No restrictions except for the OHV GAS ENGINES MUST RUN FACTORY OEM MANIFOLD. 15. Engine Shielding Rules for single cyl tractors only: 1/8 inch steel or 3/16 inch aluminum on external side of cylinder extending from head gasket to frame. Shield must be attached to frame at the bottom and the block at both upper corners. 16. Engine and driven components must be shielded with stock shields or 1/8 inch steel or 3/16 inch aluminum, 360 degrees. 17. No Fin or Cast Flywheels, along with the general flywheel shielding rules of 1/8 inch steel or 3/16 inch aluminum 360 degrees. NOTE: This rule can be substituted with the use of factory steel side shields. 18. Fuel: Gasoline or Methanol only. There are two U.S. Federal Grades. Grade A and AA, either grade is permitted to use. 19. No pressurized fuel tanks and NO nitrous oxide allowed. 20. Must have a “dead man” throttle. Throttle shaft must have return spring in case of a breakage in linkage. 21. All tractors must have fenders to protect driver from the rear tires. Fenders should extend at a minimum of 4 inches out over the tires. All tractors must have a least a 3 inch seat back on all seats. 22. Maximum tire size: 26 x 12.00 x 12 alterations allowed. 23. Helmet, fire suits and closed toe shoes REQUIRED for all drivers. 24. ALL TRACTORS MUST HAVE at least a fully charged 2 lb fire extinguisher on board in reach of operator. A functional gauge on the fire extinguisher is REQUIRED. 25. ALL TRACTORS MUST HAVE a kill switch to cut engine and fuel pump if tractor has electric fuel pump. 26. ALL TRACTORS MUST HAVE maximum hitch height of 13 inches. Flat plate with 2 inch hole. Hitches rigid in all directions with 3 inches on either side of the hitch as dead-man zone from hitch to top of seat. No weights in the dead-man zone, only the kill switch entered approximately 10 – 12 inches above the hitch in this area. 27. Wheelie Bars must be rigid in all directions and able to support the tractor and driver in the heaviest class. Each skid show must be a minimum of 2 inch x 3 inch or use of 5 inch round wheels is allowed. Tractor must have 2 skid shoes or 2 wheels. The wheelie bars must be a minimum of 5 inches from rear most part of tire and maximum of 10 inches. The wheelie bars must also be a maximum of 5 inches from ground to bottom of skid shoes or wheels. A bumper bar 6 inches in length vertical in rear most position is required. Refer to diagram to page 19. Weights on back of tractor must be contained up to 1 inch before the end of the wheelie bars. 28. A tractor may be entered only once per class. 29. PROTEST RULE: If a puller protests another puller, he must put up $50. If a tractor is found to be legitimate, that puller will get to keep $40 and the other $10 goes to the club. If the tractor is found to be illegal, the puller making the protest will get $40 back and the other $10 goes to the club. 30. These rules can be changed in order to promote fairness to the type’s tractors at anytime during the season. 31. Competitors wishing to compete for points in the class must contact VTPA for a competition number. This number needs to be displayed on the side of the tractor. SUPER STOCK OPEN DIESEL: For 2010 this class will compete with Super Stock Open 1100# and 1200# classes 1. General Rules apply, see page 4 of VTPA Garden Division Rule Book. 2. Drivers must be at least 16 years old and capable of operating the tractor. 3. Engine will be no more than 3 cylinders. May be liquid or air cooled. 4. Engine will be no more than 75 cubic inches 5. Water injection will be allowed. 6. Engine modifications are permitted = Rods, Pistons, Cam, Fuel System. 7. Engine must have block casting model and serial numbers, not grounded off. 8. Engine should have OEM intake manifolds and exhaust manifolds, polishing is permitted. 9. Head work is permitted on stock heads. No Billet heads. No overhead cams. 10. Injector and injector pump modifications allowed. No Billet injector pumps. 11. Turbo charging is permitted, but limited to one turbo only. a. Turbo will be fitted with an air shut off on the compressor inlet side of the turbo. b. Exhaust “L” of turbo must have minimum of 5/16 cross in elbow with exhaust to discharge vertically. 