TRACTOR PULLS: It's Not What You Think - Smarter Every Day 276

[@smartereveryday]

When my buddy Chris asked me if I would be interested in making a video abouot a Tractor Pull he was trying to organize, I had no idea what I was getting into. There's a ton of physics going on in this sport! Not just physics... mechanics, thermodynamics, dynamics, whatever you call soil science. I never knew how complicated the sled was! The Moulton Tractor Pull far exceeded my expectations! I think you'll enjoy one if you can go! By the way, if you enjoyed this video, WAIT TIL YOU GET A LOAD OF THE EMAIL LIST. www.smartereveryday.com/email-list

[@DavidMendoza-pd7ow]

First! Can't wait to see it!

[@gamechannelminecraft6583]

Hello everyone, good viewing🤓👍

[@JohnParento]

FIRST AGAIN!!!

[@pierredelecto7069]

Heck yeah! This is awesome.

[@V-Arkhipov]

First!

[@theslowmoguys]

The most southern piece of content I have ever seen in my life. Loved it.

[@The_Cadet1]

What are you doing here?

[@Prove.]

yessir

[@mattmarzula]

I remember seeing a video where some guys blew up some little glass paint jars in some other guy's garage. That was pretty "Southern".

[@smartereveryday]

Roll Tide to you sir

[@thawk5987]

@@smartereveryday Hey Destin, I think the word Will used at the 7:50 mark might have been 'mire'. To mire down is a synonym for bog down and he was talking about the sled getting stuck in the mud.

[@OlssonMathias1991]

I appreciated 2 things: hearing genuine southern accents (I'm Swedish and don't hear a lot of it outside of comedy) and Destin taking the time to briefly compliment his wife.

[@duvidlowy6834]

I bet you used the closed captions to get wat jim was saying

[@gordonbyron5145]

People living in southern US are in fact a joke, it's far beyond comedy.

[@kaldogorath]

@@gordonbyron5145 A look, a small-minded person. What are you doing here?

[@gordonbyron5145]

@@kaldogorath I'm laughing!

[@kaldogorath]

@@gordonbyron5145 It is common for people who don't understand something to laugh out of nervousness

[@moemoe211]

Destin’s interaction with that young boy was priceless. That handshaking lesson was a life lesson and It made my day. “Look me in the eyes… Appreciate you”.

[@uTube486]

My first handshake lesson was "Squeeze hard, don't give a wet fish son".

[@dragonhlm]

Best part of the video. Teaching that young boy one part of being a man. Priceless. Thank you Destin.

[@enorazza]

Also the boy looks so much like Destin

[@rojomeansred]

I'm in my 30's and actually felt a little envious that I didn't have someone to do that for me in my youth. I would love to shake Destin's hand and thank him for all that I have learned from him via this and NDQ

[@n7565j]

I don't understand how young men can make it through their childhood and not learn to shake hands properly... I've made it my goal to make sure EVERY young man I come into contact with learns how to properly shake hands!!! It's not a big deal anymore, but it should be :-)

[@MarcMVM34]

I like how at first they were like oh great another one of these guys asking them stupid questions again. Then, when they found out Destin actually genuinely wanted to know the physics to everything they were all about it and ready to spill the beans on everything. Such an amazing video. Something different and a little glimpse into our southern fun not everyone gets to enjoy

[@clydeg4274]

Yeah they seem like real pricks

[@Glenn-F-Rice]

We had a pull about 5 miles from my house. I ride the roads there on the 4-wheeler and there is a lot of clay there. People brought trucks and tractors from all around

[@WTmac1993]

Hey now it ain't just a southern thing, im from western Massachusetts and all the country folks up there including myself can regularly be found at truck and tractor pulls! Lmao

[@Just_a_Plane_motorcycle_rider]

I love how Destiny’s accent gets more “ Southern” the more he interacts with the locals 😆

[@bennettsampson5789]

I’m from a large city in NC and the same thing happens to me. It’s called code switching. When I’m with “the boys” or people with southern accents it gets real southern real quick. However in normal conversation I have a very standard non southern accent.

[@reado33]

🤣I was thinking the same thing, if the video went on much longer I would need subtitles

[@Prifly70]

Yup. My wife is from Kentucky, get her around family or mad and it comes out.

[@orsonincharge4879]

Blending .

[@noc1891]

or when he is doing something crazy like rocketpowered circularsaw tied to a zipline, or with mark rober doing the rocketpowered golf club.. he more or less always goes to the hillbilly accent 🤣

[@lockpickinglawyer]

I watched every second of this video, and learned so much about a topic that I never considered… but the only part of the video that I’m sure will be useful to me in the future was the .380 joke. I’m definitely going to use that the next time I’m with someone carrying a 1911. 😋

[@goofoffchannel]

LPL!!

[@jimsvideos7201]

Fancy meeting you here.

[@beermonster1234]

I don’t know much about guns, can you explain his joke?

[@scottycatman]

@@beermonster1234 it's a little baby gun, much smaller than that guy's actual gun

[@AIM54A]

@@beermonster1234 It's like asking a person driving a large truck if he's driving a Toyota prius.

[@karenhill7128]

Thanks Destin for coming to our little town of Gibson, TN. Brian who is my husband was unsure of what was going on but glad he took the time to explain the sled to you. We laughed a lot watching this with our kids Brandon, Bruce and his wife Kayla. Great job !

[@ZoonCrypticon]

Thank you from Europe. I was wondering in which part of the states the first encounter took place. Close suspects were Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia.

[@solitudessilentgroove]

I'd be a little reserved as well if some stranger dude walked up with a camera in my face asking all kinds of questions, lol.

[@poika22]

God bless you all

[@PatrickKQ4HBD]

That sideways glance when Destin first asked about the sled really cracked me up. Please tell Brian thanks for the laugh!

[@thehunterstruck]

@@PatrickKQ4HBD I knew Brian was give Destin a hard time he’s not about to tell his secrets

[@ElizabethSwims]

Is that a .380? 😂🤣😂😅 The look on his face.

[@tom.e]

Could you explain to someone who never saw a gun in person why that's funny?

[@adubs.]

@@tom.e its not a .380. Hes making a joke about his gun being small.

[@JOltmann0789]

@@tom.e .380 is a small caliber.

[@ElizabethSwims]

@@tom.e it’s funny because.380 is a pretty small and weak round. Not much stopping power. Single stack refers to how the ammo lines up in the magazine. Single stacks are a lot thinner profiles for little guys or girls to better carry. While I personally have nothing against .380 there are some who would consider it emasculating.

[@FerrariTeddy]

@@tom.e 380 is a small round that is often recommended to women because they make very compact 380 cal guns. Therefore in 'Merican, "is that a 380?" Is basically saying "are you a little girly girl with a girly girl gun for girls?"

[@CrazyCommonRail]

I grew up pulling tractors. This infatuation for chasing the “balancing act” ultimately led me to studying Mechanical Engineering. I now have an extremely fulfilling career to which I owe a large part to this wonderful pastime. Thanks for the video, Destin!

[@revenevan11]

Heck yeah! It's an engineering problem in the truest sense

[@himaro101]

Are you still pulling though?

[@edgarpryor3233]

The guy that built the engine for Financial Mistake (and Volunteer Deere and several others at that pull) followed a similar path. He is an engineer for GM but plays with tractors whenever possible.

