The highly anticipated Mount Alexander Vintage Engine Club Tractor Pull is set to make its return this Sunday.
The event will be held for the first time in four years following an extended recess due to the pandemic and the 2022 floods.
Tractor enthusiasts from across the state will converge on the club’s Muckleford headquarters at the David Bennett Reserve alongside the Muckleford Railway Station for the 2023 competition.
The premier attraction at this year’s tractor pull will be the club’s newly restored twin-engine Chamberlain tractor – a hybrid of two different models that was built by local farmer Morrie Oxley back in the early 1980s.
As previously detailed in the Express, MAVEC members salvaged the tractor in two pieces back in November 2020 and have been working behind the scenes to painstakingly piece it back together and restore it to its former glory.
The unique tractor was built by Morrie from a 1952 60DA Chamberlain, of which only 190 were made, and a 1956 70DA, of which 1010 were made.
The hybrid tractor reportedly had quite a unique gait, which saw it dubbed ‘The Lizard’ by Raywood locals at the time.
The mammoth tractor allowed Morrie to deep rip the soil on his family farm and resulted in a higher yield increasing from three bags to 33 bags of oats per acre at the time.
The local club has held five intensive working bees to complete the restoration, which has been headed up by Lancefield farmer and Chamberlain enthusiast Robert Green.
MAVEC president Stephen O’Connor said Rob had done an incredible job leading the challenging project and a number of members had also taken parts home to paint and restore in their own time.
“It has been a fantastic all-round team effort and Morrie is absolutely chuffed. The 88-year-old will be in attendance on Sunday to see the tractor officially started up and put through its paces,” Stephen said.
Robert said it had been a pleasure to be part of the project.
“Morrie was a pioneer ahead of his time. He was incredibly smart and skilled to come up with the concept for the build,” Rob said.
The tractor pull event will see veteran, vintage and classic tractors of all makes and models vie for 20 prizes kindly sponsored by R & R McClure in two pulling sledges – one competitive and one practice division.
“The event is operated under National Historical Machinery Association guidelines and we have competitors from as far away as Cobden and Geelong joining us. There will be full catering available and a number of displays and stalls,” Stephen said.
The event will kick off at 10am and run until approximately 3pm. Entry is just $5 for adults and with children under 16 free.
