Vermont Tractor Pullers Association
VTPA General Rules posted 5/28/2015
OPERATORS:
1.
Must have written permission of owner or parent/guardian if under eighteen.
2.
NO ALCOHOLIC beverages/drugs before or during events for operators and/or crew members.
3.
Must remain seated, be in full control, and operate in a safe manner at all times.
PULLING:
1.
All competing vehicles will draw for pulling position 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 or last 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.
A competitor is allowed a second attempt within 100ft. in all classes to start sled except the antique division
which is set at 75ft. to start the sled.
6.
Operators have the option of spotting the sled on the 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 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. This applies to track and pit area, pulling vehicles and pit vehicles unless the pit
vehicle is manufactured for more.
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 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 functional breakaway kill switches. This will apply to all classes except stock
antique tractors, farm stock tractors, 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 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 and 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 1/88 inch or greater steel. This rule applies to Modified, Modified Minis and Trucks.
2.
NO ALCOHOLIC beverages/drugs before or during events for operators and/or crew members.
3.
Must remain seated, be in full control, and operate in a safe manner at all times.
PULLING:
1.
All competing vehicles will draw for pulling position 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 or last 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.
A competitor is allowed a second attempt within 100ft. in all classes to start sled except the antique division
which is set at 75ft. to start the sled.
6.
Operators have the option of spotting the sled on the 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 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. This applies to track and pit area, pulling vehicles and pit vehicles unless the pit
vehicle is manufactured for more.
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 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 functional breakaway kill switches. This will apply to all classes except stock
antique tractors, farm stock tractors, 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 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 and 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 1/88 inch or greater steel. This rule applies to Modified, Modified Minis and Trucks.