[@djjazzyjeff1232]

What I appreciate the most about these videos is how Destin interacts with kids. I really like that you talk to them like they're adults. And just because they're kids, doesn't mean they're not knowledgeable or smart. Cuz that kid 100% is, and polite too.

[@MasonH24]

The proper handshake, with the look in the eye, is what did it for me. Destin is a real one.

[@djjazzyjeff1232]

@@MasonH24 Details are important like that. If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right.

[@TW-lt1vr]

that classic southern hospitality too

[@ToXiCxMadness2]

Destin can make anyone feel comfortable in no time. The one dude didn’t really seem like he’s in the mood to talk but he opened up quite well

[@deaconkonc4720]

Destin loves to let other people shine in his videos, and I think people sense that he's coming from a place of respect.

[@carsonwilliams]

I felt that guy he just wanted a drink and he's got this guy with a camera asking him questions 😂. Destin is amazing at understanding the intricacies of blue collar diplomacy.

[@yippdogg9250]

Thats just the south when it comes to some old timers haha and I can tell you Destin knew exactly what was going on and didn't take it personally.

[@steampunkskunk3638]

I would be a bit stand off-ish too if someone walked in off the street and started asking questions while pointing a camera at me.

[@onr-o1h]

I was somewhat shocked of their initial inhospitability. But, if they would've shut down completely, Destin wouldn't have shown them in the video, of course.

[@unums]

The way you told Will, the child, to shake your hand, aside from telling and reaffirming him how smart he is, and corrected him to make Eye Contact (when doing so) is just beyond amazing, Destin!

[@angelalewis3645]

That was my favorite part! What great training for that young man! And so happy to my spirit. ☺️

[@imagiins]

this is the comment i was looking for that’s easily the best part of this video i loved that clip

[@rbryanhull]

I noticed that, too. You made that kid feel seen.

[@Spike-sk7ql]

Came here to say just this.

[@muskaman2k]

I had to stop the video and look for a comment like this because thats how important that lesson was to that boy, and how much i respected him for taking the time to do so.

[@tripletiote]

Kudos to the driver who veered off a bit despite her efforts. She was willing to share on camera, and I hope she received empathy and isn't embarrassed.

[@edgarpryor3233]

She's used to that, she was upset about the engine not running. If I remember correctly, it was a broken camshaft that time.

[@a_bracing9045]

She's a pretty talented driver! Funny enough she's my cousin!

[@zollotech]

Used to watch these as a kid and learned a lot. So much more than I ever knew. Loved that you took the time to teach the kid how to shake a hand.

[@pete5405]

The kid was right tho, giving his left hand knowing the right one is full of chili cheese!

[@jatissimo]

man dont care if the hand is dirty. brian looked at his hand and saw how dirty it was and just went for the shake. also a valuable lesson. kid was still good mannered, nothing to complain about

[@brian70Cuda]

And look him in the eye! Respect!!

[@jimharvey205]

@@brian70Cuda Destin's an awesome dude, through & through

[@LucenProject]

@@brian70Cuda It took way too long for someone to teach me this. Good to see this kid learning it.

[@tocov]

I am not American, and I am always so impressed by how polite, welcoming and helpful people in the south are. As opposed to how they are often portrayed in the media. These are real Americans and I would absolutely love to meet these folk some time.

[@donoimdono2702]

thank you. it seems to be those who are packed into densely populated cities who appear less than warm to strangers. room to roam is remarkably healing to the psyche

[@RRAX]

that tells you a lot about the Brain washing going on everywhere.

[@cda4662]

MEGA DITTOS TO YOU AND WITH YOU

[@KenanTurkiye]

I'm not American, never been to nor intend to go to America, as I'm happy in my country, but I fully agree with the comment and also the sticker at 22:26. Why? because proper independent America is better for the world, independent from whom some may ask, well, you guys are smart, and many already know. ;) Take care.

[@alchemist3724]

They seemed half aggravated in the beginning when he went to look at the sled the tractors pull lol, wouldn't call that welcoming at all..

[@Stowneyo]

Man I saw this video listed and thought to myself. "I have absolutely no interest in tractor pulls whatsoever". But I clicked anyway knowing the quality of your videos and I was glued to the screen for every single moment. You make some of the best stuff out there and always make it engaging. I have a ton of respect for this topic now. Thanks my man!

[@GreenAppelPie]

I still have zero interest. There’s zero things to be applied to doing something useful

[@TheGayestPersononYouTube]

@@GreenAppelPie it’s more like a ton of useful things applied to something enjoyable

[@Hempage]

Come on, what's not to like about tractor pulls, monster trucks, and top fuel dragsters, and other purely recreational engineering.

[@rjcoady21]

I also like horse pulls. Not so much engineering as much as well taken care of animals and harnesses.

[@insiainutorrt259]

@@GreenAppelPie For just one example you are to empty to realise... All the learning about pulling things could be aplied to pulling things in farmwork and any kinds of pulling heavy things.... like your food and fuel on trucks.... Its actual real science... for fun...

[@edsaid757]

I like that Destin recognizes intelligence no matter where/how it manifests. Most people don’t have that ability.

[@ErrantChordier]

This is true. Probably some of these people who engineer, machine, test, fine-tune the tractors, they would have excelled if they had instead pursued aerospace, semiconductors, chemicals, etc. Talent and intellect can show up anywhere, whether those "high tech" types of endeavors or something more bucolic, even though society conditions us to see only the high tech stuff as intellect.

[@boogersaregood]

@@ErrantChordier they're building 100 thousand dollar tractors, they have excelled

[@ErrantChordier]

@@boogersaregood I meant, they would have excelled *at aerospace* if they had done that instead.

[@teac117]

Engineers can sniff out engineers a mile away. We smell. :P

[@Nehmo]

Brian obviously isn't intelligent. He uses dumb grammar and has a limited vocabulary, and, for those who don't know, all people from the South don't talk like that.

[@TheOceanX]

I moved out of Tennessee years ago now, this video brought tears to my eyes from how beautifully you captured the genuineness of a lot of these guys. You understood that they weren't being rude, they were testing the white collar new guy to see if he was cool or not. Phenomenal video, can't praise this enough.

[@aceofspad3s1911]

IDK, where I come from being short and dismissive of someone because of your immediate perceptions of them is called being rude.

[@PatrickKQ4HBD]

@@aceofspad3s1911 Well you ain't from around here now, are ya? 🤨😉 All kidding aside, it's a cultural norm to be a little suspicious of outsiders and take a bit of time to welcome them into the circle. Please don't judge.

[@michaelmccasland]

@@aceofspad3s1911 Tell me you aren't from the South without telling me you aren't from the South.

[@ozzyoz1495]

That's the definition of rudeness

[@lbsubstylee]

@@aceofspad3s1911 "Southern hospitality"...

[@F_L_U_X]

By my calculations, if the video had continued for 3 more days, Destin would be posting a video of an obscure, abandoned building where a 85 year-old man named Pickle appears and shows you how to make moonshine.

[@terrorbit3553]

Close, his name is strawberry.

[@pottervi]

Popcorn the lytch

[@ClearwaterKB]

​@terrorbit3553 according to my poppa's cousins Punkin and Puddin (swear to God names on birth certificates) you're right. 😂😂

[@mostlyvoid.partiallystars]

Nah the moonshine is never that far away

[@boddaboom77]

He already did that, KZbin just didn't allow him to post it due to local laws.

