2009 Rules and Regulations

A. Classes

1. All tractors must have a minimum weight within 500 lbs. of class weight and may not exceed class weight.
2. A tractor may only be entered once per class.

B. Membership and Fees

1. In order to pull you must be a member in good standing of the C.S.T.P.A.
2. A $ 15.00 entry fee is required for each tractor in each class.
3. A $ 5.00 annual fee is required to be an active member, which includes club mailings.
4. To participate in a vote, you must be an active member of the club at least 30 days prior to any vote.

C. Rules for Stock Tractors

1. A stock tractor is defined as "a farm tractor as it was manufactured with frame, motor with identifying numbers intact, front-end, drive-train and rear-end, working governors with no over-rides."
2. Tractors must run on fuel as designed from factory with only gas, diesel, or propane being allowed.
3. Tractors designed with duel fuel systems may compete if access to one fuel tank is disconnected.
4. Four-wheel drive tractors are allowed as two-wheel drive units only and front drive must be disengaged.
5. The use of stock transmissions with power shift is legal.
6. All tractors must have secure hoods, fan shroud, and exhaust manifolds.
7. Any excessive loss of water, fuel or any liquid will be cause for disqualification.
8. If judged illegal, protested tractor and driver will be disqualified and receive no points for that class. A second offense will mean disqualification for the rest of the year.
9. Stock tractors can add 5 gallons of fuel at any time.

Additional Rules for Strictly Stock Tractors

1. A Strictly Stock Tractor has to have a PTO accessible for tachometer, no cut tires, a working governor, factory stock RPM and limited to a tire size of 18.4. Both cast or tin wheels and hubs are allowed. If you can show documentation that the tractor came equipped from the manufacturer with larger than 18.4 inch tires than you can compete with such tires.
2. Contest open to farm tractors with stock engine, meaning the engine which came in the tractor at the time of manufacture or a replacement available at the time of manufacture with no frame modifications.
3. Turbos are allowed only when installed at time of manufacture.
4. Strictly Stock Tractors cannot run in the Super Stock Class.

Additional rules for Super Stock Tractors

1. A maximum RPM of 3,100 will be allowed. This will be checked upon judges request and only with the club tachometer.
2. A maximum tire size of 30.5 inches will be allowed. Cut tires are permitted.
3. ALL Super Stock Tractors MUST have a kill switch on gas tractors, or an intake shut off for diesel tractors for engine shut down and it must be compatible with the sled.
4. Super Stock Tractors may add a single turbo to any gas or diesel engine.
5. All Super Stock Tractors must have mandatory engine side shields made of 3/16" aluminum or 1/8" steel and said shields must be removed upon request for tractor inspection.
6. All Super Stock Tractors must use an electric radiator fan.
7. All Super Stock Tractors must have fenders.
8. Tractors set up for the Super Stock Class may not run in the Strictly Stock Class.
9. Super Stock Tractors may remove factory components to make a weight class.
10. All Super Stock Tractors must have a clutch/transmission scatter shield or blanket installed.

D. Rules for Modified Tractors

1. Only single "big block" engines or duel "small block" engines built to the "small block" rules will be allowed to compete.
2. Single "small-block" engines are allowed in the 6,500 and 7,500 lb modified classes ONLY if they are running blowers.
3. Overall length, from center of rear axle to foremost point including any weights, must not exceed 14 feet for 6,500 and 7,500 lb classes. See section E for 4,000 and 4,500 lb classes.
4. Fans must be shrouded and have containment shields or loops.
5. Drive shaft is to be shielded and have containment shields or loops.
6. Automatic transmissions must be shielded with approved scatter shields.
7. All engines must be shielded from bottom of head to bottom of crank throw.
8. Tractors must have a kill switch compatible with sled hook up, which will shut down the engine when activated.
9. Tractors must have fenders, which prevent the driver's elbows from contacting the tires.
10. All throttles must work in a forward direction and be equipped with a spring return to idle.
11. Blowers are allowed only on diesel engines when manufactured as a unit. No blowers allowed on any gas, alcohol, or automotive type engines.
12. Class is limited to single turbo automotive and tractor engines with no maximum cubic inch limitations.
13. Only gas, diesel, or alcohol fuels allowed. No nitrous or oxygen carrying fuels allowed.
14. All pullers must wear a fire suit and helmet.
15. Any excessive loss of any liquid from the tractor will be cause for disqualification. The only exceptions will be loss due to internal damage.
16. Tractors must be equipped with a neutral or park safety switch.

