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New Guinness world record set in South Africa Over the weekend of April 19 to 21, 2002, more than 750 pre-1970 tractors were put to work plowing fields in South Africa in order to win back their title in the Guinness Book of World Records.
The event was originally named the Great 400 Working, hosted by the Sandstone Heritage Trust at the Sandstone Estate Farms in the Eastern Orange Free State of South Africa. Creating and chasing a world record It started with an idea…a wild hare…a crazy notion…and became a new category in the Guinness Book of World Records. Sandstone Estates gathered 103 pre-1967 machines to plow together in the Great 100 Working event held in April 1999. Australia’s competitive streak led them to gather 298 tractors for an April 2001 event that beat South Africa’s record, although Australia did not stick to the pre-1970 requirement. Not to be outdone for long, South Africa began planning in late 2001 to smash the recent record again. This time, the Great 400 Working would be the goal…with all pre-1970 tractors plowing a piece of ground. What is the ‘Great 400 Working’? The Sandstone Heritage Trust explains: "The Great 400 Working is, however, much more than a competition of men working the soil. It is an opportunity which for a short time puts a brake on the pressures of daily life and leaves time for a little reflection.
"What better time amongst so many friends and machines to remember and to speculate on the greatness of mind which gave us the Industrial Revolution? This momentous event changed human destiny permanently and gave mankind for the first time the proper tools to reshape the world. "This, the Great 400 Working is a fitting time to honour the memory of those who worked in back rooms, workshops and laboratories to model and mould the forces of nature of mankind’s requirements. "It was the brilliance of these minds which gave us steam power and the first machines in the proper sense. From this followed electricity and the internal combustion engine. Many of these pioneer thinkers, mechanics and engineers died unknown and in poverty, never seeing the products of their ingenuity."
What happened.. Instead of just 400-some antique and vintage tractors at work, the event saw 755 pre-1970 (and 31 post-1970) tractors in action…shattering the previous world record of 298 by Australia, who included post-1970 machines as well. Judging by early registration listings, about 200 of the original 400 tractors were John Deere green! Sandstone’s Preservation group prepared 100 tractors with implements for the fieldwork that day. And on the Saturday of the World Record attempt, more than 17,000 people visited the site…far exceeding original estimates of 7,000 to 10,000! More countries to compete "We had originally proposed this as a Southern hemisphere competition between Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. So far New Zealand has not come to the party," explained Sandstone’s organizers.
Yet, the latest news is that Ireland is set to attempt a new world record with 800 tractors on Sunday 4 August 2002 at Cooley, County Louth, Ireland.In the South Wales area, the Chepstow & District Vintage Club had been planning to hold a world-record-attempt event in September 2003. However, they apparently realized the magnitude and logistical nightmare of such a feat and have since cancelled the attempt. "Dwelling on this point for a moment, South Africa can take the credit for stimulating interest globally in vintage tractors by adding that special element of excitement that was perhaps missing in the past. Will a country beat the record? Who will be next to have a go? Our belief is that South Africa will always remain central to this competition, whether we continue to fight back or not. It was the South African vintage tractor and engine enthusiasts who showed the world how it should be done." "There is a new pride in farming circles in South Africa today. The world knows we are here, the world knows that we are effective, the world knows that we are organised.
"Let us bask therefore in our own little bit of reflected glory and maintain the friendships we have made whilst at the back of our minds think about preparing that old tractor at the back of the barn for next time." In the end "South African agriculture can hold its head high. We are a big country and no one has failed to notice the commitment made by South African farmers, in particular to this event. The cities and the rural areas were united in a common cause — to beat the Australians and to set a new World Record. "Not only to set a World Record but to set one convincingly. A sincere thank you from the organisers to those hundreds of men and women who went the extra mile, drove the distance and applied themselves both before and during the event. Keith May, the Adjudicator for the Guinness Book of Records, was more than pleased with the end result…" Congrats to South Africa’s Sandstone group for its incredible effort in shattering the former world record so significantly!
Text © 2002 Brenda Kruse. Photos by Brenda Kruse unless otherwise noted. |