[@Ndoda71]

Dustin’s a good communicator, he can read people and make them comfortable with the way he talks.

[@taofledermaus]

That was both amazing and heart-warming to watch, Destin.

[@FerociousSniper]

You!

[@CameronSalazar2113]

Agreed!

[@The_Real_Pimpaho]

Better then your Content at least !

[@markfergerson2145]

What the... do all my favorite KZbinrs watch each other?

[@darkfur18]

@@The_Real_Pimpaho petty much?

[@peetiegonzalez1845]

I love when Destin interacts with locals anywhere. He is so down-to-earth and can really enjoy communicating with anyone.

[@SzymekCRX]

That guy from 11:30 shows some extra respect while explaining. Got my heart :)

[@user-ym7hq7do7m]

I’m from Australia, that was a science and a culture lesson. Y’all are crazy and I love it. Keep up the good work Destin.

[@sheldonpetrie3706]

Australia teaching America how to do proper burnouts via Cleetus with KillaB, so we have reached the next part of the formal cultural exchange 😅

[@scottwesner9362]

Welcome to the land of the free

[@peterreed2685]

DESTIN NEEDS TO GO TO SUMMER NATS!!!!

[@semvhu1494]

I'm not sure what to make of someone calling American Southerners crazy when y'all live with crocs, giant spiders, venomous snakes, dive-bombing magpies, and warmongering emus. I guess I'll take it as a compliment.

[@VAXHeadroom]

@@semvhu1494 Yep and whatever the heck that football game is they play :) THAT's nuts! :)

[@canis_machina7280]

It's amazing how Destin went back in time to get his younger self just for a tractor pull interview.

[@PizzaWheels427]

i love how he is just eating some kids fritos

[@cherriberri8373]

@@PizzaWheels427 YEAH man was like "Am I taking too many" And then asked for an o t h e r

[@larrybud]

@@cherriberri8373 And the kid was so polite "You can have as many as you want".

[@JamesLewis98]

I love how Destin's accent changes depending on who he's speaking with. Up in Rochester, NY with all the people at Kodak, Destin had as neutral of an accent as he could: round vowels, not dropping the "g" from gerunds, spoken from the chest rather than the nose. But when he's in rural Alabama talking with a tractor pull crewman, he's a straight up "Good Ol' Boy."

[@minimoose1441]

I noticed that too! I find myself doing the same sometimes, I moved countries when I was 11 and when I speak to my parents (who kept their accent) or my grandparents and friends from my country of birth I find my voice just sort of adapts and I start pronouncing words and vowels more like my native accent.

[@blackdragonxtra]

That's just how accent's work. Mine'll drift all over, depending on the people around, what I'm doing, or even just my mood.

[@WDCallahan]

That's called code switching. I'm from Texas and I do the same thing. I was taught to do this depending on who I'm talking to, whether it's business or pleasure, and where I am.

[@nukewurld]

@@blackdragonxtra I honestly thought I was the only one. I can adapt my accent to whoever I'm around, and I do it without even thinking about it.

[@nukewurld]

@@WDCallahan I had no idea there was a term for this. I do it all the time. Interesting

[@pyrosparkes]

Destin, the way you interact with other humans is truly magical to watch. even the way that you spoke to the kid will, and how you explained the importance of a handshake at the end, saying i appreciate you. keep being the great teacher you are. thank you!

[@MisterBoy316]

People, not humans.

[@Oscar-zz6fg]

The look he gave you after asking if he had a .380. Absolute gold. I'm going to have to use that joke one day.

[@NALOvs]

i'm not into guns and i don't get it... is .380 a small caliber or something? tnx

[@g00gleisgayerthanaids56]

@@NALOvs a lot of people call .380 9mm 'short'

[@NALOvs]

@@g00gleisgayerthanaids56 lol i was close enough then, tnx

[@donoimdono2702]

yup

[@vespagts7078]

The .380 is considered to be a "girl's/woman's" caliber. That's the joke and why he gave that look.

[@mikedrop4421]

Love that Destin took the time to walk the young man through a handshake. That's something that even the best fathers don't often think about because they never shake their sons hand. We need a solid community to pitch in. I remember men teaching me how to properly shake hands. I'm sure my dad helped kids he met along the way too. I know I do it.

[@Doomroar]

He just didn't want to use his chilly cheese eating hand on it, i been there and i can relate to the kid

[@Visionery1]

Some cultures don't shake hands, when they do, it's like a wet fish. That's no reflection on them, they just never learned a correct handshake. Shaking hands is not that easy, sometimes people grab too early, ending up shaking fingers, not cool.

[@brianbarrett2487]

This.

[@seigeengine]

Handshakes are pretty simple: just do whatever the other person is doing. If they've got a light grip, use a light grip. If they look you in the eye, look in theirs. If they clearly are done, let go. If they're trying to break your hand, reduce theirs to paste.

[@MisterDeets]

That is something I can thank my cousin for. He walked me through it when I was about 10 and I have done it properly since then. I'm not much of a handshaker being a bit of a germophobe, but if I encountered anyone who shook hands improperly, I would pass the favor onward.

[@Joemantler]

"No, shake my hand. That's how we do things. Look me in the eye." You're a good man, Destin!

[@simonmunden5046]

7:35 Will is a super-cool kid scientist - never change.

[@Notenoughgears]

I don't think he kept up with Will.

[@fisheye42]

Tractor pull, ear plugs, hamburger & drink. I think he knows the keys to happiness.

[@jaytilley8352]

For anyone who needs a translation for Will's explanation: "more down" is "mire down" as in the horse in the mire... That kid might be my new hero. I'm going to get some chili cheese Fritos.

[@timm1139]

I’ll take the earplugs, hamburger and soda. See you in the stands!

[@oneeyedziggy2]

I grew up in South Carolina, and honestly I wish there were subtitles in this video... w/o Destin repeating things for clarity, a lot of it would be incomprehensible. Reminds me of how technically Scottish people speak English too, but not any kind we'd understand half the time.

[@jaytilley8352]

@@oneeyedziggy2 I had the benefit of growing up in Idaho but living in Georgia for two years. I really had to study the accents to understand them and started realizing they are pretty finely regional. At one point I could tell south GA from North GA and Tennessee from Carolina, but I've lost my edge. :)

[@bamabackroads1203]

He pretty clearly said mar down, not more down.

[@GuillaumePerronNantel]

@@oneeyedziggy2 and there is me, from Quebec with english as a second language. But I hear enough different english accent that I think I was able understand most of the video.

[@SouthMainAuto]

Thanks for teaching that young man how to shake a hand. Loved the whole video but thought that was the best lesson taught 👍🏼

[@edwardmeewis]

Next week on the South Main Auto channel: Etiquette with Eric. O. - Rule 23: Don't call the shop if you don't have a car or don't want to make an appointment. Thank you.

[@xtremeoffroadllc]

It's Eric O! Lol

[@Doorhandlr]

It's amazing how Destin can just go to any place, anywhere, at anytime and just make friends with everyone, and learn a tidbit of knowledge from everyone he encounters. With every video it's just happiness and joy throughout it!

[@funkmon]

You know, I find that I achieve this as well through no great effort of my own. People are excited to talk about their hobbies if they think you're actually listening

[@Firejewel1]

That is the beauty of good Southern Charm and genuine curiosity. When done right, it's the best of social engineering.

