Ludicrous Speed: The Racing and Land Speed Record Tractors of the 1930s

[@jessieharris8204]

Brian, you are the reason I still do drag and drive. When I brought my diesel c10 out in 2016 it was a temporary thing. And at a track in Michigan I went a 10.24 and you said with enthusiasm "that thing is legit" and now you will be the reason I bring a tractor to a drag and drive.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Man, your truck is one of my all time favorites. Seriously. That thing has always been next level good. As far as the tractor….dear God.

[@jessieharris8204]

@brianlohnes3079 if you're at sickweek I will give you the details!

[@trainnerd3029]

Stuff like this is why KZbin was invented! Great video brother!!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thanks for giving it some of your time!

[@FarmerDrew]

My old 1947 John Deere B reminded me of my mortality at 20mph, I cannot imagine the 60+ mph feeling. "Faster until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death"

[@brianlohnes3079]

Amen to that!

[@deb-kenjohnson9497]

Farmall B at 18 mph on a washboard road is entertaining enough.

[@NBSV1]

No suspension and iffy steering makes for some fun times at modest speeds. I've been almost 30 going downhill on a forklift. That got real exciting with the loose rear steering.

[@brianlohnes3079]

That is a kamikaze mission!!!

[@radioguy1620]

might be a record !

[@jreese8284]

What a great video! I wish my Dad could have seen it. He sold and pulled Allis tractors back in the 1970s, and he would have enjoyed this hugely. They said "you couldn't win with an Allis" and he blew them all away.

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Fun fact for the Allis U. Their largest market for it was actually custom thrashing operators. They were a little to big and awkward for the average sized farms of the time but the big bore and long stroke meant they were an absolute beast for flat belt work and the 15 mile an hour road gear made it faster to move between jobs. Which is also coincidentally why you find more U’s with factory equipped rubber than you do on steel.

[@Agrarvolution]

Thanks for telling this incredible story. Tractor racing is still alive (in Austria at least). Every year on the border to Czechia there is a 24h endurance race with standard or modified tractors (built before 1970 I think) that can go up to 80kph. They used used to go way faster, but they capped the top speed because it quickly spiraled out of control. The price is your own pride.😁 This race is held in Reingers (Lower Austria) every August.

[@peteacher52]

Firestone has an interesting history going in, as it were, where others declined the risk. At about the same time as rubber for tractor tyres was being mooted, the Nairn brothers of NZ were operating an overland bus service from Beirut to Baghdad. Desert heat was decimating tyres. The Firestone company was the only one of many approached to show interest in the problem. The outcome was that the Nairns would devote a corner of their workshop to Firestone for R&D and would use Firestone rubber only on their vehicles. Successful upshot? "Old" tyres were done after 3 desert crossings but Firestone found a way of increasing tyre life to 12000 miles, extraordinary under the working conditions. Of course, this had spin-off benefits for bus and truck operators "back home" as well. A pre-WW2 win -- win situation.

[@ole9421]

Now you've gone and done it. I see tractor racing making a come back soon.

[@joshkamp7499]

In the rubber shortages of WWII, many tractors that had been by that point designed with rubber tires in mind were shipped on steel with the higher gears blocked out, and you still find a few that were never updated even after tires were added later on. As another antique tractor enthusiast, great to see this unique story getting the treatment it deserves from a gearhead perspective.

[@CODA-Improvements]

Your format and packaging of images with the historical timeline is awesome Brian. I can imagine you have uncounted hours of research and editing. We appreciate it and thank you for the content!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thanks a million and thank you for watching.

[@coleallen8657]

Excellent ,is what i was thinking , you said it way more elegant than I could ever do. I'm from North Dakota. Thank you very much for the channel!!!!!

[@ebinmaine]

I really enjoyed this one a lot. Appreciate you taking the hours and hours to put this together.

[@frankalbergo8120]

The Man knows how to tell a story.

[@hangonsnoop]

​@@brianlohnes3079 And for what it's worth, I think you have a good announcers voice as well.

