2008 Garden Tractor Rules

 

1.                 Drivers shall be a minimum of 12 years old. a driver 18 years old must sign a waiver that the burden of proof is on the driver, parent, or gaurdian. see class being pulled for specific age limits. all pullers must sign a waiver and provide proof of age.

2.                 all drivers must wear shoes, shirt, long pants, and a helmet before they will be permitted to compete.

3.                 all drivers must remain in total control of the tractor at all times while pulling and operate in a safe manner or be disqualified at the flag person's discretion.

4.                 number one puller will be the test puller, and may take the pull or drop to the 6th position if the working condition of the weight transfer machine is satisfactory. in the event the weight transfer machine needs adjustment, the first test puller will have the option to re-pull immediately or drop to the 6th pulling position. the first puller after each weight transfer machine adjustment will be treated as the test puller. all decisions on re-pulls must be made before the tractor is unhooked from the sled.

5.                 loss of any weight or any other part of the tractor under green flag will result in disqualification, except due to internal breakage.

6.                 driver will be given 2 consecutive attempts to pull within 35 feet, in all classes.

7.                 if tires run over boundary lines, driver will be disqualified; however The sled may go out of bounds.

8.                 a minimum pulling area shall be 150 feet long by 25 feet wide.

9.                 all drivers will draw numbers for their pulling positions in each class.

10.             no tractor may pull more than once in any class except for the rug rat class.

11.             driver has 2 minutes to attempt to pull in the position drawn or be disqualified. driver may drop to last in class if allowed by the head official but will loose one attempt to pull.

12.             a minimum of 3 tractors is required to constitute a class. entry fee will be refunded if the class is not pulled. all a.h.p.a. members will pull regardless.

13.             driver and track personnel only are allowed on the track during the pull, except for the rug rat class.

14.             track judge has the final decision during the pull. any discrepancies are grounds for disqualification.

15.             tech official may disqualify any tractor for violation of rules. the tractor may not compete until the violation is remedied. any tractor disqualified will loose all points accumulated up to and including that event, and relinquish all earnings for that day.

16.             all tractors must go through a "super tech" prior to the first competition and at any time necessary during the season.

17.             all tractors are to be weighed with the driver and his gear (such as helmet). all weights must be securely fastened, no tarp straps. weights may be moved after weigh-in as long as no weight is added. no weights shall be moved more forward than 7 feet or rearward more than 18 inches from the center of the rear axle. no tractor may be more than 54 inches wide including weights.

18.             all tractors will be tech inspected and weighed prior to each event. tractor may be requested to be re-weighed or re-inspected at the request of AN event official.

19.             a $50.00 fee must accompany any an all protest made due to rule violation by an individual. the violation must be reviewed by three officials and their decision must be unanimous. fee will be forfeited and paid to the protested tractor if the rule violation was not determined. if a rule violation is determined the fee is refunded and the protested tractor shall loose all points accumulated up to and including that event.

20.             all pulling attempts will be made with a tight chain, no jerking allowed.

21.             no two cycle engines are permitted.

22.             each driver or crew member has the privilege and the responsibility of spotting the sled for each pulling attempt. the pull back tractor operator must be notified of where the driver wishes the sled to be placed when the previous puller is unhooked.

23.             all hitches must be designed as follows:

must be equipped with a hitching device with a 1 1/2" hole no more than 3/4" from rear of hole to rear edge of the hitching device, and no less than 3/8" or no more than 3/4" in thickness. hitch maximum length not to extend past the rear tires. hitch must be stationary in all directions at all times. no three point hitches. hitches must be easily accessible including weights.

24.             hitches will be measured be for the tractor will be allowed to compete. hitch height will be 13" in all classes.

25.             once a puller has dropped out of a class puller can not re-enter that class. entry fee will be refunded if the puller doesn't compete and has given notice to an official prior to the starting of that class.

26.             the use of alcohol or narcotics is strictly prohibited, and is grounds for immediate disqualification and removal from that event and also will be barred from pulling with this organization for one fll year.

27.             points will be awarded at each pulling event, and all points will be kept on the tractor as long as the driver is a member of the a.h.p.a.. tractors will be numbered and driver must be a member in good standing to receive points. a driver in good standing means doing more than just showing up, pulling, and leaving. track assistance and litter pick up are included in good standing. points will be recorded and prizes awarded at the annual a.h.p.a. banquet.

28.             no tractor may compete in more than 2 weight classes.

29.             a tractor must compete in a majority of pulling events during the season to be eligible for year end rewards.

30.             tractor must stay in designated class throughout the year for which it was qualified for.

31.             all tractors must have fenders, gill, and hood. all gaurds and shields must be in place and safely secured, no tarp straps.

32.             all tractors must have working rear brakes and a back on the seat at least 3" high.

33.             modified stock and stock altered must have wheelie bars or a tip over device, which must be strong enough to support the weight of the tractor and it's driver. device must be at least 5" behind the tailing edge of the rear tires and no more than 5" off the ground. device should have a minimum 3" by 3" skid pad or 1" wide wheel. no cross member shall interfere with the chain at any time.

34.             no implement attachments permitted on the tractor, such as mower decks, snow plow/blower, ect..

35.             two wheel drive tractors only. no multiple rear wheels, chains, atv tires, or studded tires.