[@TheTrevorS1]

As an engineer who comes from a rural/agricultural background, I loved this video! It has so much going for it; the discovery, the science, the people, the culture. It felt right, thank you.

[@Hackanhacker]

Ah yeah that was great :D

[@Halfstep2024]

I love how Destin gets progressively more southern the more he’s around his people.

[@anthonysmz3]

The accent got noticeably more southern the more he interacted. I love it.

[@brandonnolff1920]

I was gonna say the same thing haha

[@petiertje]

I'm not even a native English speaker and I noticed that too :)

[@alphaindustries5775]

His energy multiplies

[@telenelatelin8632]

Im from california and I started to sound like these folk after living with them during grad school for four years haha

[@Baddecisionaquatics]

I really appreciate how you could go from talking about the James Webb Space Telescope to tractor pulling

[@alpham777]

And likely some of these people worked on it.

[@douglasboyle6544]

Science is everywhere!

[@edgarpryor3233]

@@alpham777 I'm not sure about that, but we do have an engineer for GM.

[@TheAutofreak1]

As a European watching this I can tell that this is just how I imagine southern America. I heared about tractor pulling before and thought it would be as simple as it looks. But this video actually showed the science behind it. Love your videos Destin, keep up the good work.

[@Tumbbi]

Well come to Finland to Härmä

[@stefandr5252]

Europe has plenty of tractorpulling events as well😉

[@just_your_localguard9612]

Not even south, if you have a large agriculture scene you'll see tractor pulls, it just has popular here in Iowa has it is Tennessee

[@forton615]

It's quite big in the Netherlands, here in Belgium not as much I think.

[@Rcthans]

We got exactly this in the Netherlands

[@itzdan0s477]

I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area but have been living in Alabama for 15 years now. The people in the video are just like there people I work with and see every day. That southern humor and hospitality. Salt of the earth people. I'm glad people from all walks of life can experience this little piece of it.

[@austinmcconnell]

Thanks for this, Destin. I’ve got kin in Tennessee I haven’t visited in a hot minute, and this video was like a nice slice of the south I don’t get but once or twice a year.

[@theamazingaviator1084]

the man himself

[@LordCinn]

what to do if your parachute fails?

[@KnuckleHunkybuck]

@@LordCinn lol, probably the same thing you do in any other scenario when a parachute fails: pray, even if you're not religious.

[@aNeighbour]

I really hope one day y'all can do a Collab. I don't even care what the topic is. 2 of the best KZbinrs out there!

[@TheeBuddylee]

Love when Destin changes tone or dialect or respect words to put someone at ease

[@alexanderficken9354]

That's just what any human talks, changing your voice based on the environment

[@youvebeenspooked]

yeah I agree, like when he says 'poonay tangs' instead of 'growlers'

[@jonathanstancil8544]

I'm from Lawrenceburg, TN. I know several of these pullers personally. An easy way to explain a sled is by it's technical name: a weight transfer machine. It transfers the weight from a rolling resistance at the start of the pull when the box is over the tires to a sliding resistance as the box moves up and over the pan. Great video.

[@petergeorgehill]

What makes it move up to the front though? I didn’t get that bit.

[@gdcartjr]

@@petergeorgehill drive shaft from wheels on the sled to gearbox.

[@jonathanstancil8544]

@@petergeorgehill the rear axles on the sled drive a drive shaft that turns a transmission hooked to the chain system that pulls the box forward. This allows the sled operator to make the box move at different speeds for different classes of vehicle. Once a sled is "set" for a class then no changes are made between vehicles, if any changes are made they have to restart the class and anyone who pulled before the changes has to rehook. This also ensures that the box moves the exact same distance on its rails for every puller regardless of what speed the pulling vehicle travels at and with the laser measurement system it doesn't matter if the sled is precisely in the same spot it was for the previous puller. They shoot the laser before each puller hooks and after and the difference gives the distance the sled was pulled. Also, it doesn't matter If the sled is three feet further forward the box will still move the same distance after any given amount of forward travel.

[@mateobrainardo4770]

Heck yes Napoleon, I live up in Summertown TN. Where do u live? I’ll comon over fir sum ice tea?

[@Hagop64]

The "really pretty in cowboy hats" moment was adorable.

[@TheLawnCareNut]

I love how Destin's accent gets heavier in this video 😂

[@KelseyDogBlog]

That's a real thing. My wife is from the Deep South but has lived elsewhere for a long time. The minute she goes home, or talks to relatives on the phone, her long-lost southern accent returns.

[@222tg_]

As someone who's even into motorsports, i never realized Tractor pulling was this technical. Loved to learn it, cheers for another great video Destin

[@Racing_Dude]

Same!

[@1978garfield]

There is a reason Art Arfons ran the tractor pull circuit longer than he did drag racing or land speed record competition. Part of that was safety but part of it was the level of competition was and is higher than most people think.

[@edgarpryor3233]

He barely scratched the surface.

[@jaythatguyyouknow5135]

That dad moment Destin has with the moment where he takes the time to make sure the boy shakes his hand right was awesome. Also, being someone that lives in a area that is very similar to where Destin is at, I see lots of the same type of people that were in this video. You would be surprised what someone can teach you. Even gave me a reminder to not underestimate anyone.

[@peterkelley6344]

I hope that the kid understood what was trying to be taught.

[@reanimationxp]

@@peterkelley6344 He's already respectful and clearly a smart kid. I'm sure he picked it up.

[@jimtheedcguy4313]

That's definitely a southern thing. I remember having that taught to me when I was younger, how to give a good firm handshake.

[@blargcoster]

It was a really wholesome moment with Will there. Good head on those shoulders.

[@Trebelhornc]

Code switching is very important to genuine interactions

[@petertimowreef9085]

7:44 Dustin is such an inspiration. The way he makes people around him feel smart. He uses his own intellect to figure out what people are good at and then asks the exact right questions so that those people can show off that knowledge.

[@RareEarthSeries]

I've been to a tractor pull and it was incredible. Gotta love Southern entertainment.

[@Cougracer67]

It's not just "Southern entertainment". It's nationwide!

[@leeoswald6803]

Have your ever seen Barbie Jeep Races?

[@colemathews137]

It's huge in the Midwest

[@frederikostenfeldterkelsen7431]

@@Cougracer67 it’s now just nationwide, it’s worldwide. We have it here in Denmark too

[@camspullingproductions3773]

To be quite honest, it’s everywhere, especially in the Midwest

[@tripylsd]

Not sure if Destin is unconsciously getting more "southern" accent, or if this is his real accent and he's feeling more comfortable loosing it than in other videos. I love this guy😅

[@cbb8991]

As a Georgia boy, when I get back around other southerners, the accent automatically changes without even consciously thinking about it. I normally do not have much of an accent.

[@apocello42]

Seems more like code switching to try and make the folks he's talking with more comfortable with an engineer with a KZbin channel pointing a camera at them.

[@farLander1]

@@cbb8991 I have a friend that talks normally but any time he'd get a call from his grandparents it was an automatic switch to deep south lol "Hi paw"

[@cbb8991]

@@farLander1 There are certain words that I'll say, that you can pick up that I'm probably from the south. Everyone in my family is from Pittsburgh except for me, I was born in Georgia. I think that gave me a more neutral accent and most of my classmates in engineering school didn't have accents either. When I would go down to the hunting camp though, my accent would just naturally change to sounding a little more like the good Ole boys down there.