E. Additional Rules for 4,000 and 4,500 lb Modified Classes

1. Overall length, from center of rear axle to foremost point including any weights, must NOT exceed 12 feet.
2. Diesel engines are allowed.
3. Engine is to be no larger than 351 c.i.d., plus 0.030 overbore.
4. No blowers or turbos are allowed.
5. Aluminum heads and intakes, fuel injection or single 4-barrel carburetors and headers are allowed.
6. Maximum read tire width is not to exceed 18.4 inches.
7. Must have an OEM block.

F. Scales

1. All tractors must be weighed on an officially designed C.S.T.P.A. approved scale.
2. All tractors must weigh in prior to pulling, regardless of being late.
3. While being weighed, tractors must be pulled as far forward on the scale as possible.
4. After weighing in, tractors are to go to a designated holding area. This area is to be free of any excess weight.
5. After weighing in, you may not add air into your tires or remove air from front tires, or add weight to your tractor.
6. The first two pulling tractors in every class must weigh out is the scale is available.
7. Modified tractors which weigh-in with full fuel tanks may continue to run with full tanks if checked and noted by an official at the time of the weigh in.

G. Hitching Points All Tractors

1. All tractors must have hitching points located behind rear-end housing, and of sufficient strength as indicated by judge. Hitch must be flat, stationary and rigid in all directions.
2. You must have a solid, bolted clevis or welded ring.
3. Maximum height of hitching point shall not exceed 20 inches.
4. All hitches must have a minimum inside diameter of 2½ inches, not to exceed a maximum of 3½ inches and be made of material with a minimum cross section of 3/4 (0.75) inches.
5. All hitching points will be Measured at the scales and may not be altered anytime thereafter. To do so will result in disqualification.
6. All pulls must start from a tight hitch; any jerking hitch will result in disqualification.
7. If for any reason the measuring pin is not placed in position at the starting line, it is the driver's decision to take an approximate pin location or repeat the pull.

H. Safety Bars and Breaks

1. All tractors must be equipped with working breaks.
2. All tractors must be equipped with wheelie bars.
3. Wheelie bars must be made of 3 inch channel iron or its equivalent at a minimum and must be able to support the weight of the tractor when tested by a judge.
4. Bars must be rigid and stationary and equipped with stationary (25 sq. inch) safety pads on the ends.
5. Bars must extend from the middle of the rear axle and past the rear tires and be no more than 10 inches from the highest point of the pad to the ground.
6. Three point hitch arms may be used if bolted stationary and the above criteria are met.
7. No warning, verbal or written, will be issued for safety items and the tractor will be disqualified.

I. Tires

1. All tractors bust be equipped with rubber tires and rear agricultural tires.
2. Maximum tire width is 30.5 inches. (18.4 for Strictly Stock and Modified 4,000 and 4,500 lb classes).
3. Tire chains are not allowed
4. Duel rear wheels are not allowed
5. You may not remove a wheel or tire to enter a weight class.

J. Qualifications for Transfer Sled Rules and the Pit Area

1. The transfer sled pit area will be as long as possible
2. The length of the pit will be extended 25 feet longer than the maximum distance to achieve a pull.
3. The distance for a full pull (Stock Tractor) is 150 feet for the first round, the second pull will be a floating finish line up until the modified tractor pull line (Club sled use only).
4. There will be a test tractor only in the first round of each class. This tractor will be picked from the 1st. and 2nd. starting positions and may keep his/her test distance or go to the 3rd. pulling position and pull again.
5. If a tractor looses a weight during his/her pull while hooked to the sled in any round or at any distance, they will be disqualified.
6. When necessary, a pit judge will have the authority to adjust the sled at the beginning of any round to limit the number of rounds for time restrictions (Club sled only).