[@1Longranger]

Chamberlain tractors made in Australia in the 60's and 70's were used as as haulout tractors in the sugar cane farming business. They could achieve 45mph with a 3 speed crash box towing a trailer grossing 12 tonnes. Known as widowmakers, these things were lethal when the tail started wagging the dog. We fitted trailer brakes to straighten things out but rarely used them in operation. I know of a couple of guys that didn't survive the season. I'm happy to have survived driving those things.

[@bobcote1375]

We were at the Ohio Mile when he broke the record. That thing was amazing to see. Go down the track that fast. Great story once again Brian keep up the good work.🏁

[@robertking7269]

I’ve bounced down the field in 4th gear before Had to throttle back because it felt like the tractor was going to crack itself or me Thanks for the history

[@brianlohnes3079]

Danger! Hahah

[@danieltaylor6489]

We had an old Allis--Chalmers tractor on the farm & it was a beast, it could easily do 100kmh in the paddocks or the roads I miss our old tractor 😥

[@brianlohnes3079]

Wind ‘er up!!

[@johneken2056]

Don't remember if I was in the timing trailer at the moment, but I remember the run. Wilmington was great, thanks for the memory, Brian.

[@brianlohnes3079]

You were in there!! You Gary and I!

[@johneken2056]

@@brianlohnes3079 Good Times!

[@darrendouglas4796]

Wow I am amazed at the cool historical gearhead stuff that you come up with Brian! And I will say that your commentating on NHRA is likewise historically informed & excellent- which is pretty lacking in other motorsport coverage these days IMO

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thanks a million Darren!

[@bwilliams463]

Interesting story. Being a fan of antique tractors myself, I'm kind of surprised I've never heard of these racing tractors. I opened up Grandpa's John Deere 4010 in 8th gear once and it started bouncing so bad after it topped 15 mph that I reeled it back in toot sweet. And the old-timers didn't even have a single roll bar on those ACs.

[@paulerickson1906]

My Dad told me the story of Dink Cornell, a local farmer and tractor racing enthusiast in the Chicagoland area. He also raced cars in his spare time. He built up a tractor he had and using some gearing changes got his tractor to run almost 70 mph at some track in Chicago. This was back in the the 1950s. He said he could get more speed out of it except the wobble and bounce was getting pretty awful. He was known his many speeding tickets around his farm on the roads in his neck of the woods on his tractor passing cars continuously on Sunday afternoons. What a character. We used to have a picture of him on his tractor in the family album.

[@SlimPickins_07]

Can you imagine, somewhere one, or all, of those 3 tractors is sitting in someone's back 40 rusting away, with a story like "grandpa said that old thing was junk and couldn't pull worth a darn"

[@brianlohnes3079]

Hahaha - this is an amazing point!!

[@africadreamin]

Excelent historical video. In 2019 the UK construction equipment manufacturer JCB with their modified Fastrac 2 High Speed tractor set a new world record of 135.19 miles per hour and a peak speed of 150 mph.

[@farmallgray]

Would love to see more tractor content. I have been a fan of your channel for a while now. As a gearhead and a tractor collector, I love the stuff you cover. I knew a good bit about this from reading articles in tractor magazines over the years but I still learned a few things. IH was very close behind AC in offering pneumatic tires. As the largest tractor producer at the time, they started offering pneumatic tires in mid 1933.

[@brianlohnes3079]

As a guy thoroughly in love with tractors, it’s happily blowing my mind how many people are into this topic!

[@budd1814]

And you have knocked it out of the park with this story. the bar has been raised

[@formerfarmer1718]

We were all Allis-Chalmers from 1955 until 1977. From a WD45 to a 210. 👍😎

[@brianlohnes3079]

Awesome!!

[@RJ1999x]

I have a 210, it's a beast

[@mikeh.753]

There is a darn good reason why the manufacturer's gear these tractor's for strength instead of speed. Tipping over in a car is one thing but tipping over a tractor at high speed is a death sentence.