[@banban213]

In his submarine series he mentioned that he will subconsciously pick up the accent of people he is working with. I don't remember the video specifically but it was when he was speaking to someone with a thick southern accent as well.

[@350zoomin3]

I grew up pulling tractors and built my whole career on the knowledge the sport gave me. I still learned a ton in this video and that is absolutely awesome man, thank you, and don't change a thing.

[@MyClutteredGarage]

Loved this, Destin. I felt your pain with those early awkward conversations, but you broke through. I enjoy the lawn mower and antique tractor pull at our local county fair each year. We even have a pedal tractor pull for the kids. Great job! -Ed EDIT: I have to also commend you on the camera angles and production value. I’d love to help you sometime!

[@Samuel-sg2iv]

Yeah idk if you're from the south or the midwest people are kinda guarded. Idk why tho.

[@chadh3441]

Are you talking about the old cast iron ones that were made back in the 1970's that were replicas if the old Farmall H tractors? My brother and I each had one, and boy those things were heavy! They were very easy to turn over to trapping you underneath it. Lol. That was back when toys could kill you or at least break a few bones in the process! Lol

[@MyClutteredGarage]

@@chadh3441 yes indeed!

[@chadh3441]

@@MyClutteredGarage Holy cow that's awesome!

[@MyClutteredGarage]

@@Samuel-sg2iv yeah I’m from southern NJ. Hardly “the south” but very similar culture and attitude.

[@lewismassie]

7:30 Everything about this conversation was awesome. The display of knowledge despite not knowing the scientific words. The way Destin really learned the important physics. The handshake at the end. The learning stuff is my favourite part of this channel, but close on it's heels is Destin's interaction with the people in the places he goes

[@lysdexsick]

And with an awesome accent!!👍

[@AaronJarecki]

Destin, there is so much that I appreciate about this video. I learn a ton from all of your videos. It goes without saying that I found the machines in this video fascinating. Learning new stuff makes me happy. But that's not why I was smiling from ear to ear from start to end this time. This time it was because of you! You are a joy to watch. Anyone can see that you love these people. Your people. People of all ages and genders and backgrounds, all of them pouring all they've got into solving a challenging physics problem that has them captivated. And, wow, this must have been a ton of work. I hope it was fun. It certainly was worth it, from my perspective; this was one of your best videos. Thanks!

[@reanimationxp]

Couldn't agree more. Well said. Thank you Destin!

[@TheLivingBlobfish]

Perfectly stated! Mr. Destin, you are the greatest man on the internet. (and your wife looks very pretty in a cowboy hat and a smile😁)

[@sethgho]

as a Louisianan and Texan, I genuinely appreciate how Destin, a pretty smart guy, doesn’t talk down to his fellow Southerners. He shows that we are more than silly accents. He takes the time to push through the stereotypes and reveal the individuals. And he’s one of us, too. 👌

[@RobertBeckk]

Louisianan and Texan? Can you be both?

[@sethgho]

@@RobertBeckk I’m mid-migration

[@ashleyhoff7561]

1000x this. Just because they use their words sparingly, or possibly don't have a college degree doesn't make them any less smart. There are some real smart people doing what they do in sports, industries and communities like this.

[@jasondashney]

"doesn’t talk down to his fellow Southerners" This implies they are naturally "less"? I'm not sure what you're trying to say. Why would talking down to people simply because of where they're from ever cross his mind in the first place, especially when they are doing something you have to have money and smarts to do in the first place? I get that people with a southern accent are looked down upon by suburban kids from the north, but Destin isn't that.

[@sethgho]

@@jasondashney Yes. We agree. There is no reason for it. And Destin isn’t that. 👍

[@kevinwells4986]

I had so many emotional moments to this. I grew up in 'tractor pull' country. I aged. I found you. Nasa engineer. Like me at one point. You just melded my life honestly. You appreciate intelligence and ability regardless of what textbooks have been read, or not. I simply loved this video Destin. We are equal.

[@VideoMan0904]

“Shake my hand. Nope, right hand. Look me in the eye. Thank you, Will.” Destin, you’re doing the Lord’s work.

[@howardnovak6043]

That's honestly such a solid lesson to teach a young man. Use the right hand, give a firm handshake, and look the other person in the eye. It's a small social interaction that says a whole lot. I'm betting Destin had someone teach him the same way when he was younger.

[@helloRockwood]

I thought it was perfect. He treated Will like a grown man he could learn from. When Will got a little mixed up, he kept him on the level. Hopefully they both walked away with something.

[@faizrahman6308]

teaching him to be one of a true professional!

[@RRAX]

and then took his Doritos

[@cda4662]

THANK YOU DESTIN, FOR YOUR WHOLE CHANNEL AND HIGHLIGHTING AMERICA AT ITS FINEST

[@milosperhour_]

I thought the code switching from Destin in this video was really interesting, I was so surprised at how southern he went when meeting Brian. Whether intentional or not, I find code switching to be such a fascinating adaptation that our brains make to fit in more with the people around us. Awesome video too, a lot of really smart people. The whole thing is basically and engineering build competition, it reminds me of pumpkin chunkin

[@josephmarlin9827]

I find code switching so absolutely fascinating. My wife was born in Trinidad and raised in the US and even she is fascinated at how she'll code switch around Caribbean people and not even know how she's doing it

[@rijlqanturis625]

Yep I am from the south, but from the city. Not really a thick natural accent. But when I go to more rural areas, it gets MUCH thicker. Easier to fit in and connect with people.

[@jaymzx0]

I love tractor pulls and found this a great watch, but the code switching was absolutely the most interesting part for me. As soon as the video opened and I heard Destin's voice, I knew he'd been down there for a bit filming this. The accent is magnetic. When I go back to visit family I tend bring it home with me for a few days. Ol' Brian in the beginning got me. That whole awkward interaction when he's just letting him talk and responds after a long silence with a 'yeeap'. I bet Destin felt like he was 11 yrs old again and asking the neighbor if he could mow his lawn 😁.

[@Fozdycke]

@@rijlqanturis625 Heck I'm from the north east, but i lived in North Carolina for a number of years and by the time I moved away I would find myself speaking with a noticeable accent in casual conversation. My inner monologue still has a pretty heavy twang to it. It's a good comforting way of speaking. Laconic in a way.

[@davidstewart4570]

Wow, I'm English and really noticed it, too, before reading any of these comments. Destin's accent changed radically.

[@schalla-bills6618]

"Tell me what this experience is like:" "Well it's exactly like this other uniquely southern experience" Absolutely loved the video, I'm convinced you could film paint drying and make it interesting. Thanks for making me smarter everyday :)

[@kensherwin4544]

Watching paint dry actually be interesting if you could figure out a way to visualize the VOCs coming off and the polymers cross-linking.

[@goldog63]

“Hi. I’m Destin. In a recent video a viewer challenged me to do a video on paint drying…” “It turns out there’s so much science in that this may run a bit long.”

[@hickstylez]

Didn't he do a paint drying episode for like some paint company I think

[@ramennight]

Lot of, if not all of the western states do hunting.

[@MikeTidman]

"Hi I'm Destin, and welcome to my newest video, 'Watching Paint Dry.'"

