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Safety

All MVATP Events are governed by safety requirements set forth by our parent association the Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association (EDGE&TA). Below are of the guidlines to follow. Click the Button see full saftey requirements at the EDGE&TA website.

A row of Farmall Cub Cadet lawn tractors

Mandatory Requirements for All Events

  1. EDGE&TA Branch Safety Officers, EDGE&TA Safety Officers, and EDGE&TA Insurance Adviser are authorized to shut down anyone for unsafe operation.

  2. Anyone exhibiting or participating at any EDGE&TA event MUST be a member of an EDGE&TA branch.

  3. No set of requirements, regulations or cautions can prevent a disaster. We must, however, take these safety requirements seriously. Our individual awareness and adherence to both required and desired requirements will greatly increase the safety of our exhibitors and the public who attend our events.

  4. No Alcohol to be Served or Consumed at Any EDGE&TA Event.

 

 

Man driving Ford Jubilee tractor

Tractor Pull Safety Requirements & Guidelines

PULL BY WEIGHT TRANSFER SLED

Extreme caution must be exercised at all times while working with any tractor pull due to the number of people involved with the pulling tractor and sled.

THIS SECTION CONTAINS MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED AND EACH BRANCH SAFETY OFFICER MUST SEE THAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE FOLLOWED.

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR EDGETA SPONSORED EVENTS

  1. All pullers must be members of EDGE&TA.

  2. All pullers must be 16 years of age and have a valid driver’s license. If not they must have completed the Youth Driver Training Program.

  3. NO STEP ON SLEDS ALLOWED AT ANY TIME.

  4. It is recommended that a progressive weight transfer sled be used. It must be built with safety in mind to protect the puller, the sled operator and the public.

  5. Each sled will have a working fire extinguisher mounted in such a manner to be easily accessible to operator or Ground personnel in case of a tractor fire.

  6. No tractor with other than manufacturer standard engine will be allowed.

  7. All tractor engines must not exceed the manufacturers recommended HP and RPM by more than 10%.

  8. Speeds– 1st or 2nd gear not to exceed 3.5 MPH. Torque shifting not allowed.

  9. Never hook up the pulling tractor until operator has put tractor in neutral and raised their hands.

  10. The driver is the only person allowed on a tractor at anytime. Drivers must remain seated at all times except for tractors designed for standing only i.e. Steam Tractors and certain gas/kerosene tractors, which are allowed no more than two operators.

  11. All tractors must have a kill switch or device accessible from the operator’s seat to kill the engine.

  12. Keep spectators at least 30 feet from edge of track. Spectators may be closer if solid barrier or fence separates spectators from track.

  13. Any violations observed by the flag person or safety officer will mean automatic disqualification.

  14. Tractors must have the stock engine, frames, transmission, rear end, and axle housings or manufacturer’s replacement.

  15. All tractors must be equipped with working brakes.

  16. Tractor shall not be left unattended with engine running.

  17. There will be no hot rodding in the pits or track area.

  18. Fuel– gasoline, diesel, kerosene or LP fuels only. No alcohol or nitrous fuels may be used in tractors. Tractor manufactured to use diesel fuel only cannot be converted to gasoline or LP.  No airplane fuel. Fuel is meant to be the same fuel that you use in your automobile or truck.

  19. Maximum hitch height 20 inches Rubber tire classes

  20. Minimum hitch length 16 inches Rubber tire classes

  21. Maximum hitch height 16 inches Steel wheel classes

  22. Minimum hitch length 18 inches Steel wheel classes.

  23. Front of tractor not to exceed 16 inches off the ground. A chain device must be used to determine height. Device to be furnished by sled operator.

  24. If wheelie bars are used, chain device not needed.

  25. Wheelie bars recommended but not required

  26. If wheelie bars are used they must be checked so not to allow the front of tractor to exceed 16 inches off the ground and must be tested to weight of the tractor.

