NCMFAAA

I think this must be the first time in what, 15+ years I haven't attended the NCMFAAA show in Blackberry.  But, I got a lot done at work and feel like I accomplished some things.  Still need to get a lot more done, but my work is never done anyways, so why worry.

What I really need is some stress-free down time, some time when I can relax and not think or worry about 'stuff'.  Like that will ever happen, I think it must be against my religion or something.  Last time I had any stress free down-time was when I was a paying guest here at work, and I really don't want to do that again.

Ketchup

or catchup or something like that. I promised a while back that I would get some pics of the tractor show and the wedding up; here they are.

The day before the wedding we had an informal get-together at Veterans Park in GR for family members, mostly so that we could chat with our relly's and relax for a few. I hate to say it, but the only memorable photo I got from the picnic was this of a squirrel peeking out of the trash can:

The NCMFAAA show was a lot of fun. I mostly drove my tractor around pulling the "people wagon", but I took a few snap-shots as I went of things of interest to me. I missed the parade on Saturday because of the wedding but drove in the parade on Sunday, so I don't have any pictures from the parade.

Something new this year, Bruce Gould made a train out of a lawn tractor and plastic drums for the kids to ride around in. I think he was having as much fun as I was giving rides out:

Here's a photo of my tractor parked on the line:

Here's a restored W4, the "little brother" of my W6:

Here's an MD, which is the cousin of the WD6:

Here's an interesting configuration; an Allis-Chalmers C with a half-track setup:

Here's an interesting mess, a John Deere 5600 that has a Detroit Diesel Turbo engine installed. I don't know how much horsepower it has, but it makes this tractor scoot, and it makes quite a wail. Don't know if it's any good as a tractor anymore, though.

There are some other modified tractors also, how about a Ford with a Flathead V8? Those were available as conversions kits right from some of the dealers (so I'm told), but how about a Ford with a Lincoln V12? I'll bet the dealers never thought of that one.

Here's an old Allis-Chalmers WC. Why is this in here? Because it used to be ours, we swapped it and some cash for another WC that I could (and did) fix. This one had rims so rusted out that the tires couldn't stay on. There's been quite a few other changes to it, but the engine and frame and front gear were once ours. This tractor actually went out and ran a threshing machine for a few moments until it blew a crank seal right out of the block.

Not the greatest photo, but here is (l-r) a Ford, my W6, and an Allis Chalmers WD plowing a field together.

Almost forgot the wedding. Here's Corey and Kendra smooching at the reception:

Remember a while back I had photos of the watertower getting painted? Here's the finished product. In case you can't read it, it says

Grand Rapids

It's in Minnesota's Nature.

And in the place of honor, here's Phillip, who's looking so happy because it's time to call it quits for a bit.

Wabe - Again!

And I don't know when I will get a chance to catch up.

Gas has dropped, a penny at a time, over the last week to 3.639.

The tractor show was a blast, got to take the W6 in even though Matt thought he had permanently destroyed the tranny (he didn't). Got a few great pics.

My niece got married Saturday afternoon, got some great pics there.

Got to spend a few moments with my bro (wish it was longer, Mark!), I'm really hoping that we can drive down to Rice Lake and visit more real soon.

Jon, Patty, and Phillip were also here, got a couple nice pics of Phillip.

Fair entries start going in today. Filled the Gladiator up with gas for the first time since June, $70, OUCH!!!

Evvy leaves for school in Bemidji in a couple of weeks, got to get her a PC built soon.

Matt and I (again, mostly Matt!) got started working on the red '89 Horizon brakes again, hope to have that done before Matt starts back to school in a couple of weeks. I thinking I'm going to yank the drive train out of the '77 Catalina and pop it in the '70 Ventura to get that cleaned up temporarily.

Rained some overnight last night, just enough to settle the dust when I was last outside.

As soon as I get a chance I will elaborate on all the above. Maybe next week?

Later!!!!

Tractor Run

Wow!   Beautiful weather last couple of days.  If it holds for another day or two I might be able to get the garden disked again and finally get it planted.

Tractor run is this weekend.  I'd like to go.  According to the old sales literature, the W6 was supposed to be able to work for a day on a tank of gas.  The run is for one day.  Of course, I don't think the tractor will be working like it would be when plowing a field; I would probably be idling along in road gear.  But still, a tank of gas, that's 21 gallons, at todays price of 3.899 that would be $82 for gas.  I don't think I've had more than 7 or 8 gallons in it at a time; I usually just dump in a 5 gallon can when I think it's running low.

OK, let's do this right.

CONS:

Need to change valve cover gasket on Vger

Need to pull head on Stripez.

Need to finish brakes on Red Horizon

$82 gas money

Need to finish plowing 10 acre field

Tractor might break down

Need to plant garden

Need to make Bemidji run

PROS:

Rare opportunity

Spend time with other club members (heck, I don't even know who most of them are!  I've never made it to a meeting.)

Take a day off and play

Dunno.  It's easy for me to think of cons, against my nature to think of pros.  Or something.  Stay tuned, we'll see what happens.

NCMFAAA 2007

August 10, 11, 12, 2007.

The Club's Avery Steam Traction Engine, I believe there may be one other like it still in existence.

This Waterloo Boy restoration was just completed in time for the show by the owner, a club member.

Allis Chalmers Road Patrol, a light road grader.  Owned by a club member.

This member converted an Allis Chalmers RC into a forklift that he uses around his own shop as well as on the club grounds.

A custom Ford with a flathead V8 engine.

This is one better, a custom Ford with a Lincoln Flathead V12.

This Ford retired from a Golf Course.

International Titan.  I think the first time I saw it was after it had been fully restored, that was 15+ years ago.

This is a little home-built job that I think is a couple of years old.  As I recall, it has a Briggs Lawn tractor engine and tranny.

Matt driving a friends Allis Chalmers "B".

A toy custom made by the owner for his grandkids.  If my memory is correct, it started out as a John Deere 318 Garden Tractor.  It now has a diesel engine and narrow front.

The draft horse club joins us for an exhibition of their own.

The contraption next to the hay wagon is a "Sno-Loader"  When it works, it scoops up a bale and throws it on the trailer by spring action.  I have seen it work three or four times in a row, but usually, it misses or drops or breaks the bales.

Wish I could have captured the whole thing, but this team has just finished demonstrating cutting a square corner.

Some of the many miniature engines shown.