Doubling Down in that Mississippi Town: Pullers Strike Gold in Tunica
With the beginning of December comes the annual rite of passage in Tunica, Mississippi with the Southern Nationals Antique Tractor pull at the Paul Battle Arena. Yet again, the Mean Green Pulling Team made an unprecedented effort to provide a stage that determines who is among the best of the best in the sport of antique pulling. Over 430 tractors registered for the event and made 1100-plus hooks over the course of three days.
Thursday’s highlights included the 4250 King of the Hill event, where a Queen took her rightful spot among the sport’s elite. Lanise Coe of Temple Hill, Kentucky piloted her Oliver 77 to the KOH win in the shootout over the hard-charging Ford of Athens, Michigan’s Arnold Martin. Coe joins her husband Jr. as a fellow KOH winner. Martin’s Ford is the first to be in the shootout of the KOH.
Friday was a full-on showdown of tractors in the Farm Stock I and II ranks, where the uncut and top-cut tire campaigning machines had their chance to test the Battle Arena track.
Saturday’s action featured the Butch Wood King of the Hill event, where 102 tractors fought for the top spot. Jim Benjamin’s stranglehold on the class was tightened further as he took his Michigan-based Farmall to the win, his fourth KOH title. Donnie Gilkey from Princeton, Kentucky proved to be a powerful foe for Benjamin in the shootout, also piloting a strong Farmall. Keeping the sport alive was also the theme for Saturday as the Kid’s Pull was also held, with 33 youngsters getting their first taste of pulling!
For more information on the “Showdown in the Tunica-town,” subscribe to The HOOK Magazine today, the #1 choice for Antique, Classic, State, and Regional Pulling!
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After having sat & listened to other club members talk about Tunica, my husband & I went this past December to watch the fun. My boss thought I had lost my mind taking off 2 days of work to “watch a bunch of tractors” (my boss is definately NOT redneck) but I did and HAD A BLAST!!!!!!!! I’m very much looking forward to the next Tunica pull. matter of fact, I’ve already put in for time off. My husband is always thinking of new ideas to build and I’m totally too impatient waiting. I know the week before out club (MATPA) has the 1st pull, he’ll be in the shop non-stop putting something together. He has already promised me something to take to Tunica and i’m counting the months. Everyone was so incredibly friendly. I really enjoyed our trip. Looking forward to Tunica 2012.