Horsepower is being put to the test in the much-loved tractor pull competition at Fieldays in Waikato this week.
Hundreds of punters line the hills near the pub at the Mystery Creek agricultural show, watching over the contest in which competitors use their top machinery to drag another tractor as far or fast as possible.
Organiser and Waikato agricultural contractor Daniel Reymer said the contest was a bit of fun that kept the tractors cranking after harvest.
There were two contests; the weight transfer and weight adjusted competitions, he said.
"[In] weight transfer, you've got to go as far as you can, the weight comes on gradually. And [in] weight adjusted, there's two tractors racing each other through a handicap system, so depends how much weight you're towing for how much horsepower they have," he said.
"It's quite difficult. Gets the nerves going. It's just tractor set up, and a fair bit of luck."
Fieldays is the biggest agricultural event in the Southern Hemisphere, attracting tens of thousands of visitors over the four days - a staple in the farming family calendar.
Daniel Reymer with his beloved Case IH Puma 240 CVX Drive at Fieldays in Waikato on 16 June, 2023. Photo: RNZ / Monique Steele
Reymer said he had been coming to Fieldays since he was "yay high".
"Mum keeps telling me a story; I was dragging Grandad around at 3, he was knackered by the end of it, looking at all the tractors," he said.
"I've been competing in the tractor pull since I got my licence. It's been 10 years or so now competing.
"Something attracts you to the big machines moving and putting them to the test really, competing against brands really, and nice to watch."
Reymer took to the field with his red Case IH Puma 240 CVX Drive on Friday.
"I'm a Case man myself, but there's a fair few of these green John Deeres here too, which are well up there."
There has been more than $5000 up for grabs - and semi-finals on Friday will determine the challengers for Saturday's final.