[@P_RO_]

I never thought about it, but it makes sense that every kind of vehicle has a 'top speed' record of some kind. After almost 'wheelieing' over backwards on a small Ford with a trailer on a steep hill I gained a LOT of respect for how much tractive power these things have as well as how top-heavy they are. I can't imagine trying one at speed; those early racers were absolutely crazy but in a good kind of way!

[@crippledbeast_U-toob]

As a hotroder and tractor lover.. thanks man.

[@gresvig2507]

My '49 AC model C is absolute terror at like fifteen. I absolutely can't imagine doing over sixty back in the day. Think they made em a whole lot crazier in those days.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Yes they did!!! Thanks for watching!!

[@wi.dave3812]

Your stories never cease to amaze us,each one better than the last, keep them coming. You’re doing a great job , thank you. 😀🇺🇸

[@joshuagibson2520]

Kick ass presentation.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thanks Josh!

[@mudhutproductions]

Never heard of this. How cool!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Glad you dig it!

[@stevecunningham2759]

Thanks Brian! I had my 8N with a Chevy V6 conversion up to 55 once. It was stable on smooth road but the old individual brakes made stopping an adventure.

[@brianlohnes3079]

How many miles to get down to 20? Hahah

[@FarmerDrew]

4.3 vortec?

[@DM-wp9vq]

Old tractors are just plain amazing, in so many ways! Glorious workhorses that carry their history with them.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Amen to ALL that!

[@engineguy54]

Brian, you've outdone yourself again. This is hilarious.

[@chuckmather3837]

Having worked for Firestone for over 30 years and living near the Firestone homestead, I was aware of how much of an innovator Harvey Firestone was. This chapter in his story had escaped me. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I love your automotive history lessons, but this is one of my favorite stories that you've done.

[@tomchrisfield7348]

It's crazy to think that rubber tires on a tractor didn't happen til the 1932. Watching videos from Eastern Block countries they race tractors in several types of classes, from Hill Climbs, to Motocross type events.

[@saxman1969]

Absolutely ourstanding. You have a voice for radio and your material and presentation is just perfect!😁

[@dannork1240]

This is definitely the best channel on YT👍🏼

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thanks Dan!!

[@jannear8641]

Wish we had one of those on the farm when I was a kid, I would have never left.

[@pinestumps8622]

Love the story telling. Reminds me of the crazy stories for dual tracked vehicle speed records. 1944: 70mph in a M18 Hellcat, 1979: 76mph in a souped up M113!

[@brianlohnes3079]

70 in an M18!?

[@Red-dg1kp]

Are any photos of this M18 hellcat tank that they used?

[@pinestumps8622]

I don't but, I'm sure there's photos deep in a government building, it was testing the prototype of the hellcat. Excerpt from CJ Nuttall's 1966 WES report: "The land speed record for tracked vehicles may be held by .C. W. Wilson, who in 1944 tested the T70 76mm gun motor carriage (which, detuned, later became the M18) at 70 mph. He reports it was a hairy experience." Fred Crismons book on US military tracked vehicles has pictures of the m113 deemed the "HOT ROD" from the 70s.

[@Red-dg1kp]

@@pinestumps8622 thanks sir

[@bigblockkings1031]

This video and the one about indoor drag racing were so cool. I never knew about tractors racing. 😮

[@davidshiveley4508]

I'll be Damned!...and here i thought i knew everything about Drag Strips and The Salt Flats and such...never knew this was a thing! I don't believe i saw anything about them in the old mags. Thanks Brian! This is a hoot!!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Always awesome to hear when someone learned something new!!!

[@caseyedds2032]

As a tractor guy to a tractor guy.. thank you 🙏

[@vehdynam]

I spent a lot of time driving an Allis Chalmers WD model on the farm back in the day. I loved that tractor. Thank you for an incredible story.

[@jandcco]

Fun and Interesting - and a hundred times better than the crap on tv now days. Awesome video!!!

[@nathanfisher4452]

As a tractor collector myself, having multiple ACs. I approve.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Awesome!!

