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Tractors 'pull' community together

By Glenn Wallace/Staff Writer

The fourth annual West Coast Nationals Tractor Pull, held at the Santa Maria Elks/Unocal Event Center, offered up big engines, big noise and a big variety of spectators Saturday.

With names like “Mad Cow” and “Plum Crazy,” knobby-tired tractors and trucks took their turns, letting loose a roar of horsepower as they tried to haul specially designed sleds over the dusty floor of the arena.

The spectators, often equipped with ear plugs, let out a cheer as Nipomo’s Ron Souza, one of the founding organizers of the event, took his turn at the sled pull in the “mini mod” division.

Other hometown heroes included the Cal Poly pull team, but the event was far from just a local affair, according to Hanford resident Robby Fagundes, two-time injected mini champ.

“This is the best show on the West Coast. This is the place to be,” he said.

“I come to watch a lot of horsepower do its thing,” said Leo Shiffrar of Nipomo.

A graduate of Cal Poly, an acquaintance of the Souza family, and happy to support the Elks organization, Shiffrar said he had plenty of motivation to attend the tractor pull for a second straight year.

New to the tractor pull this year was an exhibit by the Tractor Restoration Project, helping Central Coast high school students restore classic tractors. Two of the restorers, Travis Murphy of Righetti High and Daniel Valdez of Santa Maria High, also served on the pit crews of tractor pull competitors.

“This is just a wonderful event and I hope it continues to grow,” said Restoration Project representative Ed Ward.

“It’s something fun to do and it’s close by,” Santa Maria resident Scott Allen said, with two children in tow. “They’re why I’m back,” he said.

The three attended last year’s event, and said the sunny weather made this year all the more enjoyable.

Mary Miller of Santa Maria said attending the tractor pull had become a family tradition, with her brother, a brother-in-law and a cousin having participated. Her young daughter Kayla Miller said she liked the dust and smoke covering the sun.

The West Coast Nationals series continues at the Tulare County Fairgrounds on Tuesday and Wednesday.

gwallace@theadobepress.com