K. Preparing to Pull

1. Participants must work during an event or he/she will not be permitted to pull.
2. The tractor must be operated in a safe manner at all times or disqualification may be a result.
3. The driver must remain seated at all times while pulling or operating his/her tractor in the pit area.
4. A driver may get off the seat of his/her tractor as long as the tractor is not in motion.
5. Anyone who does not remain seated while pulling will automatically be disqualified and will get 3 show points for that class.
6. All tractors should park at a reasonable distance from the pulling area so that the tractor that is pulling will have enough room to move around.
7. All tractors must be in neutral or park, the drivers foot must be off the clutch, the breaks must be applied and place one hand in the air as a signal while being hooked and unhooked from the sled.
8. A contestant who missed his/her turn will go to the last position and at the beginning of the next round he/she can assume their original position.
9. Weights cannot extend more than 3 feet from the front of the tractor and cannot extend over the top of the rear tires while partaking in a pull.
10. If the sled is moved less than 15 feet, it is the option for the next driver to have the loader move the sled out whatever distance it takes to reposition it at the start line, in any round.
    
    10a.   If a contestant fails to pull the sled at least 5 feet they will have the option to restart from their current position and continue to pull. This will be permitted only once per hook.



11. All drivers and their crews must wear shirts and shoes.
12. All minors must comply with the rules and regulations set forth by the State of Connecticut and the Federal Government and must have written parental permission.
13. A person must be at least 16 years of age to operate a tractor in competition. Minors ages 13 - 16 may compete in Strictly Stock classes ONLY, as long as a parent is on the premises.
14. CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL OR ILLEGAL DRUGS IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Any driver or helper found violating this rule while participating at an event will be disqualified.
15. A tractor must be entered into a class before the class before has ended, except for the first class in which entries will be allowed until the first tractor pulls. Exceptions may be made in extreme circumstances.
16. A pull is over when the judge declares the pull is over.
17. Pull-back drivers must get a signal from the judge before moving forward.
18. Anyone, including the test tractor, landing on or over the boundary line is automatically disqualified and the winning order is moved up accordingly.
19. All tractors must be in neutral or park, the drivers foot must be off the clutch, the breaks must be applied, while being hooked/unhooked from the drag, including the pull back tractor.
20. All Judges will wear a safety vest, provided by the cub, while working in the pulling pit.

L. The Executive Committee

1. Anyone disputing a decision of the judge will have the option of appealing said decision to the Officers of the club, by filing a protest by the end of the class.
2. The judge, along with the Officers, shall have the authority to stop and disqualify any tractor they feel is not being operated in a safe manner.
3. Only a judge or a member of the Executive Committee can issue a warning and record it with the Secretary.
4. Violations of any of the above said rules and regulations may be grounds for disqualification.
5. A judge is one who has track responsibility/authority of the class; i.e. starting line and finish line judges only.
6. At time of pull, THE DECISION OF THE JUDGE IS FINAL.
7. If any Executive Board Member, including judges, are subject to foul language, obscenities or verbal abuse, that person will be disqualified from pulling in that event class.
8. If there is a questionable call on a contestant's pull ONLY the starting and finishing line judges, upon discussion, will render a fair and just decision.
9. Any member may protest and hold up class positions until the next meeting if rules are not clear.

M. Points System

1. All tractors pull for points. A tractor that is registered for a class and breaks prior to pulling will be awarded 3 points for that class.
2. First Place = 8 Points.
   Second Place = 7 points.
   Third Place = 6 points.
   Fourth Place = 5 Points.
   Fifth Place = 4 Points. All others registered = 3 points.
3. Disqualification will mean 3 hitch points.
4. Three points will be awarded if the scales are broken or the show is cancelled due to inclement weather, if you show up with your tractor.
5. In order to be eligible for a year end championship award you must have competed in at least 4 C.S.T.A. events in such year.