[@brucerawsthorne1338]

Tractors are amazing I have build classic race cars all my life , but tractors have always been my favourite

[@dawg0059]

Not being a farmer...You might be the only person that could make a tractor and speed cool!!! Really enjoy everything you do. I never though anybody could fill the void of Steve Evans and Dave Mac. In my opinion you are on THAT level!!

[@brianlohnes3079]

This is as humbling as it gets. Thank you for enjoying the weird content but more especially thanks for mentioning those two heroes. I keep them in mind a lot when doing my job.

[@andyharman3022]

Man, that's a beautiful story that I intersect with at a couple of points. My dad grew up on a farm in the 1930's, 40's, and 50's that transitioned from horses to A-C Model C tractors. He talked with us boys many times while we were growing up that A-C had the fastest tractor in history and was the first to sell tractors with rubber tires. Hearing you talk about it 50 years later makes me happy that dad had his history straight. One of grandpa's C tractors is still in the family. The story of the Ford V8 tractor ECTA record got my eyes misty. I really respect a guy that identifies a goal and attains it, no matter what the arena. In the 2010's, I was running with ECTA at the Ohio Mile in Wilmington, running on the C/DT record with my 2001 Dodge Ram/Cummins. I traded it back and forth for a couple of years with another Dodge runner, and finally broke his spirit in 2013, when I ran 136.5 mph to get the C/DT record and went up a class and ran 135 mph to get the B/DT record. The record was set with a street-driven working truck that had 235,000 miles on it and also pulled my Corvette to Wilmington to run in the C/GT class. Three years later I put the Dodge into service hot-shotting travel trailers when it had 293,000 miles and kept it working until 577,000 miles. I still have it. Can't part with it. I may request to be buried in it.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Epic and Andy I remember your truck!!

[@parentsbasement7734]

I do like how you made sure to bring up all the modifications to the record breaking Ford tractor, still an incredible feat but not the same. Thanks again for a great lesson in speed history.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Jack’s machine is fantastic, but modern. These Original guys were unencumbered with our rules!

[@1978garfield]

Liked and subscribbled! First of your videos I have ever seen but it wont be the last. I learned to drive on my grandfathers Ford Golden Jubilee NAA. I love all old tractors with Ford, AC, Oliver and IH being some of my favorites.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thanks for coming aboard!!

[@richardwernst]

Fantastic, thanks. As a resident of suburbia, not much into tractors, but motorhead of any sort for many years, loved this. Also appreciated not a ton of repetition so many videos like this utilize to make them longer, so thanks for that, and NO music!

[@jarm7726]

😂 I bet ol AB gave him a little push from above. ❤ Best channel on yt

[@brianlohnes3079]

I sure think so too!!

[@RenoLaringo]

This was quite an enjoyable journey! Thank you!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Sincerely thankful you saw and enjoyed it!

[@rocketsnhotrods9022]

This has been my favorite episode so far. Tractors and speed can't get any better.

[@Bwaynecustomz]

Thanks for the awesome video

[@joshgreen2164]

I operate a brand new John Deere at work 28 mph flat out and it's sketchy, couldn't imagine 65 or better. Terrifying I'm quite certain.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Man, it had to be death defying.

[@hordboy]

Right? I can’t imagine on an old tractor. It had to have been a wild ride with that sloppy steering.

[@acguy661]

I believe later on Ab Jenkins said it was one of the most terrifying things he'd ever done, comparing it to "riding a frightened bison". Though he drove faster in other stuff, they at least had suspension.

[@brianlohnes3079]

@ that is oft quoted, but in all the research I did, I had no luck locating the quote. It is a good one!

[@JayByrd-t9k]

I raced lawn tractors in the southeast for a few years. My girlfriend took me to Don Garlets museum for my birthday to meet BIG DADDY he was there that day she told Mr Garlets that I raced lawnmowers and just won a points championship that season. Mr Garlets stopped what he was doing looked straight into my eyes and said YOU ARE MORE CRAZY THAN I AM!!! THAT WAS MY BEST BIRTHDAY EVER FROM MY BEST GIRLFRIEND EVER!!!