36.             all classes open to single or twin engines.

37.             all classes must run on pump gas.

38.             all tractors except hydrostatic drive tractors must be pushed back to the sled to be hooked and unhooked from the sled.

 

Garden Stock Tractor Rules 

1.     puller must be at least 12 years old with written parental consent through the age of 18

2.     weight classes will be 950# and 1050#. weight brackets are permitted

3.     tractor must have working govenor with a 4200 rpm limit, a factory replacement functional muffler, factory starter, and stock rear end ratio.

4.     all tractors must have stock air cleaners with the element and functional choke. stock type hand lever throttle and linkage are also required.

5.     tractor must have the factory wheel base.

6.     tractor must have all mowing attachment; except for mowing deck, snow blower, or rototiller for the make and model being pulled.

7.     tractors must have stock engine for make and model of tractor being pulled, no internal or external modifications allowed.

8.     wheelie bars are strongly recommended but not required.

9.     maximum tire size is 23x10.50x12 turf tread only. no cut, or altered tires allowed.

10. tractor must hve all body parts and panels for make and model being pulled.

11. maximum horsepower is limited to 20hp.

 

Rug rats

1.     tractor must comply with all garden stock tractor class rules.

2.     hitch height is 10” maximum and rpm limited to 3800.

3.     weight class is 850#.

4.     participant must be between 6 and 11 years old. parent or gaurdian must be in the pulling area. all drivers must wear shoes, shirt, AND LONG pants. and a helmet before they are permitted to compete.

 

modified stock tractors

1.     hitch height is 13”.

2.     weight class will be 1050# and 1100#.

3.     wheelbase may be modified no more than 6” from the stock wheelbase.

4.     maximum horsepower is limitede to 20hp.

5.     exhaust may be altered to straight pipe that discharges up vertically.

6.     tractor must have stock starter and/or rope start.

7.     must have working governor with a 4200 rpm limit. no spacer plate or extra gaskets behind the carburetor. venturi may not exceed 1”.

8.     maximum tire size is 23x10.50x12, ture or ag tread. no cut or altered tires are permitted.

9.     tractors must have wheelie bars, functional kill switch, and all drive lines covered top and sides with a minimum 1/16” steel or 1/8” aluminum.

10. no stroker cranks, maximum of .030” over stock bore. piston must be flush with the top of the block. no after market cams. stock valves only.

11. all tractors must be equipped with a work and accessible fire extinguisher.

 

stock altered

1.     weight classes will be 1050# and 1100#.

2.     maximum horsepower is limited to 16hp single cylinder, or 25hp twin cylinder with a stock cam.

3.     high prerformance engines are allowed. you may have: after market cams with a 330 maximum lift, .030” over stock bore, and no rpm limit. no stroker cranks. stock size valves only. no pressurized fuel tanks, turbos, blowers, or nitrous. electric fuel pumps are permitted but must be hookes to the kill switch.

4.     maximum tire size is 26x12x12 turf or ag tread.

5.     wheelie bars, fire extinguisher, functional kill switch, and a dead man’s throttle are required.

6.     tractors must use tractor rear end and transmition. length must not exceed 7’ from the center of the rear axle to the furthest point forward, this includes weights. Maximum wheelbase is 52”.

7.     drivers must be 13 years old with written parental consent through the age of 18.

8.     flywheel and starter pulley must be steel or aluminum (no cast iron or cast aluminum). no weld on fins or stamped pulleys allowed.

9.     all cast iron block engines are to have a scatter shield opposite the camshaft side of the motor. it must be made of a minumum of 1/16” steel or 1/8” aluminum. shield must be form the bottom of the engine to the top of the head and 7” in width. shields must be attached in a secure manner. all twin cylinder motors must have shields.

10. sleeves and welding not permitted. crank and cam must be in original measurement from the center of crank to top of deck.

11. original carburetor must be used.
no stand off pipes or ram tubes are permitted. maximum of a 1” spacer including gaskets.
choke may be removed.
air restricting venturi in carburetor may not be larger in diameter than 1” round. air controlled   butterfly in stock carburetor; no injection. no air intake after the butterfly.
carburetor must be kohler engine type if other than stock for the model being used.

12.  all final drive belts must be cover the top 180 degrees and all flywheel and clutch assemblies must be covered 360 degrees with minimum 1/8” steel or 3/16” aluminum.

 

2008 garden tractor weight classes

Stock class
                       
12hp and under
                                                class 1 – 950#
                                                class 2 – 1000#
                             14 to 16 horsepower
                                                class 1 – 950#
                                                class 2 – 1050#

stock twins
                       
up to 20 horsepower
                                                class 1 – 1050#
                                                class 2 – 1000#

rug rat
                             up to 20 horsepower
                                                all classes – 850#

modified stock single cylinder
                       
up to 20 horsepower
                                                class 1 – 1050#
                                                class 2 – 1100#

Modified stock twins
                             up to 20 horsepower
                                                class 1 – 1050#
                                                class 2 – 1100#

stock altered single cylinder
                             up to 20 horsepower
                                                class 1 – 1050#
                                                class 2 – 1100#

stock altered twins
                             up to 20 horsepower
                                                class 1 – 1050#
                                                class 2 – 1100#