Hundreds of horsepower, huge weights begging to be pulled, beer gardens and live entertainment: what more could Wetaskiwin residents want?
They’ll find all this and more at the Wetaskiwin Ag Society’s Truck and Tractor Pull Aug. 23 and 24 at the ag society grounds. This is the first truck and tractor pull ever held in Wetaskiwin.
Two members of the Vanouck Pulling Team, which originally hails from Wetaskiwin, dropped by The Pipestone Flyer Aug. 7 to discuss the upcoming event. Shea Carm, media spokesperson and driver and Wes Scott, crew chief and driver, said the two days are going to be action-packed.
There will be a number of other pulling teams there from across western Canada and possibly the United States.
Scott said Vanouck will have a variety of pullers there ranging from 4X4 trucks to injected alcohol tractors, the four-engine tractor, V12s, aircraft engines, “anything with an engine in it,” he added.
The “Big Red” Kenworth from Bonneville will also be there.
Pullers compete for prize money and must pull certain weights a certain distance to qualify.
Scott said competitive pulling is an expensive hobby, but very exciting to watch and there will be lots to see at the two-day event.
The largest vehicle Vanouck will have there is likely the four-engine tractor, noted Scott, who said maintaining these unique vehicles is a year-round job. The vehicle is estimated to have between 6,000 and 7,000 horsepower.
The V12 Allison and V12 Packard will both be pulling, and each have about 1,800 horsepower.
There will be a beer gardens and concession both days, and live entertainment both nights (True Country Friday, Red Canoe Saturday). There will also be fireworks Saturday night after dark.
Tickets are $20 per adult, $10 for ages 7 to 17 and six and under get in free. Tickets will be available at the gate both nights, or you can buy advance tickets at Tony’s Towing in Wetaskiwin.
Guests should dress for the weather, but organizers said a little rain will not affect the event at all.
Scott and Carm stated guests should bring their own lawn chairs, and hearing protection is a good idea too, especially for young kids. Some small earplugs will be available at the event.
Special thanks to sponsors
Organizers of the truck and tractor pull wanted to recognize the following sponsors: G&T Custom Farming Ltd., Big Rig Power, Tony’s Towing Ltd., City of Wetaskiwin, Manluk Industries Inc., Johnny Owen, Ready Mix Concrete, Creative Infrastructure – Byron Reynolds and Chris Laing, D&G Distributors, Parkland Ag & Auto Service, Dave’s Diesel Repair, Floors Now – Wetaskiwin, Cars Cost Less in Wetaskiwin, Irv’s Westside Auto, R4 Mechanical, Co-op Agro, Maygard Welding, Wetaskiwin Agencies Ltd., Skyview Enterprises Ltd., Discount Pawn & Wetaskiwin Trailer, Contact Chemicals Inc., Liquids in Motion Ltd., LL Concrete, PJL Ag Services, Kal Tire, Thor Tire, Scooter Ag, TG Mahoney Professional Corporation, Action Water Wells, Brian Mayguard, Kamparoo Campers, Dale Gardiner Feed Sales, Richardson Pioneer Wetaskiwin, Truck Zone Inc., Dewald Farms, Allied Distributors (Wetaskiwin) Ltd. and Super Bee.
Track sponsors included Randal Knull Knull Enterprises, Johnny Owen Hammerhead, Central Construction, Creekside Custom Framing, Krause Farms, Cunningham Excavation, Chris Vossler, Switzer Construction Ltd., Central Oilfield, C&S Consulting, Bigstone Highland, D&S Enterprises, Clarence Morgan, Graham Clark, TCM, Hoogland Farms, Harry Shell, Chemco, Nitro Tech Oilfield, Colin Feldberg and the County of Wetaskiwin.