Tractors, trucks show their power at Murray Pull

Photos by Tom Rivers

MURRAY – Don Telaak, representing Telaak Farms in Little Valley, drive his Go Rilla in the modified tractor division at today’s Murray Tractor Pull.

The event is part of the series for the Empire State Pullers, which has 18 pulling events this year in a  season that started June 14 in Dansville and ends Sept. 13 in New Haven, Vermont.

About 1,500 people attended the tractor pull on Groth Road. The Christ family created the pulling track and facility about 30 years ago.

Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House. The Murray Tractor Pull raised $8,500 for the Ronald McDonald House in 2023 and $10,000 last year.

Lee Bement of Pitcher, NY competes with “New Yorker” in the modified class. His tractor is turbine powered and hits 13,000 RPMs.

Sharon Everman of Dansville comes off the track with “Wild Hare.” She competes in the modified class and recorded a pull of 290 feet, 1 inch.

Scott Christ is shown in the concession stands today. He and his family and other volunteers worked on the track, stands and concessions the past month to et ready for today’s event.

Christ said the weather was perfect, not too hot or chilly which kept a big crowd watching the action for several hours.

Scott and his son Travis both compete in the Super Farm Class.

Lloyd Christ, Scott’s father and Travis’s grandfather, is at the starting line in the Heavy Super Stock category. Christ named his tractor, “It’s Only Money.”

The monster-size tractors and semi trucks need to pull a 40,000-pound sled down a track that is 320 feet long.

Christ was able to get the tractor to budge despite all the dark smoke that was emitted. He just got a new pump today. He expects to be back in action the next tractor pull.

Lloyd Christ has been a mainstay with the Empire State Pullers for many years. He and his family are heavily involved in the sport and are happy to host an event at the home track.

Thomas Foster of Clarendon went to the tractor pull with his grandmother Juanita Harling and his great-uncle Larry Kennedy. Foster said he has been going the tractor pulls for 30 years.

“It’s the power, the smoke and the thrill,” he said.

A pickup truck named “Snow White” bears down and gets ready to pull the sled. It won the unlimited truck event by going 307 feet down the track.

Kevin Zimmerman and his truck made it 273 feet down the track pulling the heavy sled.

Noah Austin of Alpine, NY competes in the truck-pulling competition.