Bloomsburg Press 08

USA-EAST FINALS AT BLOOMSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA

PHOTOS BY HAROLD CARD (www.propullingphoto.com)

The ‘Saturday Night Rains’ that have plagued the USA-EAST circuit in recent weeks just about claimed another pull on September 27th at Bloomsburg. But the skies cleared just in time for the 7:00pm start and a tremendous crowd once again filled the grandstand as USA-EAST celebrated another super season with their finals program for three pulling divisions. The Bloomsburg Fair is the largest fair in the state of Pennsylvania and by all rights should actually be the Pennsylvania State Fair with the huge crowds that flock to the fairgrounds at the end of September each year. Since forming a business partnership with Full Pull Productions some six years ago, the pull at Bloomsburg has been one of the most successful grandstand events during the ten day Fair.

SMOKER SERIES TRACTORS

Cory Forrester from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania is a former “Smoker Series” Champion with his alky-fueled “Hot Iron” New Holland Super Stock Tractor, but he had to face a stellar field of fourteen Super Stock and Pro Stock Tractors at Bloomsburg on Saturday night. To make matters worse, Cory got into the pull-off but then had to encounter the three tractors that make up the triple threat of the Martin and Sons pulling team – also from Chambersburg. All four tractors in the pull-off came from the same home town!!!

Forrester was first in the pull-off with the 9500 pound “Hot Iron” and went out to a mark of 308 feet against the Decision Maker RED transfer. Robert Martin, Sr. was next with “John Deere Green”, but caught a rut and never really got a good run as the component Pro Stock settled at 268. Bobby Martin, substituting on this evening for brother Josh, drove the “Dairy Deere” and had the green crowd on their feet as the 2008 national champion came very close but was still second at 295 feet. Robert, Sr. had the final hook in the pull-off with “That Darn Deere”, but as that machine stopped just short of the 300’ mark, the crowd new that the lone blue tractor in the pull-off had captured the win at Bloomsburg.

Bloomsburg area native, Charles Snyder was on hand to personally congratulate Cory Forrester on his win and present the “Hot Iron” driver with a $200 ‘bonus’ for his victory. Snyder and his wife Jean are former Pennsylvania State Super Stock champions from the 70s and 80s and the Snyders own the Ford-New Holland dealership in nearby Tamaqua, Pennsylvania.

The Martin Team’s “Dairy Deere” is the “Smoker Series” point champion for 2008 after the second place finish by Robert Martin, Sr. This tractor had been the 2006 champion in this division before going out on the national circuit in 2007 and capturing the national crown. Josh Martin has been the driver throughout the season but was unable to participate at Bloomsburg due to being in a wedding (not his!) on Saturday. Brother Bobbie did a creditable job as the fill-in driver.

Ray Link’s “Gone Mokin’” John Deere will end up in second place in the point race as the Patton, Pennsylvania owner found that he had engine problems early on Saturday and was forced to miss the ‘finals’ event. The venerable “Shot Gun Red” International 3688 for John Wilkins from Fresno, Ohio is third in the “Smoker Series” for 2008 and will undergo a complete renovation in preparation for the upcoming ’09 campaign.

PRO STOCK DIESEL 4x4 TRUCKS

A dozen of the best diesel trucks in the eastern United States were invited to participate at Bloomsburg in the ‘finals’ for the division. Twelve of the trucks were Dodges along with two Fords that competed. The class started with Scott Blair from Coshocton, Ohio pushing his dual wheel Dodge named “Cuz Its Bad” to a mark of 299.23 on a three-hundred foot track. And when Blair chose to drop that hook in order to return at the end of the class, the throng of over 10,000 spectators were amazed! The rest of the class pulled and it was apparent that Blair had not made a good decision.

USA-EAST point champion for 2008, John Lorenz from Dover, Ohio could only muster a pull of 289 with his “Grey Wolfe” Dodge and was the leader in the class until the very end. The Ford of Jason Heimbach from Middleburg, Pennsylvania had a super run of 284 feet. And Heimbach’s Stauffer Diesel Team Mate, Carson Stauffer had his power stroke Ford at 288 as the Stauffer Team from nearby Port Trevorton, Pennsylvania grabbed three spots in the top five at Bloomsburg.

It certainly looked like the track had ‘gone away’ a bit since Scotty Blair had made his first run some thirty minutes earlier and the pressure was surely on the young man from the Buckeye state when he backed his beautiful red Dodge to the sled. Blair had won in this class just a week ago at the “Rumble at the Redbank”, so there was little or no sympathy for him among the other drivers who were assembled behind the concrete barriers near the finish line on the track. Blair laid down an almost perfect pass on the granular surface to not only move past the “Grey Wolfe’s” lead at 289 but to also surpass his original mark of 299+. The final measure distance was an absolutely astonishing 315.4!!! Scott Blair and “Cuz Its Bad” were the ‘best of the best’ on this night in Bloomsburg.

BIG RIGS SEMI TRUCKS

The Big Rigs class at Bloomsburg was won by Dick Bonner and “Killer” from Middlefield, Ohio. This 998 cubic inch Mack SuperLiner was the repeat winner at Bloomsburg and has enjoyed a tremendous season in 2008. The Big Rigs Series champion, Richard Scott and “Silver Bullet I” from the Fred Sanders’ Team of Ravenna, Ohio was second. Both of these trucks sport identical E-9 Mack engines from the builders at Francis Engineering in Painesville, Ohio. More on the Cen.Pe.Co. Lubricant’s Big Rigs Pulling Series at Bloomsburg is available at the home of the Big Rigs on line at www.bigrigspulling.com.


