Illini Pullers top tractor competition for second straight year

The Illini Pullers have done it again! This year’s team and the “Chief’s Tradition” took first place overall in the 2010 ASABE International Quarter Scale Tractor Student Design Competition, held June 3-6 in Peoria, Illinois. This is the 13th year of the competition and the second consecutive year that the Pullers A-Team has won the competition.

“The key to the success of the Pullers was their total domination of the tractor pulls held this past Saturday and Sunday,” explained Alan Hansen, team advisor and professor of agricultural and biological engineering at Illinois. “In all four pulls, two each in the 1050 lb and 1550 lb weight classes, the Pullers achieved the greatest distance by a clear margin in the total group of 20 tractors that were competing.

In addition to the four pulls, teams are judged using a variety of criteria via a points system. Each team must prepare a design report that documents the design concepts and cost estimates for their tractor and includes a design log describing the activities of the team during the year. A team presentation is given immediately prior to the start of the pulls, and design judging (also held prior to the pulls) looks at the serviceability, maneuverability, safety, ergonomics, sound level, and testing and development of the tractor.