[@DeluxeR71]

Love it!! Thanks Brian for the COOLEST history lessons...

[@brianlohnes3079]

Glad to be of service and thanks for giving this junk a look!

[@normsweet1710]

I salute you on all the facts concerning Ab Jenkins’s AC model u record. Oh to “find” one of the U’s laying in a barn somewhere and bring it back to running condition. Thanks Bryan for a great story

[@normsweet1710]

My Uncle Jim’s AC 1938 WC was a good ol tractor, cultivating corn in those hot summer days was a good learning curve for me. Ya know your credibility rating just went up a bunch when I found out you got a soft spot for old tractors. I’ve been working on a 1946 Gibson “A” for several years. They are a labor of love, for sure

[@aired-downdisconnected4125]

I just recently saw the "Mormon meteor 111" at Price museum of speed in Salt Lake city. Some cool stuff in there including Al Teague's streamliner.

[@allareasindex7984]

Brian, you are superb at digging up this kind of historical research and making it fascinating! These guys kept the stock wheelbase so farmers could see it was a real tractor. It would have been much steadier if they stretched the frame a foot or two. Oh, and even a couple of inches of suspension instead of just the sidewall flex would have made it practically a Cadillac.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Agree but I am also glad they didn’t!

[@michaelcerkez3895]

I use to love going to tractor pulls back in the late 1970's. When I saw this I just had to watch it to the end. Truly amazing story while I like the engineering involved I have to say I still like the "Pulls" more. Great video.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Pulling is freaking awesome. One of my favorite motorsports.

[@stewartalbert3523]

Do you remember Dave Stangle and his Moline ? He told me that it was geared to run about seventy miles an hour, but he never tried to go fast , just had it that way for pulling .@@brianlohnes3079

[@jameswarkentin2798]

As a long-time attendee of the local tractor show, I really appreciated this look into the history of rubber tired tractors. It's one thing to see steel and rubber tired tractors parked next to each other, but I had never heard this story. The action shots were very cool as well!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Two things. Glad you love tractors and thankful you gave this a look!

[@TAllyn-qr3io]

I was born in S. Idaho and raised on a large ranch/farm. We had many tractors, swathers, combines, freeman self-propelled balers, etc. When I hit around 11, I began moving sprinkler lines. $3.50/line of 3” or 4” x 40’ sections of either hook and latch or ball and socket 1/4 mile lines. When a line would reach the end we had a specific tractor w/pipe trailer to move the pipe back to the beginning. This tractor was an AC “tricycle” type. Very, very durable for kids f*cking around with them…burn outs and wheelies. Of all the equipment I operated that tractor was the funnest. Zero comfort but, a ton of torque. Sure the Steigers were very awesome but, that tractor took a beating and never failed before me and after I went off to college. Great video btw!

[@terrygarvin1392]

Every show you post is my new favorite. Saw a Ford 8n at the Eaton Ohio pork fest that had a flathead V-8 With aftermarket heads and manifold and headers. Dude pulled amazing wheelies . Thanks for another great show.

[@brianlohnes3079]

This rules. I cannot wait to do the conversion on mine.

[@jamesb3511]

Brian --------You're the MAN!!!!! Thank you for this history lesson!!!

[@paulwormwood6414]

I have enjoyed all your content. Please do more tractor videos. Please include pictures or video of your tractor. Well done sir.

[@brianlohnes3079]

That was my ol’ Ford with the plow on it :)

[@Boneyard24]

Love the story, love the facts, ol Ab was something wasn't he. Thank you for something different,...

[@benbrown2119]

Thanks for the Allis Chalmers background. My father operates a particle accelerator as part of his career at NASA.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Holy smoke!

[@vawterb]

This brings me joy! Awesome!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Super glad you dug it!

[@frankalbergo8120]

Freaking AWESOME! Thanks Brian.

[@Mtlmshr]

As a racing fan and also happen to be a car builder/ fabricator I found this fascinating and fun!

[@mikepaul3959]

Wild!! and thank you again for another thoroughly entertaining podcast.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thanks for watching it!!