Intro \| Event Schedule \| Class Rules \| Point Standings \| Gallery \| Purse \| Point Fund
	USA-EAST FINALS AT BLOOMSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA PHOTOS BY HAROLD CARD (www.propullingphoto.com) The ‘Saturday Night Rains’ that have plagued the USA-EAST circuit in recent weeks just about claimed another pull on September 27th at Bloomsburg. But the skies cleared just in time for the 7:00pm start and a tremendous crowd once again filled the grandstand as USA-EAST celebrated another super season with their finals program for three pulling divisions. The Bloomsburg Fair is the largest fair in the state of Pennsylvania and by all rights should actually be the Pennsylvania State Fair with the huge crowds that flock to the fairgrounds at the end of September each year. Since forming a business partnership with Full Pull Productions some six years ago, the pull at Bloomsburg has been one of the most successful grandstand events during the ten day Fair. *SMOKER SERIES TRACTORS* Cory Forrester from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania is a former “Smoker Series” Champion with his alky-fueled “Hot Iron” New Holland Super Stock Tractor, but he had to face a stellar field of fourteen Super Stock and Pro Stock Tractors at Bloomsburg on Saturday night. To make matters worse, Cory got into the pull-off but then had to encounter the three tractors that make up the triple threat of the Martin and Sons pulling team – also from Chambersburg. All four tractors in the pull-off came from the same home town!!! Forrester was first in the pull-off with the 9500 pound “Hot Iron” and went out to a mark of 308 feet against the Decision Maker RED transfer. Robert Martin, Sr. was next with “John Deere Green”, but caught a rut and never really got a good run as the component Pro Stock settled at 268. Bobby Martin, substituting on this evening for brother Josh, drove the “Dairy Deere” and had the green crowd on their feet as the 2008 national champion came very close but was still second at 295 feet. Robert, Sr. had the final hook in the pull-off with “That Darn Deere”, but as that machine stopped just short of the 300’ mark, the crowd new that the lone blue tractor in the pull-off had captured the win at Bloomsburg. Bloomsburg area native, Charles Snyder was on hand to personally congratulate Cory Forrester on his win and present the “Hot Iron” driver with a $200 ‘bonus’ for his victory. Snyder and his wife Jean are former Pennsylvania State Super Stock champions from the 70s and 80s and the Snyders own the Ford-New Holland dealership in nearby Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. The Martin Team’s “Dairy Deere” is the “Smoker Series” point champion for 2008 after the second place finish by Robert Martin, Sr. This tractor had been the 2006 champion in this division before going out on the national circuit in 2007 and capturing the national crown. Josh Martin has been the driver throughout the season but was unable to participate at Bloomsburg due to being in a wedding (not his!) on Saturday. Brother Bobbie did a creditable job as the fill-in driver. Ray Link’s “Gone Mokin’” John Deere will end up in second place in the point race as the Patton, Pennsylvania owner found that he had engine problems early on Saturday and was forced to miss the ‘finals’ event. The venerable “Shot Gun Red” International 3688 for John Wilkins from Fresno, Ohio is third in the “Smoker Series” for 2008 and will undergo a complete renovation in preparation for the upcoming ’09 campaign. *PRO STOCK DIESEL 4x4 TRUCKS* A dozen of the best diesel trucks in the eastern United States were invited to participate at Bloomsburg in the ‘finals’ for the division. Twelve of the trucks were Dodges along with two Fords that competed. The class started with Scott Blair from Coshocton, Ohio pushing his dual wheel Dodge named “Cuz Its Bad” to a mark of 299.23 on a three-hundred foot track. And when Blair chose to drop that hook in order to return at the end of the class, the throng of over 10,000 spectators were amazed! The rest of the class pulled and it was apparent that Blair had not made a good decision. USA-EAST point champion for 2008, John Lorenz from Dover, Ohio could only muster a pull of 289 with his “Grey Wolfe” Dodge and was the leader in the class until the very end. The Ford of Jason Heimbach from Middleburg, Pennsylvania had a super run of 284 feet. And Heimbach’s Stauffer Diesel Team Mate, Carson Stauffer had his power stroke Ford at 288 as the Stauffer Team from nearby Port Trevorton, Pennsylvania grabbed three spots in the top five at Bloomsburg. It certainly looked like the track had ‘gone away’ a bit since Scotty Blair had made his first run some thirty minutes earlier and the pressure was surely on the young man from the Buckeye state when he backed his beautiful red Dodge to the sled. Blair had won in this class just a week ago at the “Rumble at the Redbank”, so there was little or no sympathy for him among the other drivers who were assembled behind the concrete barriers near the finish line on the track. Blair laid down an almost perfect pass on the granular surface to not only move past the “Grey Wolfe’s” lead at 289 but to also surpass his original mark of 299+. The final measure distance was an absolutely astonishing 315.4!!! Scott Blair and “Cuz Its Bad” were the ‘best of the best’ on this night in Bloomsburg. *BIG RIGS SEMI TRUCKS* The Big Rigs class at Bloomsburg was won by Dick Bonner and “Killer” from Middlefield, Ohio. This 998 cubic inch Mack SuperLiner was the repeat winner at Bloomsburg and has enjoyed a tremendous season in 2008. The Big Rigs Series champion, Richard Scott and “Silver Bullet I” from the Fred Sanders’ Team of Ravenna, Ohio was second. Both of these trucks sport identical E-9 Mack engines from the builders at Francis Engineering in Painesville, Ohio. More on the Cen.Pe.Co. Lubricant’s Big Rigs Pulling Series at Bloomsburg is available at the home of the Big Rigs on line at www.bigrigspulling.com.