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KEEP UP WITH THE GOSSIP
ON WHATS HAPPENING
IN THE WORLD OF
SIMPLY RED.
ON WHATS HAPPENING
IN THE WORLD OF
SIMPLY RED.
WELCOME HOME!!!
Finally, after all of the long and paunfull hours that have been put in by John & Lorena and the team, towards the rebuilding process. The Big Lass, is finally back where she belongs.
WELCOME HOME SIMPLY RED & RED RUNT!!!
WELCOME HOME SIMPLY RED & RED RUNT!!!
2020 BTPA EVENTS CALENDER
Here is the 2020 BTPA Events Calendar.
We are looking forward to seeing all of our tractors, teams and supporters throughout the year.
We are looking forward to seeing all of our tractors, teams and supporters throughout the year.
FROM THE ASHES.
On the 7th of April 2019 we suffered a horrible fire at our workshop which ripped through half of the building.
Tonight we finally put the finishing touches to the new workshop! 😁👍🏼
It’s been a long 9 months rebuilding and a lot of blood, sweat and tears has gone into it from John, Lorena and the team! But this weekend we’re going to introduce the tractors to their new home and it’s time to put down paint brushes and drills and pick up the spanners ready for the 2020 season!!
Tonight we finally put the finishing touches to the new workshop! 😁👍🏼
It’s been a long 9 months rebuilding and a lot of blood, sweat and tears has gone into it from John, Lorena and the team! But this weekend we’re going to introduce the tractors to their new home and it’s time to put down paint brushes and drills and pick up the spanners ready for the 2020 season!!
TO SCOTLAND BACK
On our way home after a good weekends pulling up in Scotland!
A few problems with the tractor meant she didn’t just run as we had hoped but we will get her back to the workshop and diagnose the issues and fix em!
But we managed third place in both classes! 🥉
And 3rd place overall in the championship season! 🥉🏆
Congratulations to Ted Nicholson and the team for winning the championship this season! 🥇🏆
and to the bear essentials team for getting 2nd place this year!
A few problems with the tractor meant she didn’t just run as we had hoped but we will get her back to the workshop and diagnose the issues and fix em!
But we managed third place in both classes! 🥉
And 3rd place overall in the championship season! 🥉🏆
Congratulations to Ted Nicholson and the team for winning the championship this season! 🥇🏆
and to the bear essentials team for getting 2nd place this year!
GUESS THE FLOOR COLOURING
That’s the floors grinded and now sealed ready to be painted 🎨
Any guesses what colour they’ll be?
Any guesses what colour they’ll be?
A GREAT PAINT JOB!
The painting is nearly done! We are getting there!!!
MORE SILVERWARE FOR 2019
Johns trophy for British Champion SuperStock Class 2019, thank you to Clarke Pulling Team.
PROGRESS AT THE WORKSHOP
Another good day scrubbing & washing, big big thanks for helping my sister Kath, KD & ZIPPY.
THE GREAT ECCLESTON FUN DAY
Simply Red was involved in the tractor pull at Great Eccleston Fun Day.
CHARITY FUN DAY AT ROSE FARM
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Simply Red was involved in a guess the weight of the tractor game with the money raised going to Cancer Research.
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RED RUNT GOES TDI!!!
In 2012 it was finally decided that there would be no modified petrol class in the foreseeable future in the UK so we fitted a 1.9 Golf TDI engine out of The Cobra 2 Reloaded (a 600kg compact diesel unlimited) supplied by Paul Beniers in Holland. The engine was highly modified with balanced Crankshafts, Billet Con Rods, Billet Cam Shafts Stage 1 and Billet Pistons.
OUT OF THE MIST COMES THE RUNT IN RED 2011
John and Lorena were persuaded by Rob Van De Waal that buying a compact modified garden puller would help generate interest in the mechanics of a tractor puller and learning to be a team player for younger people interested in the sport.
Red Runt arrived in August 2011. It was formally named Minimum Risk running on a Dahatsu petrol 1.9 engine.
Red Runt arrived in August 2011. It was formally named Minimum Risk running on a Dahatsu petrol 1.9 engine.
WE ROLL INTO 2014, WITH A NEW ROLL CAGE
After several years of modifications we decided to fit a new roll cage with detachable top to allow it to fit in the coach.
Extensive filling and fibre glassing was done to tidy her up with thanks to Uncle Rick.