  27. Tractors not to exceed 100 HP

  28. If anything falls off of the tractor during pull, the tractor is disqualified.

  29. Crawler tractors use standard hitch. No modifications.

  30. All pulling tractors must be 30 years or older.

  31. NO ALCOHOL is to be consumed or served at any EDGETA event.

 Revised: June 19, 2010

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EARLY DAY GAS ENGINE & TRACTOR ASSN
YOUTH DRIVER TRAINING/CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
(12 TO 16 YEARS OF AGE)
Instructor Information

  1. The instruction and training phase of the certification program is to be accomplished by the parent or sponsor of the youth over a period of time prior to administration of the testing phase of the program. This training may be conducted at home or a location away from the general public at an EDGE&TA function. The instruction and training phase should consist of familiarization and operation of various parts of the vehicle to include the location of the clutch, brakes, brake locks or parking brake, shift pattern, fuel shut off valve, ignition switch, starter, fuel tank and type fuel used, PTO and belt pulley operation (if vehicle is so equipped), emergency shut down procedures and any other special features of the vehicle.

  2. When the parent or sponsor feels the youth has acquired sufficient knowledge to safely operate the equipment, the application form is to be completed and presented to the branch person conducting the testing phase of the program.

  3. At a designated time and place the driver testing program would be conducted by the Safety Officer and the branch instructors. The number of instructors required will depend upon the number of students to be tested and the time allotted for the test. Safety-The Safety Officer or his designated representative will discuss the safety rules for the show grounds, parades, and tractor pulls (if applicable) with the applicants. When this has been completed the applicants will return to their respective equipment. The applicants will wait by their equipment until the instructor authorized them to get on the equipment.

  4. Familiarization Testing-(Test #1) The instructor will discuss the basic operation of the equipment with the student to determine if the student was familiar with the equipment. When the instructor is satisfied the student is qualified to begin the operational phase of the test the student would get on the tractor/equipment and demonstrate to the instructor their knowledge and the location of the following items on that particular piece of equipment:

_ Ignition switch/starter switch.
_ Throttle, choke, and fuel shut off valve.
_ Clutch (foot or hand depending on the type of tractor).
_ Brake and brake locks.
_ Shifter and shift pattern.
_ Belt pulley control.
_ PTO control.
_ Emergency shut down procedures.

The instructor will have the student start the equipment, move it a short distance in low gear, and bring it to a safe, smooth stop. (This may be repeated several times if the instructor feels it is necessary.) After the instructor is satisfied the student has demonstrated his/her ability to control the equipment in a safe manner, the instructor will circle (PASS or FAIL) and sign the application form for Test #l, and have the student line up behind the tractor leading the parade test.

  1. Parade Test-(Test #2) The instructor driving the lead tractor will conduct the group of students on a short parade, stopping and starting several times to insure that the students are able to maintain the proper distance between his/her equipment and the one in front of each of them. (EDGE&TA Parade Safety Rules will apply.) After the instructor is satisfied each of the students has demonstrated his/her ability to control the equipment in a safe manner, the instructor will circle (PASS or FAIL) and sign the application form for Test #2, and have the student proceed to the next section of the test. Backing the Vehicle Test-(Test #3) The student will back the vehicle up a small incline and/or up to a set of cones then stop the vehicle, shift into neutral gear, set the parking brake, and remove his/her feet from brake pedals to ensure the parking brakes are working. (If an incline is not available the student may back up into a set of cones, stopping as close as possible to the cones without knocking them over.) The student, when signaled by the instructor, will put the vehicle in gear and safely drive forward from the incline or cone area and stop. The instructor will circle (PASS or Fail) and sign the application form for Test #3 and have the student drive back to the starting area or to the next area for testing.

  2. Pull Test-(Test #4) (This test applies only if the student will be entering pulling competition or pulling other equipment.) The instructor has the student back up to some piece of equipment (sled or other equipment). After backing the tractor safely into position the student stops the tractor, shift into neutral gear, and raise both hands to signal they were ready to hook up to the equipment. When the equipment has been hooked up to the tractor, the student then shifts the tractor into low gear and safely moves the equipment a short distance. The student stops the tractor and unhooks from the equipment when the instructor was satisfied the student has demonstrated his/her ability to control the tractor in a safe manner. The instructor would circle (PASS or FAIL) and sign the application form for Test #4, and have the student drive safely back to the starting area. The Student returns to the starting area and waits for the Safety Officer/Instructor to sign the application and issue the temporary driving certificate. Once the student has received the temporary certificate he/she will be allowed to participate in parades, pulls, and other activities the same as members who have a valid Motor Vehicle Operators License. If additional equipment/tractors are to be added to the certificate, a new test for that equipment/tractor would be administered.

Revised: March 31, 2009

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