[@dandrumheller9286]

Destin, you are so wholesome. You speak kindly to a young man, and you compliment your wife, and you teach us about Engineering. Thank you!

[@m16ty]

As being a former puller myself, there is a whole lot of science that goes into it. One thing about weights that weren't mentioned is 100lbs hanging off the front can be worth a lot more weight than if mounted over the rear axle. The tractor is nothing more than a simple lever, with the rear tires being the fulcrum. When you put weights on the front, that is like putting weight on the end of a lever, and as long as you have enough power and traction to lift the front and transfer that weight, it adds more to the rear wheels than if that same weight was on the back.

[@Poncho_wl]

I heard some people fill their coolant holes with cement to increase weight. And they also run water vapor as a fuel before they go to 100% diesel.

[@m16ty]

@@Poncho_wl No, they don't do it to add weight. They do it to strengthen the block. People call it cement but it's more of an epoxy. They do in inject water also, but they aren't using it as a fuel, they are using it to help cool the air mostly, and it also adds some compression.

[@onesquirrel2713]

Hey, maybe you can explain something to me that I couldn't understand from the video: why don't they just put on wheels with giant shovels or spikes on them that really dig into the dirt, intstead of these semi-slicks? Also, why are they going so fast, it seems like if you just put in a huge reduction ratio and go really slow, but with a lot of torque it would be easier to pull the sled?

[@a_bracing9045]

@@onesquirrel2713 Well, momentum is used in the second part of the run to keep the sled sliding. How much depends on how fast they can get going early in run, and how the track is prepped. Harder tracks the sled tends to slide more, so more speed means it will let them get further down the track even with full load on front of the sled. The tires are cut to limit traction, too much traction and it stands up and doesn't get speed, you hit the skids on the back. These tractors are easily pushing 4-5k HP. Too much traction breaks things.

[@Psyco913]

@@onesquirrel2713 I have never been to a tractor pull and probably don't know what I'm talking about, but let's give it a try anyway. I think the main reason you want wheel speed is because when that sled has all its weight on the pan it's going to stop every one of those tractors. Like Destin pointed out in the video, you only have as much traction as you can get out of your drive tires' contact patch and the sled is going to beat you there every time. The faster you can get going the more momentum you have when the sled reaches maximum resistance, and the further you can extend that last part of your pull. If you had knobby tires, spikes, or anything else like that all you would accomplish is digging yourself a hole and limiting your wheel speed. I'm looking forward to being corrected and learning something here because again, I have no idea what I'm talking about. 😂

[@kendog0013]

22:17 - can we take a moment to appreciate Destin literally taking 5-10 seconds out of his video just to admire his wife in a cowboy hat because shes 'so pretty in them'??? :D

[@smartereveryday]

She's beautiful

[@picco_only]

@@smartereveryday and pretty. You are lucky.

[@waltmeisterderherzen6191]

she is

[@qpSubZeroqp]

♥️

[@jmonsted]

For the record, she's also lovely without a cowboy hat. Destin, you're a lucky man and you've got a lovely family.

[@ThisShiiRightHere]

I think this is my favorite smarter everyday video, reason being it shows "smart" isn't always what everyone necessarily thinks. I grew up in a major city basically afraid of dirt, moved out in the boonies to a town of about 100 people and got surrounded by folks like the fella in the shop, figured they were all dumb hicks without 2 brain cells but the more I got to know the folks out around I realized they're d*** intelligent, far more resourceful and ingenious than anyone would assume. It's just they don't wanna show it to strangers, knock on a doorway, shake a hand and they'll all talk your ear right off about something you don't understand anything about. The video can't slightly replicate the pounding of those boys running full bore, or just chatting with strangers around you in the stands and I think that's the best part about local tractor pulls. Just a good reminder to not believe the misconceptions about the people you don't live a daily life around.

[@JM-zg2jg]

You aren’t wrong, but that raises the question of why all the smart people around those parts, are always trying to hide it. Fact is for the last few decades at least, there has been a deliberate effort to turn southern and over all rural culture, Anti-intelligence. So a lot of smart people all pretending to be dumb, because their culture is Anti-Intelligence and they are swimming in a sea of deliberately ignorant people.

[@dangerrrnick5005]

Well said for sure.

[@schtoopid]

Totally agree. I'm always frustrated by people that think that someone is dumb because they don't use computers.

[@FishermanKyle]

Lmfao "Bryan, we met briefly, I'm dustin." "Well I'm still bryan" Gotta love that super cut and dry southern humor 😂😂

[@LHJC10]

Destin’s southern accent increased x10 when talking to the locals 😂 as an Aussie this was a struggle

[@Falcodrin]

Its typically called code switching and is nearly impossible to stop even if you can hear yourself doing it. Happened to me just the other day meeting a friends family and even being intentional about how I was speaking it still came out quite a bit thicker than my normal southern accent.

[@MatthewBryce]

I'm from the UK and had to put on subtitles 😂

[@m16ty]

@@MatthewBryce Being from the Southern US, they were speaking my language. I've had you Brits get to talking fast and I get lost. Lol

[@LHJC10]

@@Falcodrin it’s interesting, same thing in some parts of Britain. Almost like another language is being used

[@derekrowanphotographics]

I’d worked with the Marines over the years and I’d struggled too with that rich southern 😂. For us Downunder it’s like us being up in the Territory 😂🤣

[@mp455]

Destin, you have a gift for interviewing and talking to people. I enjoy your humility, insight, and personality. Great job

[@NovejSpeed3]

Destins interaction with Will was pure magic. "Look me in the eye..." 😄 What a great episode!

[@colbywood1785]

Came looking for this comment

[@TXDanielM]

Smarter Every Day!

[@vespagts7078]

Destin, this has to be your best video, by-far! I particularly enjoyed that you didn't stick your face into the frame every few seconds, like you do so often in many of your other videos. Because you primarily focused the lens on these people and this event, the video really captured their hospitality and sense of community. Thank you.

[@wolfymaster]

I grew up with tractor pulls happening every summer - but I never attended one. I didn't realize they were so sophisticated. This video was so wholesome.

[@2KCamaroZ28SS]

Some are. Most aren't like this lol

[@tylerkuhn9931]

They are so fun

[@rjcoady21]

@@2KCamaroZ28SS right my little county fair was mostly peoples project tractors. I think the big Oliver was 60 something horse power.

[@bcase5328]

I think Dustin has a new hobby, visiting tracker pulls. I grew up with local tracker pulls. When my father was the teacher supervising the school tracker pull, was when I learned to drink coffee. The stand had ran out of all hot beverages except coffee that late fall night. I drank the near cold coffee so I could have a hot cup to warm my hand upon. We had to stay until all was finished and cleaned up. I think I had 17 cups of thin coffee, (it looked like tea and tasted more like coffee).

[@RC21114]

@@bcase5328 Tractor 😉

[@garrisonboyd1701]

As a land surveyor it was a pleasant surprise, I think a full video on our equipment and how it works would actually be fascinating. The way the angles can be read on a total station to a UHF base and rover it’s all quit interesting

[@seanhollowood1151]

Send destin an email then, bet hed be interested.

[@NeoNeko99]

I’m a girl from the UK and I flipping *love* tractor pulling! I drove over to Holland one year to see one of the major European events and it was incredible! So much power and noise, just epic!