Extensive filling and fibre glassing was done to tidy her up with thanks to Uncle Rick.
General rebuild and modifications made to the dashboard 2013.
CYLINDER HEAD CRACKS AGAIN!!!
Cylinder Head had cracked again at the European Finals in 2011, so did a hard block fill to the cylinder head but continued to run a wet block.
Barney from the Rocky team sold us his Sigma pump.
Barney from the Rocky team sold us his Sigma pump.
BELL HOUSING ACCIDENTS AND A NEW HERO, APPEARS IN THE MIST!
In 2011 after several accidents with bell housings collapsing. The decision was taken to fit a Rob Van De Waal steel gearbox housing incorporating a steel bell housing.
A Profab 4 speed gearbox was bought from Profab Engineering in America.
A new fuel tank was made by our good friend Pete Richardson (Pest).
The chassis was cut and modified to lengthen the wheel base.
It was then decided that the next move would be to buy an intercooler, that was made by Daniel from the Neighbours Nightmare team.
On a visit to purchase the gearbox housing, Rob Van De Waal's talked us into buying Red Runt! But more on that later!!!
A Profab 4 speed gearbox was bought from Profab Engineering in America.
A new fuel tank was made by our good friend Pete Richardson (Pest).
The chassis was cut and modified to lengthen the wheel base.
It was then decided that the next move would be to buy an intercooler, that was made by Daniel from the Neighbours Nightmare team.
On a visit to purchase the gearbox housing, Rob Van De Waal's talked us into buying Red Runt! But more on that later!!!
SLIMMING DOWN FOR 2010
To lighten the backend it went to Rob Van De Waal, who took of 250kg out of the rear axle.
We fitted Profab diff, aluminium diff and brake carriers, all bought from Rob Van De Waal, Holland. Also hollow titanium drive shafts, were purchased from over the pond, courtesy of Terry Blackburn.
We fitted Profab diff, aluminium diff and brake carriers, all bought from Rob Van De Waal, Holland. Also hollow titanium drive shafts, were purchased from over the pond, courtesy of Terry Blackburn.
A CHANGE OF DIRECTION!!!
The next thing on the shopping list was to sort out the gearing. We opted for a different diff crown and bull gear as this allowed us to change the gear box ratio with only a couple of new gears.
The best way would have been to drop in a Profab gear box into our original casing, but if we did go component it would not be suitable. We then bought a new data logger. We should have done this at least two years before but you live and learn in this game, and we have to work to budgets.
We then gave the tractor bonnet a set of new panels and paint job plus new decals. Now all ready for 2009 !!
The best way would have been to drop in a Profab gear box into our original casing, but if we did go component it would not be suitable. We then bought a new data logger. We should have done this at least two years before but you live and learn in this game, and we have to work to budgets.
We then gave the tractor bonnet a set of new panels and paint job plus new decals. Now all ready for 2009 !!
TIME TO STEP IT UP!!!
For the 2008 season we decided we had to step up another gear. so we we set about the task to put on a better cylinder head.
we opted for a Genes Machines from the USA. This was ported and had much larger valves so has a consequence, we had to go for larger pistons and sleeves which would put us over the 510 maximum cubic inch so we had to change from a 466 to a 436 crankshaft which is a shorter stroke.
We than ordered a set of balanced and hardened con rods and a larger turbo from Peter Clarke. As we were going this far we decided to go for an external oil pump and new water injection system, which meant we also had to make a new set of manifolds.
We stripped the tractor in December and sent the engine block away to be machined to take the new liners and cradle blocks for the main caps. While we were waiting for the new bits to arrive we stripped out the gear box and differential only to discover the diff had welded two of the four gears onto the shaft (that's why it always pulled to the right), so a new diff was ordered again from the USA by a specialist firm called Profab. This is a stronger diff which has needle rollers on the shafts.
we opted for a Genes Machines from the USA. This was ported and had much larger valves so has a consequence, we had to go for larger pistons and sleeves which would put us over the 510 maximum cubic inch so we had to change from a 466 to a 436 crankshaft which is a shorter stroke.
We than ordered a set of balanced and hardened con rods and a larger turbo from Peter Clarke. As we were going this far we decided to go for an external oil pump and new water injection system, which meant we also had to make a new set of manifolds.
