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By JORGE SANCHEZ
Published January 28, 2005
The thrill of machine vs. machine, each straining to overcome the other, will be the main attraction at this weekend's tractor pull. Along the way, sponsors hope to continue raising money for scholarships given away during the county fair in March.
Inside the fairgrounds' livestock arena, tractors of all sizes and strengths will strain to pull one of two mechanical weights, called sleds, from the start to the finish line.
The sleds have a strategy of their own. As the tractors pull, the sled uses a sliding weight to dig its nose into the dirt behind the tractor, causing it to spin its wheels and get stuck.
If the tractor drivers cleverly use a combination of quickness and strength, the tractor will drag the sled across the finish line in what is known as a full pull.
The three-day event will feature about 200 tractors in as many as 500 or 600 pulls.
"If the weather is good, we'll have about 20,000 show up over the three days," said Jean Grant, manager of the Citrus County Fair Association, which sponsors the event.
Antique farm tractors will also be on display. Fair-type food will include the ever-popular 1-pound pork chop on a stick.
Now in its sixth year, the tractor pull raises enough for five $500 scholarships for students who enter projects in certain categories at the Citrus County Fair.
"The tractor pull was instigated to have money for new scholarships," Grant said. "In the past, we had helped children who raised animals but not those in horticulture, fine arts or crafts. We knew we were missing a group of children that deserved our help."
Jorge Sanchez covers arts and entertainment in Citrus County. Call 860-7313 or e-mail sanchez@sptimes.com
If you goThe annual tractor pull and show is today, Saturday and Sunday at the livestock arena at the fairgrounds, U.S. 41 S, Inverness. Doors open at 4 p.m. and pulls start at 6 today. Doors open at 10 a.m. and pulls at 11 Saturday. And on Sunday doors open at 11 a.m. and pulls start at noon. General admission is $10, for kids 11 and younger $5, for 5 and younger free.
[Last modified January 28, 2005, 00:20:16]
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