Saturday, April 16, 2005
Hello Nasi Goreng and Suharto
Its just no use. I've tried to make the best of this whole college thing. I've traded the possibility of a more interesting and diverse university for the access to good, uncrowded surf near Cal Poly. I felt that I only needed a year and a half or so of school, and then I would be free to go to grad school in a more liberal setting. I even started to really like my professors, and the classes that I'm taking. All of this blew up in my face today. I was walking to the library enjoying the warm sun, feeling good after a fun surf this morning. Once on campus though, I heard an unfamiliar and uncomfortably loud sound. I got closer to the library, and...oh no. No no no no no. Please Christ, no. The noise that was tearing apart my eardrums was a fucking tractor pull. On campus. An ON CAMPUS TRACTOR PULL. I attend a college that has an annual tractor pull. I'm selling my truck and moving to Indonesia. Goodbye America.
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4 comments:
I miss Saturday Tractor Pulls. Sigh.
dude. i might normally make some sarcastic comment, or try and steer things in another direction entirely, but here i'm just gonna have to agree. an on-campus tractor pull is about the lamest thing i've ever heard. if that makes you or i elitest assholes, so be it. you wanna leave the country? dude, i'll buy you a ticket. i'm truly sorry you had to see that.
love, BENjAMIN
Wow. I was walking through the social left-overs-night that is San Luis Obispo's Farmer's Market when I heard the same frightening/sickening roar. I was so confused because there were people crowding around a noise that I would generally run away from. "What is that racket?" I snobbishly asked. "Its the Cal Poly tractor pull" Jhay replied. I think this is where I proved that "I'm not from around here." (Some guy actually said that when he heard my next question!)
"What are the tractors pulling, and why are they doing it here, and why are people watching it? And WHY is it so loud?" Seriously, the cowboy guy looked at me like I was retarded. Then, he explained tractor pulls and all their finery. I'm still lost.
I mean, I probably couldn't pick a tractor out of a line-up of heavy machinery if you asked me to, but I do know that they have their own motors, which is why they are a few steps up from tilling the fields with horses. Can anyone explain why the tractor pull even exists? Its even more pointless than Nascar (although I noticed that the audience is made up of almost the same demographic).
AND the whole thing smelled like dirt and gas and farmers. Ew. Sorry my comment is as long as your entry. I get heated about stupid, stupid things.
Loy Thomas, President of the National Tractor Pullers Association said:
Sir, I find it disheartening that you hold such contempt for this most American of sports. Tractor pulling has a deep tradition in American county fairs beginning with draft-horse pulling competitions in the 19th century. The first motorized pulling event took place in 1929 in Vaughnsville, Ohio. As man and machine grew together, so did the complexity of the sport. In 1969, representatives from eight states met to establish rules and give form to the sport, and the National Tractor Pullers Association was born.
Today's tractors are marvels of technology--some boasting up to seven engines and complex gearing systems allowing them to pull up to 65,000 pounds. Engineers designing high-performace parts for competition vehicles often produce products and/or processes which lead to better, safer industrial machinery, as well.
Consider my good friend Lloyd Williams of Pure Purple diesel fuel. The enhanced performace of his fuels is a direct result of his pioneering purification processes which greatly exceed EPA requirements for purity of diesel fuel. Not only is it a cleaner-burning fuel, but its chemical makeup's five-part lubrication package also provides a protective barrier for pumps and injectors and contains only pure hydrocarbons. This results in up to 20% greater horsepower and is better for our environment.
In closing, the great sport of tractor pulling rewards its participants for displaying the values that make this country great: hard work, innovation and deep respect for the land. I hope that this brief introduction to tractor pulling may help you develop a greater understanding and appreciation of our fine sport.
Best Regards,
Loy Thomas
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