[@DerekSmit]

I'm Dutch and actually never seen a tractor pull in real life. But my son loves tractor's so I'm definitely going to a few soon. Probably will enjoy it myself too 😁

[@NeoNeko99]

@@DerekSmit I went to the Made Power Weekend 🙂 It was awesome fun!

[@JT-91]

Are you the UK slayer?

[@NeoNeko99]

@@JT-91 Shhh 🤫 I have to keep that a secret…

[@pw7225]

I don't get it. There's global warming. And people have a hobby that blows up tons of carbon in the air -- for fun.

[@MrTalkingzero]

THANK YOU FOR THIS AMAZING VIDEO. I have followed you for years and you never run out of amazing things to observe and teach. Also, as a side note, you amazingly balanced the percentages of your NASA English and Alabama English so that you could be understood by all yet you didn't oversimplify anything for the audience. You're an amazing person, Destin. You have changed, I would argue, millions of lives.

[@aaronsbarker]

The variety in sleds is also pretty vast. They start at literally just sleds with weight piled on (getting the thing moving is the trick with those) to the inclined plane sleds that just winch the weight box up a slope as you proceed down the track, to ones like Southern Shaker with an adjustable pan. They also have sleds with measuring gear right on the rig and they just move the reflector to behind the starting point. The key to a good pull is balance, for sure, but all that balance needs to feed momentum as the pan-drop/wheel lift happen at set times/distances, but they take time to happen and the faster you're moving when they do, the further down the track you get. As you found out, there is a LOT to the sport that isn't apparent to the casual viewer and given the stubborn prejudices of many people these days, they just don't see the intelligence and education of the people running and participating in these events.

[@workingguy-OU812]

I just learned a lot from YOUR post. Nice work. Those are the details I didn't know.

[@CFarnwide]

It’s good old boys like this that built America!

[@curtmcbee2238]

A lot of folks who aren’t from the south hear a southern accent and just assume that person is a little dim… they couldn’t be more wrong.

[@ConditionOfMan]

@@curtmcbee2238 It's interesting. I am from Colorado but I work remotely with several people in Georgia. A couple of them are always putting their intelligence down, lots of "Dimmer than a... jokes they point at themselves. They are almost always the smartest people in the conversation.

[@dillonwyatt8144]

I appreciate that Destin can showcase some rural Southern folks in a casual, engaged, and positive light. Being outside the US, I don't get to see many positive images of such folks so it is nice to see it from time to time. Even got a chance to test how good my wife's ears are with the accents since English isn't her native language. Good experience! Thanks for the always cheerful, informative, and good natured videos!

[@pewpewTN]

I was born & raised in the South. Briefly left & decided to come back. I can 100% verify that Southern people are more intelligent & more friendly than any cidiot.

[@BikingWIthPanda]

that's probably because it's really hard to put it in a positive light. Destin really bent over backwards and did heavy lifting for this one.

[@cliffstone71]

@@BikingWIthPanda "You said more about yourself in that statement than you did about the people in the video.

[@mirmalchik]

There's very little correlation between the kindness people show to others in their ingroups, and the kindness they show to others outside their ingroup. this would very likely have been a different video if destin were a black man, a woman, or visibly LGBTQ+ or any other group frequently demonized by fox news. not everyone in the rural south shares the same prejudices, but many of those prejudices are rarely challenged in those areas. it's more complicated than "south good" or "south bad," and there are strengths and room for growth wherever you go.

[@babayada2015]

Hey, (this comment is not supposed to be sarcastic in any way) You said you don't get to see southerners in positive light. But how exactly do you see southerners in negative light? Like can you list down their stereotypes and nature? (Cuz I have no idea how southern part of US is)

[@blake1405]

Man, I have watched countless hours of tractor pulls on KZbin over the years and absolutely adored this video. Destin, you're a master of your craft. Thanks for all you do

[@kevinoetting4434]

I have been truck pulling for 3 years now and it’s by far one of the most complex things out there! Glad you enjoyed going to a pull!

[@citizenblue]

Destin is a real treasure. He makes me hopeful for the future of humanity.

[@dwrjohnson]

The way you conversed with and then showed Will how to give a proper handshake was EPIC!!!

[@thomaslyon2112]

I’m 66 yrs old. I grew up on a farm in Kansas. So I’ve been watching tractor pulls since the get go. I thought I knew enough about it to be a informed spectator.but I only knew half of it. Thankyou for the video! You really did a nice job with it! 👍

[@ZagrosŞêxbizin]

Destiny, brother, I love that you shake anyone’s hand no Fs given. In my culture it is also very important to have a firm handshake with everyone.

[@TheOriginalCoolDad]

As much as I am a physics geek, I honestly never really considered how much science goes into a tractor pull. This video was definitely an eye opener and now I think I may need to find a tractor pull near me to go watch. Thanks Destin!! Great video!!

[@tomkrisel4493]

@@barnett25 when I ask a person who has never been to a tractor pull to go along to one and they say "no, I've seen them on TV", I tell them that watching on TV, your guts don't vibrate and your ears don't bleed. When they decide to attend one in person, they're amazed and usually want to go again.

[@nicksurfs1]

You’ve got to go! My parents would never let me out of school for anything, except I got Thursday and Friday off the week of the tractor pull and swap meet the next town over so I could work for my grandparents. I learned so much every time. My grandpa was a mechanical engineer and he’d travel from out of state to sell goods and advice. Most fun days of my life. Be sure not to skip the antique tractor class! Sometimes it’s first so people skip it but they are steam engines so the physics are awesome. Once I got a good understanding of how torque works in a steam engine I was hooked.

[@nicksurfs1]

@@barnett25 Oh yeah!! My grandpa was friends with a blind guy who we would sit by at the tractor pulls. He always knew exactly what was going on without anyone needing to say anything. He could feel who won without seeing it. He and my grandpa would have the nerdiest discussions about the tractors.

[@Rheologist]

I love that Destin is both an engineering educator and a bit of a cultural documentarian, showing people what southern American life and culture is really like

[@ArnieD17]

It's not just a southern thing. The original sled was built in WI. In fact, was at a tractor pull in Theresa WI this weekend.

[@jckgoldness]

@@ArnieD17 back country America thing. I love the USA.

[@Brohansifat]

Destin, the way you interact with boys is one of the most uplifting things on KZbin. I am currently going through a journey of understanding how men (especially father's) should influence and mature young boys. And the way you interacted with that boy by teaching him how a man shakes hands was a beautiful moment. It was a small piece of his initiation into manhood that I don't think he will ever forget.

[@user-kv1fv2fd3s]

Wow, there’s so much to unpack here. Like a lot of other commenters, I’m from the South, and I grew up going to tractor pulls, mud bogs, and demolition derbies. I always appreciated the technical aspect of the machines, but never gave much thought to the physics behind the pull sled. It’s fascinating; thank you for really getting into the guts of what’s behind the scenes. What’s also fascinating is just how much fuel is consumed during one of these events, beyond the obvious usage of the competitors. The cost involved to relocate and groom the track, to transport heavy equipment, to transport the tractors to the event, etc…..it’s astonishing to think about how much money is being spent to do this. And yet it’s still a tiny niche in the world of motor sports. I grew up as just a good ol’ boy from the mountains, I got myself a good career in woodworking, and I can’t ever imagine having the kind of money to play at stuff like this. With all due respect to people’s passions, I don’t really have the innocent enthusiasm for this stuff like I did when I was a kid. It seems wildly indulgent and wasteful, even for as much fun as it obviously is. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk lol.