12. Electric fuel supply pump is permitted with positive power wire to have a disconnect at rear of tractor. 13. No propane or nitrous of any kind will be permitted. 14. Tractor must have a stock appearing hood and grill (nose piece). Switching to another factory sheet metal is permissible. 15. Must use a lawn mower rear end / transaxle. No cut down automotive rear ends or Panzers. 16. Engine Shielding Rules: Minimum thickness of 16 gauge steel on external side of cylinders extending from head gasket to frame. Shield must be attached to frame at the bottom and the block at both upper corners. 17. Must run 5/16” cable around oil pan over top of valve cover in a complete circle connected with cable clamps. 18. No Fin or Cast Flywheels, along with the general flywheel shielding rules of 1/8 inch steel or 3/16 inch aluminum 360 degrees. NOTE: This rule can be substituted with the use of factory steel side shields 19. Clutch assembly and fly wheel must be surrounded 360 degrees with 1/8” metal or 3/8” aluminum. 20. Maximum wheelbase: 56 inches. 21. Maximum distance from center of rear axle to farthest point forward: 96 inches. 22. ALL TRACTORS MUST HAVE maximum hitch height of 13 inches. Flat plate with 2 inch hole. Hitches rigid in all directions with 3 inches on either side of the hitch as dead-man zone from hitch to top of seat. No weights in the dead-man zone, only the kill switch entered approximately 10 – 12 inches above the hitch in this area 23. Maximum tire size: 26 x 12.00 x 12 alterations allowed. 24. Wheelie Bars must be rigid in all directions and able to support the tractor and driver in the heaviest class. Each skid show must be a minimum of 2 inch x 3 inch or use of 5 inch round wheels is allowed. Tractor must have 2 skid shoes or 2 wheels. The wheelie bars must be a minimum of 5 inches from rear most part of tire and maximum of 10 inches. The wheelie bars must also be a maximum of 5 inches from ground to bottom of skid shoes or wheels. A bumper bar 6 inches in length vertical in rear most position is required. Refer to diagram to page 19. Weights on back of tractor must be contained up to 1 inch before the end of the wheelie bars 25. Helmet, fire suits and closed toe shoes REQUIRED for all drivers 26. Must have a “dead man” throttle. Throttle shaft must have return spring in case of a breakage in linkage 27. Kill switch device mounted on rear of tractor must disconnect power to electric fuel pump along with activating turbo air shut off. 28. All tractors must have fenders to protect driver from the rear tires. Fenders should extend at a minimum of 4 inches out over the tires. All tractors must have a least a 3 inch seat back on all seats. 29. ALL TRACTORS MUST HAVE at least a fully charged 2 lb fire extinguisher on board in reach of operator. A functional gauge on the fire extinguisher is REQUIRED 30. A tractor may be entered only once per class. 31. PROTEST RULE: If a puller protests another puller, he must put up $50. If a tractor is found to be legitimate, that puller will get to keep $40 and the other $10 goes to the club. If the tractor is found to be illegal, the puller making the protest will get $40 back and the other $10 goes to the club. 32. These rules can be changed in order to promote fairness to the type’s tractors at anytime during the season. 33. Competitors wishing to compete for points in the class must contact VTPA for a competition number. This number needs to be displayed on the side of the tractor. Must be a VTPA member. 34. For 2009 this class will compete with Super Stock Open 1100# and 1200# classes. GARDEN TRACTOR MODIFIED 1. General Rules apply, see page 4 of VTPA Garden Division Rule Book 2. Participants must be 16 years or older with parental consent. 3. Tractors may be homemade, but are limited to 8 feet in length from the center of the rear axle to the furthest forward point including weights. Maximum width of 6’6” from outside of wheels. 4. Engines will be limited as follows: a. Automotive engines 2500cc, 4 cylinder limit b. Non-automotive type engines (snowmobile, motorcycle, boat engines, etc) can run multiple engine combination with no limit on number of cylinders, but a total combined 1500cc limit. 