We stripped the tractor in December and sent the engine block away to be machined to take the new liners and cradle blocks for the main caps. While we were waiting for the new bits to arrive we stripped out the gear box and differential only to discover the diff had welded two of the four gears onto the shaft (that's why it always pulled to the right), so a new diff was ordered again from the USA by a specialist firm called Profab. This is a stronger diff which has needle rollers on the shafts.
In February we went to Louisville in the USA to the farm machinery show and spent five days talking to pullers about different aspects of building tractors. We found that their willingness to pass on their experience was invaluable.
We also met up with several teams from Holland who have also helped us immensely.
On our return home we set about modifying the diff housing to hold about half a gallon of oil, which is let drain back to the main gearbox and pumped round by an external oil pump. The engine was rebuilt and the front of the chassis was modified to mount the new water pump and oil pump.
A new crank drive was made to take the bigger belts, a new sump was purchased. The tractor was started up and after one or two faults were fixed, we were ready to go for the 2008 season.
We also met up with several teams from Holland who have also helped us immensely.
On our return home we set about modifying the diff housing to hold about half a gallon of oil, which is let drain back to the main gearbox and pumped round by an external oil pump. The engine was rebuilt and the front of the chassis was modified to mount the new water pump and oil pump.
A new crank drive was made to take the bigger belts, a new sump was purchased. The tractor was started up and after one or two faults were fixed, we were ready to go for the 2008 season.
ALL STRIPPED DOWN...
Now 12 years old , we decided that it was time the tractor had a full strip-down and check. We started with the rear axle and replaced all the bearings & seals. Now with this in good shape, the discussions started as to what would be the most cost effective way to spend our budget to make the biggest gains up the track.
It was decided that the wisest thing to do first would be to strengthen the engines bottom end. This entailed buying a girdle from the USA and having the block machined and lined bored to fit it, considerably strengthening the crankshaft bearings in the block.
Next we purchased a Hypermax camshaft from the Rough Justice Team along with new main bearing & conrod bolts, and a rev kit direct from Hypermax in the USA. We next decided to obtain some better manifolds. The Just Smoky Team have been getting some great ones made so we went for these.
It was decided that the wisest thing to do first would be to strengthen the engines bottom end. This entailed buying a girdle from the USA and having the block machined and lined bored to fit it, considerably strengthening the crankshaft bearings in the block.
Next we purchased a Hypermax camshaft from the Rough Justice Team along with new main bearing & conrod bolts, and a rev kit direct from Hypermax in the USA. We next decided to obtain some better manifolds. The Just Smoky Team have been getting some great ones made so we went for these.
NEW STUD GIRDLE
Injection Pump ...
We next had the fuel injection pump modified, kindly by SJ Wilkinson Diesel Injection. Chris Wilkinson has helped us a lot with the fuel system and we are very grateful for his expertise. We finally decided that with the increased power from the engine mods it would be good to have some new rubber to get it onto the track. So we orderd a new set of aluminium rims from Midwest Wheels USA , and a new set of double cut tyres from Peter Clarke. Now with a lot of late nights, and we were ready for the 2007 season to start.
Our First Prostock Season 2006...
OUR FIRST PROSTOCK SEASON 2006...
The 2006 season started with a bit a a disaster. Having little time to prepare for the first event at Bristol, we hooked for the first time and selected the wrong gear. This meant the engine revved much more than it should have. So part way up the track there was a big bang, resulting in quiet a few of the engines internals arriving externally.
We new that with any highly tuned engine this could happen, but not on our first pull !!!
We rang round to find a replacement engine and soon found 4 secondhand units we could convert into the Prostock spec. We rebuilt the Tractor, but with John off on his hols to the USA.
So it was now left to Alistair Parkinson to take the seat at the next event, which was a demo pull at Shrewsbury. He managed 2 full pulls but we thought the Tractor was not performing as it could.
With advise from the Rough Justice Team & Chris Wilkinson we decided to advance the pump timing for the next event at Gt. Eccleston.
We new that with any highly tuned engine this could happen, but not on our first pull !!!
We rang round to find a replacement engine and soon found 4 secondhand units we could convert into the Prostock spec. We rebuilt the Tractor, but with John off on his hols to the USA.
So it was now left to Alistair Parkinson to take the seat at the next event, which was a demo pull at Shrewsbury. He managed 2 full pulls but we thought the Tractor was not performing as it could.
With advise from the Rough Justice Team & Chris Wilkinson we decided to advance the pump timing for the next event at Gt. Eccleston.