[@slickwizard]

I loved the “look me in the eye” when you shook the boy’s hand. Always a teacher haha

[@pauldonlin3439]

Destin, I loved loved loved this video! So the "soil science" you guys talk about in the video is called "terramechanics" which is a subset of the more generic "soil mechanics." For the pieces we're interested in, with regard to the video, a scientist named Mieczysław G. Bekker developed equations to describe the shear strength of the soil which were further refined by another scientist Jo Y. Wong. (It's worth mentioning that Bekker was also involved in developing the Lunar Roving Vehicles.) So, with the Bekker-Wong equations, we can develop a curve for fairly accurately predicting soil behavior and therefore traction with a few inputs. The guys in the video with the sticks: they were performing crude bevameter tests which is a way of measuring and characterizing the shear strength of the soil. They were testing the soil and through experience and intuition getting the information that normally a ton of math would get you! This stuff could practically have its own video, the interaction our vehicles have with the ground is so complicated, unintuitive, and fascinating that I just love it.

[@WowReallyWhoDoesThat]

Thanks for sharing!

[@victorflores429]

this is awesome

[@drrocketman7794]

Bevameter and Bekker-Wong equation. ✈️ whoosh that goes flying right over my head

[@osmia]

+++

[@nicholasarens5614]

The bevameter sounds like a modified vane shear test which has been around since the late 1940’s to characterize the shearing resistance of soft clays. Coming from the geotechnical world it’s interesting to see these applications in terramechanics. Do you work in that field Paul? Also the sticks these used are soil probing rods. You can even get dynamic probing rods for actual readings that have proving rings incorporated.

[@SpeakTruthKindly]

Destin, you’re 1000% right at 2:31. I was “truth laughing” when you said, “That’s what just happened.” I’ve had many such encounters in sales over the years, with cardiologists, IT experts, mechanics, and farmers…and I’ve been humbled to learn from lots of folks who weren’t trying to be impressive, which is quite impressive all by itself.

[@Blacklighting1]

If you never see this comment I just want to leave this here. Thank you for making this channel I enjoy it I feel smarter for having watched it all these years. Specifically this episode I am thankful for. It reminded me about my Grandpa and Uncle who both past years ago. So many memories just came back like in a dream. For however long you decide to make these videos know that this is one fan that is very thankful.

[@bennyd8471]

I'm surprised you missed something! Btw, been watching for years and absolutely love your content! I literally get excited and make time to watch your next video! Now on to it... Lol When you were talking about contact area between the sled and tires, there is a technology to the tires more than the bite of the treads and tire pressure. If you look while they are making a run, you'll see the bottom of the tire is wrinkling... That's on purpose and actually making the tire have a larger contact area with the ground! Much like drag racing. Figured add a little bit of info since this once, I actually could! Keep it up man, you've got a subscriber and viewer for life!

[@isaacschulz737]

This was a great introductory video to tractor pulling. I’d encourage you to get into the physics of the engine itself and how it works!! Water injection, dry blocks, the list goes on and on! I know guys aren’t going to want to give away their secrets but the built tractor pulling engines of the NTPA are really a thing of mad science!!

[@640everett]

This would be amazing to see!

[@MrSlowestD16]

There's probably less secrets in those engines than there is in their setup. That's where the real magic lies. How the dial the boost for given track conditions, their strategy with tires & weights, etc.

[@boostaddict_]

A dry block basically just means it doesn't have any passages for coolant to flow through like a normal engine would. Makes the block thicker so it's less likely to fail, but useless for anything other than this or drag racing since it gets too hot fast. Water injection and turbocharging and fuel injection are really cool though, I'm a mechanical engineering student focusing on automotive and I'm a bit of a diesel nerd lol.

[@timcharrison]

I imagine a lot of people watch these videos to learn or to get science content. I enjoy that too, but I enjoy watching Destin's genuine interactions with other people even more. Destin's that guy you want to be friends with.

[@PatrickKQ4HBD]

Destin is that guy we want to be like.

[@billroberts3864]

Destin, you make each video so interesting because you genuinely are interested so ask great questions. Then you stand back and let the person dive deep into the story. Blessings to you.

[@MarkHougaard]

Btw, the sled doesn't always win. When I was younger, I witnessed a 90+ year old tractor go the distance. A single cylinder, steam tractor, producing a total of 75hp, to add insult to injury. At the time, the tractor pull was being held at our county fair. Also that day was an exhibition of antique gas and steam tractors. After a day of watching screaming, multi-engine, massively over powered tractors challenge and lose to the sled, the owner of said steam tractor asked if he could give it a try. Yeah, everyone laughed, but hooked him up anyway. Off he went, at a blistering 2 mph or so. Chug. Hiss. Chug. Hiss. Chug. And he kept going, and going, and going. He covered the entire length of the track with absolutely no trouble, right up to the very end. He could have kept going if he had wanted to, but stopped when he decided he was done.

[@shashishekharsingh4652]

Those old steam powered tractors are way heavier than modern ones. That gives them great friction plus they are usually geared low. This allows them to produce much more torque although at lower speeds.

[@kevin9c1]

@@shashishekharsingh4652 Pretty good practical education on torque vs horsepower. You could gear down a modern machine to match the wheel speed of that old steam tractor but the real secret is the weight.

[@scrambledmandible]

@@kevin9c1 In addition, steam power has the property of having basically unlimited torque at 0 rpm, something we haven't had since until better electric traction power came along

[@DocWolph]

Steam engines produce absolutely STUPID amounts of torque. I remember Jay Leno explaining that one of his steam cars with a tiny steam engine, barely the size of two 2L bottles of soda, making less that 50hp would turn over 2000lb-ft torque, enough to effortless motivate a 4+ton vehicle to a comfortable 40MPH or so. There is a reason why Torque its "Go" and Horsepower is the "Fast" in "Go Fast".

[@edgarpryor3233]

Sled setting was off, the sled will win as long as it's set up right and doesn't break.

[@KotyYell]

I love when Destin code switches to help people be more comfortable.

[@kleetus92]

I've been watching pulls for probably 25-30 years... I knew a lot of the details because I've ran lots of tractors and other machines... what I didn't know about was the inner details of the sled particularly the cleats under the pan. Thank you for the inner look of what makes it all happen!

[@skeif1015]

That first guy Brian he talked to was probably the most awkward interaction he's ever had on the channel 😂😂

[@karenhill7128]

Well here in our small town of Gibson you don't have people like him come to your work and start asking lots of questions. That's my husband and we were all kinda like, 'is this guy for real ?' Brian was just caught off gaurd

[@xremming]

The kid explaining to you what this is about as if it were as simple as walking was the highlight of the video. Loved your interaction with him, talking with him with full respect, no different from anyone else, combined with the respectful "right hand look me in the eyes". That really showed why you are so great.

[@sagerobot]

This video was profoundly southern, love it! Great content, this is what this platform is for.

[@bigskybob]

I’m so glad you included the little Frito’s interaction with Will in this video!! Smart kid with a great way of putting physics into words.

[@Nixontheman]

Agreed, and insisting on a proper hand shake was gold.

[@RobertLandrum13]

Born and bred in Georgia and I grew up watching tractor pulls on TV as a kid so finally seeing all this and the details of how everything works is just great. Thank you