Orville Couture, from Chatham, Ontario, with his IH 1066 “Honest Pride” looking to defend his 2010 Points championship.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Submitted by Kathi McNeil, SWOTPA
The Southwestern Ontario Tractor Pullers Association kicked off the 2011 season with an event in Armada, Michigan, a small town about thirty minutes from the Sarnia-Port Huron border crossing. Featuring classes from three divisions in the SWOTPA circuit, fans had plenty to cheer for – especially if they were cheering for International or John Deere tractors. The evening ended up with a stock 4×4 street legal truck class with a great turnout.
Although originally only scheduled for three classes, the second class in both Modified Farm tractor divisions was added to ensure a good quality show for the spectators.
Local favorites at the Armada event included regular SWOTPA competitors Ed Shoobridge of Riley, MI with his IH 460 known as the “Haul’n Harvester” ; Edgar & Mike Cross of Riley/Allenton, MI with their Ford 8000 known as “Double Cross”; Jerry Tuggle of Dryden, MI with his JD 4010 known as “The Violator”; and the Capozzo family with their JD4010 known as “Cruel Intentions”.
Defending points series champions Orville Couture with his IH 1066 “Honest Pride” and Frank Macko with his IH 666 “Freight Train” started of the 2011 season with good runs as well.
This was the first stop of fourteen on the Southwestern Ontario Tractor Pullers 2011 Trail of Events. The SWOTPA primarily sanctions events throughout Southwestern Ontario wrapping up the season on the Friday evening of the Thanksgiving Weekend.
For results, visit the SWOPTA website.
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- Sled operator Craig Storm gets ready for the first event of another busy season
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- Fans and family members get ready to cheer for their favourite puller.
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- Ed Shoobridge from nearby Riley, MI with his IH 460 “Haul’n Harvester”.
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- Dryden, Michigan’s Jerry Tuggle lead off the 8000lb Modified Tractor class with a wild boundary-to-boundary run.
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- Brent Marchand from Blenheim, Ontario with his IH 806 “Internationally Dirty”.
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- Bill Wright, from Bothwell, Ontario, with his JD4320 ”Oooh Deere” looking for a Full Pull to start of the 2011 season.
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- Orville Couture, from Chatham, Ontario, with his IH 1066 “Honest Pride” looking to defend his 2010 Points championship.
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- Tony Capozzo, from Richmond, Michigan with his JD 4010 “Cruel Intentions” in the 9300 lb Super Farm tractor class.
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- Doug Ruston, from Carlow, Ontario with his International 666 called “Stray Voltage” making his pass in the 7000 lb Modified Farm tractor class. This class was a late addition to the lineup to ensure the spectators saw a great show.
