Dear Pullers,I would like to personally thank each and every person in attendance for making The CAFPC's "Michigan Shootout" a great success. This would include both our own club members and the pullers who traveled so far even with the horrible fuel prices. Ron Brokaw even tried to bargain a ten-foot head start because he was a Buckeye fan in the heart of MSU country. We couldn't find it in our rules, but we are glad you came Ron. I would also like to thank Bernie Thelen and Marty Feldpausch for spending much of their own time and resources on making a good track. We got off to a late start, but moved along quickly when the sun finally made its appearance. Williams Farm Machinery loaned us their new AGCO tractor for sled pullback. I could not find the hand clutch, but managed to figure it out just the same. What a comfortable tractor! There were more than enough volunteers to monitor the scales, track, and such. I feel it necessary to make a donation to the “Boots for Andrew Curry Fund” after my partner in crime, Andy, wore out his favorite pair Saturday keeping questions answered and things moving along. Cookie subbed for Kathy in the announcement booth and did a fine job. I’m sure Cookie, Carrie Cotton, and Ken Schrauben tolerated each other quite well. Did the blueberries help? We were glad to see Kathy stop in later. A special mention goes out to Dan Thelen, our former treasurer, who always puts in much more time on the track than he needs to. Gary Schrauben gets hours of use out of the sled’s umbrella (CAFPC air conditioning) when the Michigan sun gets a tad unbearable. Thanks Greg Ringle and family for helping us so much Saturday as well as the whole year. It’s good to see some new young blood active in our club like Kassy Weber, Adam Ringle, Amber Ringle, and many others joining the ranks. What’s going to happen when the young Cotton clan gets a tad older? As you all know, rainy weather can kill an outdoor pull. Despite the delay and drizzle, our guests (some from miles away) were patient and understanding (many being farmers affected by the drought) resulting in the most well attended CAFPC pull in my memory. The reassuring guidance of Leroy Nurenberg was very instrumental in making things run smoothly. His years in the club are an invaluable resource. We got off to a late start, but when the sun came out, engines came to life and the hooking began. I feel I must mention my gratitude to my good friend Gary Baker. It was nice to see him as well as many of his friends/customers who drove across the state to pull with our local club. He has always made me feel welcome visiting some of the NATPA events or poking around his machine shop down in Manchester. He helped get the word out. I know it wasn’t exactly his style of pulling (he likes to go fast), but it was nice to have him as a guest and fellow competitor. Thanks Gary. WINNERS: There were many winners throughout the CAFPC classes. My rusty Moline UB took quite a schoolin’ from Jim Benjamin and Luke Cornell that day. In the end, the winners of the Michigan Shootout classes were: -Marty Feldpausch on his Minneapolis-Moline 335 in 3800#. Marty’s wife Valerie came in at a close second on her Allis-Chalmers WC. -Gilbert Taylor won the 5800# on his Oliver 88 with Jim Benjamin in close 2nd on his Farmall M. Thanks again to all of you for helping make this a wonderful event. I would like to mention we are doing a 3800# and 5800# 50/50 pull this fall. It would be great to se ya’ll again. I look forward to Michigan Shootout II next year. Sincerely,
Ethan Berry (a.k.a. Mopower)
Vermontville, MI
Proud Clintonia Antique Farm Power Club Member p.s. Thanks Justin “Digger” Monroe and friends for putting out the good word, loads of good advice, and oh yeah …the beer.
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