5. Ignition System – any type 6. Fuel System – Carburetors or fuel injection (piston type engines). Carburetors only (rotary type engines). No oxidizers (i.e. nitrous oxide) or pressurized tanks. 7. Fuel Type – Gasoline, diesel, fuel, alcohol, octane boosters, and lead additives allowed. No other fuels. 8. Maximum Tire Size: 31 x 15.5 x 15 9. Tire tread pattern may be bar or turf type. No paddle tires. Alterations allowed. 10. Shielding requirements: a. 1/16” metal shields must be provided over belts, chains, fans, etc. b. 1/8” steel shields or an approved safety blanket must be provided 360 degrees around clutches (the shields must cover the area from the front of the bell housing a minimum of 4” to the rear) and automatic transmissions. c. 1/8” steel shields or approved safety blanket must be provided 360 degrees around automatic transmission. d. 1/8” metal shields must be provided on both sides of engines. Each shield must be as long as the block and must extend from the top of the oil pan to the under side of the cylinders. 11. Tractors must have fenders to protect the driver from the rear tires. 12. Tractors with automatic transmissions shall be equipped with positive lockout to prevent accidental engagement of reverse gear. Safety start switch so tractor can not be started in gear. 13. The hook hole in the drawbar must be a minimum of 2” diameter. A minimum of 3/8” material around diameter of hole. Hitches rigid in all directions with 3” on either side of the hitch as dead man zone from hitch to top of seat. No weights in the dead man zone, only the kill switch centered approximately 10 – 12 inches above the hitch in this area only. 14. Helmets and fire suits MANDATORY. 15. Role cages optional. 16. Wheelie bars must be rigid in all directions and able to support the tractor an driver in the heaviest class. Each skid shoe must be minimum of 2 inch x 3 inch or the use of 5 inch round wheels is allowed. Tractor must have 2 skid shoes or 2 wheels. The wheelie bars must be a minimum of 5 inches from rear most part of tire and maximum of 10 inches. The wheelie bars must also be a maximum of 5 inches from ground to bottom of skid shoes or wheels. A bumper bar 6 inches in length vertical in rear most position is required. Refer to diagram to page 19. Weights on back of tractor must be contained up to 1 inch before the end of the wheelie bars. 17. ALL TRACTORS MUST HAVE a minimum of a 2 lb. fire extinguisher fully charged on board in reach of operator. A functional gauge on all fire extinguishers is required. 18. Competitors wishing to compete for points in the class must contact VTPA for a competition number ATV’s: 1. General Rules apply, see page 4 of VTPA Garden Division Rule Book 2. Operator MUST BE at least 18 years of age. 3. REQUIRED: Helmet, full length pants, shirt & closed toe shoes. NO SHORTS. 4. Hitch height: Maximum of 13 inches. Mounting hitch point MUST be located behind rear axle. 5. Hitches: 2 inch hole or 2 inch straight or twisted clevis or hitch. Driver will be checked for weight and hitch height when ready to pull. NO BALL HITCHES. 6. Weights: Rear Weight must not stick out past rear tires, or past side of tires. Front weights must not extend more than 16 inches from furthest point of ATV. No wheel weights. 7. Tires must be OEM style ATV tires. No chains. No cut tires. No studded tires. 8. ATV weight classes: a. (NEW) Pure Stock: any cc up to production model for that year; 1300 lbs. Tractors in this class have no after market parts, no pipes, no locked suspensions, no outside weight brackets. b. Mid-Size class: Up to 660cc; 1250 lbs c. Open class: Any cc up to production model for that year; 1300 lbs 9. If ATV’s front tires come off the ground, the operator could be disqualified by a flagman or track official. 10. MUST be seated on horizontal portion of seat – not in forward position. Explanation: NOT on gas tank. NO portion of the body may break the plane of the handle bars. 11. ATV can only be entered once per class and limited to two classes. Garden Divison Rules