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

What a great story! Thank you for such a splendid channel.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thanks a million for watching it!

[@Sleeperdude]

Great video thanks for sharing

[@EvanKendrick-l7d]

Only in America! Thanks Brian.

[@brianlohnes3079]

It’s a heck of a story! Appreciate you watching.

[@Mopar46]

Great story! Like you, I love old tractors, too. My Dad worked for International Harvester, in NZ, in the 1950s.

[@billness2635]

Awesome story Brian! Once again you have produced a fantastic video. As a side note though, JCB of the UK has set a 135mph two way record with a tractor driven by Guy Martin. Better yet, it went 153.7mph as a top speed in 2019.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Yeah that thing is amazing

[@mgbchuck6527]

Just freakin' awesome Brian, thanks

[@landerstudios143]

You'd wanna watch yr elbows!😂 Great content as usual. Always awesome.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thanks a million for watching it

[@georgeadams8230]

Your videos are so much fun, thank you!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thanks for the time, George. Got some good ones coming this winter!

[@paulmartin8212]

Wow that was a great story. I never knew there was such a competition. I and many others appreciate the time it took to out this all together.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Well I’ll return the appreciation for you taking the time to watch.

[@edsmachine93]

Great Video Brian. Awesome Documentary. Thanks for sharing. 👍🇺🇸👍

[@douglasmesina6922]

Love the "Space Balls" inspired name. Cool video.

[@LLAHTI1]

Really cool Brian!!!!!!!!

[@DanBishop-x6o]

This is so well done. Thank you for telling a story that i, as a member of the Firestone Racing team - has never heard and will be sharing with my team this week!

[@vk2aafhamradio]

Heaps of fun, Brian! Thanks again.

[@michaelbaumgardner2530]

A most interesting story, and one I'd never heard, Thanks For Sharing

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thank you for watching it!

[@3dotcycle176]

Thank you for your videos. working my way through them all. everyone, quality information.

[@BabyJake426]

Brian, Your storytelling is incredible! I am so excited, every-single-time, that you publish a new video. Please, please, please keep it up, when your schedule allows! Sincerely, THANK YOU very, very much!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Cannot wait to crank ‘er up this winter!

[@Kentuckyoverdrive]

Thank you for these amazing history lessons and stories!

[@kellybowling2908]

You never fail to disappoint great work

[@MrProbedout]

My grandfather bought his first tractor at 16 years old it was a fordson and he loved it and he even adapted to the modern era by putting rubber tires on it, he retired the tractor and kept it around as a yard ornament for years and one day I got curious and spun the engine and it turned without any major hesitation and I always wanted to get it up and running again but sadly my brother got my grandfather’s house and he sold the tractor to someone else who hopefully is restoring it

[@AntonHoward-mx9sb]

You always come up with stuff I've never heard about Brian, great stuff.

[@bw6378]

I recently found your channel. Really enjoy your videos, very well done. Thanks!

[@alxf66]

I was growing up while Allis Chalmers was winding down. Their demise, along with so many others, left huge holes in my hometown and surrounding areas. I've had a bit of experience with some old Fords and Farmalls, but not AC. I've always wanted one. This video rekindled that desire and gave me the biggest smile of the week. Your videos are always superb, but this is probably going to be my favorite one for a while. Thanks, Brian!

[@SolamenteVees]

That image of Ab Jenkins at Bonneville is as iconic as Rollie Free's "bathing suit on a motorcycle" photo. Great stuff, Brian.

[@mmoly-cj4bd]

Your passion and knowledge of all things motorsports is unmatched. I love these videos. In Bloomington Minnesota When I was 5 (1962) I remember sending in a box top from Kelloggs with completed form for an Allis Chalmers tractor model. I was super excited two weeks later when I received the orange model. I had to put on the wheels and then it was ready to go. Congrats with another great call this year as Lead Broadcaster for the NHRA on Fox Sports.

[@tomuchfunwithgas846]

B est ever, something I never heard about before. Thank you Brian.

[@joshholbert9120]

Such a great video I don’t know how I missed this