McMillan Junior High's Lane Duncan Pulling For Wylie

McMillan Junior High student Lane Duncan wears a protective suit and helmet, as do many young athletes, when he prepares to compete.  He must wait on the signal to start, and must stay within the sideline boundaries during competition, as with many sports across Texas.  Duncan competes on a track, but rather than starting blocks, Lane will use a clutch to start his journey down track.  Welcome to the sport of tractor pulling.

The Lone Star Garden Tractor Pullers Association is one of several organizations that provide rules and regulations for classes of pulling tractors, including a Youth Class, that compete on a 200 foot dirt track.  Contest rules are simple.  Each competitor attempts to move an 8500 pound sled, as far down the track as possible, with the winner determined by the combined distance of two pulls.  The contestant pulling the farthest distance, wins.  Machine classifications are a little more complicated, with the Youth Class designed for competitors up to and including 14 year old drivers.  Tractor weight, engine and tire size are limited, with finish positions often decided by inches on the track. 

Duncan is the returning LSGTPA 2016 Youth Class Champion.  Competing with two tractors in 2016, Lane was crowned champion aboard his 'Twisted Kitty' tractor, and placed second aboard his 'Texas T-Rex' tractor.  Points are awarded at each LSGTPA event, with champions crowned at the conclusion of the pulling season.  Many classes, including the 2016 and 2017 Youth Class titles, will be undecided until the conclusion of the very last event, making the series very exciting for fans.

The next LSGTPA tractor pull will be held in conjunction with the Farmersville Old Time Saturday celebration, scheduled for October 7th, at the Rike Street Park Pulling Track.  Opening ceremonies for the pull are scheduled for 12 noon, and will feature the National Anthem presentation by Texas performing artist Sydnee Hawkins.  Fans are welcome to view the tractors up close and visit with the drivers in the pit area, and admission is free.

Duncan Team Scores At Blue Ridge

Lane Duncan rolled into Blue Ridge, Texas as the Lone Ranger, during the LSGTPA Bill Halter Memorial Tractor Pull.  Two of the Duncan Motorsports team members were under-the-weather, leaving Lane Duncan the chore of crewing and driving during the event.  Lane would be tasked with most of the maintenance chores during the event, but proved to be up to the challenge.

Lane would draw for pulling order as is procedure during the LSGTPA events, and selected positions in the middle of the pack.  Piloting both his 'Texas T-Rex' tractor, and his 'Twisted Kitty' machine, Lane would pull double duty in the LSGTPA Youth Class. 

In the opening round, Lane would test the sticky black land track aboard his 'Texas T-Rex' tractor first.  A great first hook would have 'T-Rex' just four feet behind the leader, when Lane boarded his 'Twisted Kitty' machine, and took over the lead in the first round. 

Increasing moisture setup on the track in the second round, as the sun went down on a cooling Blue Ridge evening, would increase the available traction for the pullers.  Lane decided to make a gearing adjustment, to try to stay ahead of the changing track conditions.  The move worked very well, as the 'Twisted Kitty' would again lay down a round leading pull, and the 'T-Rex' was able to hold onto a third place podium finish, with the next best pull in the round. 

Lane will tighten the bolts and top off the tanks to prepare for the next LSGTPA event, scheduled for October 7th.  A feature event of the Farmersville Old Time Saturday celebration, the pull is scheduled for a 12 noon start at Rike Street Park in Farmersville.