HISTORY OF THE JUDGE

        RON'S FIRST TRIP DOWN A DIRT TRACK WAS IN 1959 RIDING ON AN ALLIS CHALMERS WD AT THE ANSONIA FFA SPONSORED TRACTOR PULL.  AFTER THAT, HE WAS HOOKED.  LATER HE STEPPED UP TO AN ALLIS CHALMERS XT 190 AND THEN IN 1967, RON AND A FRIEND PUT A 265 V-8 CHEVY IN A 101 MASSEY HARRIS TRACTOR.  THIS WAS RON'S FIRST MODIFIED TRACTOR.

        THE FIRST JUDGE PULLING TRACTOR WAS BUILT IN 1969.  IN 1974, THE FIRST ALLISON TRACTOR WAS BUILT.

        RON WAS INVITED TO ROTTERDAM, HOLLAND FOR THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1985.  HE WON AND DECIDED TO SELL THE TRACTOR TO A MUSEUM. 

        IT WAS A FRIEND THAT GOT HIM BACK INVOLVED IN PULLING.  MIKE HOLDEN HAD TWO MODIFIED PULLING TRACTORS AND ASKED RON IF HE WOULD LIKE TO HELP HIM RUN THE NATIONAL CIRCUIT.  AFTER A COUPLE OF SEASONS OF GRAND NATIONAL PULLING, RON AND MIKE DECIDED, BECAUSE OF RULE CHANGES, TO RUN THE STATE CIRCUIT.

        THE JUDGE, #6 WAS BUILT IN 1992 WITH TWIN ALLISON MOTORS AND ENGLER CHASSIS.  WITH ONE OF HOLDEN'S TRACTORS, SILVER AND THE JUDGE, WENT STATE PULLING. SILVER STOPPED PULLING AFTER THE 1994 SEASON WHEN IT PUT EVERYTHING ON THE TRACK DURING A RUN THAT SUMMER. 

        RANDY, THE OLDEST SON, STARTED DRIVING IN 1993 AND SEMI-RETIRED IN 1995.  THE NEXT SON TO START DRIVING WAS DARRICK, DURING THE 1999 SEASON AND RECEIVED THE ROOKIE OF YEAR AWARD.  IN 2000, ANOTHER SON JUMPED IN SEAT; RON II. 

        IN THE FALL OF 2000, THE JUDGE WAS SOLD.  THAT WINTER OF 2000-2001 WAS SPENT BUILDING THE CURRENT TRACTOR, THE JUDGE (#7).  THIS TRACTOR HAS A BANTER CHASSIS, BANTER GEARBOX, AND 5 T-53 LYCOMING TURBINES. NOW RANDY AND BRAD HAVE JUMPED BACK INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT AS WELL. 

IN AUGUST OF 2006, WE BOUGHT THE TWIN ALLISON TRACTOR BACK AND NAMED IT THE JURY. WE RAN IT FOR 2 SEASONS, 2007 AND 2008. THEN SOLD IT DURING FALL OF 2008 AND STARTED BUILDING ANOTHER TRACTOR. IT IS JUST ONE MORE ADDED TO DAD'S LONG LIST OF TRACTORS HE HAS BUILT DURING HIS LONG AND SUCCESSFUL TRACTOR PULLING CAREER. THE APACHE HAS A TUBE CHASSIS, SCS GEARBOX, AND 3 TURBINE ENGINES ON BOARD. TWO T-55's, AND ONE T-53.

JUDGE PULLING TEAM'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM 1970-2008:(not all are listed)

1978 Grand National Points Champion(12,000 UNL), 1979-Mechanic of the Year, 1999- ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, 2002-NTPA 'PULL FAMILY OF THE YEAR', 2003-2006-2007 OSTPA POINTS CHAMPION, 9 TOTAL OSTPA TITLES. 2003- OSTPA 'PULL FAMILY OF THE YEAR', 2005- FIFTH IN GRAND NATIONAL POINTS,2005- 'HOOKER OF THE YEAR', 7 NTPA POINTS CHAMPION TITLES, AND THE 1985 WORLD CHAMPION AT AHOY, HOLLAND.